Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-03-17
BUYS TWO WAR SHIPS.
UNITED STATES PAYS CASH.
Tho Brazilian Vessels That Spain Wants
Como to Us-Two Excellent Fighting
Machines HlHaH .tH. .'H.. -.|fa.


Washington. Marcn ia weeks
negotiations closed to-day by the tri-
umphant purchase by the Navy De-
pGrtment in London of the two fine
cruisers built and building at Elswick
Tor the Brazilian government. the Am
azonas and Admiral Abreunll. POSI-
bly, the officials took more pleasure In
closing up the business In this manner
because Of the knowledge that Spanish
agents had been striving to secure
these very ships, and that to Spain, 1t
Is said. they would be Of much greater
value in case OF trouble than to the
united States. The next question Is
how to get the ships home. md that
has not yet been settled, according to
the secretary Of the navy.
The United States, fiag will be hoist.
ed over the new ships within II week,
probably and just ns soon as the crew
can be put aboard the Amazonas she
I. will start for the United States. The
other vessel will follow at the earliest
possible moment. The terms of sale
are secret.
The availability OF the two Brazil
ion, ships was first brought to the at
tention Of the Navy Department by
Mr.. Laine. agent Of the Maxim Nord-
enfeldt Company, who was authorized
to dispose of these ships building at
GlSWlCh uuu TWO OtHeTS III COuTbe VI
construction in France. ,rI ..s.r
Mr.. I.aine said to-day that the two
, ships purchased would be a most de-
sirable acquisition to the American
navy, as they were the lntest and best
products Of the famous Armstrong
yards. One OF the ships Is complete
in every respect, has her coal supply
and ammunition on board. and steam
( can be raised Mt any time. There will
I,,trN Ill. .1.tv
across. as an adequate force from the
local yards can be secured for the SER
vice. 1t IL said the coal and ammuni-
tion on board passed with the sale to
the United States. The ammunition IL
not of the kind In use by the Ameri-
can navy. SO that the supply Of nmmu
milton Is necessary adjunct to the
new ships. The other ship has been
launched. but 1t will take some time
to make her ready for sea. Mr.. Laine
+. believes, however, that there will be
! no difficulty In bringing her over I'M
mediately II 1t is desired TO make the
move without delay, as the hull Of the
ship Is so well .nloug that she could
be towed. and her own sail power
utilized for the trip across.
T Orders have been sent to CommO-
dore Howell, commanding the Euro
..pean station. to send force of men
session of and hoist the United States
lng OH the Brazilian ship that is ready
to 20 into commission at New Castle.
This will prevent any difficulty In case
hostllltics should break out. rs the
ship would be under the flag. but ~
ing in n friendly harbor.
SThe two Brazilian ships will be ex-
tremely available additions to the
United States navy In either war or
In m nniutnn nf Sncrpfury
Long. who acknowledges they have
been bought by the United States.
They are steel shcnthed and coppercd.
with twin; screws The Anazonas il
tntcd ut $500 tons displacement. with
an indicated horse power under ma
turnl drnught of 1000. which is calcu'
lated to develop twenty knots speed.
Thus. while the ship is about the size
OF the Charleston. she IN much faster.
Her armament Is also much more
formidable. not so much In callbre,
for the main battery Is made up Of SIX
O-inch guns. but these guns, us well ns
the four finch guns. are or what Is
known rs 80 callbres length. giving
them an unusual range and power.
In addition to this they have ten u
FOUNDER Iuick-fring guns. four l.
Founders. four Maxim machine guns
. and two boat or field guns. The tor
pedo tubes are three In number. The
coal capacity is $50 tons. giving her
Z an effective. .steaming radius of 5000
knots. most valuable feature. inns.
much rs It would enable the ship TO
y cross and rccross the Atlantic without
q eoalipg. Such vessel used ns n com
4 merce destroyer would be vastly more
effective than what appears to be more
powerful crafts. because Of their nbil.
1ty TO get along on long cruises with.
ant fnI,chirrt In mt neutral ports to
coal. and thus exposing themselves to
capture. rs- ~ H-sr 80,
s The cruisers carry no nrmor In the
ordinary sense. but their machinery Is
protected from the fire of guns by nm
arched steel deck Just below the water
line. varying In thickness from IL to
3.0. inches. The battery has an unu-
snail train. being arranged to fire three
ahead and three astcrn OF the princi'
pal guns.
Spanish Torpedo Fleet Sails.
SrnrinI 1ts.