The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-03-06
MAY BUY MORE wARsHIps.
Negotiations Opened to Purchase Some
In European shIpyards.


New York, March IA special to
The Herald from Washington says:
Fz!ly realizing tie Importance Of
preparations for any emergency. tho
president has directed the navy depart
ment 10 open negotiations looking 10
the purchase abroad Of warships This
fact is now for the first time made pub
lie. II probably would not have trans
pired at this juncture but for the excite
ment caused by the statement published
that Spain had purchased, or was nego-
tiating for warships being built by the
Elswick company Of England, for the
Brazil and for other ships under con-
struction.
With n view Of asrertaining the facts,
your correspondent called upon high
official Of the administration and OBJ
tanned an official admission, made for
the first time. that while the president
does not anticipate war, he recognizes
that there is a possibility Of hostilities
growing out Of the Cuban problem and
the Maine disaster, and that he propos-
os 10 be prepared for IL.
Eight men-of.war, which are prac-
tically completed in foreign shipyarps.
have been offered for sale in the United
States. The president has given consid-
Grafton TO the advisability tf placing an
option ON them.
The navy department has teen care
fully watching the construction Of
ships abroad through the eys Of its ma
val attaches at London. Paris, ST. Pc
tersburR. Berlin. Vienna and Rome.
The surveillance has been maintained
for two months. but more especially
since the Maine disaster.
Through these naval attaches and
from the shipbuilders themselves the
secretary Of the navy has learned that
he can now purchase two small battle
ships, two armored cruisers and foul
torpedoboats, all at comparatively low
price. The builders have promised thai
they can sell the vessels 20 agents Of thu,
government at this time complete I'm eV
cry respect, and all that will be necos
sary for the administration to do will b,
10 order the necessary details Of officer
and men 10 proceed to the shipyard, x
on board the vessels and take them q
any point which may DO desired.
The builders urge that the purchases
h. made at once, as they say the declar
alton Of war between the United States
and Spain would result in the mforce
ment Of neutrality laws and pru vent tbs
sale u the ships.
The battleships and armored cruiser,
have been built by English and German
firms FOR governments which are now
unable TO pay for them, 80 that this gov
ernment would have no difficulty in ob
tanning the vessels by simply putting
down the necessary amount Of cash
The four torpedoboats have been offered
by the Thornycroft Shipbuilding com.
pany, whose boats are recognized By ex
perts TO be among the best in tho world
While your correspondent was unable
10 learn the names Of ships which hav,
been offered to this government, Their
is reason 10 believe that among then
are three powerful ships under cmstruc
tion at the Vulcan works at Stcttin
Germany, for the Chinese government
These three ships are Of 5000 tons dis
placement, constructed 10 mako iq.I
knots, and will be able to carry not les
than 1000 tons OF coal in their bunkors
There Is also reason to believe that il
case Of trouble this government cOul,
purchase from japan the Kaiagi and Tia
Chiosa. which are nearing completion a
! Philadelphia and the Unioa works Tn
official with whom your correspondent
talked, had no doubt that japan woul,
be willing to aid the United States b,
selling the warships before the com