The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-05
OPTIONS ON VESSELS
Tho Presldent Considering Eight Shipc 10
Foreign Yards.

Washington, March 6.-Fuily reaiz.ng
the importance of preparations for any
emergency the Presidents has directed the
Navy Department to opan negotiations
looking to the purchase abroad of war
ships. This fact is now for tho first time
made public. 1t probably would not have
transpired ut this juncture but for the ex-
element caused by the statement pub
lisbed yesterday that Spain hud purchased
VI was negotiating for wal ships being
built by the Elswick Company. of Eng
land, for Brazil and for other ships under
construction.
A high official Of the administration has
made an ofiicia! almission-m for the
FIRST time-that while the President does
not anticipate war, be recognizes that
there Is n possibility of hostilities growing
out Of the Cuban problem and the Maine
disaster, and that h. proposed to bs pre-.
pared for 1t,
There has been ample evidence of this
In the extensive preparations, patent to
everybody, which have been in progress
:, for some time, but there has been no Of
fetal admission to this effort until now.
Coupled with this are these significant d..
yelopments:
Eight men-of-war which are practically
completed in foreign sAipyards have been
offered for sale to the United States The
President has given consideration to the
ACCESSIBILITY Of placing an option on
them.
T 1t is understood that the department pro-
poses to order the cruiser Baltimore, tho
flagship of the Pacific station, 10 rein
force the Asiatic squadron. She will carry
to Hong Kong large supply of powder
and projectiles for the United States ships
In those waters
Secretary Long has ordered board to
examine the merchant vessels of the Unit
ed States to determine what changes will
be necessary to transform Them into aux.
Hilary cruisers.
u Anticipating an appropria ton by Con-
gress, orders were given under which
plans for four coal sheds atkcy West were
prepared and compile ed in great haste, and
these sheds will be filled as soon a built
with fuelf or tho North Atlnatiu squadron
AAigif official IF he administration told
Of the Presidents consideration of tho
proposition that this government follow
the example reported to have boon set by
Spain and purchase SO ne Of the ships now
under cons trnction abroad.
The Navy Department has been carefully
watt hing the const ucion of ships abroad
through the eyes of its naval uttaehe, at
London, Paris, st. Petersburg, Berlin,
Vi,nna aud Rome. This surveillance has
Teen maintained for two months, but
more especially since he Maine disaster.
Through these Daval attaches and from
the shipbuiders themselves the Secretary
OF the Navy has learned hat ho can pur.
chase two small sized battleslip' two ar
mored cruisers and four torpedo boats, all
Of comparatively low price.
III, builders have urged that The pur-
clnes be made at once, as they say that a
declaration CT war between the United
States and Spain would result in the en-
forcement of neutrality laws, and prevent
the sale Of ships.
Ths bateships and arm red cruisers
have been built by English and German
firms for governm9n which Are nov un-
able to pay for thom, so that this govern
ment would have no difficulty in obtain
ing the vessels by simply put ing down the
necessary amount Of cash. The fcar tor
p,do boats have been offered by the
Thosnycroft Shipbnilding Company,
whose boats ara recognized by experts to
10 among the best in the world.
HAVANA IN A FERMENT gTS
New York, March 5.-The journal" to.
day prints the following special from Key
West:
"Since Monday, when Sicard got his
orders to be ready to sail at the drop Of the
flag, everything aboard the fleet has been
maintained at u feather edge of readiness.
There is not vessel from tho Indiana
TO the Ericsson, OH which steam Ism con-
stantly maintained for speed Of twelve
knots an hour.
=. 1t is no secret among naval folk that the
fleet is thus compelled to an anxious read.
iness to sail because of the fretful coudi-
ton of the pro-Spanish, anti-autonomy,
anti Blanco party In Havana.
A riot is in order ut any moment in that
feyerish city. With a city full Of Span.
inrds, whose strongest impulse is hatred Of
Americans, weak and shallow as the Span
hard is the half hundred Americana would
not last as long as drink of whiskey on
the Bowcry.
Long should have tie whole fleet in sight
OF Havana, if not in the harbor proper.
This is not only the shore Wow of Amer
leans in Havana and Key West but is tho
unanimous voice of naval folk AS well.
1t all makes a crying case for the pres
ence of American mou-of.war The sight
just now of the Stars ard Stripes in Ha-
vana would bo as tho shadow Of q great
rock in wearvland.
Every boat from Havana reports public
temperature on the rise and popular con-
ditions worse.
Blanco has little or no control of the
town. More than ten per cent. of the real
city population are against B!hnco anu
deeply for Noyer.
Longs failure to send the fleet is due to
his fear Of having them murdered as
treacherously as was the Maine. ~icard
and others declare no such black chance
need be left open.
Change in tiPnds.
Specially Tcl"hopnc
New Castle March 5-Superintcndent