Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-15

| Washington, March IA weeks ne
gotiations closed today with the pur-
chase by the navy department. in Lon
don of the two fine cruisers built and
building at Elswick, for the Brazilian
| government. Spanish agents had been
striving to secure these ships The
United States flag will be hoisted over
the new ships within week probably,
and as soon as the crew can be put
! aboard the Amazonas, she will start for
the United States. The other vessel
will follow at the earliest possible mo-
n1ent The terms of sale are secret.
The availability of the two Brazilian
ships was first brought to the attention
of the navy department by Mr.. Lane
agent of the Maxim-Nordenfeld Com
pany, who was authorized to dispose of
these ships building at Elswick, and
two others in course of construction in
France. Mr.. Lane said today that the
two ships purchased would be desirable
acquisitions to the American navy, as
they were the latest and best products
of the famous Armstrong yards. One
ship is complete in every respect. has
her coal supply and ammunition on
board, and steam can be raised at any
time. There will be no trouble in bring
ing this snip across, as an adequate
force from the local yard can be Sc
cured for the service. 1t is said the
coal and ammunition on board passed
with the sale to the United States. The
ammunition is not all of the kind in use
by the United States The other ship
has been launched, but it will take
some time to make her ready for sea-
Mr.. Lane believes, however, that there
will be no difficulty in bringing her over
Immediately If it is desired to make the
move without delay, as the hull of the
ship IS SO well along that she could be
towed, and her own sail power utilized
for the trip across
A dangerous deficiency in the engineer
branch of the navy has been brought to
light strikingly in the fact that 1t is
scarcely possible to secure a staff of
engineer officers to bring back to the
United States any of the ships pur-
chased abroad. A short time ago, when
orders were given to rush the work of
putting the cruiser Chicago in shape for
active service. the engiS Seer in chief
planned to have the ship ready in three
months instead of six, as was esti-
mated. To do this he decided to work
forces day and night, and place an en-
gineer officer aboard the ship to stay
there day and night. Passed Assistant
Engineer Dixon was chosen for the
work, but he had not been employed
more than a week before it was neces-
sary to detach him to act as a mem
Der of the board appointed to examine
auxiliary cruisers. This state of affairs
had been brought to the attention Of
the house naval committee, but so far
it IS feared without meeting that de-
gree of success which was hoped for, In
oh, rNf ~ n
the number of engineer officers in the
service.
Col, Haywood the commandant of the
marine CORPS today made five details
of marines for cruisers now being re-
paired, or ready for commission. There
are two drafts Of 45 each for the Phila-
delphia, and the Charlestown at Mare
Island one of 81 for the Newark, at Nor
fork, and two of 80 each for the Colum-
bia and Minneapolis at League Island.
Senator Proctor visited the White
House, and uptown departments today,
and his calls excited a good deal of in
terest. He spent half an hour first with
Secretary Alger explaining, it is be-
lieved, the military situation in Cuba,
and afterward had a conference with
Judge Dav assistant secretary of state.
Then he went to the White House, and
was closeted with the president for two
hours and a quarter.
When he emerged from the room he
courteously declined to speak regarding
the nature of the information he had
communicated to the president.
N. F. Palmer, representing the Quint-
ard iron works of New York, which
built the engines of the Maine. was at
the navy department today in consulta-
ton with the officials respecting. the con
version of vessels of the merchant
marine into war craft. While not a ship
building firm, the Quintard works have
done great deal Of work on the en-