Evening journal., 1911-02-21
ARCENTINA'S
new WARSHIPS
Remarkable Agreement Be-
tween eur Country and
So. American Republic
HAS ACCESS TO ALL OUR
LATE NAVAL PLANS

BY United Press Leased Special Wire-
CLEVELAND. o.. Feb. 21.-A
Washington special to the Cleveland
Press, by ellison Gardner today says:
Two battleships. larger and more
powerful than any IN our navy are
being built in this country for AR
gentna.
The plans and drawings Of the United
States Navy Department and tho re-
suits OF the labors of Uncle Sans
naval experts are being used in build
ing these two ships.
II was because Of the promise of
open and free access TO the secrets ot
our navy that the contract for tho
ships came here
The promise was made by our state
department, and the Navy Depart
mont has been called on TO make no
promise good,
The chief beneficiary of the con-
tracts Is Charles NJ Schwab's Bethle-
hem Steel Company which has tho
furnishing Of the armor, armament,
gun mounts. etc.
The hull OF one ship is being built
by the Fore River Shiphuiding Cons
pany Of Massachusetts,. and the other
by tho New York Shiphuilding COM
pany
Secretary Of state Knox used TO DO
attorney for Charles NJ Schwab
When Argentina decided 60 build
her two dreadnoughts bids were ask
ed for from the whole world The
bidding was finally narrowed down 10
the English. German and American
bid.
No Explanation by Knox.
Then United States Minister sher-
rill at Buenos Ayros interviewed and
/ by pledging the secrets OF the Ameri-
can navy. turned tho scales in favor
of America. Argentina has the bcne-
/ NJ OF years of costly experiment and
research and OF the plans. devices,
patented devices and naval secrets
that our navy has brought together
for the purpose OF making the Ameri-
can navy the best adoat.
Eyery effort has been made by your
co respondent 20 see Mr.. Knox and
learn what explanation he would
; make of this transactions Ho finally
sent a note I'm reply 10 a letter saying
that ne would make no appointment.
In order TO make good the pledge of
our State Department. the technical
men IN the service of the United
States Navy have been compelled TO
render every so-vice asked by tho
South American Government
Once these ships are built there is
no guaranty that their guns may not
be turned against our own ships. for
they might be sold o. by capture. fall
into the hands of any other nation.
Germany or Japan might buy them,
so far as anything the United States
could do.
Two ships We're built for Russia by
the Cramps ten or twelve years ago.
Both the ships are now la Japana
navy.
Argentina Has Carte Blanche.
NEW YORK. Feb "a. Admiral
Garcia, chief of tho commission in
charge Of the building of two monster
battleships for Argentina says that IL
was the influence Of the United States
state Department that gave the con-
tracts 10 America
81 met Secretary Knox I'm Washing
tom he said "and was introduced I'd
Secretary Meyer ! was Informed that
confidential relations had been estab-
lished between the United States and
the Argentine. The relations are ex-
traordinary- rhe United States min
ister, Mr.. Sheriff.. at Buenos Ayres.
obtained remarkable concessions from
yor' Governments We have carrie
blanche to all information your NAVY
Department has and we are free to
call for drawings devices. or expert
advice. We can also use your proving
grounds for testing our guns. We
nave been allowed to put our naval
officers on board your ships to study
your navy and methods. These new
ships Will be more powerful than any
in your ~avy-indeed, than any I'm the
. world''