The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1915-05-08
ARGENTINE PRIDE
SPURNS BIcPROF|T
Refuses Offer Of ST 100000
For New Oreadn0ught Moreno.
NATIONS At war WANT It.
Greece, Peaceful, Made Largest Bid
Against Many Other countries
quisition Of Vessel WouIdsHave Given
Her 4 Big Naval Advantage Over
Turkey, =

0Sses "'dHy Osner So0ntrleo-Ac.
QUESTION Of Vessel Would Have Given
Her 4 Big Naval Advantage Over
Turkey.
New YORK. - Argentina's patriotic
pride in her new super Dreadnought
Moreno. which sailed recently from
Newport News, is strong.
Not even profit Of about $6,OOO,OOo
In cash could induce the South Ameri.
can republic to sell this warship, one OF
the largest afloat, which was built at
Camden, N. j. The offer was made by
Greece through an agent in this city,
acting on instructions of the Greek
minister in Paris, whose government
was willing to pay f3,5OO,OOo for the
American built vessel The cost to Ar.
gentina for the construction Of the Mo.
reno was about $12,OOO,OOO.
Greece, however, was not. the only
country that made bids for the immedi-
ate transfer of the warship for none
tary Considerations thatwould net Ar
gentina large profit.
italy, it is understood, Is anxious to
add the great sea fighting machine to
its navy, although her offer was not as
large as that made by the Athens gov.
eminent.
The first fntimation that negotia tons
had been in progress mentioned Russia
as the bidder, but the fact of Russia's
inability to use the navy she now has
eliminated that country as. one of the
nations that coveted the Moreno.
Yes, there have been offers for the
sale Of the Moreno" said Manuel A.
Molina, acting Argentine consul in
New York. II am not sure which
countries made the bids, but know
that all of them were rejected by my
government"
The fact that Greece, not yet en-
broiled in the European conflict, was
the highest bidder for the new sea
fighter confirms a recent statement
that the Hellenic power has been MAX
ing pretentious military preparations,
which inc luded the puEesSse OF the
United States .warships Idaho ana Mis-
sissippi for ST., 1000, 900 and are now fol-
lowed by the further offer Of about
100000 for the Moreno to add to
her ready made navy.
Greece has also bought about 100000
tons Of coal in this country and q
large quantity Of hospital supplies, be-
sides ammunition. The further fact
that Greece was able to pay $4,000
600 in cash for the two American YES
sells and was ready to pay the amount
bid for the Moreno also indicates a
favorable condition of the Greek ex-
chequer or the readiness of a friendly
power to advance the necessary
money.
The New York agent to whom the
Greek minister at Paris intrusted the
important mission Is in close social
and commercial relations with Argen-
tina, but the government at Buenos
Aires refused to consider even the
t1attering offer that would mean a
profit Of 80 per cent Of the battleship's
cost.
The prospective purchaser or pur-
chasers were encouraged in their ne
gotiations by the controversy that de-
Veloped between the Argentine gov
eminent and the New York Shipbuild-
Ing company, which built the Moreno,
over the payment for extra work,
which delayed the delivery.
The acquisition Of this vessel Of H.
500 tons displacement and speed of
221a knots by the Greek navy in case
OF conflict with her ancient and
natural enemy, Turkey, would be of
great Importance and would give that
country greatly superior naval
strength over that possessed by Tur-
key.
Argentina has proudly rejected the
great hducement. and the Moreno will
continue to, fly the blue and white
flag. The transport Chaco Of the Ar.
genttne navy brought the crew for the
Moreno and is now at Philadelphia.
The Chaco will follow the super Dread
nought south.