Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1898 — BUYS WAR SHIPS. [ARTICLE]

BUYS WAR SHIPS.

Uncle Sam Secures Two Formidable Brazilian Cruisers. A week’s negotiations closed by the purchase by the Navy Department in London of the two fine cruisers built and building at Elswick for the Brazilian Government. The vessels are named the Amazonas and Admiral Abreuall and are modern in every respect. Possibly the officials took more pleasure in closing up the business because of the knowledge that the Spanish agents had been striving to secure these very ships. One of the ships is complete in every respect, has her coal supply and ammunition on board, and steam can be raised at any time. It 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 navy, so the supply of ammunition is a necessary adjunct to the new ships. The other ship has been launched, but it will take some time to make her ready for sea. The two Brazilian vessels will be extremely useful additions to the United States navy in either war or peace.