Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1898 — BUYS WAR SHIPS. [ARTICLE]

BUYS WAR SHIPS.

Uncle Sam Secures Two Formidable llruziliiiu 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 Abreuoll aud 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. It is said the vessels would be of much greater value to the Madrid Government in chse of trouble than to the United States. One of the ships is complete in every respect, has her coal supply and ammunition on board, and steam can l>e raised at nny time. It is said the coal and ammunition on board passed with the sale to the United State*. The ammunition 4s not nil 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 miQte her ready for sea. The two Brasilian Vessels. will be extremely useful additions to the United States navy iu either war or peace,