AMERICA'S PREPARATIONS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 86, 13 April 1898, Page 2

AMERICA'S PREPARATIONS.

thennore, Congress has appropriated 3,000,000 dollars for the construction of three other coastline battleships, one to be named the Maine, one gunboat, six torpedo boats, and Bix torpedo boat destroyers, • Spain views all these warlike preparations very uneasily. The Jingoes say that there is no longer any reason for standing aloof, in view of the fact that the Bufferings of the Cubans has aroused such widespread sympathy throughout the United States. There is certainly good reason to believe the rumours that President McKinley will shortly issue a me:sage calling for the freedom of Cuba. These are founded on the fact that owing to tbe crippled condition of her finances Spain is unable to take counter-measures. She has therefore entered a protest to which America has paid no attention. Spain also requested President MoKinley to recall Consul-General Lee from Cuba, but this President McKinley deolined to do.

THE PURCHASE OF WARSHIPS. UNANIMOUS VOTE BY CONGRESS. AUCKLAND, April 12, The Amerioan mail news to Maroh 23rd states that oue of tho most significant ciroumstances in connection with the Cuban crisis is the passage by Congress of a Bill placing 60,000,000 dollars in the President's hands for war purposes. The measure waa rushed through both branohes of Congress inside of 30 hours, not a dissenting vote being recorded against it. The President was not long in making use of the money. Overtures were at onco commenced for the purchase of two warships just completed in England for Brazil for 2,500,000 dollars. One has already been placed in possession of the United B tates, and the other will be shortly. An attempt is also being made to purohase the first-class ; cruiser O'Liggins from Chili, but as Spain is making a bid for the same boat i there has been a hitch in those negotiations, and probably the ship will remain \ where Bhe is. It addition to these ready-made boats the War Department has obtained estimates from a numbor of shipbuilders for the immediate construction of a number J of torpedo destroyers, a guarantee being I required that they will be completed I within four months, The two new warships, Kentucky and Kearsage, will be launched in a few days. It is proposed to oonstrust a, ■ mammoth .warship to be known as the George j Washington. Her estimated cost is j 8,000,000 dollars. It is the intention to ntftke her the finest warship afloat, Fnr- ]