The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-29

the Fleet at Key West, and Is
Now Near MontevideO, While the
TemerariO Has Sailed From
BuenOs Ayres.
WASHINGTON April 28.-While
naval interest is centered largely in the
Philippines and the movement of the
Asiatic squadron, the officials of the
department are not overlooking the
fact, emphasized by the news of the
sailing Of the Temerario, that situa-
ton that commands attention presents
itself on the eastern coast Of South
America, where the battleship Oregon
and the Spanish torpedo boat Temer-
ario are in the same vicinity, not far
from Montevideo
While nothing is known of the likeli-
hood Of a battle, the sailing of the
Spanish boat just at a time which
would permit her to intercept the Ore
gon is regarded as an interesting
coincidence. When last spoken the
Oregon was hurrying up the coast un-
der orders to join the fleet at Key
West, and under forced draft was
making all possible speed. The Temer-
ar1o has been at BuenosAyres for some
weeks, and numerous reports Of her
departure have proved unfounded, but
it is believed that word of her sailing
yesterday is authentic.
The Oregon sailed from Mare island
navy yard on March 10. The ship
steamed from San Francisco to Callao,
Peru, $500 miles, in seventeen days,
equal to 2235 miles a day. She ar
rived at Ca1lao on April 5, and left on
the 7th. From Callao to the Straits Of
Magellan is 2,40O miles. The remain
ing distances are: Through the Straits,
300 miles; thence to Montevideo 1900;
thence to Rio de Janeiro, 1,O2O; thence
to Key West, 4,200. If the Oregon de-
stroys the Temerario or evades her
she will not be due at Key West, al
lowing detention for coaling, much be-
fore May 1S.
The Temerario is a twin-screw tor
pedo boat, 100 feet long, % feet 10 inch
es beam, $40 tons, capable under forced
draught of going nineteen or twenty
knots an hour with her $500 horse
power. She has coal capacity of 130
tons. She has six-inch steel protective
armor over her engines and boilers
Her armament consists of two twelve
centimeter Hontoria breech-loading
rifles four rapid-fire guns, and one
machine gun. She has two fixed tubes
for the discharge of torpedoes.
The battleship Oregon ranks with the
Iowa and Indiana in the first class She
has eighteen inches of armor, and in
addition to her great guns has eight
eight-inch, four six-inch uuick-firing
guns, twenty six-pounders, six one
pounder quick-fre guns, four Gatling
guns, and seven torpedo tubes.
Matanzas Affair.
The shelling Of the Matanzas batter
les was the topic of interest throughout
naval and official circles generally to-
day. 1t was discussed on the basis of
the press reports from Key West, as
the navy department received no in
formation whatever on the subject.
Secretary Long said this afternoon
that no report had been received from
Admiral Sampson, nor was the navy
department advised in any way of the
shelling Of MatanZas. Mr.. Long added
that he felt no disposition to keep from
the public any news concerning such
an important event as a naval engage
ment, or a battle. While it was es-
sential that future strategic moves
should be guarded with the greatest
care, yet Mr.. Long made it clear that
this did not apply to events after they
had actually occurred, for, as to bat
ties and their attendant casualties, he
recognized that the public was entitled
to know what had occurred.
The secretary said that in the alb
- all g.
clined to believe that the shelling was
confined to the exchange of a few shots
and did not assume the proportions of
a regular bombardment.
When his attention was directed to
reports that the shelling was the re-
suit of direct orders from the presi-
dent, the secretary said this was not
so. as the president was giving no
direct orders in any of these move
ments.
Dock Is Ready.
The navy department has completely
ceased it's purchases of ships for con-
version into war vessels, owing to the
exhaustion of the $50 000, 900 war fund
1t Is confidently expected that congress
will come to the relief, as the depart
ment Is still in need of auxiliary YES
sells.
The Port Royal dry dock, according
to official information, will be access
ible to warships, should they meet with
accident during the campaign. The re-
port from the constructor in charge
shows that the entrance to the dock
is now dredged and clear
The board of bureau chiefs met to-
Gay to begin the consideration of the
plans for the three new battleships au-
thoriZed by the naval appropriation
BILL and progressed so far that cir
culars will be sent out tomorrow in
viting bids from the ship-builders. The
vessels will be in the main very similar
to the battleship Illinois, now building
at Newport News. They will be at
about 1880 tons displacement, rs feet
beam, 231a feet depth, 16 knots speed
will be covered with heavy armor and
armed with thirteen and six-inch guns
In addition to numerous. secondary bat
teries
The conferees of the two houses
reached an agreement on the naval ap-
preparation bill before adjournipg to-
night. All the senate increases in the
way of monitors and torpedo boats
were adopted. These increases include
four monitors at $1,250,000, and sixteen
instead of twelve torpedo boat destroy
ers. All the other important additions
made by the senate are retained
The language in regard to the enlist
ment of seamen was changed so as to
provide for 1000 more marines. A pro-
vision was inserted giving the secretary
of the navy authority to enlist volun-
teers UP to the rank of commander
This was done so that the department
could avail itself of the services of the
officers Of the American liners charter
ed by the government. The conferees
will report tomorrow.