The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-05-19

dent of Holding His Own, Single
 Handed, but the Navy Department
 Would Not Run Any Risk.
 Washington, May 1S.-Secretary Long gave out the welcome information to-day that the battleship Oregon, the second largest craft in the American navy, had successfully completed her long trip from San Francisco, making the entire circuit of South America, and was now safe. Whether or not she has joined Admiral Sampson's squadron the secretary would not say. The rigid secrecy of the navy department was re- news that the navy department had re- ceived word that the Oregon was out of harms way from concerted attack by the whole Spanish squadron now in southern waters, and also that her great fighting strength would be added to Admiral Sampson's force in the near future, if indeed it had not already augmented the admiraPs strength.
 The Oregon left San Francisco about six weeks before the war had opened, and at that time it was not admitted that she was to join the ships in Atlan- tic waters. She stopped at Callao for dispatches and then went around the Horn and then up the east coast of South America. The last stretch from Bahia to the Windward islands has been followed with anxiety by naval officers, for, by q strange coincidence, the formidable Spanish squadron of ar mored cruisers and torpedo boats ap preached the Windward islands at the very time the Oregon was due there.
 It had been suspected that the Span ish admiral would try to intercept the battleship with his superior force, and before leaving Bahia Captain Clark of the Oregon was warned to keep a close lookout for the Spanish fleet. In reply Captain Clark expressed his confidence in being able to hold his own, single handed, with the Oregon against all the Spanish cruisers. The only apprehen- sion he felt was as to the torpedo boats under the Spanish admiraPs command, for these are @ new and practically un- known element against the modern bat tleship, and Captain Clark, while con- fident of holding out against these also, said that a chance blow might be struck by them.
 Notwithstanding Captain Clark's as- surances, the navy department contin- ued to feel that a meeting between the Spanish squadron and the American battleship on such unequal terms was far from desirable and might bring most serious results. For this reason the information reaching the authori- ties to-day was a source of most hearty congratulation. Where the report came from was not made known, but the mere fact that Secretary Long regards the Oregon as safe makes it evident that she has passed well to the north ward of the Windward islands.
 Aside from this bit of information, Secretary Long said at the close of of- flee hours that there was no news to be given out. During the day the bureau of navigation issued bulletin sum- marking Commander McCallas' official report on the recent engagement at Ci- enfugos and adding some minor, feat ures on the prospective exchange of prisoners, etc. These bulletins are not regarded as important news. Late in the day Secretary Long joined the war board, which had been in session some hours to participate in the discussion of it's plans, which are believed to have been modified by the news received from the Oregon.