The record-union., 1898-05-19
BATTLESHIP
OREGON
IS SAFE.
On: of Harms Way From
Spanish Attack.
Secretary Long Refuses TO
Tell Where the Vessel Is.
Simply Says That She Successfully
Completed Her Voyage,
No Further Call for Troops Expected TO Be
Issued Until the Aggregate Already
Called for Have Responded and
Been Fully Equipped.

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 circle of South America, and
was now safe Whether or not she has
Joined Admiral SIMPSONS fleet the Sec
rotary would not say. The rigid secrecy
of the Navy Department was relaxed
only enough to make known the best
news the Navy Department had re-
ceived since the battle of Manila, as it
meant not only that the Oregon was out
of harms way from a concerted attack
on this one ship by the whole Spanish
squadron now in southern waters, but
also that her great fighting strength
would be added to Admiral Simpsons
force in the near future, if, indeed 1t
had not already augmented the Ad-
miraTs strength.
The Oregon left San Francisco about
six weeks ago. before the war had
been opened, and at that time it was
admitted that she was to join the ships
in Atlantic waters. She stopped 2t
Cdllao for dispatches, and then went
around the Horn and then up the east
coast of South America. In all the trip
covered more than 1900 miles. The
90 he
ward Islands, had been followed with
anxiety by naval officials, for, by
strange coincidence, the formidable
Spanish squadron of armored cruisers
and torpedo boats approached the
Windward Islands at the very time
when the Oregon was due there 1t
had been suspected that the Spanish
Admiral would try to intercept the
battleship with his superior force, and
before leaving Bahia Captain Clark OF
the Oregon was warned to keep close
lookout for the Spanish fleet. In reply
c. ytain Clark expressed his confidence
in being able to hold his own single
handed with the Oregon against all the
sion he felt was as to torpedo-boats I'M
der the Spanish AdmiraPs command.
for these are a new and practically I'M
tried element against the modern
battleship, and Captain Clark, while
confident of holding out against these
also, said chance blow might be
struck by them.
Notwithstanding Captain Ciark'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
serious results. For this reason the OF
fetal information reaching the author
tiles to-day was the source of the most
hearty congratulation. Where the re-
port came from was not made known,
but the mere fact that Secretary Long
regards the Oregon as safe makes 1t
possible that she has passed to the
northward of the Windward Islands.
Aside from this bit of information,
Secretary Long said at the close of Of
fee hours that there was no further
news to be given out.
During the day the Bureau of Navi-
cation issued a bulletin summarizing
Commander McCalla's official report on
the recent engagement at Cienfuegos,
and adding some minor news on the
prospective exchange of prisoners, etc.
These bulletins are not proving of good
news value. although they are prac-
tically all that comes from the Navy
Department with his official confirma-
ton.
To-day Secretary Long Joined the
War BOARD. which had been in session
for some hours, to participate in the
discussion of their plans, which are
believed to have been modified ma
terially by the news received from the
Oregon.
The cruiser Charleston, which start
ed to-day on her long journey to meet
Admiral Dewey at Manila, should ar
rive there in about twenty-four days
allowing a couple of days at Honolulu
for coal. Nothing better illustrates the
value of the swift long range cruisers
of the type that make up the Spanish
flying squadron than the fact that they
would be able to make such a run as
directly from San Francisco to Ma
Mia without stopping anywhere for
coal at a rate of speed about % per
cent greater than the Charleston. Ad-