The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-19

Washington, May 1S.-Secretary Long
gave out the welcome information to-
day that the battleship Oregon. the Sec
had successfully completed her long
trip from San Francisco making the
entire circle of South America, and is
| now safe.
Whether or not she has Joined Admir-
al Simpsons fleet the secretary would
| not say. The rigid secrecy of the navy
| department was relaxed only enough to
| make known the best news the Navy de-
| partment had received since the battle
| of Manila, as il 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. it had not already
augmented the admral's strength. The
Oregon left San Francisco about six
weeks ago, before the war had been
opened. and at that time 1t was ad-
| mitted that she was to join the ships in
Atlantic waters. She stopped at Cal
lao for dispatches, and then went
| around the Horn, and then up the east
| coast of South America. In all the
trip covered was more than $4,000 miles.
The last streach. from Bahia to the
Windward islands, has been followed
with anxiety by naval officials. for. by
a strange coincidence. the formidable
Spanish squadron of armored cruisers
and torpedo boats approached the
Windward islands at the 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 a close
lookout for the Spanish fleet. In re-
ply, Captain Clark expressed his con-
fdence in being able to hold his own
single-ha handed with the Oregon against
all the Spanish cruisers. The only ap-
prehension he felt was as to torpedo
boats under the Spanish admirars COM
mand, for these are new and prac-
tically untried element against the
modern battleship. and Captain Clark,
while confident of holding out, also
said 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 Sc
rious results. Official information
reaching the authorities to-day was the
source of most hearty congratulation.
Where the report came from was not
known, but the fact that Secretary
Long regards the Oregon as safe makes
it 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
flee hours that there was no further
news to be given out. During the day
the bureau of navigation issued bull
letin summarizing Commander Mccall
las official report on the recent engage
ment at Cieufuegos and adding some
minor news on the prospective exchange
of prisoners. etc. These bulletins are
not proving of good news value, al
though they are practically all that
comes from the navy department with
Longs official confirmation.
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 be-
lieved to have been modified material
ly by the news received from the Ore
eon.
The cruiser Charleston. which start
ed to-day on her long journey TO meet
Admiral Dewey at Manila. should ar
rive there in about "a 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 di- |
rectly from San Francisco to Manila |
without stopping anywhere for coal at |
a rate of speed about 25 per cent great |
er than the Charleston. Admiral |
Dewey's cablegrams show that he is |
able to maintain the ground he has |
gained until reinforced in the usual |