Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-26
OREGON AT KEY WEST
Captain Clark Talks of His Trip
Around the Horn.
ON LOOKOUT FOR THE SPANISH
Opinion Among Naval Officers
Regarding Havana's Defenses.
ADMIRAL CERvERA'S POLICY
special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

KEY WEST, Fla, May 26.-The battle
ship Oregon arrived in the harbor this
morning and anchored off Sand Key light.
Captain Clark came ashore afterward and
reported to Commodore Remey.
He said the voyage from Rio de Janeiro
was most uneventful. Nothing was seen
of any Spanish vessels, and very few ships
of any kind were passed. The Oregon
touched at Bahia and the Barbados, coal
ing at the latter place. From the Barba-
does Captain Clark took a northwesterly
course to Jupiter, Fla. to avoid the Spanish
fleet. When We left Rio de Janeiro there
were no foreign men-of-war in the harbor.
The health of the crew is excellent. No
deaths occurred during the voyage.
Captain Clark says he left the Marietta
and the Buffalo between Rio de Janeiro
and Bahia
Steamed Ten Miles an Hoar.
Captain Clark said he covered about
1900 miles from San Francisco, steaming
at the rate of about ten miles hour.
AT the Barbadoes,'' he said, I'VE were
warned that the Spanish fleet was looking
for US at Martinique, and we were ready
for it. We had the guns trained all the
time. The only thing we We're afraid of
was the torpedo boats; but all l can say
is that had the Spaniards tackled us my
boys would have given good account of
themselves, and the Spanish fleet would
not have been as fine a one at the finish.
After We parted from the Marietta we
increased our speed to twelve miles an
hour. We left San Francisco March IA
and came right through without incident
worth mentioning. Our men suffered from
heat coming through the tropics, but we
had very little sickness
Havana's Defenses Good.
The feeling here in well informed naval
circles is rapidly changing regarding the
resistance to be expected from the Span
iards in the impending occupation of Cuba,
and upon other matters of vital import.
Every expedition which returns from Cuba
to this base helps to dispel the belief that
the Spaniards are by any means neglecting
to take every precaution for long ard
determined resistance. 1t has been cir
cu,ated that the Spanish are snort of am
munition. especially powder. when a
matter OF fact it is known here that there
Is large powder factory running nigh
and day and turning out both smokeless
and black powder. The use of the smoke
less powder is proving OF great advantage
to the Spaniards
The land patrol of the Cuban coast is ex-
Cellent, while the fleet of torpedo boats |
stationed at different points along the
coast is both larger in number and in size
than at first calculated.
Spanish Force in Cuba.
A foreign resident of Havana now in
Key West, and who, although being a
Spanish partisan, appears to possess reli-
able information on the subject, claims
tlat Spain has a force of acclimated, well
drilled soldiers of not less than 10000 in
Cuba This man is in cable communication
with Cuba.
Recently I asked him whether he be-
lieved the reports that Havana was becom-
ing so short of provisions as was believed
here.
He replied: NO but can easily find out
and let you know"
He wrote dispatch to one of the secre-
taries of Gen. Blanco, addressing him, not
in his official capacity, but in that of
practicing physician of Havana.
1t was to this effect: How are Mary and
children doing; have they all they want?"
The reply he showed. read: Doing we'll
enough for months yet
The same authority claims that the guns
of Havana fortifications are in charge of |
German, French and English officers, whose
services had been secured before he left the
island. The same Information is obtained
from the correspondent of the London
Times. here, who only left Cuba a few days
previous to the declaration of the war.
This man accompanied the Gussie eXpedi-
ton, and pointed out to the commander
the exact position of the powder factory,
which he himself had inspected during his
stay the island. He also corroborates
the figures regarding the strength of the
Spanish forces, the excellence of the Span
ish coasts patrol, and he expresses the be-
lief that Havana can hold out for months
yet. In SO far as the question Of proyis-
ions is concerned
Spanish Fleets Policy.
The Spanish feet, he maintains, is car
rying out exactly the policy which he had
been informed they would follow by the
Spanish authorities before he left Cuba.
and the tactics the Spanish admiral for the
future will be to close himself up in Santiago
de Cuba, where there is good coal base,
and endeavor tc draw On the United States
vessels to battle. By this time the Spanish
feet now getting ready at Cadiz, will be
here to support him. and to attack the
American vessels in conjunction with him.
The entrance to the harbor of Santiago de
Cuba is comparatively narrow and danger
desirous of attacking ships in the harbor IT.
self.
The plan of :he Spanish. according to a
competent authority here, who knows
every inch of the harbor and approaches
will be this: The American fleet cannot
Judiciously attack the Spaniards in the
harbor; they can only blockade AS soon
the Cadiz fleet arrives a sortie will be
made and an atten pit be made to hem in
the United States ships in the channel and
give them battle from the harbor and sea- |
Naval Officers Criticised.
One hears considerable criticism regarding
the doings Of executive officers of thu navy
yard here-the failure of the government
to supply Golfers to accompany the feet
to the blockading squadron. and so forth.
but am informed froE, high naval officer
that all this is entirely uncalled for The
work being done Lere by the navy yard
is excellent. The men are working night
and day. every requisition is filled prompt
ly and satisfactorily. and have not heard
of oxyo a1a ~ 4