The evening times., 1898-09-06
Ships FOR THE PACIFIC
Two Armorclads Expected to
Start at Once.
THE IOWA AND OREGON
They Will Take Up n Position in
Readiness to Make a Quick Dash
for the Philippines in Case Their
Services Are Needed-The North
Atlantic Fleet.


ments in the international situation or
| because of the desire of the Administra-
tion to be prepared for emergencies two
of the armorclads attached to the North
! Atlantic fleet will leave within the next
ten days for the Pacific coast.
These vessels will in all probability be
the battleships Iowa and Oregon, which
are now being put in the best possible
condition at the Brooklyn navy yard. The
reports in circulation indicate that the
vessels have been ordered to Manila, but
it is believed that it is intended to at
tach the vessels to the Pacific station.
There they will be in such position that
they will be able to defend the Pacific
| coast in case of attack by a foreign pow
er, or hasten to the Philippines to give
support to Rear Admiral Dewey.
1t will be recalled that Rear Admiral
Dewey recently cabled to the Navy De-
partment asking that he be re-enforced
by battieship and an armored cruiser.
| but in view of the armiStice pending be-
| tween the United States and Spain 1t
would be manifestly improper for the Ad-
miniStration TO augment the force now in
| Manila harbor.
The President will do the next best
| thing, however, when he will give orders
| TO the Oregon and Iowa to proceed to
the Pacific station. There these vessels
will be in a position to dash for the
Philippines should II be deemed desir-
able to do So and will make much
quicker time than would be possible were
they to start from New York. The exact
date of the sailing of the ships cannot be
definitely stated, but ii is understood
that it will be shortly before the Peace
Commission sails for Paris.
In asking for re-enforcements, it is ap-
preciated by the authorities that Rear
Admiral Dewey was not apprehensive of
any further attacks upon his fleet by
vessels of the Spanish government, for
the reason that the Spanish flag is not
flying in the Eastern seas. 1t was be-
cause of a fear that third power might
attempt to interfere that the American
commander desired a fleet which would
make hlm the equal of that power s
force.
II is believed that Rear Admiral Dewey
| feared the Germans more than any 9TH
er nation. Germany has quite a for
midable fleet in the Far East With his
present force Rear Admiral Dewey
would not be able to defend the Philip
| pines and the Pacific coast but re-en-
forced by couple of battleships he
/ would be able to do effective work 1t is
! appreciated by the authorities that the
| presence of couple OF battleships in
! the Pacific Ocean while the Peace Com
/ mission is performing its work in Paris
! would prevent interference by Germany
! or any other power more effectively than
! anything else.
The battleships could easily make elev-
! en- knots an hour in making the run from
| New York to the Pacific Coast and it is
! believed could reach their destination in
| fifty-fiVe days The Oregon was a little
more than two months in making the
| journey from San Francisco to Key West
but she was delayed Oh account of the
| gunboat Marietta and the auxiliary cruis-
! er Nictheroy. The Iowa and the Oregon
| could easily keep up a speed of eleven
knots an hour. Should they start within
! the next ten days, they will reach their
destination early in November, before the
Peace Commission concludes its labors
| OF course. during practically all of Oc-
tober they would be in the Pacific and
could make a dash for the Philippines at
any point along the South or Central
American coast, should the department
| determine that it was wise to send them
One explanation of the departure of the
! Iowa and Oregon is that they may be re-
quired to replace vessels of the Asiatic
squadron which should come home but
| of course, they cannot be changed until
peace is formally declared On the other
hand, it is positively asserted by officials
in a position to know that no changes in
Rear Admiral Dewey's fleet will take
place until there is certainty of no fur
ther hostilities. AS indicating this fact
the action of the department in directing
the docking of vessels OF the Asiatic fleet
at Hongkong is significant.
| The departure of the Iowa and Oregon
for the Pacific Coast will reduce the ar
morclad feet in the Atlantic to the battle
ships Indiana and Massachusetts, second
class battleship Texas and armored cruis-
ers Brooklyn and New York The New
York is in need of $1,000 worth of repairs
which will occupy twenty-four days. The
Texas is in excellent condition and the
| Indiana, Massachusetts and Brooklyn
will be put in fighting shape as rapidly as
| possible.