The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-26
PROBABLY COMING NORTH
MAY BE EN- ROUTE TO THE PORT
ROYAL DOCK FOR CLEANING.
Another Denial of the Report that the
Navy Department Is Responsible for
Delay in the Invasion of Cuba.

WASHINGTON, May 25.-Secretary Long
to-day received an official dispatch announce
ing the arrival of the battle ship Oregon at
Jupiter inlet Fla. Her safe arrival in the
inlet was reported Immediately to the Presi-
dent. dispatch from Jupiter says the Ore
gon arrived there at 1920 o'clock last night
and left at 4 o'clock this morning The dis
patch says; "An effort was made to inter-
view the officers, but they declined to talk
and 1t was impossible to get any information
whatever. Ensign Johnson came ashore for
orders, but refused to be interviewed. He
reported all on board in good health" An
other dispatch from Jupiter Fla, says that
Lieut.. A. r, Davis, of the battle ship Ore
gon, came ashore there last night. Our
race said Lieutenant Davis, was a most
exciting one and especially after we left
Bahia, for we then knew of the possibility
of interception. Captain Clarke, however
kept the little fleet in constant readiness
and had we run into the Spanish feet we
would have been heard from AS it is, we
are all happy that our race from San Fran
cisco is now ended and that we will have a
chance to take part with the fleets now
looking for the Spaniards.' The Marietta
and Buffalo, formerly the Nictheroy, are
with the Oregon"
1t was rather reluctantly that the Navy
Department confirmed the report of the
presence of the Oregon at Jupiter The re-
luctance was shown because the department
mas regarded it as good policy to keep the
enemy in ignorance of the wherea bouts of
our naval vessels and so far has succeeded
of late In its efforts. While declining to give
any details of the trip at this time, the Off
Gals admit that the ship swung clear to the
eastward of both the Lesser and Greater
Antilles after leaving the Barbados until
she arrived at a point opposite the Bahia
mas, when she turned sharply in and made
for the Florida coast Just what she is doing
at Jupiter and vicinity cannot be learned
Perhaps she is lying there to guard the
great channel between the Bahamas and
Florida, as this would be the course followed
by the Spanish squadron or by the torpedo
boat destroyer Terror in the event the
Spanish had determined on an attack on
some of the cities of the North Atlantic
coast. In that case nothing would be likely
to pass the Oregon without rendering a fair
account. On the other hand she may have
simply put in at Jupiter to await the in
structions Of the department as to where to
proceed for cleaning and coaling, in which
case it would not be surprising if she ap-
peared at Port Royal naval station to-mor-
first time for q battle ship since her sister
ship, the Indiana, was carried in by Captain
Bob Evans a couple Of years ago.
The Oregon left Mare Island California,
thirteen thousand miles from Jupiter, on
March 10, so she has averaged two hundred
miles a day for sixty-five days. AS matter
OF fact the vessel has made much better
speed, for a good many days were lost in
taking coal at South American ports and
again by her long detour in reaching Flori-
da after having left Bahia, Brazil The Pa
cific coast contingent in Washington cannot
restrain their enthusiasm over the remark
able performance of this creation of the
slope workshops. Representative Hilborn
called at the Navy Department to verify the
news of the ships arrival and he found the
officials were fully disposed to agree with
him in all that he had to say as to the Ore
CONS great record He said that by this per-
Torrance the ship has silenced forever the
congressional critics of battle ships, who
had declared that no battle ship ever had
or would cross the Atlantic, for the Ore
CONS run was fraught with more peril and
involved straightaway stretches of greater
length than the Atlantic passage in any
season.
The locating of the Oregon came about in
a peculiar way, by means of the beach
watchers. who are on the alert for the APP
proach Of hostile ships. These patrols con-
tinue night and day, and last night the pa
troll was rewarded by sighting the b g Amer
lean battle ship. Signalling was begun by
the use Of torches and in that way mes
sages to and from the battle ship were ex-
changed throughout the night. These mes
sages in turn, were sent to the Navy De-
partment, which is connected with direct
telegraph line with the signal station near
Jupiter inlet. The Oregon did not send the
usual notice of her arrival. except through
the medium of a torch exchange with the
beach watchers. 1t is the first time the new
patrol system has had the opportunity to
show its efficiency, not only in guarding
against the approach of hostile ships, but
also in reporting to the Navy Department
the movements of our own ships.
The news of the safe arrival of the Ore
gon in American waters was source of un-
alleged satisfaction to all naval officers
Apprehension to the safety of the Oregon
practically disappeared when the vessel
reached Barbados and reported her arrival
to the Navy Department. but there was al
ways chance that she might suffer from
accident or hostile attack in the short dis.
lance remaining on her homeward journey.
ROT THE NAVY'S FAULT.
Delay in the Invasion of Cuba Due