The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-19
BATTLEsHIP OREGON.

ing machines Alphabetically floating
fortresses. The Oregon's armor belt
Is Is inches, with six to II inches on
her turrets. She has more horsepower
than the Massachusetts, and Is half
a knot faster. On her trial trip she
made II knots an hour, and earned
premium Of $250,OO0. In her main bat
terry are four 13 inch, eight eight inch
and four six inch guns. Besides she
has 30 quick firing guns.
The Oregon left San Francisco about
six weeks ago. She stopped at Callao
for dispatches, and then went around
the Horn and up the east coast of
South America. In all the trip covered
more than 10000 miles. The last
stretch, from Bahia to the Windward
Islands, has been followed with anxiety
by naval officials, for by a strange CO.
Incidence the formidable Spanish
squadron of armored cruisers and tor
pedo 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
Captain Clark expressed his confidence
in being able to hold his own single
handed with the Oregon against all
the Spanish cruisers.
! Notwithstanding Captain Clark's as
surances, the navy department con-
tinued to feel that meeting between
the Spanish squadron and the Ameri-
can battleship on such unequal terms
MAS far from desirable and might
bring most serious results. For this
reason the official information reach
ing the authorities yesterday was
source of most hearty congratulation.
Where the report came from was not
made known, but the mere fact that
Secretary Long regards the Oregon as
safe makes 1t evident that she passed
well to the northward of the Wind
ward Islands.
Aside from this bit Of information
Secretary Long said at the close of
office hours that there was no further
news to be given out. During the day
the bureau Of navigation issued a bull
letin summarizing Commander Nc
Calais official report on the recent
engagement at Cienfuegos and adding
some minor features on the prospective
exchange OF prisoners etc. The bul.
tetins are not proving OF important
news value. although they arc practi-
cally all that comes from the navy
department with its official approval.
The cruiser Charleston, which start
ed yesterday on her long journey to
reinforce Admiral Dewey at Manila,
should arrive there In about "a days,
allowing 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
dying squadron than the fact that they
would be able to make such run as
this directly from San Francisco to
Manila without stopping anywhere for
coal at speed about 25 per cent great
er than the Charleston. Admiral Dew
ey's cablegrams show that he is able
to maintain the ground he has gained
until reinforcements arrived in the
usual course, SO that the Charleston
will get there in time to serve his pur-
pose The stock Of ammunition which
the Charleston carries 10 believed to be
the great essential just now, the fierce
engagement at Cavite having con.
sumed a large part Of the admiraPs
shot and shell.
There is a good deal Of talk at the
war department OF the possibility oi
an issue by the president of another
call for volunteers. but careful inquiry
tends to warrant the statement that
this is at least premature. and that no