The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-26
OREGON HAS BEEN WARNED.
Fully Able to Protect Herself From
Spanish Attack.
From the Kew York Tlmes.

From the New York Times.
Washington, April 2s.-Pubiic interest In
the fate of the battleship Oregon Is rival
ing that manifested in the success of the
blockade of Havana. This interest is in
tensThed by the fact that the vessel has
just steamed out of the Straits of Magell-
an and is creeping slowly up. the South
American coast into the zone Of daneera~
She has carried out her programme thus
far with admiral precision. She was 10
stop at Punta Arenas SANDY POINT, Chile
where she was TO join the gunboat Mari
eta, which had preceded her from Callao
by several days in order to arrange FOR a
supply of coal for herself and the big ship
She reached Punta Arenas yesterday. took
on 800 tons of COAL and has now left that
coaling station on her way to Montivideo.
This much was learned by the navy de-
partment yesterday.
Capt Charles L. Clark, her commander,
is now in possession of the news that war
has broken out between this country and
Spain He did not know this when he left
Callao, but he was advised when he left
that port to be on the lookout for Spanish
ships and TO guard against any attack by
torpedo or other vessels. He was also ad-
vised that the Temerario was lying in wait
for him at Buenos Ayres and would prob
ably sail down the coast and cross his
track. AS Capt. Clark now knows that war
has begun, he win know what to do with
the Temerario should that little waspish
craft undertake to challenge him. He has
also been Joined by the gunboat Marietta.
and the two vessels ought to be able to
make a good fight against any two vessels
that Spain can send out under her flag
The navy department, notwithstanding
the fact that the Oregon and Marietta are
now aware that war has begun, is very
much concerned fer the safety Of these
ships. 1t is not afraid that the Temerario
will 90 any damage to the big ship, but
its fear is based upon the fact that the
Spanish fleet lies between the flying squad
ron and two vessels that are coming up
the Southern Atlantic. If the flying
squadron, or part of it, were sent to pro-
teet the Oregon and bring her safely to
Capt. SIMPSONS fleet, it could not reach
her sooner than the Spaniards, If they
have any intention of trying to intercept
her in her northward trip.
Capt Barker, who until recently COM
manded the Oregon, laughs at these fears
He said to-day that the oregon can take
good care of herself, and he has no APP
prehension whatever of any mishap be-
falling her. AS to the threat of the Tenn
little craft could hurt the big ship is ridic-
ulous. He said that Capt. Clark is fully
able to guard the vessel from any attack
by the torpedo boat, as he is aware of the
situation, and is one of the best officers in
the navy. Besides, Capt. Barker has I'M
limited faith in the prowess of the Oregon
and he would not readily admit that she
could not hold her own against all the
Spanish ships assembled az Porto Grande
The officers and men OF the Oregon are
equally confident of being able to take
good care of themselves. In a private let
ter received here to-day by member
Of his family, an officer of the Oregon,
writing from Calloa under date of April
4, the day the vessel sailed for Punta
Arenas, says: ''Steaming through the
tropics in a battleship is rather a hot
experience, but if we get into a sharp
action with the Spaniards we may look
back on this trip as being cool. However.
we will make 1t warm for any one that
runs up against us. We were less than
sixteen days In making the trip, which is
a record breaker for battleship. SO far
she has done beautifully, and, I think,
will prove to be a fine ship under any
and all circumstances"