New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-03
THE NEXT NAVAL BATTLE.
1T WILL PROBABLY BE FOUGHT IN
AMERICAN WATERS.
BETWEEN SPANS ARMoRED SHIPS AND THE
oREGoN-A VICTORY EXPECTED
Y EITHER CASE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

BY TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE.l
Washington. May 2.-Oficlal Washington's
elation over the glorious achievement OF Amer
lean sailors on the other side OF the world while
for the most part finding vent in demonstrations
Of the widest enthusiasm. gives no indication
Of carrying off their feet or turning the heads
Of the Army and Navy officers. who. under the
Communicating Chief OF all the forces Of the
United States. charged with the responsible
iiy Of guarding the country and defeating It's
enemies. Superb and inspiritng ms has been
Dew"y's decisive action. and tremendous as It's
moral effect must be on the entire civilized
world experienced men among them the Pres
dcnt who has himself been aware Of the pc
culiar fortunes Of war notably when Sheridan
dashed down the valley and changed over
whelming defeat into victory-know too well
that the fall 81 the Philippines will hardly end
the war. and that heavy fighting may soon take
place much nearer the shores Of the United
States
PREPARING FOR THE TEST.
With no reflection on American arms. and
with faith IN the outcome. they have already
sounded a warning against overconhdcnce and
have redouhled their preparations for the SUI
preme test that may come in n short time on
tho Atlantic. when the heavily armored and
most powerful ships Of the two complaints Will
be pitted against one another. The flower Of the
Spanish Navy is now. according to many re-
ports westward hound. and whether II Will at
tempt a desperate assault on NewYork or rem
devious in force at Porto Rico attempt 10
destroy tho Oregon the resulting combat Is ex-
pccted to he sanguinary and destructive 10 the
last degree
II tho aim ~ tho unarmorod squadron which
left Cape verl Is Ncw-York. Commodore schley
J,,oi -
modern times. IN which the annihilation Of one
or both fleets VIII probably be as complete "a
that suffered by tho Spaniards yesterday in the
Fay Of Manila n the four formdahle cruisers
have Porto Rio as nm objective. thor" will
IN all probability he a prompt repetition NJ yes-
terday's achievement tho attacking force IN
this event being composed n the heaviest AGht-
ers from Samoeon's and Schloy'e commands.
The third proposition. which has had more
serious coneido ratlon hore and. h'ugh tho
most plausible IS beyond tho power Of this
Government with the present position ~ i's
feet to avert presupposes that the Spaniards
mean - intercept the oregon. The strateCical
conditions are most favorable for such An un-
dertakinG on their part The Oregon NJ RIO
was ius, one thousand niles from Pernamhuco.
the most eastern port 81 tho American CONT
nent. whore South America protrudes into the
Atlantic over three thousand miles from Key
West
From this pint s. Vincent IS only 1000
miles away loss than nvc days stoaminG for
the Spanish cruisers. which could 'h'n j." IN
wait with the certainty u a battle rovai.
LITTLE FEAR FOR THE oREGoN.
Against FOUR - the finest vessels Of tho span
,sh Nav, each ~ : 900 tons. with Finch armor.
and armed with ! pair - ll-inch rifles and i"n
5i5-inch rapud-nre guns the lnuW-ion oregon.
with her I3-inch harbeite plating and four II
incn. cirh, s-lnch and four 6-inch hr"eoh-ioad-
jnr rinos could re relied upon however great
superhcially tho odds may appear. 70 render
l,et sat- facfory account ~ herself To "hip
h,r tremendous eecrirces would b" imperative
,pon the Spaniards vhore guns. unless chance
shot should he effective. would rain their pro
ioctilos harulessly against her Incompatible
Harvested protection. for they would hav" 20
IA, tho muz7los ~ her tremendous l3-'nch
guns a. short range IN an attempt 20 SINK her
lv rar,n.rr. and il is doubtful u any such
cruiser could survive the terrific effect of h"r
haif-tcn proiectiles long enough to accomplish
such a pu-poso The oregon could undoubtedly
dcfoa; three such vessels ms the Nzcaya. and
IN tho or,nlon ~ naval experts the presenc" ~
fourth would only serve 70 max" the engage
mont highly interesting
Tho apparent disparity between me your 10
irch guns - me oregon ann VT" ''S.' "
guns ~ 'he your oomhlnN4 shlps against n"' '""'
y" better apIr"ci"''d "H'" ~ S'"''' NAV u,
IL Inch proj"cih"s "e'En I'I'" p'"''N ~
Will" IN" lo-in'h pr"J''''''S " "'''' "" -" goo
than 800 pounds
4 Noley from m" orerons n"ANi'S' gums
would Therefore aggr"Rai" 44'' ponnds' VIII"
q Voll"y from tho "nrr" main 'a''"ry "i TIT"
four Spaniords combined would weigh hpout
4 ol.n ,ounds
-.,,o h,,.or, q, tho cna,fards
i"" SUI .,,.. -
consisting of zen PIN" t"'9' "'"'''' -
textiles Of 1OI pounds weight. while tho eight
. ,. 1870 49,. c-o,o, ,hror a o5o- mound
. 'h'" gums ' - 20