The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-22
THE MONTEREY TOWER OF STRENGTH
Most Formidable Monitor in the World Sent to Reinforce Dewey
It Shows the Determination OF the Government to Hold the
Philippines-The Unequalled Record of the Oregon.

Washington. May 1.-The news event
of the day with the navy department
was the dispatch of the order to the
Monterey to proceed to Manila To re-
lnforce Admiral Dewey's squadron. The
Monterey is a tower of strength in her.
self, and her addition to Admiral Dew
ey's force. together with the dispatch of
thousands Of troops to Manila. is ample
evidence that the administration has as
sumed no half-hearted attitude toward
the Philippine question. and is deter
mined to take no chance of ~disposses-
sion until such time as the United
States itself has arranged for the dis
position of the islands The Monterey
Is probably the most formidable mont
tor in the world. yet she combines with
the enormous offensive and defensive
qualities of monitor type a seaworthi-
ness that Is almost phenomenal. The
Monterey is described technically as a
barbette turret, low free-board monitor.
of 1000 tons displacement. She is 256
feet long by 50 feet beam and II feet s
inches deep. She carries in two tur-
rets, surrounded by barbettes. two r.
inch and two l0-inch guns. while in her
" OIL btAN z AlAt tAAtt =
mounted six six-pounders. -four one
Founders and two Gatlings. The tur-
rets are ia and \ inches thick. and the
surrounding barbettes are IA inches and
liz inches of steel. and against the ar
NOR all the batteries in Manila might
thunder away without effecting an en-
trance. The Monterey's personnel Is 10
officers and 172 men. and once she is in
the entrance of Manila harbor nothing
in the shape of a navy would be likely
to bulge her from her position.
Her dispatch may have an important
bearing upon the Spanish governments
intention. so openly published. of send
ing reinforcements to Manila. The only
doubt as to the feasibility of sending
the Monterey is her small coal ca
pacity. She has bunker room for only
200 tons of coal. and. though more
might be stored, IL is doubtful whether
she could at the utmost carry more
than enough coal to take her to Homo
lulu. one-third of the way to the Phil
ippines. 1t is probable that the Mont-
Grey will go in convoy, and after ex-
hausting the Goa that she will take on
in Honolulu. she must either be towed
about 1000 miles of her trip or perform
the difficult operation Of coaling at sea.
The navy department gave out nc
news to-day touching the movements
of the American and Spanish squa-
drons in the neighborhood OF Cuba. II
is plain 10 be seen. however, h a the
officials are expecting great events 20
occur at any moment. What they most
fear is the effect that might be pro-
duced upon our people by greatly ex-
aggerated and misleading reports from
Spanish sources of some great naval
engagement If the Spaniards should
claim the victory. IL is realized that
the fret news OF an engagement In the
n~eighborhood of Cuba or to the east
ward may reach the United States
through the Spanish cables via Madrid,
and they are almost certain. no matter
what the result may be. to make such
a lain of victory for the spanish.
Obviously the only now In
which the truth could be discovered
would be through our w officers.
The nav department is proud of the
record made by the Oregon from an en-
cheering point of view. The reports
TO the department from the ship show:
that she does not need ) cents worth
of repairs to her machinery after hei
Is. 900 miles continuous run.
The record Is .said never 10 have beer
equaled since the building OF the frs
iron warships. The Buffalo. which
comes with the Oregon from Brazil. |:
to be o~verhauled at Newport News. fur
nished with armor. given a good battery
OF five-inch gun and altogether made q
very effective modern cruiser. This vii
take about two months.
The Chicago naval reserve has com
TO the aid Of the navy department in q
most gratifying manner. They have no.
insisted upon entering the navy as an
organization, but have enlisted indi'
vidually as volunteers. to the number oil
200. Commander Hawley, who is doins
the work of recruiting for the depart
ment. telegraphed that they would be
ready for service Monday. that they are
splendid men n In a large proportion
seamen.