Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-19
OREGON'S WHEREABOUTS
1t Passed the Island of Martinique
Yesterday.
Three SquadrOns I'm Cuban Waters to
De Observation-Disclosures of Same
Type to Be Associated.

I there is no longer any doubt that they
/ have passed the danger line in the Carib-
bean sea and are now very near Admiral
! SIMPSONS fleet. IL indeed they have not
| already Joined 1t.
| 1t developed today that the news of the
! safety of the three vessels was sent to the
State Department by one of the American
consuls in the Windward Islands. thus n
dicating conclusively their presence in that
vicinity. Initiating their brethren in the
Navy Department, the officials of the State
Department decline 10 give out any in
| formation on the subject.
| From other sources, however, it is learn
| ed that the information received by the
! de partment was to the effect that the
| American feet passed the Island of Mar
| Unique yesterday morning, and is row pre-
| sumably very near If not with Admiral
SIMPSONS squadron in Cuban waters.
The Oregon's Long Trip.
These three vessels, the oregon in par
ticuiar, will form a most valuable addi-
| ton to the naval forces in their operations
| i'm Cuban waters. The Oregon left San
| Francisco abou six weeks ago, before the
| war had opened. and made good progress
| around the South American continent. The
trip covered more than 1300o miles. and
| was made without accident or drawback OF
| any kind.
| The last stretch, from Bahia to the Wind
| ward Islands, was attended with consider
| able danger owing to the presence of the
| formidable Spanish fleet in the intervening
| waters. Captain Clark. commanding the
| Oregon, was fully advised of the presence
| of the Spanish fleet and warned to keep a
| close lookout for it. In acknowledging re-
| ceipt of these instructions Captain Clark
| expressed confidence in the ability of the
| Oregon to hold its own sngle-handed
against the Spanish fleet, and that mis- only
apprehension was with respect to the tor
| pedo boat destroyers, the latter being an
| unknown element in modern warfare.
| Notwithstanding Capt. Clarks assurances
o. his ability to take care of himself, The
| naval officials felt considerably relieved to
learn that he had reached the windward
Islands without having been put to the
necessity of demonstrating the fighting
caracity of his ship against superior num-
| bers.
A Reorganization.
One of the first effects of the arrival of
| the Oregon and her companions in Cuban
| waters will be the reorganization of the
| three squadrons now operating in that vi
| entity with a view to rendering them more
| effective against the Spanish fleet than was
| possible under the arrangement which was
| originally made by the naval strategic
| board.
| Instead of having battle ships. cruisers
| and Other types of vessels in each fleet Ii
| has been practically decided to divide the
| large available naval force now in southern
| waters into three squadrons, each COM
| posed Of the same type of vessels so far
| as possible. Under this arrangement a
heavy fighting feet will be made up of
battle ships and monitors with possibly a
| few torpedo boats, for service where most
needed. This fleet will probably fall to the
| command of Admiral Sampson.
| Another fleet, composed mainly of I'M
protected cruisers. gunboats and torpedo
beats. Will probably DE organized. under
command of Commodore Watson, for serv-
ice mainly in enforcing the blockade of
| Cuban ports.
| The third fleet. which would be flying
squadron, in fact as well as in name. will
probably be placed in command of Com
modore Schley.
IT will probably be composed Of the ar
| mored cruisers New York and Brooklyn.
| the cruiser Minneapolis and the protected
cruisers New Orleans, Cincinnati, Mont
| gomery, Mlrblehead, Detroit and possibly
| the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius. This fleet
| is composed of the fastest vessels in the
American navy, and its main duty will be
| to run do IN and destroy if possible the
Spanish admirars fleet, which heretofore
has Sc successfully evaded all attempts to
catch it.
Monitors on Guard.
The slow-going monitors will be placed
or guard at the important harbors of Ha-
vana and Cienfuegos. where they will
operate with the battle ships and other
vessels in preventing the Spanish admiral
from effecting a junction with Gen. Blan-
cos army.
In case the Cape Verde feet should seek
refuge in the port of San Juan it will be the
duty of the new flying squadron and Ad-
miral SIMPSONS fleet of battle ships, now
reinforced by the Oregon, to shut him in
that port with a view to the capture or de-
struction of the entire fleet.
The Spanish Fleet.
Naval stre tegists do not expect the Span
ish admiral to seek fight against a su-
perior force and consequently feel that he
will continue to pursue his evasive course
until an opportunity presents itself of doing
damage to detached vessels of the Ameri-
can navy. 1t is on this theory, it is said,
that a real flying squadron has been
formed.
A feet of thet character is expected to
run down the Spanish squadron and either
destroy it or compel it to seek safety in
flight to home waters. If. as some officials
think probable. Admiral Cervera's fleet
Will shortly appear in the vicinity of Porto
Rico, it is likely that an important naval
engagement will occur within the next
few days.
1t is possible, however, that the Spanish
fleet will conclude to return to Spain with
out risking a fight with the superior naval
forces in American waters.
Secretary Long said this afternoon that
he had received no adyices as to the where
abouts of the Spanish fleet. and had no in
formation indicating that battle was i'm
minent