New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-17
THE oREGON's LONG CRUISE.

NECESSITY FOR CONSTRUCTING THE NICARAGUA
CANAL AGAIN sTRIKINGLY EMPHASIZED.
Washington. March ie (SpeclaD-The remarka BILE
voyage OF the battle-ehp oregon from San Fran
cisco join the squadron A. Key West may serve
20 emphasize the necessity Of ship canal across
the American Isthmus in more startling manner
than any occurrence which has yet been cited In
favor Of the Nicaragusn ard Panama propositions
The conditions which render 1t desirable for the
Oregon to reinforce the North Atlantic feet arc
not extraordinary, they such might he
expected to take place at any time. with trouble in
Cuba on the one hand or menace 10 Hawaii on
the other. In case serious trouble had threa tened
the Hawaiian Government last spring IL might
have been necessary to send number Of
vessels from the Atlantic TO the Pacific by revers
ing the route laid down for the oregon. In
the case OF Hawaii It might have been necessary
10 do this most expeditiously. for the American
force in the Pacific was insignificant compared, for
instance. with that OF japan.
The possible necessity for the presence of the
Oregon IN the West Indies q week or two hence
may be Of much Cravcr character though perhaps
II may be avoided. The Oregon Is able to over
come the balance Of armored power ahoat at pres
ent existing since the Maine was destroyed between
the United States and Spain.
The efforts OF the Navy Department TO secure
ordinary unprotected cruisers abroad, yachts In
New-York. tucboats In Boston. New-York and
Philadelphia. End the extreme haste manifested BY
the Army and Navy 70 prepare Tor an immediate
emergency rather than a crisis which might ne
postponed several months. accentuates the de-
STABILITY Of getting the Oregon TO Key West in
the shortest possible time.
While rated as a six,eer-kno, shir. tho Oregon
able her forced draught trial trip 10 main
tain only 1919 knots hour for four hours. COW
ering a little more than s.xty-seven miles in that
time. Loaded down for long cruise at her most
economical fuel consumption over long distances.
the Oregon would average knots hour at
her best and this rate only could she attain
her ultimate steaming radius Of 4,5m knots with
out recoaline For this radius, which Is indis-
pensabe 20 a vessel OF her Graught circumnavi-
eating the American continent. the oregon, In
addition to the 400 tons capacity % her bunkers,
would be compelled TO carry another hundred
@ SPEED pn 1t @ Eno %hh is
the best she Gan average over long distances
me mo- 10 reach Key West. Wv" '' wv
The most fsyorahly located ealing porte. on her
route from San Francisco, with their distances
spaT, n, Snos are %ssG 2 Pu3s
At ten knots an hour. the oreSon mgat accomplish
has no stops to MAKE But SS ao f bey s2e
will be empty. and four or ire Gays will be rc-
ed a, Punta Arenas. ana a, easf siX or seven days
a. Montevdeo. where the dec; load in ADDITION 10
the bunkers must be replenishcd and al Barbados
there viii he another stop Of three days. making
at least twelve and perhaps fifteen days los, in re-
on the trip % about seventy days.
lous alteration Of Conditions would be maneS 1 The
Oregon would take her place in Admiral Sicard' s
squadron. either IN time for the hist engagement
should war result. OF soon reinforcement
could under any conceivable circumstances be
needed.
. There would be delay OF a week in San Fran
cisco harbor building temporary structures 70 carry
the deckload OF coal. and the ship would be able 10
start ct once for Rrio. 2 700 knots distant, There
would be necessity to economic coal by holding
down TO ten-knot gait on this run but twelve
knots would be maintained
The passage Of the canal might take two and
half days at the outside. end from Greytown IA
Key West Is only 1900 knots, which would he made
at the rate Of twelve knots This triD would take
sixteen days. II would involve of the dangers
70 be met with an overloaded ship long
stretches OF ocean at the most chanreable sea-
son OF the year In all attitudes: II would Involve
the entrance into no trcacherous harbors for coal
no visits TO ports controlled by foreigners or posi-
BILE enemies, and # would save ffty-four days
which In critical period might ne Invaluable II
the Oregon and some OF the other warshiDs nov.
In the Pacific were needed by the United States
at Key West in the next three six weeks. the
Nicaragua Canal might in single Gav nav for
its cost Of construction.