The Irish standard., 1898-05-21
THE OREGON IS SAFE
The Big Battleship Now Beyond
Fear of Attack.
VOYAGE OF $4,000 NILES COMPLETED.
Knowledge of Her Exact Whereabouts
Withheld-Delteved to Have Joined
Sanlpson's Fleet-The Charles.
ton Sets Sail for Manila.

the second largest craft in the Ameri-
can navy, had successfully completed
her long trip from San Francisco, maxi
ing the entire circuit of South America,
and was now safe. Whether or not she
has joined Admiral SIMPSONS fleet the
secretary would not say. The rigid
secrecy of the navy department was re-
Taxed only enough to make known the
best news the navy department had re-
ceived since the battle of Manila, as it
meant not only that the Oregon was
out OF harms way from concerted at
tack on this one ship by the whole
Spanish squadron now in southern
waters, but also that her great fighting
strength would be added to Admiral
SIMPSONS force in the near future, if,
indeed, it had not already augmented
the admiral's strength.
The Ore&on's Long Voyage,
The Oregon left San Francisco about
six weeks ago, before the war had
opened and at that time 1t was not adj
mitted that she was to join the ships in
Atlantic waters. She stopped at Callao
for dispatches and then went around
the Horn and then up the east coast of
South America
In all the trip covered more than 49,
900 miles. The last stretch, from Bahia
to the Windward islands, has been fol-
lowed with anxiety by naval OFFICIALS,
for, by strange coincidence, the for
midable Spanish squadron of armored
cruisers and torpedo boats approached
the Win f3x,,or1 tel ~
when the Oregon was due there. 1t had
been suspected that the Spanish adj
miral would try to intercept the battle
ship with his superior force and before
leaving Bahia Capt. Clark, Of the Ore
gon, was warned to keep close look
out for the Spanish fleet. In reply Capt.
Clark expressed his confidence in being
able to hold his own single-handetl with
the Oregon against all the Spanish
cruisers. The only apprehension he felt
was as to the torpedo boats under the
Spanish admirars command, for thesa
are new and practically unknown ele-
mcnt against the modern buttleshiD.
and Capt. Clark, while confident of
holding out against these also said a
chance blow might be struck by them.
Notwithstanding Capt. Clarks as
surances, the navy department con-
tlnued to feel that a meeting between
the Spanish squadron and the American
battleship on such unequal terms was
far from desirable and might bring
most serious results. For this reason
the official information reaching the
authorities Wednesday was source of
most hearty congratulation. Where
the report came from was not made
known, but the mere fact that Secre-
tary Long regards the Oregon safe
makes 1t evident that she has passed
we'll to the northward OF the Windward
islands.
No Immediate Call for More Troop..
There is good deal of talk at the wal.
department of the possibility of an is
sue ny the president of another call
lor volunteers, but careful inquiry
tends to warrant the statement that
TINS is at least premature, and that no
further call is likely to issue until the
aggregate number Of soldiers already
called for have responded and have
been equipped for service. This last
matter the equipment of the new
troops IS the main source of delay, and
promises to become even worse in tho
future.
The Volunteers.
reports received at the adiutant gen.
erafs office up to IL o'clock Wednesday
night indicated that $4,000 volunteers
mad been mustered into the service of
the United States. The number mus
tered i'll Wednesday was comparatively
small because, in a majority of the
states whose troops have not already
been mustered it was examination day
the surgeons being engaged in pass-
ing upon the physical qualifications of
the volunteers presented The follow.
ing regiments are Ell route, each to the
permanent camp to which it has been
assigned: The Fourteenth New York
First Illinois, Ninth PENNSYLVANIA Son.
ond oregon, Sixth Illinois, Sixth Ohio.
lwenty-first Kansas, Eighth pennsvl.
wanna, First Colorado, Second Missouri,
second New York and Fifth Ohio.
VIII Get There ira Time.
Inc cruiser Charleston, which started
ednesday on her long journey to meet
Admiral Dewey at Manila should mr.
rive there in about "a days, allowing
couple Of days at Honolulu for cool
Nothing better illustrates the vnIuc Of
the swift long-range cruisers of the
type that make up the Spanish fyiny
squadron than the fact that they would
be able to make such run as this d.
rectly from San Francisco to Manila
without stopping anywhere for coal at
rate of speed about 25 per cent,
greater than the Charleston. Admiral
Dewey's cablegrams show that he il
able to maintain the ground he has
gained until reinforcements arrive in
the usual course, so that the Charleston
will get there in time to serve his pur-
poses. The stock of ammunition
which the Charleston carries is believed
to be the great essential just now, the
fierce engagement at Cavite having
consumed large part Of the Amer
lean admirals shot and shell.
The Charleston Sails.
Vallejo, Cal, May 10. - The cruiser
Charleston got under way for Manila
shortly after ten o'clock Wednesday
morning. Salutes were fired at the
Mare Island navy yard, and the en-