Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-05-27
THE oREaoN's SUCCESSFUL RUl

THE oREGoN's SUCCESSFUL RUN.
Secretary Long gave out the
welcome information Wednesday
that the battleship Oregon, the
second largest craft in the Ameri-
can navy, had successfully COM
pleted her long trip from San
francisco, making the entire Cir
cult Of South America, and was
safe, whether or not with Admiral
SIMPSONS feet the secretary |
would not say. The rigid secrecy
of the navy department was only
relaxed enough to make known
the best news since the battle of
Manila, as meant not only that the
Oregon was out of harms way
from a concerted attack on this
one ship by the whole Spanish
squadron now in Southern waters,
but also that great fighting
strength had been added to Samp-
sons force, if it had not already
augmented the Admiraps strength.
The Oregon left San Francisco
about six weeks ago-before the
war had opened, and at that time
it was not admitted that she was
to join the ships in Atlantic waters.
She stopped at Calao for dis
patches, went around the Horn,
and then steamed up the east coast
of South America. In all she
covered more than $4,000 miles.
The last stretch, from Bahia to
Windward Islands, has been fol.
lowed with anxiety by naval
officials, for, by strange coinci.
dence, the formidable Spanish
squadron of armed cruisers and
torpedo boats approached the
Windward Islands at the very
time the Oregon was due there, 1t
had been suspected that the Span
ish admiral would try to intercept
the Oregon with his superior force,
and before leaving Bahai Capt.
Clark, of the Oregon, was warned
to keep q close lookout for the
Spanish feet. Capt. Clark ex-
pressed confidence that he could
hold out single handed with the
Oregon against all the Spanish
cruisers. The only apprehension
he felt was as to the torpedo boats
under Admiral Cerveta's com.
mand, for they are new and prac-
tically unknown elements against
the battleship, and Capt. Clark,
while confident of holding out
against these, also said a wicked
blow might be struck by them.
The official information received
about the Oregon was cause for
happy congratulations in the navy
department. Where the report
came from cannot be made known
but Secretary Long regarded the
Oregon as safe.
The cruiser Charleston has
sailed for Manila with ammunition
and provisions for Admiral Dewey
The Charleston will be about "a
days in making the trip.
There is talk of the president
} issuing another call for volunteers
but he will hardly do so until the
125,000 already asked for have
been raised and equipped for ser
vice. About 100000 have been
mustered in to date.
. Cape Hayden, May ola pas
senger from Port de PaiX, who ar
rived on the Haytien steamer
today, brought a rumor that q
fight had taken place off Mole st
Nicholas, in which IL Spanish
warships had been sunk and tive
American warships had been dis
abled. The report, however, lacks
!, confirmation. 1t is reported here
from vague source, that cannon
aiding was heard off the Mole to
ward the northward yesterday
ceasing at nightfall, and that TIT
/ firing was renewed early today
, and continued until noon.
Washington, May %
The rumors Of a great naval-battlO
current last night were disposed
Of by the navy department earl,
today in the following official bul
letin: mo truth in the published
statement concerning an engage
ment off st. Nicholas Mole, Hayti
. in which IL ships were sunk"
} The United States monito
| itor Monterey has been ordered
to Manila to reinforce Admira
, Dewey's fleet. The Monterey
probably the most formida5l
monitor in the world. She carrie
two 12.inch and two 10-inch gun
+ besides an arsenal of smaller ones
Her armor is so heavy that tn
!. batteries Of Manila might thunde
, at her in vain. The Monterey
personnel is nineteen officers an
172 men and once she is safely i
0 the entrance of Manila harbo
D nothing in the Spanish navy woul
/. be likely to bulge her from he
a post.