The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-19
CRUISER CHARLESTON SAILS
LOADED WITH AMMUNITION FOR AD-
MIRAL DEWEY'S FLEET.
VIII Take Over Three Weeks to
Reach ManiIa-SuccessfuI launch
ing of the Battle Ship Alabama.

WASHINGTON, May 1S.-Secretary Long
gave out the welcome information to-day
largest craft IN the American navy, had
successfully completed her long trip from
San Francisco, making the entire circuit
of South America, and was now safe. This
announcement was made officially and with
positiveness. Whether or not she has Joined
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet the secretary
would not say. The rigid secrecy of the
Navy Department was relaxed only enough
to make known the best news the Navy De-
partment had received since the battle of
Manila, as it meant not only that the Ore
gon was out of harms way from a con-
certed attack 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 admirars
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 Callao for dispatches and
then went round the Horn, and then up
the east coast of South America. In all the
trip covered more than 1900 miles. The
last stretch, from Bahia to the Windward
islands, has been followed with anxiety by
naval officials, for, by strange coincidence,
the formidable Spanish squadron of arm
ored cruisers and torpedo boats approached
the Windward islands at the very time
when the Oregon was due there. 1t had
been suspected that the Spanish admiral
would try to intercept the battle ship with
his superior force, and before leaving Bahia
Captain Clark. of the Oregon, was warned
to keep a close lookout for the Spanish
fleet. In reply Captain Clark expressed his
confidence in being able to hold his own
single-handed with the Oregon against all
the Spanish cruisers The only apprehen-
sion he felt was as to the torpedo boats
uIutT the OpdIlSH duILlI dI AOI
these are a new and practically unknown
element against the modern battle ship, and
Captain Clark, while confident of holding
out against these, also said chance blow
might be struck by them Notwithstanding
Captain C1arks assurance, the Navy De-
partment continued to feel that a meeting
between the Spanish squadron and the
American battle ship on such unequal terms
was far from desirable, and might bring
most serious results. For this reason the
official information reaching the author
tiles to-day was a source of most hearty
congratulation Where the report came
from was not made known, but the mere
fact that Secretary Long regards the Ore
gon as safe makes it evident that she has
passed we'll to the northward of the Wind
ward islands.
CORRESPONDENT PUNISHED.
The news bulletin issued by the Navy De-
partment to-day contained the following:
IAN order has been issued by the depart
ment forbidding the presence of Sylvester
Scovel, a newspaper correspondent, aboard
vessels of the navy or at any naval station
on account of his conduct in slowing him
self away on board of the tug Uncas on the
recent visit OF that vessel to Havana, he
having DSSn TtluSEu pSIIulSSlOH 10 20 DIS a
passenger.
Negotiations are in progress for the ex-
change of ThralI and Jones, newspaper
correspondents, for Colonel Cortejo and mill
itary Surgeon Julian, now prisoners of war
in the United States.
1.-THE Adula, with refugees from Glen
fuegos, left that port May IL for Kingston"
Aside from the foregoing information
Secretary Long said at the close of Office
hours that there was no further news to be
given out. The bulletins are not proving of
important news value, although they are
practically all that comes from the Navy
Department with its official approval. Late
in the day Secretary Long joined the war
board, which had been in session for some
hours, to participate in the discussion of
their plans, which are believed to have been
materially modified by the news received
from the Oregon
The cruiser Charleston, which started to-
day on her long journey to meet Admiral
Dewey at Manila, should arrive there in
about twenty-four days, allowing a couple
of days at Honolulu for coal. Nothing bet
ter illustrates the value of the swift, long
range cruisers of the type that make up
the Spanish flying squadron than the fact
that they would be able to make such a run
as lnls ulFectIy Itoih san FRANCISCO 10
Manila without stopping anywhere for coal,
at rate of speed about rs per cent. great
err than the Charleston. Admiral Dewey's
cablegrams show that he is able to MAIN
tain the ground he has gained until rein
forcements arrive in the usual course. so
that the Charleston will get there in time
to serve his purposes. The stock of am
munition which the Charleston carries is
believed to be the great essential Just now.