The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-19
BATTLESHIP OREGON is SAFE.
pRoBABLY ALREADY PART OF AD-
NIRAL sAMPsON's FLEET.

sooretary Long Declines to Give Out
An,. information Concerning Her
rurther Than to Announce That
She Is safe-Cruiser Charleston
sorts for ManiIa-No More VOIun-
..ers to he Called for Until the
present Force Is Equipped.
washington, May lS.-Secretary Long
ave ont the welcome information to-day
,b,t the battleship Oregon. the second
,areest craft in the American navy, had
.,,ocessfu!ly completed her long trip from
San Francisco, making the entire circuit
nj 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 depart
ment was relaxed enough only to make
known the best news the navy depart
nent had received since the battle of Ma
nia, 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, IT, in
deed, 1t 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 1t was not admitted that
she was to join the ships in Atlantic wat
ers. 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 13 900 miles
Aside from this bit of information Sec
retary Long said at the close of Office
hours that there was no further news to
be given out.
Late in the. day Secretary Long Joined
the war board, which had been in session
for some hours to participate in the dis
cussion 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.
Admiral Dewey's cablegrams show that
he is able to maintain the ground he has
gained until his reinforcements arrive in
the usual course so that the Charleston
will get there in time to serve his purpose.
The stock of ammunition which the
Charleston carries is believed to be the
great essential just now, the fierce engage
ment at Cavite having consumed large
part of the American admlraPs shot and
she'll
Some little disappointment Is felt at the
navy department at the singular accident
that happened to the revenue cutter
Gresham yesterday when one section of the
ship was thrown into the st. Lawrence.
The immediate effect will be the loss to
the navy Of very efficient little gun
boat
There was a good deal of talk at the
war department to-day of the possibility
OF an issue by the President of another
call for volunteers, but careful inquiry
tends to warrant the statement that this
Is at least premature, and that no further
call is likely to be issued until the aggre-
gate number of soldiers already called
for have responded and have been equipped
for service. This last matter, the equip
ment of the new troops, is the main source
OF delay, and promises to become even
worse in the future.