The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-02
The Oregon pisnstcr.

| The Oregon Disaster.
There seems but small room for hope
that the splendid battieshp Oregon can
be saved. Expert opinion at the Navy
Department is decidedly pessimistic on
the subject 1t is stated that the condi-
items reported by Captain Wilde render
/ it highly improbable that anything can
be done to prevent total loss. The Ore
gon apparently is fast on a serrated reef,
with one rock through her side, and sew
eral more through her bottom. Only to
an inappreciable extent can she be light
ened. The jettison of her coal might re-
lieve her little, but, beyond that. there
is nothing but her armament that would
count. She is heavy above the water line,
and light below. All these considerations
are unfavorable.
1t is most unfortunate feature of the
disaster. that naval officers seem to re-
gard 1t as something that could have
been prevented by ordinary care and dill
gence. According to the report Of her
captain to the Navy Department, on June
%. the Oregon anchored in the Gulf of
Pe-Chi-Li, three miles south of the How
XII light. which stands on a high rock,
about thirty miles northeast of Chefoo.
dense fog was the reason for anchoring
When the weather cleared the ship got
under way, and shortly afterward struck
on Pinnacle Rock. There are two chan
nels near the HcT-Ki light. That north
OF it is four miles wide, and is marked
on the charts as decidedly the best"
1t is generally used by all vessels navi-
gatirs the waters OF the gulf. The chan
mel south OF the light is narrower ard
its southern edge is sprinkled with dan
gerous rocks. 1t is also imperfectly
charted, and is avoided by navigators when
possible. The Oregon took the southern.
or dangerous channel, when. as far as ap-
pears, the other could have been re-
sorted to with equal convenience.
From what can be gathered from profess
SIGNAL comment in Washington grave
scandal is likely to develop in connection
with this unhappy event. Captain Wilde,
commanding the Oregon, is an officer Of
experience and with an excellent service
record, but he was sent from Hongkong
inadequate and improper complement of
officers. great battleship is a complicat-
ed and costly machine, which demands for
its handling and navigation the highest
ability and experience. The Oregon was
about to go out of commission when the
Chinese situation became acute: hence its
directing force had been reduced to a mini
mum, and it started with anything but the
equipment of watch officers II should have
carried. captain may be the ablest' and
most trustworthy man in the service. but
he cannot stand on the bridge continuous
ly twenty-four hours every day. He must |
havo competent assistance. and this is |
what, 1t is to be feared, Captain Wilde |
lacked.
His executive officer and second in COM |
mand. within two and half years. is |
stated to have been twice court martialed |
for drunkenness on duty. The second time |
he was sentenced to dismissal from the |
service. On his appealing to President Nc
KinIey, and taking the pledge. his punish
ment was committed to a loss Of forty
nine numbers. which placed him at the |
bottom OF his grade. This is the kind OF |
person to whom Captain Wilde was COM
PEELED to turn over the control of his ship,
when venturing to snatch a few hours of |
sleep.
AS for the remainder Of the officers, the |
navigator is young man. but seven years |
out of Annapolis. his previous experience !
having been confined to the navigation of |
small craft. He was recently attached to |
the gunboat Princeton, which draws only |
ten feet of water. The senior watch off,
Ger on deck was graduated in 1898. and the /
six ensigns alternating with him in watch |
duty are all OF the Annapolis class of |
1900.
Even the ordinary layman is competent |
to say that whoever is responsible for plac-
ing a great national investment and de-
fence at the mercy Of such a combination
deserves utter condemnation and punish
ment OF the individual officers connected
with the battieship and its probable de-
struction it would be unfair to say more
at present But the country will demand
the most searching investigation. and that,
II blame is justly imputable to any OF
them, neither political considerations nor
favoritism shall stand in the way of dis
cipline.