Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-13
Rear Admiral Who Braughl The
Oregon Through Describes The
Dangers 10 The Strait.
THERE'S LITTLE HOLDING GROuN1
Declared Safe Anchorage 10 Almost
Unknown Throughout the Entire
Western t,alf Of Passaoc-consldcra
1t PeriIous to Send Vessels Through
In Squadron Formation.

MONTPELIER. VII. Sent. r.
,.o"r Admiral Charles t. Clark, u.
-. w. retired, of bntticshlp Oregon
.u'ho. VINO Is well qualified 10 speak
upon the subject, points out dnnrora
cohirontin. the giant fleet or wo,.
Vessels which the government nro.
poses to send to the Pacific coast
rear Admiral Clark, who has mt
Iccohtly returned from Switzerland
INA mas been spending some timo
III vermont. believes there is scrl-
Gus menace TO the fleet should n he
sem through the Strait of Magellan
49, '"ot formation For one hundred
i,Vh 'hc shore Is rocky and procl.
,In', nhd ine bottom affords prac.
'"ny no holding ground for anchors.
III caSe oil rough weather there would
nc no way to hold moro than ono shin
and to proceed through tho tottuo,,s
cnhhhel would be- risky. When asked
II he considered the voyage danger.
Gus The rear admiral said:
why, yes; but our vessels arc
nuilt Tor service and capable of por.
ioi ming H. Our vessels. our officers
anu our men nrc of tho best. nnd
wnltever can be successfully accom-.
I'lishcd by OTHER ships and other
crows Is easily within tho capnbiIi.
ucs OF our thips and our crews" +
! me modesty OF Rear Admiral Clark
/ prevented him from telling how he
ana ms men of the Oregon had demon.
s.rated the feasibility of the plan.
ms record breaking whirlwind trln
| rom the Pacific TO tho Atlantic exactly
nc reVofse OF that contemplated for
nc n'nnmoth fleet. Is closed book
u, ~ SO lar as he liz concerned now, but
~ priNn'n conversation he has told
some OF his friends many interesflnr
stories of that voyage.
III MS ] understand. tho trin is to
be undertaken late this fnlI n viii
be the best time OF the ycnr." he
SAID. The summer at the southern
chd OF the continent Is at inc time of
our winter. by making the passaoe
through the Strait OF Magellan In
summer the fleet would avoid tho
nanScrolls weather that sometimes
n,"kcs The passage difficult and would
also avoid the darkness that often
makes voyaging there pcrilous."
Ihen you think there is no danger
TO the fleet in undertaking the trip?"
That Is hardly true. should not
ieei Ike pointing out any of the DIFF.
l ncnliios If did not believe that
'n'sc Ill charge had considered these
| i""''crS ana would regulate the man.
nsement of tho feet accordingly.
For instance. much of the distance
through the Strait of Magellan
especially the last 200 miles, the
shore is rocky and precipitous. the
i water is deep and the bottom affords
mule good holding ground. ! should
consider II unwise TO send the yos.
sells through in squadron formation.
ior In case of rough weather, there
might not be good anchorage for
more than one vessel. while tn pro.
coed through the tortuous channel
would be to take great risks. There
arc TWO hundred miles between SANDY
Point and Port Famine. whore YES
seis might encounter serious danger
formation.
Il should presume that all this
:, would be foresccn and that tho rear
admiral In command of tho expedi.
ton would send his vessels through
III twos or thrccs ami have them
rendezvous at some point beyond the
Strait.
There. IL seems to me. Is the only
point whore the fleet. If it is to be
sent would encounter more than the
ordinary pcrils OF an ocean voyage.
such cruise might be of benefit
IN testing the capacity of our vessels
Tor trips little more difficult than
The passage of the Atlantic and would
AFFORD he mon a knowledge of this
l. bad hit nj nnvIoat4nn