Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1898 — OREGON SAFE AT LAST [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OREGON SAFE AT LAST

SECRETARY LONG MAKES THE WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENT. Battleship Left San Francisco About Seven Weeks Ago and Has Traveled Over 13,000 Miles-Spanish Fleet to Go to the Philippines. Dons Didn’t Get Her. Washington special: Secretary Ix>ng gave out the welcome information Wednesday that the battleship Oregon, the second largest craft in the" American navy, had successfully completed her long trip from San Francisco, making the entire circuit of South America, and was safe. The rigid secrecy of the navy department was relaxed only enough to make known the best news the navy department had received since the battle of Manilla, as it meant not only the Oregon .'"was out of harm’s way fr° m . a concerted attack on this one ship by the whole Spanish squadron in southern waters, but also that her great fighting strength would be added to Admiral Sampson’s force. The Oregon left San Francisco before the war had opened, and at that time it was not admitted that she was to join the ship's in Atlantic waters. She stopped at Callao for dispatches and then went round the Horn and up the east coast ■of South America. In all the trip covjered 13,000 miles. The last stretch, from 'Bahia to the Windward islands, was followed with anxiety by naval officers, for, 'by a strange coincidence, the formidable Spanish squadron of armored cruisers and boats approached the Windward islands at the very time when the Oregon was due there. It had been suspected that the Spanish admiral would try to intercept the battleship with his superior force, jond before leaving Bahia Capt. Clark of the Oregon was warned to keep a close (lookout for the Spanish fleet. In reply Capt. Clark expressed his confidence in {being able to hold his own single-handed with the Oregon against all the Spanish cruisers. The only apprehension he felt was as to the torpedo boats under the Spanish admiral’s command. Notwithstanding Capt. Clark’s assurances, the navy department continued to feel that a meeting between the Spanish squadronand the American battleship on such unequal terms was far from desirable, and might bring most serious results. For this reason the official information reaching the authorities telling of the Oregon’s safety was a source of most hearty congratulation.

HAVANA IN DIKE NEED.

Letters Via Mexico Say the Situation Is Desperate.

Leters from Havana by way of Mexico yay that the situation is desperate there, End that the people are beginning to eat orse meat, the few cattle in stock having ■been seized by the army. The insurgent ■bands are controlling the interior, and have taken possession of some towns, while Spaniards in large numbers control the northern coast. A strong Spanish (military line has been placed along the railway between Havana and Batabano.

On account of the great scarcity of iCoal, Gen. Bianco issued an order stopping the gas works and all manufactures .in which coal is needed; and the cool has .been stored by the Government for its use. Gen. Blanco says the dearth of provisions will be soon relieved.—'At a council recently he said: “Be confident, and 'let the people be confident, that Spain is 'not going to abandon us.” Gen. Arolas, imllitary commander of Havana, is better [prepared to repel an attack than is generally ‘believed. The rabid Spaniards are r making strenuous efforts to win over the Cubans. In a manifesto addressed to the Spaniards born on the peninsula or in

Cuba they say: “Let us forgive the smaU differences of tbe past, and unite like one man against the common enemy;’* Many Wish to Be Officers. Seventy-eight second lieutenants are to be appointed to the army by the President, as a result of the passage of the battalion measure, which inoreused both the numbers" and the officers of each infantry regiment. For these places there are 1,800 applicant?, and more are «pect-‘ ed. before the appointments are announced, ,

ADUISAI. CKStVERA. Commander of the Spanish Fleet.