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Show CARELESS IN THE FACE OF DEATH. Of the unpreparedness of the Russian fleet in the harbor of Port Arthur when attacked by the Japanese fleet, Americans must not be too critical. criti-cal. Our fleet off Santiago had been lying in wait thirty-six days, expecting that the Spanish fleet might emerge from the harbor at any moment. But really only three vessels were ready when the crisis came. They were the Oregon, the Texas Tex-as and the little yacht Gloucester. Some had all their engines detached except one; not one crew except that of the Oregon had been trained to put on the forced draft quickly. The Oregon had just come in from a 1G.000 mile trip, but her. engines were all right, the forced draft was on in 12 minutes; the coal of a superior kind had been saved for the occasion and the battle had hardly begun before the Oregon was rushing on at her trial-trip speed. Secretary Whitney had the plans for the Texas drawn in England. They were so faulty that they had to be changed in 'many de tails and the ship when completed was a little w B sided, but on that day she straightened up B any other Texan when a fight is on and did spen B did service. But "Bob" Evans could only get jq B knots out of the Iowa, a sister ship to the Ore- B gon, Admiral Schley's Brooklyn 22 knots couij Mm hardly keep up with the Oregon. Admiral Samp. B son's flag ship's 24 knots could not run to exceed B 1G knots. One would have thought that the fUct B would have been in perfect condition, but it was B not. The engineer department was in perfect Mm hands on the Oregon and she was about the only H ship thus equipped. B |