On April 14 the President sent a message to Congress strongly urging that it authorize the construction of four battle-ships of the largest type. A very strong effort was made by those who were in favor of having four, but the following day the vote was taken in the House and only two were authorized. The "Temps," of Paris, in commenting on the discussion enthusiastically indorsed the President's contention for a much greater navy. The sentiment in favor of great navies is becoming more and more popular.
Congressman Watson, in reporting an interview with the President, said that Mr. Roosevelt told him that there were "diplomatic reasons" for enlarging the fleet, this in addition to the general reasons that he presented in his message.
April 14 the 70-foot dam at Hauser Lake, Mont., gave way and hundreds of people are driven to the hills to keep from drowning. The houses in the vicinity are all under water, but so far as reported no lives were lost.
U. S. battleship "Oregon," she first left San Francisco Bay in March, 1898, under command of Captain (now Rear Admiral) Charles E. Clark, reaching Key West, Fla., on May 26, having sailed a distance of 14,000 miles. She assisted in the destruction of Cervera's fleet.
In welcoming the fleet to California, Governor Gillett expressed the opinion that the great naval battle of the future will be fought on the Pacific.
