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Show FLEET NEAHS EIID of mym Only Few Days More of Spectacular Spectac-ular Cruise of Our Battleships Battle-ships Around World. LESSONS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO NAVAL CIRCLES LEARNED Changes' of Admirals and Promotion Pro-motion of Ofiicers One Feature Fea-ture of the Journey. OLD PORT COMFORT, Va., Feb. 14. Half way across tho Atlantic ocean on tho last long reach of their spectacular spectacu-lar cruiso around tho world, tho sixtcon battleships of tho United States Atlantic At-lantic fleet aro steaming today in leisurely fashion towards tho anchor-ago anchor-ago grounds of Hampton Roads, from whenco they sailed just fourteen months ago. During these mouths of record steaming, the. heavily armored fighting vessels have traveled approximately 4o,- 000 miles aud. aro returning in condition condi-tion still fit for "a frolic or a fight.' Thc cruiso has been a voritablo expedition expedi-tion of thc seven sons, and tasks horo-toforo horo-toforo deemed impossible for the modern mod-ern ironclads have been accomplished with an caso bordering on tho commonplace. com-monplace. Tho stories of thc cruiso have nccn succeeding chapters of receptions, banquets, ban-quets, balls and merrymaking, but back of all this relaxation and cntortaining in tho hospitable ports of thc two hemispheres hemis-pheres has been a test of men and .ma-tcrial, .ma-tcrial, which has placed the American navy in an enviable position beforo all the world. Tho engino room efficiency in tho longer legs of tho journey, developing de-veloping a new nnd unexpectedly wide steaming radius for a battleship; tho facility in following tho motions of the flagship iu the fleet, squadron and divisional di-visional maneuvers which camo with constant experience at sea, and, abovo all, tho marvelous records mado at the targets in Magdalcna and Manila bays tell of tho real work and thc substantial substan-tial accomplishments that have marked this most notable of peace demonstration demonstra-tion among thc navies of tho world. Ko'pt Close to Schedule. Thc previously arranged schedule of the journoys from port to port had been adhorcd to iu remarkable mannor, except in two instances, when violent storms made full speed too dangerous and uncomfortable. un-comfortable. To offset theso lapses from punctuality tho fleet has mado somo of its longest runs two whole days ahead of time. None of the undertakings un-dertakings imposed upon tho ships or the men has been too difficult. The cruise,, hnwovor, was not inaugurated without serious misgivings at homo and abroad. Victor M. Mctcalf of California Cali-fornia was secretary of tho navy when tho cruiso began. After the ships had set sail from Manila, with homeward home-ward bound pennants flying, Mr. Mctcalf Mct-calf said: "When the purpose of giving this assemblage as-semblage of battleships the privileges and advantages of a practical cruiso was announced, criticisms from high tcchuical quarters were heard. It was suggested that the undertaking was too monumental; that battleship ia too vast and complicated a piece of mechanism to send around the globo on any ordinary ordi-nary occasion: that dangers more than multiplied with numbers in such a case: 1 hat disaster lurked on every submerged ledge and was borne on every unknown tidal current; that the skeleton of some of the ships would doubtless bo lofb in the straits of Magellan; that, if the fleet should succeed in rounding South Amcricn, it was reasonably certain that the individual ships would; ono by one, arrivo with machinery looso and almost al-most unserviceable, with crews reflecting reflect-ing the demoralized condition of tho material, and that a woeful spectacle of failure would thus bo presented. "As to tho material, tho cold facts are that tho ships havo practically taken caro of their own repairs on this cruise. The repair lists turned in at the Cavito Naval station wero negligible." negli-gible." Great Drill for Men, That tho experience gained on thc cruiso will bo of unending benefit to thc navy is indicated from tho fact that probably ono half of the cntiro personnel person-nel of tho naval establishment participated partici-pated in tho opoch-making trip. Three of tho sixteen captnins who sailed in command of vessels are returning homo as rear-admirals. ISight other captains arc returning in command of the samo ship on which they began tho journey of the world. From renr-ndmiral down to midshipman tho training has been such as no othor naval cruise ever afforded. af-forded. Among, tho enlisted men, tho training has boon even more valuablo. Landsmen, shipped just beforo tho start and utterly green m tho ways of the deep, arc coming homo an integral part of a wonderful fleet officioucy aud loyal believers in all that tho American navy stands for. Desertions on Iho trip have becji fow. Tho inpu havo taken a prido in the cruiso, and it will he a constant boast with thorn that thoy startod to tho west from Hampton Roads and caino homo with prows still turned in that direction. They know tho world is round, and thoy know what it is lo work and play over 1,000 miles of the watered surface of the globo. Changes of Admirals. To Rear-Admiral Charles S. Sporry, a strict disciplinarian, a man of fow words, but a recognized scholar and constant student of tho higher arts of naval science, fell tho task of directing the licet on all but tho first 14.000 miles of its journey. Roar-Admiral Robloy D. Evans, now retired, took tho licet out of Hampton Roads on Docomber 1G, 1007, and, although illness soon after tho start confined him to his cabin for a greater part of tho wav, ho retained command until San Francisco was reached and tho first stage of tho long trip had boon accomplished. Rear-Admiral ISvans found it necessary whilo tho ships wore at Iho targets in Magda- Coutinucd on Pago Three. FLEET NEARS END OF GREAT VOYAGE Continued from Pago One. lena bay to -leave the fleet and seek ,treatent at Paso Robles hot springs, Cal. fHis flaR-Heutcnant went with him and he retained his rank of commander-in-chief. When the ships roached Monterey bay, the, last stopping placo on the Pacific coast prior to tho entry into San Prancisco harbor, Admiral Evans was helped aboard his old flagship flag-ship and was on the after bridge when the Connecticut entered the Golden Gate at the head of tho most formidablo array of fighting vessels over gathered under ono flag. Tho Atlantic and Pacific Pa-cific fleets joined company in tho bay, and there were more than forty ships in the four long columns that camo to anchor under Evans's blue ensign. Three days later Admiral Evans hauled down his flag for all time. Ho was succeeded as commander-in-chief by Bear-Admiral Charles H. Thomas, who sailed from Hampton Roads in command com-mand of the second, squadron. Becauso of Admiral Evans's illness, the burden of tho diplomatic calls, tho speeches and tho entertaining of the trip around South America and up the California coast fell upon Admiral Thomas. Coupled with his duties as second in command, with the commnnder-in-chief ill, tho social burden was not a light one. Admiral Thomas was plainly failing fail-ing in health when he succeeded Admiral Ad-miral Evans, and he retained official command only from May 9 to 15, 1908, I being relieved at that time, ahead of I the department's plans, in order that ho might enjoy a rest. As Bo fleet was sailing from San Franciscp two months later, Admiral Thomas died suddenly at Del Monte, Cal. Death in Official Banks. Death has twice invaded the ranks of the captains who sailed with the fleet, but m both instances tho officers had prex'iouslv been relieved from duty. Capt. Henry "McCrea of tho Georgia, a most popular officer, died soon after his return to the east, following relinquishment relinquish-ment of command at San Francisco. Capt. Grcenlief A. Merriam, who took the Missouri to the Pacific coast, a tradable tra-dable man, also died within a comparatively compara-tively Bhort .time after turning his vessel ves-sel over to a successor. Rear-Admiral Sperry, who returns as commander-in-chief, sailed as commander com-mander of the fourth division of the fleet, being ranked b3' both Admirals Evans and Thomas. Rear-Admiral "William "Wil-liam H. Emory was the fourth of the sailing admirals, and he was retired while the ships were at Manila. Capts. Seaton Schroeder of the Virginia, Rich-aud Rich-aud Wainwright of tho Louisiana and William R. Potter of the "Vermout were the captains who attained flag rank during tho cruise. Intent of the Voyage. Leaving Hampton Roads on a cloudless cloud-less day in December, 1907, after a review re-view bv tho president from the bridge of tbe'Mavflower, tho first run of the fleet took it to Trinidad. It had been announced that tho practice cruise would ond on the west coast of tho United States, but hardly had tho ships got under way than the fact became known that it was really Mr. Roosevelt's Roose-velt's intention to have the sixteen battleships circumnavigate the globe. At Trinidad the first of the gaycties occurred. The officers and men of the fleet wero we'leomod with a hospitality which set a mark for all succeeding receptions, re-ceptions, and from that time on each succeeding port tried to outdo its predecessor. The climax of lavish displays, dis-plays, of parties and receptions, undoubtedly un-doubtedly camo in Australia and Japan, although it would be difficult for tho officers and men today to say just where it was the people tried hardest to make th'cir stav a pleasant one. Among the men. Los Angeles will always be a "bright memory, for it was there that they first came" into their own on the trip aud all entertainmeuts woro arranged ar-ranged in particular for the o-'istcd force. It was in Los Angele? a Km that Jim Jeffrie?, I'hampion of the world, ref creed the .tailors' boxing bonis aud mingled with tht;m in all their sports. Some Interesting History. From Trinidnd the fleet called next at Rio, where the days of the visit were overcrowded with social events. At Rio an unfounded rumor told ot a plot ny auarchists to blow up some of the American vessels. Tho first, thrill, of fear which swept the nation was quickly quick-ly dispelled when the story was shown to be a pure fabrication. From Rio the j itinerary led to Punta Arenas, that unique and interesting ."farthest HOiith" settlement on the straits of Mn-pcllan Mn-pcllan Here airain a hospitable pooplc made the stay of the fleet an exceeding-v exceeding-v pleasant one. Tho Chilean govern-mci govern-mci t sent a cruiser to accompany the sixteen battleships through the treacherous treach-erous waters of tho straits, and although tho navigators of the American vessejs had already plotted their own course through the narrow, rock-walled waterway water-way the courtesy of the South American Ameri-can nation wns fully nnpreciatcd. When the ships had sal cly lort the ctrnits the department officials at Washington undoubtedly breathed a ei-h of gratified relief. i although on the Sixteen big ironclads themselves, there whs never a question in tho mind pt -.1 v otr or enlipted man as to the t JfWy of the sturdy fighting, craft. Sailinc up the western coast or. South America the fleet passed in review of the president of Chile, in the harbor of Valparaiso, sweeping in a great curve into the harbor and out again before tho admiring eves or a deeply impressed neople. No stop were made between Punta Arenas and Callao where again the ontertainments otfercd the visitors taxed every day's time to the utmost. flor Callao came Magdnlena, where for a month the ships wore put of .touch with the world except by wireless telegraph v. Drills and record target practice filled tho time at Magdalona. It was a month of real work a mouth of work enjoyed by all. Record target practice is eagerly anticipated every year. It is a time that every sailor, "no matter how now he may be in tho service, gets a chance at tho guns, provided pro-vided he has shown any sort ot apti- tudo in tho "ping-pong" trials which are continuous aboard tho mou-of-war in port and out. It is at record practice prac-tice that the men attain tho rank of "gun-pointer " and got a white star and crossed circle on their blouse-sleeve blouse-sleeve if thoy mako a cortain mark. To bo a gun-pointer means extra pay each month, according to tho clasB attained, at-tained, and thero is prize money for all, if tho 6hip's guns as a whole make a deserving record. The record practice prac-tice of last spring dovolopod an accuracy ac-curacy and rapidity of fire never before attained. Welcomed Everywhere. After Magdalena came the excursion of the fleot to the California resorts and there was apparently a nover-ond-ing programme of merrymaking.' At San Diego (Coronado beach), at the ports of Los Angeles, at Santa Barbara, Bar-bara, at Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Francisco, the peoplo of California received re-ceived the fleet with -wild acclaim. It wasthe first time that such an array of fighting vessels had been seen on tho Pacific coast, and California celo-brated celo-brated with a hospitality, for which tho people of the stato are noted. A trip to Pugot Sound took tho fleet to Seattle,. Tacoma and Bellingham, and these cities offered an entertainment which ranked with the very best of tho entire trip. When the ships sot sail out of San Francisco for tho return trip, there wero many predictions that they would be left in the Pacific and that events might make such a course desirable. Invitations had been accepted for visits to Australia, to China and Japan, and there was never a deviation from the outlined plans. Tho floot had done exactly ex-actly what the authorities at Washington Washing-ton said it would, but in a mnnner which surprised and gratified them to the fullest extent. The Btory of the fleet's visit to Honolulu, to Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne Mel-bourne and Albany in Australia; to Yokohama, to Amoy, to Manila and to the ports of call on tho way home through tho Suez, aro too recent to need recall. Tho welcome extended in Australia Aus-tralia and Japan left nothing to bo asked either in lavishncss of entertainment entertain-ment or in sincerity of purpose. Helped Quake Sufferers. The battleships, had their schedule brought them sooner to the eastern end ot the Suez, might have played a notable nota-ble part in helping the stricken people peo-ple of Messina. As it w.13, tho services of the ships wero offered, but tho relief re-lief plans had already developed so as not to require them. In a way tho bat-' tleship fleet, however, accomplished much. Store ships, ladon with supplies for the fighting vessels, were despatched des-patched by the homo government, and officers and men wero glad to give up tho solid foodstuffs and delicacies to the earthquake sufferers. A large sum of money was contributed from the fleot and tha first division of four vessels under Admiral Sperry called at Naples to express sympathy and sorrow. The battleship Illinois was the only one of the American fighting vessels to reallv enter the earthquake zone. This ship went to Messina and 40.0 American sailors searched the ruins until thev had recovered tho bodies of American Consul Cheney and his wife. After visits to various Mediterranean ports and accepting the hospitalities of half a dozen nations, tho sixteen ships gathorcd again at Gibraltar and sailed for home .Saturday, February f. Tbey will be met at sea, about 1000 miles from shore, by the third-or "home" squadrou of the Atlantic fleet, consisting consist-ing of four battleships aud five cruisers. Even the last leg of t lie famous journey jour-ney is to be given over to work. There will be daily drills and maneuvers and inspection by the commander-in-chief of even vessel on tho way over. President Presi-dent Roosevelt will greet the fleet on February 22, from tho bridge of the Mayflower, at the point from which ho bade farewell fourtoen months aco. Two Strangers Received. There will bo two strangers in tho floot when it reaches here the Nebraska Ne-braska and the Wiscousin, both Pacific-built, Pacific-built, which replaced the' Maine and Alabama, detached nt San Francisco, and sent homo in advance. Tho Maino will bo tho flagship of the welcoming squndron. At Manila bay the ships spent three weeks at the target, engaged in fall battle practice. Battle practice is at much longer range than record practice, prac-tice, aud, is reallv a test of what tho gunpoiuters. developed at record practice prac-tice can do when the ships aro firing uuder battle conditions and at battle distance. Tho battle practice at Manila, Ma-nila, held under the now firo control system, showed an improvement, in many iuslauces, of 300 per cent over tho guunery records of a year ago. Composition of Fleet. The composition of tho fleet as it returns re-turns is as follows; First squadron, first division Rear Admiral Ad-miral Charles S. Sperry, commander-in-chief. Connecticut (flagship) Captain Hugo Ostorhaus. Kansas Captain Charles E. Vrocland. Minnesota Captain John Hubbard. Vermont Captain Frank F. Fletcher. Second division Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright, commander. Georgia (flagship) Lieutenant Commander Com-mander G. W. Kline-. Nebraska Captain Reginald F. Nicholson. Nich-olson. New Jersey Captain VV. N. H. Souther-laud. Souther-laud. Rhodo Island Captain Joseph B. Mur-dock. Mur-dock. Second squadron, third division Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder, commanding command-ing Louisiana (flagship) Captain Kossuth Nllos. Missouri Captain Robert M. Doylo. Ohio Captain Thomas B. Howard. 'Virginia Captain Alexander Sharp. Fourth division Rear Admiral W. B. Potter commanding: Wisconsin (flagship) Captain Frank E. Beatty. Illinois Captain John M. Dwycr. KeaisarGC CaptUIn Hamilton I-Iutch- Kontucky Captain Walter C. Cowlcs. |