Show 1 A ta ta n 11 griat EAT FLEET SAILS SAIL adm admiral ira evans vans leads atlantic squadron from its anchorage at hampton roads will meet the vessels of the pacific coast at san francisco 4 64 R A 1 4 f J 41 t mo e K A q A 1 V Is L I 1 ell ka t 4 I 1 V r 2 i kt C 1 I 1 t ata at A 1 V II If ampton roads va dee dec 16 the departure today to day of the great atlantic squadron for the pacific Is only an other of tho the many gi gibat eat proofs of 0 the nations marvelous growth and devel opulent the iron clad mar warship ship to Is only 46 45 years old yet passing through ah ft A pr process cesa ot swift evolution I 1 to its t pres ent this amedean Ame itcan dincov ery has revolutionized the science ot of naval maifare the whole wei id theio aie now vessels in comard commission selon in the united states navy whole at one time in washington s administration there was not one of these theta aie 13 battleships of the first and second class clasa carrying runs into whose mouth this country a first and only commander in chief of the navy esek 11 might easily have hidden his disgraced head when an outraged continental congress sum warily dismissed him it wag in II ampton roads that the first chapter in the voids history of 0 lion dads waa mas written it was in II li ampton roads that tho the not nation on gathered 10 16 ot of her finest soa sfa fighters ready for a ti ip of nearly 20 miles whole the swung clurn clumsily across the channel long ago and droe tenor to the ihu beatts of se seamen arneil who had never nener et seen such a monster iron clada as graceful and as swift as brej hounds have come and gone all summer until they have income a la fa millar sight among these Is the minnesota tho the bli gest of uncle sant sam a big battleships and next in size to the which king ed ward of england launched with such ceremony a car or so ago and to the satsuma japans japan B new monster of the deep history hottory of american navy the first made for a navy for this country was that of the continental congress in 1775 and tile the sum of we wai expected to pur chase equip and generally outfit 11 13 ships for the present eat eai ending july 1908 tile the navy will have needed lai an in ln reme reiBe 0 of 5 ova ludt bear ear nine million alone go for ordnance ktores the last ampro fir pil atlon lation of congress tor for the building of ships was A as 2 10 to be expended on two big ships each of which to la to measure feet in length 85 feet boom beam and make 21 knots an hour three million dollars mas ap abed for submarines of the 11 holland olland tyro type and in september five torpedo boat destroy destro eis were contracted for think of title in comparison with the that cost coat the continental con acress ress so much thought and which wa wai furnished by the people of the colo nice ales after so BO much privation it we ale aie to have a commerce we nye much have a navy to defend it broto ft rota cot col Il humphreys from the bat baitary bary stat stats states s in 1793 after he had been sent to ties see it if thero mole means of stopping tho the piracy of algiers and tripoli on american trading vessels for years the nation had endured the hu milia initiation tion of pacing tribute to these countries and after washington had bai incorporated this sentiment in his message of W 1104 the united states still paid tribute because there was visa vo no navy to prove her independence ilow how ever that congress appropriated with which to build six frigates among these tho the constitution now the oldest ship afloat under any flag and a training ship tor for alpren cices tices at portsmouth with this fleet and its later lea decatur taught the rulers of algiers and oil ell a stern lesson and america soon took her place among the naval pow era of the world a place which none disputed after hei vict otles over great in quick work of preparation the president issued the ardeis for the aa lulng of this fleet on august 23 and since then coal mines lall wais provision dealers and manufacturers of heavy ordnance and ammunition have known the busiest season they liale hae had since the spanish amei lean war altogether 35 vessels go to san tran I 1 francisco cisco and when all have as a in the waters on off the east coast of california righting fighting dob deb evans will havo have tinder ills hla command tho the 1 virgest most invincible the most moat pol factly equipped altot that has ever mobilized in III one place since the of tho the world began the rho aggregate aggio aggie gate displacement of tho the vessels sailing bulling Is neaily tons und and the aggregate power Is guns of four inch calibre and over tile tho four divisions of this fleet will early cany of floors and 11 enlisted men as fine an afriay an ay of jackles as any navy has ever known and tin an earnest and eager set bet too for as soon as the news of the coulse was noised abroad enlist ments inci incie eased asod rapidly throughout the navy and became unknown the modern wire lie who puzzles for days over the packing of her hits bus bands band s grips and lunch basket when he Is oft off for a weeks hunting trip can never begin to appreciate the enormity of columbia a task in fitting out her 11 BOO sons tor for an outing of days in which they are not ex pecked to set toot foot on land tit at all be sides all tho the stores that each ship can carry when her capac ty Is fixed to ita fullest there will mill ie t two ships that hat carry supplies alone the glacier and culgoa and they will carry many novel foodstuffs that have never yet been carried by any navy of the world immense supply of coal the item of coal alone Is not in considerable on oil october 12 contracts cont were ere let for tons to be delivered at the six seaport towns where tile the fleet will ill stop trinidad rio 1110 janerio punta acenas callao mag at ag ilena dilena d ba bay and san francisco it Is 13 mined in west virginia shipped by rail to four tid water mater cities of the atlantic and whom there la Is handled by file american companies tit in 30 tor for eign steamers to the ports garnad where it Is piled on the piers re ready ady tor for the battleships fifteen of teiso steamers so go all the way to san fran casco with their cargoes abu cost of tile tho coal will be about 3 a ton find and the cost OL 01 transportation will come to over eight colliers accompany the bet 4 el the marcellus Marcel Mare ellus lua hannibal annibal It leonidas and possibly the sterling accompany i tha ilia fleet to trinidad and then re turn tor for more coal will go as far as rio and return to join th the fleet flee t again at magdalena bay and a all 1 I 1 that have free space tween decks wi will 1 carry general supplies tor for the it e mare can island navy yard ya rd the connecticut carries tons of made mad of slack coal and pitch to test teat them as a suitable fuel for use in the navy the cost of coaling exclusive of the amount of coal carried can led by the ships from norfolk to trinidad Trin idl will bo be 1 a sum more than equal to the bonded debt of the state of idaho or the state of washington provisions in plenty As to columbia must pick enough in the giant hamperis to feed hr her sons for the long days day s and have enough extra goodies for christmas new lears ears and NI V ashing ton birthday and the list shows she has not been niggardly id her selection rive five million pounds of 0 visions ions aie can led on oil board tile the 16 battleships and the supply ships the lie supplies from the attending ves sels being transferred trans fined to the battle ships when they stop at the ports for coal there are 10 to 15 pounds of in tile the of 0 each ship and for the first time lime there will w ill be a widely availed bill of fills faie whole the meats are concerned there aie a variety of foodstuffs in eluding tons of cereals salt sit meats dried fruits and canned goods and pounds of flour tor for making fresh bread in lieu of I 1 long on g abathe hard tack there are tons oi of foodstuffs thit that t have aj ready been tested and fell found 11 d good and the mole moie recent additions addition 13 diled eggs and dehydrated vegetables there at aie 0 9 pounds of dried eggs an equiv alent of 36 dozen fresh eggs and when the Chil Chilst atmas mas baking Is on and the 30 fresh eggs also cari can led are not available the mixer of cakes will find that the dried product when mixed with water will froth as easily as the fresh new methods of communication be tween the ships have been installed and ii utia dw methods of controlling the fire from the guns so new is this system of flie control that a retired naval of fleer was beard to remark when the news came to him that Is a good idea a good idea I 1 am glad to hear it indeed for fire la Is a most dangerous danger oua tiling thing aboard a ship the colorado was first in this experiment wireless Wl roles telegraphy has been a part of a bat tie ships equipment for so BO many eard hearg now that it Is quite an old stoia etoi but the fleet decided it must have wire less telephony too so BO the pail few weeks have witnessed a buby bruiy scene in II ampton roads and in naw york and brooklyn harbors where exic to ta have hava boba busy putting in the appliances connecticut Is flagship admiral eana chose the connect talcut as hla his flagship capt ingersoll Inger Boll Is her commander Lom com mandor and chief of staff ci of tile the atlantic fleet upon tho derel of rear admiral brownlow brov alow at wash I 1 ington much of the work of lot pre para uon tion fell tho the splendid condition of thel the fleet when it left its anchorage here tu day shows how bow well ell ile he has done it |