The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-20
Officers and Men Glad 20 Get Away
from the Philippines 20 the Cool
er Ports OF the North.
CAsIGURAN SOUND SURVEYED
ONE OF THE FINEST HARBoRs AND
ANCHoRAGEs IN THE FAR EAST.
Narrow Escape of n Launch from the
Cruiser Baltimore from Falling
Into Hands OF Savages.
Of the Associated Press.


proach OF this years hot weather. which
comes to Manila every April. May and
June, the vessels of the United States navy
have been slipping away 10 the cooler ports
OF China and Japan. 1t is a mighty pleas
ant thing TO thus get away from the Phil
ippines during the heat of summer and
such a change for three months will great
ly benefit the whole ships company. This
consideration of the health OF his men was
strong feature in deciding Admiral Wat
SON to order several of the ships from this
station to spend the summer between
Yokohama and Hong-Kong.
1t is a pity the army cannot get this
change. Persistent work tells on man out
here and we Americans have not yet
learned the Oriental habits OF slowness in
business and maps during the heat OF the
day. 1t is estimated that on an average the
American out here does one-half OF the
work he would do at home under the same
circumstances. and everyone knows IL is
just twice as hard to accomplish this half.
Army officers can only get this change
to the cooler and even cold climate OF
China and Japan by obtaining sick leave.
but it comes to many of our naval Of
ficers as a part of their duties.
During the latter part OF April the Ore
gon. the Brooklyn the Baltimore. the
Newark. the New Orleans and the Concord.
from the Manila station, and the Yosemite.
from Guam, are to rendezvous at Yoko-
hama. Admiral Watson will transfer the
command of the Asiatic fleet TO Admiral
Remey April 20 and probably at Hong
Kong. Admiral Remey will then go aboard
the Brooklyn and Admiral Watson will re-
turn to his former flagship, the Baltimore
Then the Baltimore will break out that
long, homeward-bound pennant and start
for American waters. She will so via the
Suez canal, and the Navy Department has
given the admiral permission 10 stop at
such Mediterranean ports he desires.
and will also probably so 10 Hayre, so that
the ships officers may attend the Paris ex-
position. This trip 10 Paris may be made
from Marseilies. but IL there is no time
the vessel will go around to the northern
French port.
EXAMINATION OF CADETS.
The final examination OF the cadets or
the Naval Academy class of 1888 will be
held on the Brooklyn this month, at Yoko-
hama. This is a great disappointment to
the cadets IL prevents their return home.
and. in many cases, will result in the add
ing OF three years more sea service in the
Philippines to the one or two years they
have already served out here. The return
10 Annapolis after the first two years at
sea following their departure from the
academy is always a most pleasant incl
dent in the lives OF our young naval Of
fcers. 1t is a class reunion in the alma
mater, after two years Of travel and duty
he An
napolis. while they are preparing for the
final examinations, has in IL an element OF
freedom and independence in more or less
contrast to their former days thereat and
as the examinations themselves are not
difficult to a man who has Tot wasted his
two years apprenticeship. the return TO
the academy is unattended by any un-
pleasant features. but is replete with many
most pleasant and enjoyable ones. IL also
means a visit TO family and friends. All
this is denied the class OF 1893, IL being in
expedient to return those who are on this
station to Annapolis for their finals, and
they will begin their three years cruise
following the final examination without
the chance of getting home.
The Baltimore starts home from Yoko-
hama and the Yosemite returns TO Guam,
stopping one week at Manila The rest or
the feet, the Oregon, Brooklyn, Newark.
New Orleans and Concord will then begin
a cruise down from Japan to China, stop
ping about ten days at Kobe, Nagasaki.
Shanghai and Hong-Kong. Other ports may
be visited on this cruise. but they have
not yet been announced.
The Baltimore has just completed the
circumnavigation OF Luzon island and IL
now on her way to Hong-Kong. While on
the eastern coast OF Luzon the Baltimore
made a careful survey Of Casiguran sound
and bay. which TO the navy IS locality
of considerable present interest and posi-
BILE future value Here our navy has dis
rox- a q nd hl1
tered harbor, where the Spanish charts
gave no indication OF such a refuge.
Last summer the Wheeling steamed into
Casiguran sound and found at Its head q
well-protected and large bay, with deep
water. The Wheeling's examination OF
this new field was cursory only, as she had
other duties TO attend 10 at the time: but
her reports OF its existence so interested
Admiral Watson that he later detailed the
Charleston TO proceed thither and make a
careful survey OF the place. This the
fated vessel was returning from this trip
that she ran on the rocks near Camaguin
island and was lost. The survey OF Cast
guran bay, prepared by her officers. was
tails as TO Casiguran. Before sailing for
home Admiral Watson wanted this infor-
nation. so about three weeks ago the
Baltimore was sent around Luzon with
instructions TO examine and report upon
the newly discovered harbor. She found
the sound to- be about nine miles long.
the narrow passage leading 20 the inner
bay. This sound is from six 10 two miles
broad, and has very deep water its entire
zenith. Its general direction Is northwest
srly from the coast line.
NATURAL LANDING PLACE.
The passage into the inner bay Is LOO
yards wide. with deep water up 10 the
shores. ship like the Baltimore could
tie up at the shore and reach land with
gang plank. The inner bay Is three and
two-tenths miles long and two and a half
miles wide. Its general depth Is fifteen
fathoms and the anchorage IL all that
could be desired. The surrounding hills
protect the vessels anchored In this bay
from any winds that blow. and when one
IL afioat upon Its waters the bay has the
appearance OF q land-locked lake And
the best OF the Spanish charts gave not the
slightest intimation that such a bay ex-
listed! The Spaniards. IL is asserted. were
very poor chart makers There n an
island In Lingayen gulf which r. down In
the charts OF the Spaniards In q position
mile and quarter from fts Efghtful
place.
casiguran bay and gulf were carefully
examined by ofacers OF the Baltimore Tor
ak days they vero 1t working fron ~