The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-20
NAvY'S CHANCE TO COOL OFF.
SAILORS CAN STEAM NORTH IN THE
HOT SEASON.

Reunion of the, Class of 1899.
Our Vessels in the East.
Correspondence of the Associated Press)
Manila, P. l., April with the ap-
proach of this years hot weather, which
comes 10 Manila every April. May and
June, the vessels of the United States
navy have been slipping away to the cool
er ports of China and Japan. 1t is a
mighty pleasant thing to thus get away
from the Philippines during The heat of
summer, and such a change for three
rmonths will greatly beneft the whole
ships company. This consideration of the
| health Of his men was a strong factor
in deciding Admiral Watson to order sew
eral of the ships from this station 10
spend the summer between Yokohoma and
| Hong Kong.
1t is a pity the army cannot get this
change. Persistent work tells on a 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 aver
| age the American out here does one-half
of the work he would do at home under
the same clrcums stances and every one
knows 1t is just twice as hard to accom-
plish this half Army officers can only get
this change 10 the cooler and even cold
climate of China and Japan by obtaining
sick leave, but it comes to many of our
naval officers 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 Con-
/ cord he -fa o,,1 he
Yosemite, from Guam, are to rendezvous
| at Yokohama. Admiral Watson will
transfer the command of the Asiatic feet
to Admiral Remey April 20 and probably
at Hong Kong. Admiral Remey will then
go aboard the Brooklyn and Admiral Wat
son Will return to his former flagship, the
Baltimore. Then the Baltimore will break
out that long, homeward- bound pennant
and start for American waters. She will
go via the SueZ canal, and the navy de-
partment has given the Admiral permits
sion to stop at such Mediterranean ports
as he desires. and he will also probably go
to Havre so that the ship officers may at
tend the Paris Exposition. This trip 10
Paris may be made from Marseilles, but If
there is no time the vessel will go around
to the Northern French port.
Examinations of Cadets.
The final examinations of the cadets Of
the naval academy class of 1899 will be
held on the Brooklyn this month at Yoke
hama. This is a great disappointment to
the cadets, as it prevents their return
home, and in many cases, will result in
the adding of three years more sea SER
vice in the Philippines to the one or two
years they have already served out here
The return to Annapolis after the first
two years at sea following their depart
ure from the academy is always a most
pleasant incident in the lives Of our young
naval officers. 1t is class re-
union in tho alma mater after two
years of travel and duty in the ports of
the world. The life at Annapolis, while
they are preparing for the final examina-
tons, has in it an element of freedom and
independence in more or less contrast 10
their former days there, and as the ex-
anlina tons themselves are not difficult to
man who has not wasted his two years
apprenticeship. the return to the acad-
envy is unattended by any unpleasant fen
lures, but is repiete with many most pleas
ant and enjoyable ones. 1t also means a
visit to family and friends. All this is
denied the class of 1899. 1t being inexpe-
dent to return those who are in this STA
ton to Annapolis for their finals. and they
Will begin their three years cruise follow
ing the final examination without the
chance of getting home
The Baltimore starts home from Yoko-
hama and the Yosemite returns to Guam
stopping first one week at Manila The
| rest Oh the meet, the oregon, ISrOOKlVn.
| Newark, New Orleans and Concord will
then begin cruise down from japan to
China, stopping about ten days at Kobe.
Nagasaki Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Other ports may be visited on this cruise,
81 but they have not yet been announced
The Baltimore has just completed the
recommendation of Luzon Island, and is
now on her way to Hong Kong. While.
on the Eastern coast of Luzon the Balti-
more made careful survey of Casiguran
sound and boy, which to the navy is a
locality of considerable present interest
and possible future value. Here our navy
has discovered, practically, splendid and
sheltered harbcr where the Spanish charts
gave no indication of such a refuge.
Trip of the wheeling.
Last summer the Wheeling steamed into
Casiguran sound and found at its head
a weil-protected and large bay with deem
water. The Wheelings examination OF
this new find was cursory only, as She
had other duties TO attend to at the time
but her reports of jts existence so inter
ested Admiral Watson that he later de-
tailed the Charleston to proceed thither
! and make careful survey of the placS
This the Charleston did, and 1t was while
the fll-fated vessel was returning from
this trip that she ran on the rocks near
Csmaguin Island and was lost. The sur
vey Of Casiguran bay, prepared by he's
officers, was not saved. So we were still
without details as to Casiguran Before
J sailing for home Admiral Watson wanted
this information, 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, from Cape Tolofonso on the sea side,
into the narrow passage leading TO the
inner bay. This sound is from six to two
miles broad, and has very deep water its
| entire length. Its general g.
rorthwesterly from the coast line. The
passage into the inner bay IS 200 Yards
wide. with deep water up to the shores.
ship like the Baltimore could tie up
at the shore and reach land with gang
plenk. The inner bay is three and two
tenths miles long and two and a half miles
vide. Its general depth is fifteen fathoms.
and the anchorage is all that Could he de-