Evening star., 1903-10-19
LONG VOYAGE AHEAD
TORPEDO FLEET oUTFITTING AT
NORFOLK, VA.
It Will Go to the Philippines Under
the Convoy Of the
Baltimore.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
NORFOLK. Va. october 1s, 1

NORFOLK, Va, October IS, 1903.
The United States cruiser Baltimore, which
is to convoy the flotilla of torpedo boats now
being fitted up at the Norfolk navy yard for
voyage to the Philippines, has arrived in
Hampton Roads to await the flotilla which
is expected to soon be in readiness for the
long trip. The coming voyage is one of the
most interesting that has been undertaken
by any navy for long number of years
and will be watched by every naval power
on the globe. The expedition will be the
first of the kind ever attempted by the
United States, since all of the vessels. out
side of their convoy, will be small destroy
ers and the voyage of 1900 miles Will be
fraught with considerable danger and great
physical strain on the crews of the little
craft
1t is quite proba BILE that the destroyers
will never return to the states, since it has
been decided to keep them in eastern waters
in the event of an emergency. The destroy
erS are valuable in the waters of the Philip
pines because of their light draft enabling
them TO navigate waters where the larger
warships cannot venture by reason of their
heavy tonnage. The Baltimore, after de-
liverinS the tiny fleet at the Cavite naval
station at Manila, will join the Asiatic fleet.
Her return to the Philippines will be the
first trip since the famous cruiser came to
the United States after the memorable bat
tie of Manila bay, in which she took such
conspicuous part.
Besides the novelty of the vessels compos-
ing the fotilla is unusual the itinerary Of
the fleet. The route will have to be a c!rcui-
touS one and taken by easy stages, owing to
the limited coal carrying capacity OF the
boats and severe strain on the crews there
Of At best the accommodations on the tor
pedo boats are very cramped and the vibra-
tions of the propellers and powerful engines
are neTve-racltlng and sometimes exhaust
ing in the extreme q the
The boats that are to make up the fleet
are the Decatur. Bainbridge, Barry,
Chauncy and Dale, all under the command
of Lieut. l.. II. Chandler. Each of the
vessels is of 400 tons, and each carries en-
tion of the driving power of a battleship's
machinery. All of the destroyers have
twin propellers, and each carries a crew
of sixty men. The guns of the boats are
very light each craft depending largely
upon it's torpedoes weapons of defense.
To be absolutely sure that none of the
destroyers will weaken in a storm on the
may be delayed somewhat to determine the
quality of the boats in stormy weather
When the little fleet leaves Hampton
Roads it will go first to Bermuda then to
the West Indies and then TO the coast of
Brazil. Crossing the South Atlantic the
Islands, the Canares and Madeira. There
will be stop at Gibraltar and an easy
cruise through the Mediterranean to the
SueZ Canal. and then across the Red Sea
to Alden. The coasts of Arabia and India
will be Skirted and ,ne course then Will
lie across the Bay of Bengal to the Straits
Settlements, to Singapore, to the north
finally to Manila. 1t is expected that the
entire voyage will consume three months.