Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-12
THE RUN 20 SAN JUAN
Satisfactory Experience With
the Torpedo Boats.
GOOD SPEED SHOWN
REPORT OF LIEUT.. CHANDLER,
coMMANpINa THE F1ornLA-
He Believes That the Vessels Are
Able to Cross the Ocean With
Perfect Safety.

That the vessels Of the first torpedo
boat fotilla are able to cross the ocean
under their own steam with absolute safe
ty is the opinion Of Lieut.. L. H. Chandler,
commanding. expressed in report to the
Navy Department In regard to the trip OF
the destroyers from Hampton. Roads to
San Juan. during which he says they clear
ly demonstrated their seaworth1ness and
qualities Of coal endurance. The report
was prepared at San Juan shortly before
the departure Of tina fotilla for Teneriffe.
Canary Islands, by the great circle course.
From Hampton Roads to Hatteras,"
says Lieut.. Chandler In his report, "a
speed of eighteen knots was obtained. the
sea being perfectly smooth. At that point
speed was reduced to fifteen knots. From
Hatteras south, for twelve hours, the
ships were run with the engine room
matches closed as would be necessary In
a gale OF wind. and no serious inconven-
fence was experienced by the men on watch
in those compartments.
After leaving Hatteras the breeze gradu-
ally increased until 1t reached force OF
about eight. from southeast hauling slowly
to southwest, and continuing very fresh I'M
til the afternoon of the 18th, when we
closed In with the coast Off Charleston.
This brought UP heavy sea from the
southeast. which was reinforced by an OLD
swell from the same direction. The hotilia
made good about eleven Knots into TINS
weather without Inconvenience. and the
the board was satisfied that the destroyerS
were seaworthy for any duty.
I'm the cruise from Key West to San
Juan when rough weather was experienced.
considerable broken water going across the
decks, the maximum observed roll on any
ship was 40 degrees by clinoneter, and with
the exception OF minor damage to small
boats and the loss OF whaleboaf from
the Decatur the fotilla went through this
sea without trouble Of any kind.
Test Of Coal Endurance.
From Bahia de Cadiz light to abreast
of Great Inaugua," says Lieut.. Chandler,
I'VE met with fresh breeze from about
east southeast, with a moderate head sea,
which cut down the speed to certain ex-
tent and really was more of test OF the
seaworthy strength Of the hotilla than any
thing we had yet encountered. The vessels.
however, stood 1t we'll. From Great In
augua to this port ws had light trades with
light sea; long swell This run was made
as an endurance teAt of the boats as re-
CARDS coal 1t was made good by log, but
adverse currents, sea, etc, caused fur
Their reduction In speed made good to about
nine knots. 20 a.
.In view of the experience gained on the
runs above reported. am confident that
both as regards seaworthy qualities and
coal endurance, the edestroyers of this no
tiila are able to safely cross the ocean I'M
der their own steam"
Itinerary Of the Flotilla.
The itinerary Of the cruiser Buffalo and
the torpedo boat fiotilla was announced at
the Navy Department today as follows:
San Juan. Teneriffe. Gibraltar, Algiers,
Naples. Crete. Port Said. Suez. Alden.
Muskat. Karachi. Bombay. Colombo,
Madras, Calcutta, Rangoon. Pulo Penang.
Singapore, 'Labaun and Manila. The visits
to Crete, Muskat, Karachi. Calcutta, Ran
COON, Pulo Penang and Labuan are op-
tional with the commanding officer, who
will be governed in the matter by the con-
ditions of the weather. 1t is estimated
that the entire trip will take about five
months time About seventy days will be
spent at sea and about ninety days in port
The present run of the small feet from San
Juan to Teneriffe, about 2 500 miles, Is tho
longest single run to be made on the entire
voyage, and its successful accomplishment
will be regarded as wonderful achieve
ment for torpedo boats, with their limited
coal capacity.