Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-28
BIG FLEET AT NEW YORK
MOST POWERFUL DISPLAY OF
WARsHIPs EVER IN HARBoR.

With the arrival last night at New York
of the eight ships comprising the first and
second divisions of the North Atlantic
feet there was anchored within the harbor
the largest and most powerful naval fleet
ever assembled under the American flag
in those waters
1t marks well the first visit of eight
first-class battleships of the country's navy
and swells the fleet at the anchorages in
the North river. off Tompkinsville at
the navy yard, to total of sixteen ships
and 2G3 guns
In command of Rear Admiral Robley d.
Evans the eight ships which came in last
night started from off the capes of the
Chesapeake, where they had lately partici-
pated in the honors paid to the body of
John Paul Jones upon its arrival from
France
When at dusk yesterday the battle ships
dropped their anchors in the Hudson in a
majestic line stretching from 18th street
to Grants Tomb, only one topic was
discussed by officers and men, and that the
race which occupied larger part of the
eleven hours run to the Sandy Hook light
ship, which had been ordered by Admiral
Evans to try out the ships and test the
mettle of the men in the engine and fire
rooms.
Won by the Missouri in command of
Captain William s. Cowles the men on
that ship We're jubilant indeed that they
had not only beaten their rival, the flag
ship Maine, but had left the others of the
fleet so far in the rear that one, the Ala
bama, did not anchor until nearly an hour
after everything on board of the faster
battleship had been snugged down at her
anchorage off list street.
Age Bars Massachusetts.
That there was to be speed trial was
known on the ships for several days be-
fore, and there not one of the battle
ships that did not have engines and boilers
in perfect trim for the test. When off Old
Point Comfort at o clock yesterday
morning the flags from the yard arm of
the Maine signaled. In line for speed
trial. the signal found all in readiness
Lined up abreast, their great white huls
gHstening In the morning sun of a day
perfect for the race. the Maine. the Mis-
souri,, the Kentucky, the Kearsarge, the
Alabama, the Illinois and the Iowa headed
for Sandy Hook lightship. and when the
signal fell the struggle was fairly on. The
Massachusetts did not participate, as be-
cause of her age, she was reckoned out of
the race and Capt. Edward d. Taussig
therefore started before the others of the
fleet for the North river rendezvous
That for the first hour all of the ships
should proceed under natural draught-a
sort of warming up-was the order from
Admiral Evans. Then for four hours the
ships were to be driven at top speed under
forced draught, the conditions nearly
as possible like those of their official speed
trials. Then for an hour at natural
draught, and then a reassembling and pro-
coed to this city under cruising speed.
Interest of the Crews
1t was natural that on ships alike in
model, tonnage and engine power the in
terest would be the greatest, and therefore
the crews of the Maine and the Missouri,
the Kearsarge and the Kentucky and the
Illinois and the Alabama pitted their hopes
and bets against the sister ship. The Iowa
Older than the Others, was never out of the
race. but made good '.nowing, steaming
against her time.
AT o'clock the Missouri was well in
the lead, the Maine second, and a fight for
third place was going on between the Ken
lucky and Kearsarge and the Illinois. An
hour later-the forced draft roaring be-
meath the furnaces-the gap between the
leaders had widened to two miles and
was held by the Missouri until the race
stopped at noon Not until then did the
Illinois give up the hope of beating her
younger rival the kentucky. who had won
the race from the Kearsarge by a hand
some margin. The Iowa and Alabama were
the horizon at the end of the race. the
latter more than hull down.
Close to Official Record.
During the six hours run the leading
ships went at an eighteen-knot gait and
when the figures are computed it is be-
lieved the Missouri's performance will be
close to the Is. 90 knots made In her official
trial of October, 1903 which then placed
her as the fastest battleship in the navy
Here, according TO Admiral Evans, to
give to the men in the fleet shore leave in
large city, where they can find harmless
diversions, the battleships are to remain
at least q week.
OF the battleships, the Maine the Mis-
souri,, the Kentucky and the Kearsarge
make up the first division, under the i'm
mediate command of Rear Admiral Evans,
commander in-chief of the North Atlantic
fleet. and the Alabama, flagship, the ILL.,
nois, the Massa chusetts and the Iowa, COM
prising the second division, are in command
of Rear Admiral Charles II. Davis. The
cruisers Brooklyn, flagship, the Chatta-
nooga, the Tacoma and the Galveston make
up the third division, in command of Rear
Admiral Charles d. Sigsbee, and an
chored off Tompkinsviile. The armored
cruisers Colorado and the Pennsylvania,
now here, are in the fourth division, and be-
sides these ships there the cruiser Co
lumba, at anchor in the North river and
the Mayflower, for the of the Russian
and Japanese peace commissioners at the
navy yard.
Fleets Future Plans.
The next important work of the fleet is
the annual fall target practice, and it is
planned that the fleet shall arrive at New
port about August IS. and then proceed to
Martha's Vineyard for week or two of
work at the targets. There will be no
competition for prizes at that time.
The Naval Militia of Pennsylvania will
be taken for a cruise and drills on the
Brooklyn, beginning August 8. The Chat
tanooga and the Tacoma will take the
Naval Militia of New Jersey and Maine for
cruises, beginning August ), from Camden
and Portland, respectively The Columbia
will start on cruise from New Haven on
August s. After these cruises have been
completed the Naval Militia of Massachu-
sets and Rhode Island will have their
turns.
There has been considerable talk that the
cruiser squadron would go to Europe after
the present progrf.Tn is COMPLETED. but moth