The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-09
FOUR BATTLESHIPS COME IN.
HAVE BEEN TRYING A SMOKE
EJECTOR FOR BIG GUNS.
Some OF the Missouri's Smaller Guns to
He Replaced-Admirai Evans Says
Stories OF Desertions Are Exagger.
~tad-Sieuals Only tire Wrong China 6 u,

Some OF the Miss0uri's Smaller Guns to
He Replaced-Admiral Evans Sa,s
Stories OF Desertions Are Exagge r.
ated-Sisnals Only the Wrong Ships Saw
The first division OF the first squadron
Of the North Atlantic fleet, made up of the
battleships Maine, Missouri, Kearsarge and
Kentucky, arrived in port yesterday, after
having Unanswered several days on the
northern drill grounds. Early on Tuesday
morning the four ships had reported to the
wireless naval station at the Highlands of
Navesink that they were fifty miles to the
southwest were proceeding to the drill
grounds for general practise and would
put into this port before to-day.
Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, COM
manding the squadron. said that an import
ant experiment was made with the smoke
ejector, designed to prevent explosions at
the breech Of big guns such as occurred
aboard the Missouri, causing the death Of
nearly a whole gun crew. The ships had
only sub-calber target practice on the
drill grounds.
The Kentucky and Kearsarge went to
the navy yard in Brooklyn for an over
hauling and the Maine and Missouri anchored
off Tompldnsville. 1t was intended origin
ally to send the Missouri to Boston, but she
received orders later to proceed TO the
navy yard here. Her smaller guns, 1t is
said, are defective and will be replaced.
The four ships will sail hence for Province
town on June 20 to join the second division
of the squadron, comprising the battle
ships Alabama, Illinois, Iowa and Massa-
chusetts. The two divisions will have
Al! T. A. Il
town.
Rear Admiral Evans said that recent
reports Of assertions from the navy had
been much exaggerated. Some Of the men
who got lot OF money at one time had gone
of, had high old time and forgot to come
back when they should Eventually most
of them showed up, somewhat the worse
for wear There was really no good reason
why they should be dsgruntled. as they
we're we'll treated. They had had kick
about misflts in the department of clothing,
but this had been attended to by the enlist
ment of tailors to fit suits that did not flt
Rear Admiral Evans laughed at story
that the squadron that is to bring John
Paul Jones's body to America had been
held here because Of a probability of in
ternational trouble.
When the warships passed in at the Hook
every man jack seemed to be on deck watch
ing numLer Of little flags going up to the
truck of the mast alongside the Western
Union marine observatory. The Sandy
Hook observer, the Count de la Motto, was
trying to stop the incoming British steam
ship Homer, from New Orleans, but her
skipper apparently paid more attention
to Uncle Sans war vessels than to the
variously colored little flags which were
hosted for his special benefit.
The Count had received despatch from
the Homers agents here requesting him to
signal the steamship and notify the captain
to anchor In the lower bay for further
orders. The Homer, however, proceeded
to Quarantine, and thus increased her
expense account considerably.