Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-30
PRESIDENT Dimes
WITH SAILORS
THE NORTH ATLANTIC FLEET
VISITED
During Target Practice Some Exoep-
tIonsl Scores Are Made.
Roosevelt Poses for
Picture
Pv Associated Press.

| BY Associated Press.
BARNsTABLE, Mass, Sept. 29.--
President Roosevelt visited the North
Atlantic feet off Capt Cod today, and
left with enthusiastic praise for the
officers and crews of the fleet.
The crew Of the battleship Missouri,
on which the president spent the day,
cheered themselves hoarse as they left
the shin at 80, for they had an honor
paid to them which no other crew In
the navy had ever received.
The president and his guests sat down
to dinner with the jaclsies. This feature
of the trip was a surprise both to the
officers and the men. When the Mis-
souri, left the target ground and re-
turned to her anchorage, and the first
mess call was sounded on a marine
trumpet, the notes had not ceased echo
ing through the fleet when the president
called Admiral Evans to his side and
announced that he and his guests would
take dinner with the sailors.
The necessary orders were immediate
ly issued and the sailors jumped to their
feet in surprise when they saw Presi-
dent Roosevelt walk on the after gun
deck and take his place at a table,
where he and his guests had the same
mess that was being served to the
sailors at the surrounding tables.
One of the men, observing that there
were no napkins on the presidents ta-
be rushed to the ward room to procure
the necessary table linen. When he re-
turned the president thanked him, but
said he was dining with the boys to-
day. and would have no privileges
which they did not enjoy. The sailors,
pleased with the presidents action, took
no further steps until at the conclusion
- H.
presidents table a box of cigars which
had been obtained by subscription from
the navy canteen.
President Roosevelt left for Oyster
Bay this afternoon after he had re-
ceived a long dispatch from Secretary
Taft dealing with the situation In Cuba.
President Boards Missouri
The president arrived at the entrance
of Cape Cod bay at about o'clock this
morning. Rear Admiral Evans left the
flagship Maine shortly afterward and
went to the presidents yacht accompa-
MED by Congressman lowering. At 9
o'clock the president boarded the Mis-
souxi. At his request the usual presi-
dential salute of twenty-one guns was
omitted.
The moment the presidential party
arrived on board the Missouri the cham
pion of the North Atlantic fleet sailed
out to the target grounds. On the way
out the president visited the various
parts Of the ship. inspecting the turrets,
ward rooms, etc.
Firing at targets anchored 1880 yards
away was begun almost Immediately
While the six-inch guns were being
fired the president stood behind the gun
crew and watched through a strong
glass the admirable craftsmanship dis
played. Every shot fired found the tar
get, not miss being recorded. Wher
the ship turned and went back over the
course President Roosevelt went to the
forward turret where the big twelve
inch guns were being prepared. During
the firing Of these guns he did not re-
main In the turret, the mechanism hav-
ing been explained to him earlier in the
day.
Roosevelt Poses
When the ship returned to her anchor
age newspaper photographer asked
the president to pose for a picture, and
he Immediately gave his consent on the
condition that his picture should bt
taken with the victorious gun crew.
Before the actual target practice be.
gan, in order to show the presidena the
value of the team work in training
trials were held from the t1rret and six
inch guns and the maneuvers being the
same as in actual firing except tha'
dummy charges were used instead o.
powder. This was followed by targe
practice at 1880 yards with six-incf
guns and twelve-inch turret guns, thu
speed Of the ship being ten knots and
the size of the targets II to 81 feet. Th,
following scores were made:
The forward turret, in charge Of Lieu
tenant T. L. johnson, fired eight shots
making eight hits. In once across tn,
range at the rate of 22s hits per turre
per minute. The traitor was Benjamin
Hare. seaman, the right gun pointe
was Gibbons. boatswain's mate lef
pointer, Charles Blanchard, boatswain'
mate, and Boyer, turret captain.
The six-inch guns were fired by thre,
pointers. each pointer firing eight shot
and making eight hits. The first six
inch gun pointer made 9.23 hits per gun
per minute; the second pointer mad,