Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-04-19
Marked Improvement Made by Every
Ship in the Fleet in straish. and
Fast shootins-Finds Soft Coal
Nuieancc and Urges Use Of Antnra.
cite on War Vessels.

'ionS DcicNC WC should have SIX.
teen battlcships on the Atlantic ana
sixteen on the Pacific. These would
form great school for our officers
and men and an impressive object
lesson for any one thinking of trou.
bio with u.s."
In these words Rear Admiral
Evans, commander in chief of the Al.
lantic nCct. gave his opinion of THU
ACCESSIBILITY OF shifting tho nlanoeuv.
ring ground OF representative AmerI.
can strength from the Atlantic 10 the
Pacific because of the vital interests
of tho United States in that part OF
the world.
Rear Admiral Evans brought 10
Washington reports of the straight
"st and fastest shooting ever done
by American blue. Jackets, hut OK.
planned that, owing to recent orders
or tho department, he could not dis
cuss the target practice or manoeuv-
roS. II is known. however, that every
ship of tho fleet improved it's last
years score. The least Improvement
was seventeen per cent Several
ships did fifty per cent. better, and
one ship did twice as we'll as last
year. Tho championship of the navy
lies between the battleship Illinois.
or the Atlantic feet, and the armored
cruiser Maryland. Of tho Pacific fleet.
Needs Anthracite Coal.
The cruise The fleet has just made
to Hampton Roads from Guantana.
mo" said Rear Admiral Evans, ICON.
vincod mo more than ever Of the adj
visibility Of my proposition that the
~ TrSC ttf Oh, ~.
coal fields, that there may be assur.
cd to the navy a constant supply of
smOkclcss fuel. During the entire
cruise northward the flag signals
were rendered absolutely useless by
The dense smoke from the battlcships'
tunnels.
"Of course wireless telegraphy has
largely superseded other methods for
signalling, but in battle wireless is
not to be depended upon. The first
shell that bursts over ship will dis
able its wireless. and recourse i'm
such case must be had 10 flags.
With such dense smoke flag signals
cannot be made out, and in this
cruise We wore put to all sorts OF
eXpcdients. including the use of soma
phorcS on the SuperStructure, which
Nobbl We hlhuc Oul inc Smoke.
This difficulty attends the use of all
coal which the navy is now supplied
with
The fleet encountered an unusual.
~ heavy gale for two days and two
nights, but stood 1t well. The second
night the gale was very severe, com.
bined with nasty cross sea, and
then The speed of the fleet was slowed
dowr TO eight knots, but not because
OF any danger. 1t was ordered that
inc lives OF two men might be say.
cd. Ono was suffering from double
pneumonia complicated with pleurisy
ana the other had a fractured skull.
nc had been operated upon the day
before VIC left Guantanamo. I fear.
cd TIC shock of the ship in drivin.
al tnll speed against tho heavy sea
would be fatal TO these scamen. but
am glad TO say they were both
brought 10 port alive.
The ficet seemed thoroughly con.
tented throughout the winters work.
IhiS ! attribute to the general hand.
ling OF the men by their officers. Tho
careful attention given to their food,
inc freedom with which liberty was
granted TO them. and The encourage.
mcnt which has been given to aih.
lctics.
Would Drop Marines.
inc marines were put ashore mn
der canvas. When need came 10 scnn
several ships to Jamaica. AT thu time
OF the quake, they were ordered ayay
without marines. | have no dcsIrc
10 get rid of the marines. but do
oelievc they should be taken off tho
war ships, and put on TRANSPORTS
where they really belong Then tbcv
can be kept intact in the reglmental
ana company organization and scnt
wherever they arc needed as they are
required.
For small arms practice Tho
crews of the ships were nut ashore.
at Guantanamo. and the result ~
this move was that on one shin en-.
Kentucky. there qualified thir,y.sevcn
sharpshoo,ers, which Is more tt.n
qualified from the entire navy la.,
year In all. 1870 mon of that aoot
and fifty officers qualified Az sharn.
shooters
The program for the feet Tor thi,
Suyimcr VIII centre largely around
INC doings at jamestown. The order
giving each ship permanent dockinr
ata,ioh al some navy yard, whore II
VIII go regularly each year for rc.
pairs, Is great move for content.
incht among the men and system In
Keeping ~ Inc Acct II will enable
mo men 10 settle their families nnar
pc yar'I where thy know thcv win
come at stated intervals.
rms Goes not mean that the sbi,a