Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-13
EVANS FLEET
MAY CIRCLE
THE GLOBE
.SHIPS CARRY CHARTS
COVERING SEVEN SEAS
Plans for Presidential Review
Completed and Everything inI
Readiness for Departure
Monday Morning.
Try Morning Journal special Leased wire.l

old Point Comfort. Va, Dee. IA
Final word of ready" was flashed
from every vessel In the battleship
fleet today. This signal meant that
the sixteen most powerful armor elads
OF the American navy we're READY NOT
only to start next Monday morning on
their projected cruise TO the western
seas. but are Just as ready TO go any
where i'm the twin hemispheres Of the
world aud do any work. II meant
that hulls are sweet and clean thal
giant compound engines arc restless 10
be at their task. that officefs and men
are trained TO the hour. that bunkefs
are overflowing with the best steam
coal the mines OF the country can
produce that larders are choked win
ships provisions and that magazine
doors are closed upon the greatest
stores OF ammunition ever placed on
board American vessels of war.
The care with which the ships have
been groomed for their forthcoming
voyage and the completeness with
which they have been stored with AZ
the necessities Of battleshtps use
fulness in peace or war. leave no
doubt of the mobility and self-rellanee
of the great armed force Even the
officers themselves are just little bit
surprised at the amount OF work that
has been accomplished and the quiet
confidence that has marked every step
OF preparation. II the ship were des-
tined for immediate conflict little
more could be done to make them
ready for the fray. The distinctive
white and buff paint which has
brought SO much admiration TO the
American ships when pitted on parade
against the gloomy hulled naVles Of
other nations. would of course have To
give way in favor OF the safer tonc Of
leadcn gray, but that is a matter OF
only a few hours work.
There is an entire absence Of enthu-
siasm. but manifest atmosphere OF
serious devotion to duty, surrounding
the departure Of the fleet. The orders
and the published itinerary offer little
prospect Of entertainment or amuse-
ment en- route. Sea duty drills ana
target practice are the outstanding
features OF the trip through Magellan
straits to the sand dunes and Indian
huts of Magdalena bay
one of the points of the complete
readiness marking the present status
of the fleet IL 10 be found In the chart
houses OF the navigating officers.
When the fleet was first ordered to
prepare for the Pacific voyage the
navigators Of each ship were supplied
with specially prepared charts lead
ing down the South Atlantic coast,
leading through the treacherous wa
ters of Magellan straits aud along the
Pacific coast to san Francisco. Sew
eral weeks ago the charts were sup
plemented by others showing the way
to Manila Then more recently have
come lately revised charts, capable "a
guiding the fleet all the way TO Gibral-
tar The issuance of those charts has
given rise to gossip that the fleet Is
destined eventually to ciirle the globe
and that there may be something
more beyond Magdalena bay than san
Francisco.
plans for the review OF the fleet
and its subsequent departure on Mon
day morning have been completed.
The Mayflower, bearing the president
and secretary Of the navy together
with other high officials, viii arrive
soon after s "A. m, and after being
saluted with twenty-one guns viii an
chor near The center Of the fleet.
Flag and commanding officers viii
repair on board and be received by
the president. The fleet will sail at
about 10 o'clock a. m. being preceded
to the horseshoe IN Chesa peake bay by
the Mayflower which viii anchor.
The fleet viii then pass IN review al
ten knots an hour. and In single coli
umn. Saluting again as they pass, the
ships will proceed 10 sea. A search
light drill tonight by all the vessels
was brilliant spectacle.