The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-10
Big BattIeship Fleet Will BE
Complete by Tonight
On Arrival of the Minnesota
and the Kentucky.
OFFICERS AND MEN
On Board the Warships Will
Number IA, 1888.
Engines Will Consume $4,000
Tons of Coal on Voyage.

X, d.
of Rear Admiral Evans Pacific bound
Atlantic fleet of 16 ships which are to
make the long voyage to San Francisco
inaugurating a new naval era IN the
Pacific will have assembled in Hamp-
ton Roads, whence the great ships con-
stituting the flower of the American
navy will start on Monday next upon
their journey of $1,000 miles. The bat
tIeships Minnesota from New York and
the Kentucky from Boston were this
morning heard from by wireless tele-
graph while coming down the Virginia
peninsula some distance south of Della
ware Breakwater,
The weather on the coast today is
not favorable, but the Minnesota and
Kentucky are expected to pass in the
Virginia Capes for the Hampton Roads
rendezvous by o'clock this afternoon
At Cape Henry today a heavy rain fell
for several hours and thick FOG cut
off the view of those who are watching
for the incoming ships. Should the ele-
ments prevent the sighting of the Min
nesota and Kentucky when they pass
Cape Henry this afternoon their arrival
will be reported by wireless.
The bad weather of today made the
coaling in Hampton Roads of the bat
tleships Illinois, Virginia and Rhode
Island. somewhat difficult and neither
were conditions auspicious for the car
ry1nS OF Otner supplemental ndNlSdlIOH
magazine and provision stores from the
navy yard to the ships as they lay at
anchor off Old Point Comfort.
Greatest American Fleet.
The fleet, one of the greatest Ameri-
can fleets of battleships ever Joined in
a single squadron will sail from Hamp-
ton Roads bound for the Pacific. The
fleet will comprise six torpedo boat
destroyers and 16 great battlships of
the Atlantic fleet. To man the vessels
will require 1898 officers and men.
Under the direction of the most skillful
naval experts of the world the fleet will
negotiate journey of more than 14.0oo
miles.
Most Powerful Ever Gathered.
This is the most powerful feet ever
gathered under the American flag.
More than this the squadron embraces
ever before gathered together under
the direction of one naval officer, and
the only officer in the world whose blue
pennant floats over more numerous
fleet OF all kinds of warships is Lord
Charles Beresford of Great Britain.
When the vessels start Monday the
spectacle will be one of the most in
spring sights in the history of the
American navy. Reviewed by the pres |
ident of the United States and the sec
retary of the navy the combination of |
vessels will be awe inspiring in the ex- |
treme. Aside from the f1otflla of tor |
pedo boat destroyers the 16 battleships |
which will turn their noses toward the |
southern cape are as follows:
The Battleships.
First squadron first division-Rear
Admiral Robley D. Evans. COM
mander-in-chief.
Connecticut (hagship). 16, 900 tons,
"a guns, SSI officers and men. Cap
tain Hugo Osterhaus.
Louisiana, 1900 tons. "a guns,
SS1 officers and men. Captain Rich
ara Wainwright.
Kansas. $1,000 tons. "a guns, $50
officers and men, Captain, Charles E.
Vermont. $4,000 tons, "a guns, ss1
officers and men. Captain w. P. Pot
ter.
Second division-Rear Admiral
William H Emery, commander
Georgia (f1agship), 14,94S tons, "a
guns. Sf2 officers and men. Captain
Henry McCrea.
Virginia. 14,94s tons, 81 officers and
mon. Captain Seaton Schroeder.
New Jersey. 14,49S tons, "a tons,
s12 officers and men. Captain w. H.
H. Sutherland.
Rhode Island. 14,49S tons, "a guns.
S12 officers and men. Captain J. B.
Murdoch.
second squadron. third division
Rear Admiral c, NJ. Thomas. COM
manding.
Minnesota (fagship). 10000 tons, "a
guns. Ss1 officers and men. Captain
Ohio, 10000 tons. 20 guns. 500 of
fcers and men. Captain Charles w.
Barrett.
Maine. 10000 tons, 20 guns. s12 Of
fcers and men. Captain Giles B.
Missouri. 1880 tons. 20 guns. 77s
officers and men. Captain G. A. Mer-
riam.
Fourth division, Rear Admiral c.
Sv,n ,r,11 ~
Alabama Gfiagship): 11.525 tons; IS
Sa muel Ten Eyck Veeder.
Illinois. 11,525 tons. Is guns. 500 Of
Kearsarge. 1885 tons. % guns, $50
officers and men. Captain Hamilton
Hutchins.
officers. and men. Captain w. c.
Cowles.
Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans. for
whom congress will provide the addi-
fleet in supreme command, sailing in
the majestic Connecticut. His chief
assisting commanding officer will be
Rear Admiral G. NJ. Thomas. who will
command the second SQUADRON. The
other rear admirals in charge of divi-
sions are w. H. Emery and c. S.
Sperry.
The Itinerary.
The fleet will touch at many South
American points. Coaling. for exam
ple will be done at Trinidad Rio
Janeiro, Puenia Atemas, Magellan
Straits Valparaiso. Ceilao. Acapulco
and Magdelena Bay on the coast of
lower California. where the Pacific fleet
will be met This latter fleet. now scat
tered across the Pacific, will meet its
Atlantic visitors some time in March,