The sun., 1907-12-19
FLEET TO RETURN VIA SUEZ
so ADMIRAL EVANS SAYS Ar
W.ARDROOM DINNER,

WASHINGTON. Dec. Is.-The Navy Depart
wireless message addressed to the Lairan
Bureau. New York. from The Suns cor
respondent aboard the battleship Louisiana;
g-U. S. s. LoUIsIANA.
AT Sea, Dec. IL. noon.
E'Fleet is proceeding at a regular speed
Of ten and ons-half knots an hour.
AT noon to-day the log had registered
ESQ miles. 1t is expected that the 1eet will
make the Anegada Passage by noon Of
Saturday.
The heet is proceeding in four column
formation. making a rectangle Of $500
yards wide and 200 yards deep
The four Adnirals lead the columns
Rear Admiral Evans's flagship. the Con-
neCticut. being right guide.
The assigned intervals between the
ships have been kept almost perfectly.
"The sea so far has been OF river smooth
ness.
AT wardroom dinner on Monday night
the announcement was made by Admiral
Evans on the authority of President Roose-
welt that the feet would return home by
way Of the Suez Canal.
"The Presidents wireless message qI
farewell. sent from the Mayfower on Mon
day. was enthusiastically received by the
entire feet
While it 10 not officially admitted that
the battleship feet will return to the
Atlantic coast by way of the Suez
Canal route, high ranking officers Of
the Government we're willing to-day to
express the opinion that the Susz route
would he followed Several officers de-
clared that the question had not been settled
definitely and would not be until after the
feet reached San Francisco, but il was
intiunated generally that the Administration
regarded the Sueg route as the most feast
BILE
NORFOLK. Va, Dec. lsThe Pacific
bound hattleship feet was in communica-
ton with wireless telegraph stations here
at o'clock tonight. The fleet was then
$40 miles south Of Cape Henry and $50 miles
east by south of Jacksonville. Fla. All
was well.
The following wireless message to THE
SUN came direct from the bettleship Con-
necticut, the flagship OF Rear Admiral Evans.
commanding the fleet:
"U. s. S. CoNN ECTICUT,
AT Sea. Dec. IL.
From Tuesday noon to Wednesday noon
the fleet covered 24O knots. The course
remains southeasterly. The fleet is $50
miles southeast Of Jacksonville. Fla.
shortly before noon Rear Admiral Evans
displayed signals from the flagship ordering
the feet TO form in double columns, with
an interval OF 1890 yards between each
ship. The movement was so we'll executed
that the flagship set the signal meaning
-Well DONE" and also another which trans
lated meant cOmmendatOn for Rear Ad-
nliral William II. Emory, commanding the
first squadron of the second division, whose
fagship id the Georgia.
when the fleet arrived TO the eastward
of the Gulf Stream a moderate swell was
met with, but it had little or no effect upon
the bat1leships. To-day the weather is
perfect. with a balnny air and the sun shining
brightly The scene from the Connecticut
presents a magnificent picture. As far
the eye can see stretches the expanse of deep
blue water. glittering under the warm rays
of tho sun, while the two lines Of white
painted ships of war plOughing along like
tho beautiful powerful machines they are,
with their crews all attired in white uni
forms. would form a fine subject for the
brush of an artist The suuadrOns have
barely shaken down into keeping perfect
distances. but what little raggedness there
is will soon be eliminated by constant
practice"
The first squadron Of the second di-
vision. Rear Admiral Emory commanding.
which called forth the commendatiOn Of
Rear Admiral Evans. consists OHthe Georgia.
flagship. Capt. Henry McCrea; New Jersey.
Capt. W. H. n. Southerland; Rhode Island,
Capt. Joseph n. Murdock. and Virginia.
Capt. Seaton Schroeder.
THE Suns despatch contains the first
definite news OF the plans for the feet
after it has visited the Pacific Coast The
only programme that had bean announced
was that the ships were to proceed to
Magdalena Bay. in Lower California, arriv-
ing there. according to schedule, on March.
IA. After a months practice, target and
evolution, in Southern California waters
he feet was to proceed to San Francisco.
What the feet would do after that
whether it would be sent around the world
or return by the Straits OF Magellan, was
prohlennaticaL There have been any num-
ber Of con lectures as 70 what the feet would
do IN the event OF its returning by way Of
susz. Not the least interesting has been
that friendly visit might be made to
Japan. Admiral Evans himself. in the
!, signed statement which he gave out To tho
" press ON the Saturday before sailing. said:
Il hope that when wa arrive home az our
destination the people will have for us
upon our arrival a welcome as warm as 10
the godspeed which they give us on our
departure. and that should our Commander
in Chief then decide to send US on a mission
Of peace and good will to the nations Of the
other hemisphere. the sanne warm interest
will follow there in the future as iE always
has in the past
Admiral Evnns's statement was taken
. by many as indicating that the real desti-
nation OF the feet was the Philippines
IL has been cOniectured that some Of the
ships, probably half Of them, would be
left at the Philippines and the rest would
continue home by way Of the Suez Canal
on the mission Of "peace and good will to