Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03
LOUISIANA'S BIG LOAD
FIRST TO CARRY THE FLAG
THROUGH THE STRAITS.

NEW YORK, December S.-Wtth two
million pounds OF ammunition slowed in
her magazine rooms and with nearly 1000
men and officers aboard, the big 10000
ton battleship Louisiana, representative
of the largest class of fighting craft in
the American navy, sailed yesterday from
the Brooklyn navy yard for Hampton
roads. the rendezvous Of the Pacific
bound Atlantic feet.
The Louisiana will be the first Of the
sixteen magnificent vessels which are to
carry the American flag through the
Straits of Magellan and along the Pacific
shores Of the western hemisphere to
reach the starting point Of the famous
cruise. Not all of the immense quantity
of ammunition aboard the ship is for use
In her own guns, many thousand pounds
of smOkeless powder for the weapons OF
the armored cruisers Tennessee and
Washington, now in the Pacific ocean,
having been shipped in the big battle
ships.
But arriving in Hampton roads the
Louisiana will receive the last of her
own powder and SHE'LL and the weight for
her own use will then be carried above
the 1900, 0O0-pound mark. In addition to
this the Louisiana will take on board
for mining harbors. etc. She will also
take on a supply of Whitehead automo-
blie torpedoes.
Ammunition Store Duplicated.
The amount of ammunition stored
aboard the Louisiana will be duplicated
on all the vessels of her class, including
the Connecticut, flagship of Rear Admiral
Robley D. Evans; the Kansas. the Minne-
sofa and the Vermont. While this store
of ammunition seems large. 1t would be
{ror of nro TT of no
total weight If the: fleet were being
equipped in battle order. The heavy stores
are explained by the fact that the fleet
will spend nearly enc month at spring
target practice in Magdalena bay, Lower
California, before arriving at San fran
cisco.
The Louisiana probably will be first
joined at Hampton roads by the Yer
mont; which sailed from Boston Satur
day. The Connecticut. is due to leave
the Brooklyn navy yard on Wednesday.
This will leave under repair here the
Virginia, Minnesota Rhode Island, Ohio
and Alabama. The New Jersey sailed
from Boston today. leaving the Illinois
lucky en- route to Boston to report to
Admiral Evans in the Virginia roadstead
by Monday, December 8.
Last Week for Work.
This being the last week for work on
Tic ollpS tuC liIAAiSuSO 1O1CCo VI HAC-
chanics at Brooklyn, Boston, League Is
land and Norfolk will have to labor over
time in order to get all of the vessels
ready.
Any minor repairs and new, installa-
lions of machinery will be made en-
route. A repair shop, the Panther, will
accompany the fleet.
The sailing Of the Louisiana tomor-
row, under command of Capt. Richard
Wainwright. the hero of the little gun
boat Gloucester, which got into the thick
Of the fight at Santiago and won a share
in the glory Of that victory equal to some
of the big armorclads under Admiras
Sampson and Schley, is accompanied by
the news Just received from Washing.
made practically a clean sweep at the
recent target practice for ships of her
class.
In navy prizes and ship awards the
men behind the Louisiana's guns won
with the 12-inch guns, first and second
prizes with the S-inch rifles and third
prize with the side battery of finch
guns. '..'' - Il
Money Prizes for Gunners.
In addition to the money prizes won,
all of the gun pointers aboard the
Louisiana qualified for higher pay, s. a
month being added to their salaries as a
result of making the. requisite score of a
hit a minute with the seven and eight inch
rifles The effectiveness of such fire
as this in action can readily be appre-
ciated. With the Pinch guns the Louisi-
ana crews made percentage of approx
mately 1913.
This means practically 80 per cent of
hits with the big shells, for the allow
ances for hits to the Louisiana are placed
lower than 100, this being done in order
power on equal terms in the competition
for battleship trophies.
The work of the Louisianas gun crews
sets high standard for the larger ships
of the navy and is a striking example of
the effectiveness of American gunnery.
The records were made with new guns
and from new ship.