Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-12-28

The New Jersey. tie Rhode island ano
the Virginia are his other ships
The second squadron is under com
mand OF Rear Admiral G. NJ. Thomas.
whose authority in the fleet is second
only TO that OF the commander In
chief. Admiral Thomas also has com.
mand Of the third division. made up
of the Minnesota (dagship), the Ohio,
the Missouri and the Maine.
Rear Admiral Evans consented to
speak briefly before the feet sailed.
The most significant thing that he said
was an allusion 10 the possibility of
having the feet sent on a mission OF
peace to another hemisphere This
was construed as indicating that the
feet will 60 from San Franc lsco TO the
Philippines. where some Of the battle
ships may remain, while others VIII
continue on their journey to the At
lantic
"rhe rear admiral said.
"You ask me on the eve Of depar-
ture Of the fleet to give you some
words to say TO the people Of the
United States. therefore ask You to
convey 10 the people the sincere thanks
and hearty appreciation OF the officers
and men OF the feet for the great in
terest which the country at large is
taking I'm our movements. We feel
the responsibility which the people
have laid upon us by their interest In
past years in creating and maintain
ing this splendid fleet and I'm the con-
tinuation Of that interest which now
fits Us out complete in every particu-
lar and sends us out on this great prac-
tice cruise 60 visit our friends and sup
porters on the Pacific coast
81 am sure that every officer and
man IN the feet will feel 1t not only a
duty, but q pleasure. to repay the
people for their interest by absolute
fidelity 10 the trust imposed upon him.
I'm small things as well as I'm large.
hope that when we arrive home at our
destination the people will have for us
upon our arrival a welcome rs warm
as Is the godspeed which they give US
ON our departure and that. should our
commander in chief then decide to
send us on n mission OF peace and
good will TO the nations of the other
hemisphere. the same warm interest
will follow I'm the future as Il always
has in the past"
10 has been repeatedly stated that
the feet might eventually circle the
globe, some color being given 20 the
report 10y the fact that the navy de-
partment furnished the navigator OF
each ship with corrected charts show
ing the way 20 san Francisco, 20 Ma
nila and 10 Gibraltar.
Although bound for an extended tour
OF duty I'm the Pacific ocean. the feet
still rc'ains It's title Of the United
States Atlantic feet
The fleet viii arrive at Trinidad on
Dec. % and remain until Dee. -. 1t
viii get great welcome 90 that Brit
fish island from fits people.
The distance from Hampton Roads
10 Trinidad is 1850 miles and with
the exception OF the run from Mag
dalena bay to San Francisco. about
L5O0 miles. win be the shortest reach
on the voyage Christmas will BE- cell
ebrated at Trinidad.
Then IL will be a hustle 10 get coal
In the bunkers and start for Rio. This
Will hc the longest ran OF the yoEaEe.
distance OF 300 miles. The fleet
viii arrive there on Jan. al. and the
stay Will be ten days. shore leave viii
be granted 60 the men, probably about
1900 az a time.
From Rio the ships viii sail on Jan.
p for Punta Arenas, a distance or
2,22S miles, arriving there on Jan 81
Punta Arenas Is a desolate port OF
about 100 people, we'll inside the
strait OF Magellan. Patagonia Is on
one side and TERRA del Fuego on the
other OF the strait.
Leaving there on Feb. ., the really
dangerous part OF the journey will be-
gin. For nearly 400 miles the ships
must steer through crooked straits
without chance cf harbOr or OF anchor
age. It is necessary TO start at mid
night so as 10 reach the most danger
Gus part OF the trip by daylight All
that day and that night will be Occu-
pied in getting into the Pacific. when
there will be comparative safety.
From Punta Arenas TO Callao the
run is 26G6 miles. Cauao viii be
reached on Feb. Is for stay of ten
days to coal ship and grant shore
leaves.
Lima, the capital OF Peru, is less
than ten miles away. and IL is proba-
Bile that official receptions similar 20
those in Rio will be given. The same
watch over the men ashore Will have
10 be kept
Then comes a reach OF about $3.50
miles TO Magdalena bay, arriving there
on March IA for months target prac-
tice. The feet will be hidden most OF
the time. There is no town near by,
and such news as reaches the public
OF the doings OF the feet there will
have to come by wireless telegraph
from the ships to San Diego, a dis
lance OF about GOO miles.
Walsh Made Paper Money.
CHICAGO. Dec. 1S.-In the trial OF