Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-28
CRUISE TO PACIFIC
Will Start Sometime Between Dec. I
and 15.-The Plans.

washington, Aug 27.-Acting Secre-
tary Newbcrry returned to Washington
Monday bringing official word Of the
conclusions reached at the oyster Bay
conference last week, relative to the
projected cruise Of the great battle
ship fleet from the Eastern to the
Western coasts of the United States by
way of the Straits of Magellan. Neces-
sarily, these conclusions were on broad
lines and it was found eXpedient To
leave to Admiral Evans and his star
the ARRANGEMENT of the details of the
itinerary of the voyage and TO the
heads of the various naval bureaus the
nreparations which will make 1t posi-
BILE for the great fleet to leave the
American coast in perfect condition
for this voyage Of 1872 knots.
Even up to this moment 1t has heen
;mpossible to fix precisely the date Oh
departure Of the fleet. Naval regula-
lions require that each vessel should
carry out the established order as 10
target practice every quarter and no
naval officer is willing that this I'M
Iortant practice Should De uiape
with even for this cruise.
TARGET practice is invariably Follow
oil Inv more or less damage to the shlps,
recurring their return to navy yari
,a, ron,irs before they can be regard
cd in proper condition for prolonged
.hsonce from their home ports. Then IL
;s fu,ly expected that the turret board
Vow in scssion in this city, will recon-
mend 4 number Of changes in the tur-
,at nac,,,nism OF the. ships to protect
tho lives Of the gunners and a'nhluiil
allowed the GOLFERS to arrive at desls
.ataa noints. and it is expected several
mnnths will be needed to place the
an tho Pacific coast in readiness
Tor the reception Of the battleShlp
fleet. 49,. r
Evcrvthing will be in readiness Tor
the feet to sail on Dec. ana 'ilc u''
af dan.rture will be between Dec.
and Is. All Of the orders 70 tlie iieiu'
of bureaus are of verbal character
AS arranged the itinerary pro'lueS ~
IN Knots an hour, which is regarded as
the most economic speed for the heet
for mart Of The voyage on the Atiahllc
side. Starting with full bunkers OF co'i
tho ships will require in addition loo,-
5O4 tons, not counting the coal mat
Will be BURIED by the torpedo poats'
which will be provided by merchan'S
an ro,te. This great supply of coal
must be provided by golfers. -FOUR
small GOLFERS, the Hannable, Marcel
lus. Sterling and Nanshan, carrying
1000 tons each will accompany the lleet
10 Triuadad and five large golfers. the
Ajax. Abarenda, Brutus. Caesar ana
Nero. carrying 1000 tons each will G"
az far as Rio Janerio. 1t Will be ne
cessary to charter u additional golfers
and four Of these will meet the fleet at
Sandy Point, Magellan strait, four at
Gallo and four at Magdalena bay. Each
of these Golfers will carry 5000 tons OF
coal.
1t is the intention of the navy de-
partment to buy as much American
coal as possible, but in some Instances
foreign coal will have to be used. The
character of the torpedo boats makes
it possible to coal at regular stations
devoted to commercial steamers. The
Panther carrying a full machine shop
and the Culgera and the Glacier, sup
NV ships, will accompany the fleet the
entire voyage.
Magdelena bay will be reached
about March s according to plans.
Target practice there will be engaged
in for a month. Nothing has been set
tied concerning the return OF a part Oh
all of the fleet and probably will not
| he settled until 60 days in advance OF
the actual return.