Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-08-29
WHEN THEY SAIL
II Is a Gigantic Task to Prepare all
Details for the Cruise Of
Battleships.
WILL START IN DECEMBER
Il VIII Take More Than 100000 Tons
Of Coal to Take Fighting
Machines to Pacific
Coast.

Washington, Aug. 27.-Acting Score
tary Newberry returned to Washing
ton Monday bringing official word OF
the conclusion reached at the Oyster
Bay conference last week, relative to
the projected cruise of the battleship
feet from the eastern to the western
coasts of the United States by way OF
Straits of Magellan, necessarily, these
conclusions were on broad lines, and
It was found expedient to leave to
Admiral Evans the arrangement OF de,
tails Of the itinerary and to the head
of the various naval bureaus the
preparations which will make 1t pos
sible for the great feet to leave the
Atlantic coast In perfect condition for
this voyage of 13,772 knots.
Even up to this moment 1t has been
impossible for variety of reasons to
precisely fix the date of departure Of
the Atlantic feet. Naval regulations
require that each vessel should carry
out the established order as to target
practice every quarter and no naval
officer is willing that this important
practice should be dispensed with,
even for this cruise. The target prac
tice is invariably followed by more or
less damage q the ships, requiring
their return to navy yard for re-
pairs before they can be regarded as
in proper condition for a prolonged alb
sence from their home ports. Then
It is fully expected that the turret
board, now In session in this city, will
recommend a number Of changes In
the turret mechanism of the ships to
protect the lives of the gunners, and
ammunition handlers. Some time, too,
must be allowed the GOLFERS to ar
rive at designated points, and 1t Is
expected several months will be need
ed to place the yards on the Pacific
coast, in readiness for the reception
Of the battleshlp fleet, which WILL Ger
tainly be In need of repairs by the
time 1t arrives on the Pacific station,
Everything will be in readiness for
the feet to sail on December list, and
thu date Of departure vii! be between
December and Is. Al of thu orders
T. the heads Of bureaus ara VI verb
al character AS arranged the timer
airy provides for ten knots an hour,
which is regarded as the most eco
nomic speed for the fleet. This will
permit the GOLFERS to accompany the
feet for part Of the voyage on the At
lahuc side. Starting with full bunk
ers az coal, the sbiLs will require Il.
ADDITION 100,504 tons, n, counting the
coal that will be burned by the tor
pedo boats, which viii be provided by
merchants enroute. This great supply
Of coal must be provided by golfers
-Four small colllers, the Hannibal
Marcellus. Sterling and Nanshan, car
rying 1900 tons each will accompany
the feet to Trinidad. and Ave larger
golfers, the Ajax, Abarand, Brutus,
Caesar and Nero carrying 1000 tons
each will go as far as Rio Janeiro.
II will be necessary to charter u
additional collIers and four OF these
will meet the feet at Sandy Point,
Magellan Straits. four at Callao, Peru.
and four at Magdalena Bay, each Of
the colliers will carry 5000 tons OF
coal.
Il Is the intention OF the navy de-
partment TO buy as much American
.lnIs3s lsIoIOmmoo o. psloAsp suonsls
IulnssI ~ 1900 % rn5ql 1ol eIQIssod ,.
sa4vm slvoq opsdlol en- 10 lsl9aIvqo
sqL 'pssn eq o. sAUq ina 1900 usIsiol
ss9uVlsuI smos ~ lnq 'slqIssod SO 1900
era
The Panther. carrying a full ma
chine shop. and the Culsoa and the
Glacier. supply ships win accompany
the feet the entire voyage
Magdalena nay viii be reachet
about March 3. according to plans
bat TIE itinerary at this point giyei
Zen days addIuonal target practice