New-York tribune., 1907-10-13
OFF FOR THE PACIFIC.
Special SerUice Squadron SAILS from
Hampton Roads.

Washington. Oct. 12.-The special service squad
ron. consisting of the armored cruisers Tennessee
and Washington, sailed from Hampton RoaoS
to-day on its voyage of about thirteen thousand
miles around the coast of South America to Mag
dalena Bay, where the ships will go through regu-
lar naval manoeuvres in company with the ne"
armored cruisers California and South Dakota
The four ships are of the same class, each pelhs
Of 1850 tons displacement, having an indicated
horsepower of 1900 and eighteen guns ir the main
battery. The California and the South dakota
were built by the Union Iron Works. of San Fran
cisco The California is in commission. and 1t is
expected that the South Dakota will be ready for
active service by the time the special service
squadron arrives the Pacific Coast.
Rear Admiral Uriel Sebree one of the junior
officers of that grade is in command of the special
service squadron, and the Tennessee is his flag
ship Captain Thomas B. Howard. recently in
command of the cruiser Olympia. is in command
of the Tennessee, and Captain Austin NJ Knight,
formerly president of the naval board of ordnance
is in command OF the Washington The squadron
will proceed direct to Trinidad. where it is due on
the 18th. a stop of four days will be MADE 81
that port, when the squadron will sail for Rio de
Janero where 1t is due November 2. stop
of seven days will be made at the Brazilian capl-
tal after which the squadron will proceed to
Montevtdeo, arriving there on November lS. Seven
days will be spent at that port. The next stop
ping place will be at Punta Arenas. near the en-
trance TO the Strait of Magellan There the YES
sells Will remain three days before proceeding
through the straits to Callao, Peru, where they
are scheduled to arrive on December :. One week
Will be spent at that port, in order to permit
visits to Lima. The last stage of the cruise Will
be from Callao to Magdalena Bay. where the YES
sells will engage in target practice and manpuvres'
An interesting phase OF this cruise is that II
marks the beginning OF extensive movement OF
warships from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast
which will include sixteen battleships. commanded
by Rear Admiral Evans and a large hotilla of tor
pedo boats The battleship fleet is under orders 10
start from this side about December 10, and II is
expected that the torpedo fotla will accompany
that fleet follow It short time afterward- All
the vessels will take practically the course adopted
for the special service squadron, and because or
that fact the Tennessee and the Washington are
regarded being in the nature OF pathtnders AS
a matter OF fact. however, the cruise has already
been made by numerous warships. large and small
including the Oregon and the course Is well known
to nearly all the officers OF the navy, especially
those who have had much service. None or tho
warships will go around Cape Horn. that route now
being followed only by sailing vessels. The only
warship which has made the voyage around the
Horn in recent years is the gunboat Tacoma which
went into those waters In search of q missing mer-
chantman.