Evening star., 1907-08-26
Big Squadron Already Gathered
at Hampton Roads.
DETAILS ARE ALL ARRANGED
Torpedo Boat Flotilla Will Sail About
December Is.
SHIPS FOR THE PHILIPPINES
Through Courtesy of Mexico There
Will Be Target Practice in
Magdalena Bay.

Magdalena Bay.
FORT MONROE. Va, Angst 28-Fifteen
OF the sixteen battleships which will make
the cruise to the Pacific next winter lie
at anchor here, ready to put to SEA today
for fleet drills and battle maneuvers. Rear
Admiral Evans. commander-in-chief of the
Atlantic fleet. returned to his flagship the
Connecticut. Saturday. and although he
has not spoken word OF the conference
with the President at Oyster Bay on Fri
day. 1t is now realized that there Is no
turning back in the policy which will
strengthen American prestige by transfer
ring the bulk of the American sea power
to the Pacific. where the national respon-
slbiities and interests are heaviest.
President Roos welt found out at the con-
ference at Oyster Bay on Friday that the
fleet requires only the general repairs Of
the usual fall docking to be ready for the
cruise of 1872 knots from Hampton roads
to San Francisco. The magnitude of the
undertaking may be realized when 1t Is
stated that at no time. If present plans
are followed. will the fleet BE- separated.
This means that sixteen American battle
ships will visit five South American ports,
at four of which never more than four have
been seen at time. 1t means that
1900 officers and men must b. given lib
erty in at least two of the ports of call
where not more than 500 have ever gone
ashore before. 1t means that twenty-eight
collers will he required to ship to the ports
where the feet will stop the coal necessary
for them to make the voyage.
To Go 1879 Knots.
Here is the itinerary for the cruise of the
battIcship fleet and it's half-dozen auxil-
iaries:
Leave Hampton roads December 15 1907;
arrive at Trinidad Q,TSo knots) December
%
Leave Trinidad December IS: arrive at
Rio de Janeiro (2.900 knots), January 10.
Leave Rio de Janeiro January 10: arrive
at Punta Arenas (2230 knots) January 26.
Leave Punta Arenas January 81; arrive
Callao (2S50 knots) February IL.
Leave Cal!ao February 10: arrive Magda-
lena bay (3.O12 knOts) March ..
Leave Magdalena bay after target prac-
tice April s: arrive at San Francisco q ,OGO
knotS) April 10.
Total distance IL. .772 knots
Total cruising days. So
Total days in port coaiing and target prac-
tlce, -.
Torpedo Flotilla December Is.
-. The torpedo notilla will be ready to de-
part about December 10, but the actual
date OF steaming has not been fixed 1t
Is more difficult to plan the time of arrival
with the battleships but IL the torpedo
aotilia leaves Hampton roads in the middle
Of December it may be expected to arrive
at San Francisco about May i.
- Fifteen. of the sixteen battleshps which
Will make the cruise will on that day leave
the very anchorages which they now oc-
cupy. and they will not be home again until
their anchors catch bottom within the Gold
Ell Gate. and even there indications are
that their stay will be short for the feel
ing OF the well informed in the fleet is that
before another year has passed most of the
ships will be in the Philippines.
Two at Least for Islands
The ultimate destination of the armored
cruisers Tennessee and Washington which
will sail from here for San Francisco un-
der command of Rear Admiral Sebree early
in October Is the Philippines. The service
sentiment supports strongly the argument
that the proper station for an American
naval force in the Pacific is with a base in
the Philippines
cruise must be furnished to Rear Admiral
Evans by GOLFERS at the ports named for
coaling from lighters is slow work The
plan for the cruise contemplates that the
SHIPS or the smallest coal capacity, which
are the Illinois and Alabama shall have
upon arriving In each OF The pors Of call
at least two days coal supply. Those ves-
sells which carry more coal will have an
gency. Not less than five days and more
probably six or seven. Will be spent in each
port Tor the men upon whom will devolve
the arduous job of coaing ship must be
given some liberty IL they are to remain
contented.
stretch OF 24O miles through the
Straits of Magellan must he made bet ween
daylight and dawn. With one ship or two
the task is easy, but with sixteen il Is COM
plicated. 1t is imoracticable to send one
DIV sion through the straits at time for
h1 1.atf
Others they would be burning coal and re-
duc!ng the large supply necessary for the
long leg from Pun:a Arenas to Callao
The cruise will be drawing to a close about
the time when the annual competitive tar
get practice Is held. II will afford an op-
portunity for supreme test of the fighting
qualities of the great armada.
Month in Mexican Waters.
When only 1880 knots from it's destina-
tion the fleet will go into Masdalena bay
Mexico and spend one month in competi-
tive gunire. The placid waters OF Magda-
lena bay offer exceptional facilities for
this work. which the Atlantic fleet for
several years. with increasing proficiency.
has performed In West India waters
To aid the plans of the United States
Mexico has given permission for the
United States to anchor a coal hulk In
Maedalena bay. The Pacific coast divisions
OF the Pacific fleet for several years have
had target practice In Magdalena bay by
courtesy OF Mexico.
Lieut.. Hutch /. Cone. who by reason of
his service In command OF the torpedo de-
stroyer Dale. In the cruise OF the first fio-
tila TO the Philippines. has been ected
TO command the second. will proceed to
frovincetown. Mass. on September Is. and
pick from the eight destroyers now com
posing the second fotllla. the six in best
condition to make the long cruise II Is
Lieut.. Cones opinion that the cruise to
San Francisco by way of Magellan will not
be so difficult of accomplishment as the
famous cruise of the first fiotila under
Lieut.. tnow Lieut.. Commander) L. II. Chan
der. There viii not be the long stretches
Of open ocean to cross.