Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-17
BIG FLEET SAILS,
Continued from Page One.)


water battery of Fortress Monroe and
into Hampden Roads. the saluting guns
of the army post were the first to sig
nal the arrival of the President and
his party. The white naval yacht kept
silently on her way, accepting the sa-
Lutte as her due and as requiring no out
ward form Of recognition.
1t was not until the Mayf1ower had
nearly reached the Old Point pier that
the President had his first view of the
splendid reet. On either side Of a veri-
table marine boulevard, the ships were
disposed in two long lines. the flag
ships Connecticut and Minnesota stand
ing respectively at the head Of the
sho"e and outbound columns.
Each ship was gaily dressed from
ek staff to flag post with long lines
OF signal bunting.
The Connecticut, flying the flag Of
Rear Admiral Evans, was the first to
speak to the President. The other ships
took up the firing and in less than two
minutes time, 1886 guns had doomed
The smoke as of battle, for time en-
veloped the feet.
Again. without formal recognition Of
the honors bestowed. the Mayf1ower en-
tered the warshp lane and proceeding
slowly to a point about midway Of the
assembled feet let go her anchors
No sooner had she done so than the
torpedo launch of the Connecticut, with
Admiral Evans and his staff on board,
was darting swiftly to her side.
The officers. i'll special full dress uni
form. repaired on board the yacht to
pay their respects to the President He
received them on the quarter deck and
the exchange of greetings was more
hearty than formal. Following the Con-
necticut's lead, the launches with adj
mirals and stats from all of the other
ships We're soon swarming about the
Mayflower. The Captains commanding
the 10 ships followed the flag officers to
the Mayfiower and with their arrival
the reception had reached it's climax.
Within half an hour after Admiral
Evans had first boarded the yacht, all
OF the officers were once more in their
launches. returning to their ships The
last good byes had been said, the
Presidents last wishes Of good luck
had been uttered when suddenly the
signal yards of the Connecticut flashed
the message:
Get under way Immediately. follow
| ing the motions OF the flagship"
The following itinerar! is announced
for the fleet and torpedo fiotila for tho
trip to the Pacific coast. Dates given are,
of course. subject to change, due to Dad
weather or other unexpected circum-
| stances.
The nf no If Wv
al at Magdalena bay depend upon the
| completion of target practice and other
exercises at that place, and have not yet
| been decided upon:
Fleet Itinerary.
| Arrive Hampton Roads Dec .. 1907; de-
part Dec. IL, 1907. Arrive Trinidad Dec.
"a 1897; depart Dec. g. 1907. Arrive Rio de
Janeiro Jan II, 1908: depart Jan. Fl. 1908.
Arrive Punta Arenas Jan. II. 1908 depart
| Feb 5, 1908. Arrive Callao Feb. is, 1893:
depart Feb. %. 1903 Arrive Magaalena
Bay March "a. 1868
FlotiIIa itinerary.
Arrive Trinidad Dec. IS. 1907. depart
| Dec 81. 1867 Arrive Para Dec. e, 1897;
depart Dec. 81. 1857. Arrive Pernambuco
Jan. 5. 1908: depart Jan. 10. 1908. Arrive
Montevidno Jan. Is. 1908: depart Feb. ].
| 1908. Arrive punta Arenas Feb. S, 1865;
depart Feb. Il, 1905. Arrive Talcahuana
| Feb 90 1908: depart Feb. rs, 1908. Arrive
Ca!lao March 4. 1903: depart March s. 1908
| Arrive Panama March IL. 1905: depart
March p, 1905 Arrive Acapulco March %.
1898: depart april :. 1905. Arrive Magda-
lena Bay April 6. 1908.
Nearly four months will be required for
| tie long journey down the east coast,
| through the Straits of Magellan. and up
the west coast to the appointed rendez.
| vous in Magdalena Bay. The present
itinerary contemplates only four stops
the first at Trinidad in the British Yves;
Indies. and where the fleet will falt for
1 coal. renewing its supply from collier:
II which will meet it there; the second al
1 Rio where more Golfers await its com
ing; the next at Punta Arenas. where
before entering the Straits of Magellan
the vessels will receive $till another sup
r,ly of coal from the coal laden ships
which the government has chartered an(
dispatched to that bleak region. Thf
fourth and last stop before reaching Mag
dalena Bay will be at Callao. where sum
cient Goa, will re taken on to enable TIL.
fleet to complete the last stage Of its lonc
Journey.
The cruise has involved the plrchas'
OF nearly a quarter of a million tons o.
coal and the chartering Of fleet O
Golfers that is more numerous thar
the fleet Of battleshipS. The cost o
the fuel alone will reach an enormous
figure. One estimate places the cos
| OF coal delivered to the fleet in Calla'
and Magdalena Bay at SIG ton. thu
excessive price being due. Of course Il
the long distance and the time that TIT
charterc GOLFERS will consume in max
ing the journey.
The enormous amount OF PROVISION
which the fleet will carry is also worth.
of comment No other navy provide
such liberal rations for it's men as doe
the American. and no other feet eve
I sailed that was provisioned on the sea!
that this one is. Foreign navy officer
have been heard to declare that TN
American navy pampers it's r1en to
much. 1t certainly provides liberia
allowance and a great variety. a ratio
vastly different from the salt pork
orned beef, potatoes, onions. conee
i - x>I,,,,, duff which makes ND the Dl