The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-18
bATTLESH|PS
PREPARING FOR
PACIFIC DASH

New York, Nov. 1S.-Five OF the 16 big
American battleships which next month
will start on one of the most notable
cruises of the worlds naval history. are
at the Brooklyn navy yard. receiving
their last work of preparation for the
long journey TO the Pacific ocean.
The other II are at the Norfolk, Boston
and League Island navy yards receiving
their tuning up, repairs, their ammuni-
ton and the heavier of the staple stores.
OF which each ship will carry IA tonnage
almost equal to that OF the average COM
mercial-laden ocean liner Several of the
battleshps now at other yards will come
to New York during the next ten days
To go into the mammoth dry docks avail
able at the Brooklyn station. Eleven and
possibly Il of the fleet will rendezvous i'm
New York harbor prior to Dec. 1. and
will sail either on that day or Dec. TO
Hampton Roads, from whence the start
for San Francisco will be made on Dec.
IL. after review of the assembled ships
by President Roosevelt.
In addtion't to the five heavily armed
lighting craft at the local yard, four
vessels of the auxiliary squadron of sup
ply and repair ships are also under re-
pair, and will be ready I'm "A few days TO
receive their full cargo Of supplies The
task of loading the foodstuffs is by no
lens involved I'm the setting out OF the
heaviest Hgnting squadron ever assem-
bled under the American flag. fact
which is patent when of potatoes alone,
tho acquisitions now in the hands Of tho
pay corps officers call for 100000 pounds.
The colossal sovernment-built Connccti-
cut the flagship of Rear Admiral Evans,
which will head the battlcship column in
IFS long hemisphere grding cruise, was
taken out of drydock late yesterday AZ
ternoon. her white sides glstcniug bre-
liantly with the freshness OF now paint
The Connecticut is ready for the long
trip While i'm drydock her hull was
scrapcd free from all sea growth aud
treated with an extra heavy coating OF
lead Rivcts were frightened, riIdder post
Inspected. bilge kecls wero Strengthened
and the setting Of tho giant congratulated
propellors were thoroughly gone over, as
il will be many months before the rcd
underbody of the Connecticut is again out
of the water The ability Of a fleet sent
out I'm best OF cruising trim TO withstand
the accumulatous OF sea growth In the
cou - OF a long cruise will be one of tho
man. valuable lessons attending the pro-
iectcd transfer Of the battleships from the
Atlantic 10 the Pacific.
The Connecticut camc out of drydock
No. r. tho largest at tho yard. The bat
tleship Ohio Is 10 be docked tomorrow for
a final painting below tho waterllne. Tho
Louisiana. the Rhode Island and the
Alabama. Admiral Sperry's flagship of the
fourth division. are also undergoing re-
pairs at Brooklyn. Tho repair ship Pan
ther. the tender Yankee. The supply
ship Culgoa, and the refrigerator ship
Glacier arc the other units OF the Pacific
bound fleet gathered i'm the local waters.
The battleship Virginia Is expected
shortly from Norfolk To bc docked in No.
3 and viii be followed In that basin by
the Minnesota, which will also come fresh
from the mechanics hands az Norfolk.