The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-17

| Evans will sight the welcome beacons
| of Ssn-Francisco Bay. With the pow
! ers looking on and wondering, 1t will
| take. its leisurely course across the
| equator, through the dangerous Straits
| of Magellan, and UP the western coast
of South America. 1t will demonstrate
many things, not the least important
of which Is the value OF the Panama
Canal. a ship can go from Hampton
Roads to Colon more quickly than to
Trinidad, and yet a little strip Of land.
so narrow OH the map that II looks as
if it might be cut by sword, burdens
this fleet with 1i,oOo-milc voyage to
reach the Golden Gate.
With his sixteen battleships, Admiral
Evans has three more than comprise
the entire battleship strength of japan !;
with these same sixteen he has twelve
more than were owned by the United
States in the closing days OF the Span
isl War These facts remembered
quickly show the growing strength OF
our naval force. which puts us In Sec
ond place with all the nations of the
world.
In her strong vaults the Connecticut
carries 10000 in gold, and on every
other ship there was 100000 from the
mint.
NEAR rive MONTHS NOyuEc.
Tonight sixteen ships of the mas
sive fleet, continuing in single order
and steaming at the uniform speed of
ten knots an hour, are well down the
coast toward the treacherous waters
of Hatteras. The first lap of their
Journey will bring them to Trinidad on
CHRISTMAS Eve, and there. amid the
heat of the tropics, the Christmas cele-
orations Will be held. The stay at
Trinidad is limited to five DAYS. The
second stage of the Journey will take
the battlefield squadrons To Rib.
where they will make a ten days
stop Nom January 18th to list. The
third leg leads to Punta Arenas, in
the Straits of Magellan. this port be-
Ing reached January 3lst. The 9TH of
february will see the fleet again un-
der way, picking its course cautiously
@shroush-ethe, western : end of - the
straits. and then heading north once
more for Caliao. The Callao stop is
scheduled from February 18th to 2Sth,
The fleet sailing on the latter date
tor Americas rented naval station at
.lagdalena Bay. Southern California.
The fleet should sight the sand dunes
and Indian huts of Magdalena not later
than March 18th. Its stay there is
for the spring target prac-
.ice must be accomplished before the
fleet starts for San Francisco.
Formation of Fleet.
This is the formation OF the fleet:
First Division, First Squadron
Captain Hugo w. Oster- |
aaus Flagship of Rear-Admiral Evans) |
Kansas. Captain Charles L. Freeland:
Vermont, Captain William P. Potter;
Louisiana. Captain Richard Vain /
wright
Second Division. First Squadron
Georgia. Captain Henry McCrea alag |
ship of Rear-Admiral William II. !
i.mory): New Jersey, Captain William !
/. Fl. Switzerland; Rhode Island, Cap
ain Joseph b. Murdoch; Virginia, Cap
cain Seaton Schroeder
Third Division. Second Squadron
Captain John Hubbard
Flagship of RearAdm!ral Charles N.
fhonas); Ohio. Captain Charles w.
Bartlett; Missouri Captain Greenlief A. |
Merriam: Maine, Captain Giles E.
Iarber
Fourth Division. Second Squadron
Alabama, Captain Ten Eyck D. ".
feeder Flagship OF Rear-Admiral
Charles S. Sperryl; Illinois, Captain !
John NJ, Bowyer; kearsarge, Captain
hamilton Hutch!ns: Kentucky, Cap.
Tain Walter c. Cowlcs.
The Auxiliary Observation-Disclosures sup
ply ship, Commander w. S. Hogg; Gull
goa. supply ship, Lieutenant-C Command
y j. b. Patton; Panther, repair ship,
Commander Y. S. Nelson: Yankton,
lender, Lieutenant w. r. G!lerardi.
A