Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-03-12
The American Battleship Fleet
Steams Into MagdaIena Har-
Dor This Morning.
WIRELESS EXPECTED TONIGHT
Strong Light Waves of the sun Must
Make Way for Either
Impulses.

San Diego, Cal. March 12.-While no
additional word had come by wireless
from the south today and none is ex-
pected until well into the night. when
the strong light-waves OF the sun make
ras--for the ether impulses of the
"ireiess flashes, 1e AZ pcneveu here at
noon that the American battle fleet
as 1t has been officially referred to by
PRESIDENT Roosevelt, is safe within the
iSiah0-guarded harhor of Magdalena
pay, and that the l6 big ships are rid
ing at anchor in the blue waters OF
TINS most Isolated but now most famous
OF Mexican ports.
LAST WORD RECEIVED.
The last word received from the feet
at the wireless station here was to
the effect that the ships were off Mag
uuleha, probably o distance of 90 miles
or more and would steam into the bay
ms soon after daylight as the steering
points OF the Entrance Redondo point
on the south and Sentrada point, or
SAN ROCK, on the north-could be pick
ed up by the navigating officers. These
shlllng orders should at noon have nut
the fleet into Man O. War Cove. behind
the rocky peninsula leading down from
the north and serving as one of the
unusual means OF protecting this favor
ed harbor. This peninsula also con-
tains the little adobe settlement of
Magdalena and the improvised customs
mouse, which has been opened by d.
rection of the Mexican government to
enable traders from the north to carry
on business with the officers and men
OF the heet, who. for a period of a
month or more, are TO be practically cut
Off from the rest OF the world
IN STRANGE WATERS.
The waters in and about Magdalena
pay are strange sailing ground for the
ofiicers of the battleship fleet most OF
Wnom have gained their craft OF SET
manship along the Atlantic coast and
LOT tnls reason the entrance waa not too
closely approached during the night
Magdalena has been used as nm
american naval base for some time by
the vessels of the Pacific feet. and nv
stray cruisers from the Atlantic squad
rons, but 1t now holds the greatest
number of warships it has ever known
and the echoes OF the harhor hills soon
Will be awakened with a roar Of guns
far beyond anything ever heard on
the Pacific coast
Naval officers here on board the
Tennessee, Washington and ALBANY
maryeled today at the speed with
which the feet was brought from Cal
calculations, made after the fucroased
speed of the ships was announced by
wireless, did not put the fleet into
Magdalena bay before late this after
noon or some time tonight.
PREVIOUS RECORDS.
The Tennessee and WASHINGTON.
which form part of the second d.
vision of the first squadron of the
Pacific fleet and are known as the
'pathfinders'' recently covered exact
ly the same course as that taken by
the 16 battleships in their cruise
from Atlantic to Pacific waters. The
officers OF these ships especially
were SURPRISED at the showing of the
fleet in its run of moro than 10000
miles. and is taken as remarkable
demonstration OF the fitness of the ma
Chinery, hulls and crews under the
most trying test TO which battleshlps
OF any nation ever We're put.
FEAT WE'LL RECEIVED.
Coming at time when the navy
Is under investigation by a congress
sional committee and when the de-
tails of the construction of the ships
are subject 10 criticism. the accomp-
lishment OF the feet which now has,
TO all intents and purposes ended its
cruise. is grateful news 10 the naval
officials mere.
Official messages only have so far
been received at the Point Iona wire
less station. and they in all cases have
been forwarded to Washington.
STAY Is A PROBLEM.
Tho stay OF The fleet at Magdalena
Is problenatic- target practise Will
require some time. aud win be fol-
lowed by fleet drills in battle tactics.
There seems 10 be no doubt, however.
Judging from tho unexpectedly early
arrival OF the fleot at Magdalena that
the program of hard work laid down
for tho southern drill ground win he
carried out with all possible sKpedi
ton, and that tho fleet VIII sail
through the Golden Gate OF San Fran
cisco on May ., after having paid
visits OF az long durauDn as the itin-
erary permits. at san Diego, Los AM
geles, Santa Barbara and santa Cruz.
on its way up the coast,