Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-07-07

san Francisco July IA splendid
picture of Americas fighting strength
on the sea will be presented today
when the sixteen battleships OF the
Atlantic fleet led by the magnificent
Connecticut with Rear Admiral Chas
$. Sperry on the bridge heads out of
the Golden Gate and bathes their
bows in the blue Pacific. In impos-
ing array they pass beyond the head
lands out of the view of the thou
sands of cheering watchers on shore
and start fairly on the long voyage
through five seas from San Francisco
to Hampton Roads--a striking DEM
onstration of the power and efficiency
of the United States navy.
Sixteen battleships are in the line,
divided into four divisions and two
squadrons. In the first division of
the first squadron are the flagship of
Rear Admiral Sperry the Connecti-
cut, and her sister ships, the Kan
sas, Minnesota and Vermont. This
division, as well as the entire fleet is
under the immediate command of
Rear Admiral Sperry. The second d.
vision of the first squadron is COM
manded by Acting Rear Admiral
the flagship Georgia and her sister
ships. the Nebraska, New Jersey and
Rhode Island. Rear Admiral William
III. Emory commands the second
squadron and third division, and Is
aboard of the flagship Louisiana The
Virginia, Ohio and Missouri also are
in this division. The fourth division,
under the command of Acting Rear
"a g., l..
of the flagship Wisconsin and the IL
linois, Kearsarge and Kentucky. The
Nebraska and Wisconsin, formerly of
the Pacific fleet, have taken the
places of the Maine and Alabama of
the Atlantic fleet, which are en- route
to Hampton Roads as special service
squadron.
The fleet auxiliaries preceded the
battleships by week, and are now
nearing Honolulu, where they will un-
load supplies and sail away for New
Zealand before the arrival of the fleet
at Honolulu. These auxiliaries are
the Panther. repair ship; Glacier, re-
frigerator supply ship; Culgoa, sup
ply ship; Ajax, collier; Relief, hospital
ship, and Yankton, tender and dis
patch boat.
The battleships which sail today on
the longest voyage ever undertaken by |
such powerful fleet, during which |
they will completely encircle the |
world. from Hampton Roads to
Hampton Roads. have total tonnage |
of 1S6,l00 tons The fleet is capable
of steaming on an average of ten I
knots an hour under any sea condi- |
tions, and Is following an itinerary
which will bring the ships to Manila |
on October !, 1908. The complete !
route from Manila to Hampton Roads !
has not yet been definitely announced, I
but it is expected that the fleet will |
arrive at its ultimate destination dur
ing the latter part of February, 1909,
when 1t will be Joined at Hampton
Roads Oy most of the other ships of
the American navy then on the Allan
tic coast, and this great fleet of war
greater even than that which
gathered in san Francisco bay on the
morning Of May 6, and greater than
the one that assembled at Hampton
Roads December 10, when the pres
ent record breaking voyage began,
will again be reviewed by President
Roosevelt just prior to his going out
Of office.
The fleet is scheduled to arrive at
Honolulu July l6. Residents OF tnG
remote possession of the United Sta~s
have prepared a magnificent and fit
ing reception to the officers and men,
which will be of the nature of a re-
,eptiOn and a belated Fourth of July
celebration combined. II viii be the
.irst special entertainment OF the
lighting men since Puget sound cit
- delighted TO do them honor. and
preparations have been making for
months at Honolulu that no pleasing
feature shall be lacking
After a stay OF one week IN Homo
ulu, the fleet will proceed TO Auck-
and, New Zealand. II IS by special