The Detroit times., 1908-01-01
FLEET IS A VAST
COMMAND FOR A
REAR-ADM|RAL
REGARDED AS LIKELY THAT IN
cONGRUI!'Y WILL SOON DAWN
ON coNGREss-FACTs ABOUT
THE BIG ARMADA.

NEW YORK, Jan. mo more I'M
pressive naval spectacle was ever af'
furded on this side OF the Atlantic
than was had when the 16 battleships
OF the Atlantic feet steamed out from
Hampton Roads on their way TO the
Pacific.
But when in April next the majestic
array steams into Magdalena bay,
there to effect a conjunction with the
four divisions of the Pacific feet. then
will be gathered an armada the like
OF which was never before assembled
under one flag in any harbor OF the
world. The review of Spithead in
Great Britain's jubilee year certainly
outclasses the fleets that are to as
semble In this remote bay of the lower
California coast, but in that pageant
the representative ships of all the
world took part But In this later
gathering no flag save that of the star )
and stripes will be shown.
Unique Gathering Of Vessels.
Magdalena bay is spacious stretch
of water, but 1t is none too large sor
tlit tIcuthuOuO al WhASh -
to rendezvous there. The 16 bat
tleships and the fiotilla OF six destroy
ers which are now making their way
to the rendezvous, require wide berth
ing spaces to prevent sticking their
sea elbows into each other when
swinging TO the wind or TIDE, and an
even wider anchorage will be required
for the numerous other vessels which
are under orders TO be there when the
Atlantic feet arrives. 49,
In the waiting squadrons will be
three battleships of high degree, these
being the newly commissioned Ne
braska, a first-class battleship which
has FIVE big sisters In the Atlantic
feet: the Wisconsin, whose counter
parts In the Atlantic feet are the
Alabama and Illinois. and last OF the
trio the Oregon, that famous old bul'-
dog of Santiago fame.
The type OF armored cruiser which
this nation has been turning out from
its shipyards lis admittedly inferior 70
none. Equaling first-class battleships
i'm size and far. outclassing them In
speed, these heavily mailed racers have
been endowed with qualities whic1
enable them TO take their place In
line OF battle. They carry numerous
batteries OF high-powered guns, and
their armour is sufficiently thick TO
insure imperviousness TO vital injury
when fighting at long range.
Eight OF these splendid vessels, all
new and up to- date. Will add their
conspicuous strength to- the great
gathering in Magdalena bay.
or slightly smaller dimensions. nut
important as fighting units, are the
three new protected cruisers which
will be in the assemblage. These
are the, Charleston, Milwaukee and st
Louisl The world knows what The
olxm uiA did in Manila hay--The- old
flagship of Admiral Dewey Is pro
tected cruised and only about half the
size of these three later and greater
vessels of the protected cruiser type
Several lustrums have ebbed since
Tthe famed white squadron went abroad
on It's noted tour OF European waters
It's flagship was the Chicago. one o.
lfhe first OF the steelbuilt protected
cruisers OF the AmericannavY in the
general rpsweep OF naval progress
obsolescence overlook this fine old pho
neer OF the new navy. But she re
Gently received such an overhaufing
such an emplaclng OF new guns, and
an installing of new machinery as 70
displace her from that discredited list
! OF obsolete and put her nalne hieh