The San Francisco call., 1908-03-17
FLEETS CRUISE IS
ASTOUNDING FEAT
Ships Make Better Time on Less
Coal the Farther They Go.
Asserts Thomas
Great Armada Swings at AM
Choir, Waiting Chance at
Target Practice

nisMsrch r. (By United States cruiser
Buffalo 10 San Diego Cal, March 1s).-
Ready for immediate action, II need be,
according 10 the declarations OF ali the
commanding officers from Rear Ad-
nlirsl Evans down and with three OF
four feet OF heavy armor belt showing
red above the blue OF the placid south
ern waters the American battleship
feet of l6 modern vessels sailed into
Magdslens bay today, and after ex-
changing courtesies with the Mexican
authorities. represented By Governor
Ssnginez Of the southern division of
Lower California. prepared immediate
ly for the annual record spring target
practice, which is expected TO occupy
about three weeks
Look At Us" exclaimed Admiral
Evans when the feet had come TO an
chor OF the little town Of Magdalena
in four divisions Of four ships abreast.
We are ready at a moments notice 10
begin shooting st the targets. tosget
our 70 sea and 6Ght 2 battle, or to
keep on with the cruise. If any one
thinks We are not ready for target
practice let them come down here to
morrow and see. And II they think We
cant hit the targets let them come
along and take q look at them.
WHOLE TOWN TURNS OUT
The entire town OF MagdaIens. which
despite the reports OF a wonderful
boom is still tiny village. turned out
its total population Of 40 souis-four
Or them Americsus-to watch the COM
ing OF the feet Watchers on the
high hills Of the arm OF land reaching
down from the mainland and forming
protection 70 the hay from the north
east caught their first glimpse of the
leading ships soon after dawn. when
the long, precise column Of Is ships
burst into view. The Connecticut with
Rear Admiral Evans double starred
Gag OF blue futtering from it's peak,
was in the lead. Not 4 ship deviated
m the slightest degree from the arrow
like course Of tile leading vessel
once inside the hsrbor mouth. the
Connecticut turned sharply TO port and
pointed its course toward the north for
the run Of eight miles, from Point En-
trada 20 Msn-o-- War cove, where an
chors were let go II was not until
the very anchorage grounds had been
reached that the speed cones gradually
descending showed slzckening Of
Roadway. Then signal flags were
broken out from the Connecticut and
with the precision Of company Of
soldiers at drill the vessels of each Of
the four divisions began Z quick man
euver which brought them four abreast
AlCl0r IN present LDTlldllO1. came
the command from the flagship. The
beat Of propellers. which could be
plainly heard across the still. smooth
waters. ceased and the clank and Whir
Of the dropping anchor chains avoke
the repose OF the hills with raucous
voices
The feet came TO anchor at 1855
o'clock. Five minutes later the salut-
ing cannon Of the converted cruiser
Bunalo. which was waiting with sup
plies and mail, doomed with the first
OF I3 guns Szluting is not allowed
until S o'clock. under navy regulations.
Then the little steam launches dropped
into the water from giant cranes and
gathered about the gangways and side
ladders OF the Buffalo waiting for mail
from home.
THOMAS VISITS GOVERNOR
II dsvolved upon Rear Admiral
Thomas. commanding the second
squadron Of the fleet. 70 come ashore
TO pay the respects Of the commander
in chief 70 the Mexican authorities.
Governor Sanginez received the Ameri-
cans most graciously. He told them
be came 70 Ma agdalena as the per
sOual representative Of President Diaz
70 bid the American feet welcome.
In the afternoon Governor Sanginez
returned Admiral Thomas call and
- L---rA N0-AAFA lA DtCAA N--C
sofa
The personnel Of the feet. according &
70 the reports OF all Of the officers, is
in the highest state OF efficiency. Train
ing OF the gun crews and the men as
signed 10 the various other divisions
OF the different ships has been persist
ent from the very start Of the cruise.
Thirteen thousand miles of steaming &
and three months of continuous work
Lsarr Lv1r-rrf~ he Haar ~ r,nfr< NJ ef
sciency which the arrival here full two
DAYS ahead Of scheduled time only In
part illustrates.
Admiral Evans said today: You may
say anything you want TO, but I have
no opinion about the cruise II is un-
necessary. The facts speak for them
selves. I was ordered to bring the At
lantic feet to Magdslena bay for tar
get practice We are here. II anybody
doubts II, let him come and see"
The admiral was sitting on the after
bridge Of his flagship, surveying the
other vessels of the feet at anchor
with evident pride A little lighter IN
weight, perhaps, but no other indica-
ton OF his recent i'll health was ap-
parent Never for a minute had he been
required TO relinquish full command OF
the vessels on their way to the Pa
cifc. In this connection Rear Admiral
Thomas today said that there was alb
solutely no truth in the story that Ad-
miral Evans had transferred the COM
mand 70 him.
Speaking of his illness Admiral Evans
said:
ADMIRAL EVANS BETTER
4 was sorry not TO be able TO go
ashore at the different South Ameri-
can ports and enjoy the hospitalities
OF those countries. Admiral Thomas,
however, attended 70 the social duties
with much credit to himself and TO
the country But I am improving now
and shall be able 10 leave the ship
soon. When we get to California I am
going to get ashore at every port We
want 10 do twice as much for Califor-
MA as we have done for anybody else.
We shall all be glad to get back to
the United States"
Admiral Thomas in speaking OF the
cruise 10 the Associated Press said:
II think I voice the opinion Of the
whole feet when I say that this has
been one Of the most IL not the most,
remarkable and successful naval
cruises in the history OF the world
The ships are in better condition than
when we left Hampton Roads. We were
ready for battle the minute we
30