Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-07-10
START ON THEIR LONG VOYAGE.
Uncle Sans BattIeship Fleet Sailed
From Frisco Yesterday Afternoon.

San Francisco, July IA splendid
picture Of Americas fighting strengtl
on the sea was presented today wher
the sixteen battleships Of the Atlantic
fleet, led by the magnificent Connec
ticutt with Rear Admiral Charles s.
Sperry on the bridge, headed out ol
the Golden Gate, and bathed their
bows in the blue Pacific. In imposing
array they passed beyond the head
lands out Of the view Of the thDus-
ands Of cheering watchers on shore
and started fairly on the long voyage
through five seas from San Francisco
to Hampton Roads-a striking demon
stration Of the power and efficiency
Of the United States navy.
Sixteen battleships were in the line
divided into four divisions, and two
squadrons. In the first division OF
the first squadron were the flagship
of Rear Admiral Sperry, the Connec
ticutt, and her sister ships, the Kan
sas, Minnesota and Vermont. This
division, as we'll as the entire fleet
Is under the immediate command oil
Rear Admiral Sperry. The second di
vision Of the first squadron is com.
manded by acting Rear Admiral Rich
ard Wainright, and consists OF the
flagship Georgia, and her sister ships
the Nebraska, New Jersey and Rhode
Island. Rear Admiral William H. En-
ory commands the second squadron
and third division, and is aboard of
the flagship Louisiana. The Virginia
Ohio and Missouri also are in this di.
vision. The fourth division, under tn
command of Acting Rear Admiral
Seaton Schroeder, is made up of the
flagship Wisconsin and the Illinois,
Kearsage, and Kentucky. The Me-
braska and Wisconsin, formerly of tn
Pacific fleet, have taken the places Q
the Maine and Alabama of the Allan
tic fleet which are enroute to Hamp.
ton Roads as special service squad
ron.
The fleet auxiliaries preceded the
battleships by week, and are now
nearing Honolulu, where they will ur
load supplies and sail away for New
Zealand before the arrival of the flee
at Honolulu. These auxiliaries arr
the Panther, repair ship; Glacier,re
frigerator supply ship; Culgoa, suppl.
ship; Ajax, collier; Relief, hospi
tai ship; and Yankton, tender and diI
patch boat.
The battleships which sailed toda!
on the longest voyage ever undertak
en- by such a powerful fleet during
which they will completely encirclt
the world, from Hampton Roads b
Hampton Roads, have total tonnag
Of 1S6,1O0 tons. The fleet is capable
steaming on an average of ten knot
an hour under any sea conditions, an
is following an itinerary which will
bring the ships to Manila on Octobe
1, 1908. The complete route frblm
Manila to Hampton Roads has no
yet been definitely announced bu
it is expected that the fleet will ar
rive at its ultimate destination dul
ing the latter part Of February, 100!
when it will be joined at Hamptol
Roads by most of the other ships
the American navy then bn. the Al
lantic coast, and this great fleet o
war vessels-greater even than tha
which gathered in San Francisco ba
on the morning OF May 9Th, ant
greater than the one that assemble
at Hampton Roads December 10, VIII
the present record breaking voyag
begun and where it will again be N
viewed by President Roosevelt jts
prior to his going out Of office.
The fleet is scheduled to arrive
Honolulu July 16. Residents Of that r
mote possession of the United State
have prepared a magnificent and n
ting reception to the officers and m,
which will be Of the nature Of a n
ception and a belated Fourth of Jul
celebration combined. II win be Il
first special entertainment Of tn
fighting men since Puget Sound citi
delighted to do them honor, and Il
preparations have been making Il
1
months at Honolulu that no pleasir
feature shall be lacking.
After a stay Of one week in Hon
lulu, the fleet win proceed to Auc
land, New Zealand. 1t Is by speci
invitation Of the New Zealand govel
i, ment that the American ships g
there, and at this port the "Yanke
i. sailors will receive their first gret
ing from a foreign people since lea
ing South America. This greeting
be particularly cordial and the 9
e tertainment arranged for officers a
l. men promises to be magnificent. T
l. fact that this greeting viii come