The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-05
PACIFIC CRUISERS
STEAM PROUDLY IN
Two SguadrOnS and FIOtiIla of
Small Craft VIII Greet
BattEeships
This Western Armada Measured
Over All Is Nearly One
Mile Long

The Atlantic feet has had the stage
and al the limelight since it reached
the Pacific and the climax of its glorifi-
cation VIII come tomorrow when it en-
ters the Golden gate through lines of
crowded excursion boats and between
humanity covered hills. Until that time
there would be a stage had not the
Pscihc feet taken advantage of the
pause TO remind San Francisco that big
as Is the Atlantic battle fleet there are
ships at home on the Pacific that make
something Of spectacle themselves
These who We're fortunate enough to
nave the Golden gate within view yes
teroay afternoon witnessed a sight that
before the Atlantic feet was in the
Pacific would have attracted thousands
Of spectators.
Shortly before o'clock the first and
second divisions OF the first SQUADRON
OF the Pacific fleet arrived from Puget
sound and went 10 an anchorage of
California City. where they were Joined
by the Pacific torpedo fotilia and
where they viii wait until the battle
feet comes into the harbor tomorrow at
noon
The ships that arrived were Admiral
Dayton's flagship West Virginia the
Pennsylvania. Colorado and Maryland:
Admiral Sebree's flagship Tennessee,
and the Washington. South Dakota and
California They were Joined by the
destroyers Preble and Perry and the
torpedo boats Farragut. Fox and Davis.
ONE MILE OF CRUISERS
The big ships. all armored cruisers,
anchored in a line, the ships 400 yards
apart These armOred cruisers Of the
Pacific feet are alike as pins and all of
magnificent proportions. The longest
stem 10 stern The Alabama is only
36s feet long. Each Of the armored
cruisers is SOB feet in length. so that
there came into port yesterday 1924
feet OF armOred cruiser. With the
Charleston and Nebraska. which are
both in the harbor but at anchorages
remote from the armored cruisers,
Uncle SAM has just about one mile of
warships waiting TO meet the Atlantic
fleet
The South Dakota lay at one end of
the line and the West Virginia at the
other. From the South Dakota's bow
as the ships lay yesterday to the stern
OF the West Virginia was just 12,424
feet or about two and one-third miles.
The Pennsylvania and Colorado IN
derwent extensive repairs at the Bre-
and West Virginia, which were over
hauled at Mare island before going
north, spent several weeks.
A place Of honor has been given at
Bremerton to the wooden gun with
which the crew OF the Colorado fooled
the japanese. The muzzle Of this gun
was blown of at target practice on the
Asiatic station. To go into a Japanese
port with a burst gun was too much
for the pride Of the Yankee blue
5ackies, so they spliced on an imitation
barrel OF teak and by dint OF staining
and polishing perfected e counterfeit
that the keen eyes Of the little brown
men failed 70 detect. The Colorado is
now equipped with a full set OF teeth
The Washington and Tennessee have
been playing one night stands in the
numerous ports around Puget sound,
visiting ports that the navigators had
never before heard Of. but making the
tour safely and finding warm vel
come every tine the anchor was let 60
SEATTLE ANCHORAGE IS BAD
Letting 60 the anchor on Puget
sound. by the way, is quite an under
taking An ideal anchorage is in about
eight fathoms OF water. When the
ships visited Seattle they were obliged
TO anchor in 20 fathoms. To have let
20 the anchors as they do here would
have torn holes in the ships bows. To
land the massive hardware safely in
the Seattle mud the anchors were low
cred with the same care that Is used IN
singing a safe from the top floor Of a
skyscraper.
Admiral Dayton's orders are to wait
at his present anchorage until the At
lantic feet comes into the harbor,
. when the Pacific feet will UP anchor,
get under way and fall in behind The
PACING van will tail on 10 the Atlantic
rear of Goat island and after that viii
obey Admiral Evans signals
After the review the Pacific fleet will
leave for southern California osten-
sibIy for drill, but in reality 70 dis
tribute the demand for coal Coal is
as much a necessity for big ship in
port as at sea All the coal used by the
vvarships has been brought from the
east. and as the battleships will need
the bulk of the coal now here the
Pacific feet will be sent south 10 feec
on the coal heaps that Uncle Sam has
stored there
Before leaving for the south the sill
yer service bought for the California
viii be presented to the cruiser Cap
tain Cottman Of the California was
ordered BY Admiral Dayton yesterday
10 prepare q speech for the occasion
GPAFT TRIALS CONTINUED