The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-23
AMERICAN FLEET
 ON THE HIGH SEAS

Rio de Janero, JanuaryN 22-To the booming of guns and cheers of thousands on the accompanying pleasure craft, the American warships sailed from Rio Ja- neiro this afternoon bound for Punta Arenas on the Magellan Straits. Ten days will bring the fleet almost midway on its 14,0OO-mile cruise to San Francisco and the ships and men carried with them today the godspeed and good wishes of the whole Brazilian nation.
 Not an untoward incident had marked the visit of the Americans here They were feasted and feted, both officers and men, during their sojourn in Rio, and half the population turned out from early in the morning to give them fitting fare well. The quays, the public buildings and the hills were crowded with thou sands, watching the warships until they had disappeared through the mouth of the bay into the open sea-
 President Penna came to Rio Janeiro from Metropolis about Il clock and pro- ceeded on the yacht Silva down to where the warships were lying. He went aboard the cruiser Benjamin Constant, which was in readiness to accompany the American fleet, and made tour of all lnC AiltllCdll SHlpS. ACcODlpdIleQ DY Admiral Alencar, the minister of ma rine, and Dr. L. Muller, the minister of public works. and other high officials he visited the divisional flagship Minne- sota, remaining there about an hour. Ad- miral Thomas, commander of the flag ship; Captain Hubbard ands the Ameri- can ambassador, Irving B. Dudley re- ceived him with all honors, and the band played the Brazilian national an- In he coll of A at. there was a mutual exchange of greet ings. Admiral Thomas made a little speech in which he expressed his best wishes for the prosperity of Brazil and her president. concluding with Brazil, God bless you forevermore."
 Penna's Response.
 The President responded with a thou sand wishes for a good voyage for the splendid fleet, prosperity for the United States and the health of President Roose- velt
 While the President was aboard the Minnesota and during his trip among the vessels, salutes were exchanged and on his departure from the flagship. 21 guns were fired. President Penna then re- turned to his yacht, which proceeded to a point off Ft. Villegagon, to watch the departure of the ships. About o'clock the American fleet began to move, pass ing out in single and inverse order, ac- cording to divisions, the Alabama lead ing. Three divisions of the Brazilian navy followed, composed of three pat tleships, seven cruisers and six destroy CTS. In the vicinity of Ft. Villegagon many steamers circulated, having on board thousands of spectators from shore. Hundreds of launches and small crale from the sporting clubs all ga1ly dec orated were there also, forming stlrrlng spectacle.
 As the warships disappeared from view they were steaming at a ten-knot pace One by one as they passed the Presi- dents yacht they saluted with 2l guns' and the forts replied in kind.
 Cheering Is Vigorous.
 There was much waving of small flags and handkerchiefs and the cheering seemed incessant.
 Capt. R. R. Ingersoll, chief of stan to Rear Admiral Evans, on being Inter viewed before the departure or the heet, said that he had no special plans for the passage of the ships through Magellan straits. They will go through, however, as a solid fleet.
 With their departure from Rio Janeiro today. the IS battleships under the com mand of Rear Admiral Evans enter upon the third stage of their voyage to the Pacific. In, this run of 22SO knots, which will terminate February IA, according to the schedule at Punta Arras, the most southern port in the world the ships will traverse the hazardous narrows at the entrance to the Straits of Magel- Ian.
 Since Ferdinand Magellan the great Portugese navigator, with squadron of discovery fitted out by Charles w., King of Spain, discovered in 1920 and passed through the strait named after him, no greater attention has been directed to- ward this famous interoceanic waterway by any event than by the coming passage of it by the fleet of American battleships. Magellan straits consists of two nearly equal branches running from northeast to southwest and from northwest to south east. with a total length of 340 miles, and a width varying from 20 miies to hardly two miles and half.
 Best Time For Passage.
 In going through the straits. Admiral Evans' fleet will have the best time of