Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-12
FLEET AT MACDALENA
BattIeships Reach the Bay
Ahead of Schedule.
GAINED NEARLY 4 DAYS
Evans Sends an Official Report to
Washington.
SQUADRON IN FINE SHAPE
In Better Condition Than on Leaving
Norfolk-Ready to Go Anywhere
OH an Hours Notice.

SAN DIEGO. Cal, March PA wire
less message received late last night by
the Point Iona government wireless sta
ton was to the effect that Rear Admiral
Robley D. Evans and his battleships ar
rived off Magdalena bay early last night.
According to the message. the feet will
lie off Magdalena until early today, when
it will proceed into the bay.
News that the big feet has already ar
rived at Magdalena bay comes as big
surprise. The itinerary of the long voy-
age beginning with the start from Hamp-
ton roads December Is last did not call
for the arrival of the ships at Magda-
lena bay until Sunday. SO with their ar
rival at the Mexican bay last night the
fleet is almost four days ahead Of time.
1t has been known for some few weeks
past that the big sixteen" would arrive
at it's practicing ground ahead OF time,
but it was never supposed that such an
excellent showing as this would be made.
The important fact about 1T Is that most
of the four days gain in time was made
ON the last stretch of the voyage from
Callao South America. Previous to the
visit at that port the fleet was kept on
schedule. making the various stops the
full length called for in the itinerary.
Fit for Action.
It was reported on good authority tnat
an official message was also received from
Rear Admiral Evans himself by the local
wireless station last night to be trans
mitted to Washington. 1t was to the
effect that Admiral Evans reported to
Washington that he had arrived al '"e
bay with all the shpis of the meet IN
even better conditions than at the tlme
it sailed from Hampton Roads, ana tha'
he is even now ready for any unforeseen
emergency that may arise. and that the
entire feet is prepared to sail LOT any
destination at an hours notice
That this message was received Is an
assured fact. but when the local operators
were questioned about it they neither
affirmed nor denied 1t.
The Importance of this message rs oV .r.
whelming The eyes of the entire ilst
of naval officials, practically every GU
zen of the United States aud even tiie
entire world were expectantly aWaitlns
the report at the terminus of the long
voyage as to the effect it would have
on the ships. Now that word has been
received that the entire fleet Is IN even
better condition than at the time 1t started
on it's long cruise, the mammoth naVai
undertaking. is crowned with boundless
success The news to the effect that
the fleet had arrived at Magdalena early
i'm the evening was received at the wireless
station at twenty minutes past midnight.
The message further stated that target
practice will be started by the fleet just
as soon as the targets are set up and
placed in their respective positions. 1t Is
expected that this will be done about
Saturday or Sunday. and that the battle
ships will begin practice the first OF next
week. when they will go after word rec
ords in target work. The work of towing
the targets for the feet will be done by
the transport Buffalo. which arrived at
Magdalena a few weeks ago and by the
Mare Island navy yard tug. Fortune.
which passed San Diego last Sunday en-
route to the Mexican bay.