Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-30
BAT7LESHIPS
CONCLUDING
GUNPRAC7ICE
LAST VESSELS MAY FINISH
WORK WEDNESDAY
EXCELLENT SCORES BEING MADE
BY ARMADA
Trophy for Excellence May Be Given
to Atlantic FIeet-Fire with
Smaller Guns May
Decide

By Associated Press.
MAGDALENA BAY. March 2s.-(Via
Point Iona Wireless Station, Cal,
March 29.)-Record target practice for
the sixteen battleships of the Atlantic
fleet is rapidly approaching a conclus-
ion and II is expected that next We'd
nesday April /, will witness the final
firing on the ranges. The Virginia,
the Kansas and the Vermont were on
the firing line today. and they are the
last ships to complete their work.
The Vermont and the Kansas are
indulgfng in target practice for the
first time under record conditions and
have been granted quite a concession
In the way of preliminary practice.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 1t
is believed, the Kansas and Vermont
viii have the ranges all to themselves.
The gun crews on these ships have
had lots of opportunity to prepare for
the work at the targets and they
should make a splendid record. The
ships sent to the ranges first suffered
something of handicap, as gun drill
ing at sea does not give the same re-
suits as when ship is lying at an
Choir.
Doing Great Work
All of the ships, it can be stated,
however, have been doing splendid
work at the targets, and it is still
matter of doubt as to whether the
championship gunnery pennant for
armored vessels will fly from one OF
the armored cruisers of the Pacific
fleet, or from one of the battleships
now here. 1t is believed the contest
has narrowed down to the results of
the small caliber scores, the 3-inch
rifles especially figuring in the equa-
ton which is to be solved.
The records, as at present compiled,
give no certain indication of the final
result. The battleships have made
high scores with their IL and 13-inch
guns, as against the and 10-inch
guns in, the primary batteries of the
Pacific fleet cruisers.
With the completion of taget prac-l
tice on next Wednesday, the crews will
turn to coaling and then will follow a
week of cleaning and painting ship for
the welcomes which await the vessels
at the various California ports they are
to visit. When the painting is done,
the sixteen ships will look as spick
and span as the day they left Hamp-
ton Roads and will be manned by
crews that are trained to the minute
and are ready for any service.
Next Thursday night, April 2, ban
quet is to be given on the Mexican
gunboat Tampico, which has been here
ever since the feet arrived. The host
of the evening will be Governor San
guinez, of the southern district of Low
er California, who came to Magdalena
to greet Admiral Evans and the other
American officers as the personal rep
resentative of President Diaz, of Mex
leo. Covers for thirty will be laid,
the guest list including all flag and
commanding officers.
Following the dinner, which is to be
an elaborate one, there will be an ex-
change of speeches o.4 the quarter deck
of the Tampico. Governor Sanguinez
will make the address on behalf of the
Mexican government, and the response
will be by Rear Admiral c. M. Thomas,
who commands the fleet in the alb
sence of Admiral Evans, and by Cap
tain Seaton Schroeder, of the Vir-
ginia