Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-13
ALL ARE HEROES.
Naval Uniforms Will Be Recognized
As Badges Of Honor.

tire American DdttleSnlp leet unuef
command OF Rear Admiral Robley D.
Evans steamed today into Magdalena
bay, PASSING throughthe rocky gate
way marked by Sail rock on the north
and Redondo point on the south and
dropped anchor behind the high PEI
nnsula promOntOry which, stretching
a protecting arm down from the main
land makes Man-o-War cove the
most sheltered harbor of the lower Pa
cifc coast. the history making naval
cruise of more than $4,000 miles. begun
at Hampton Roads less than three
months ago, practically came to an
end. Magdalena bay is the present
naval base for the target work and
by right of temporary ownership by
government lease the vessels if not the
men of the fleet, may feel that they
are again in home waters.
There remains the trip from Mag
dalera BAY to San Francisco. Of the
distance originally announced, as q
matter Of some 100 miles. but it will
not be begun until after target prac-
tire is finished and fleet drills are done.
This last stage of the journey will be
a tour of holiday making with stops at
San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Bar
bara and Santa Cruz, where recep-
ton committees are planning all man.
r.r of entertainments for officers and
men, the latter especially coming in
for the great amount of attention. The
sailors will find themselves heroes.
every one in the eyes OF their west
ern admirers and are promised Sc
ries of fetes which include features
ranging from gala balls under the
patronage Of exclusive social sets to
prize fights refereed by champion
James ]. Jcffries himself. The Cali
fGrnia committees announce that the
uniforms CT the enlisted men, far from
being bar to any place of amuse-
mcnt, as has sometimes been known in
other nlacee, will become a mark for
hosnitalty and welcome all along
the Pacific coast.
There is serious work to be done at
Masdalena. however, before the sail
ors' thoughts can turn to the happy
days of home coming. Target ranges
arc to be established off the coast Of
Lower California at once. according
to the wireless dispatches from Admi-
rial Evans. and the divisions of the
fleet will be sent out with big guns
booming as soon as they are ready.
Long before the fleet passed through
the Straits of Magellan. the ordnance
officers of the 1G ships. the turret cap
tains and heads of the various gun
crews. were busy with details of the
coming practice, and in the run from
Callao to Magdalena they completed
the final arrangements.
Two target practices are held each
year in the navy. The spring practice
has been completed by all the vessels
of the Pacific fleet, and is about to be
by the fleet from the At
lantic. 1t is known as the Record
practice" because. according. according
to it's results, four trophies are annu-
ally awarded. Prize money also in large
sums is distributed among the gun
crews which make the best scores at
the targets. At the full practice the
prize money is the one reward held
out. There are fleet awards of money.
class awards for the best work OF
ships in a given class and individual
ship awards, so that some money is
available for all good work. even if it
be not the best in the fleet or class.
The four trophies are bronze
PLAQUES, which are carried by the VIM
ming ships in four different classes I'M
til other ships wrest them away at
the spring practice. The trophies were
provided by order of President Roose-
Welt and are richly priced by the Win
ming crews. The four classes are:
Battleships. cruisers, gunboats and |
torpedo boat destroyerS. In the bat |
tleship class are included the state
named armored cruisers of the West |
Virginia and Maryland type, of which |
there are now in commission eight in
the Pacific fleet The battleship trophy |
IS at present in possession of the H. |
inois of the Atlantic feet. one of the |
four of Admiral Evans fleet which |
still carry 13-inch guns in their main |
battery, rs against the high calibrc |
I2-inch rifles of the modern ship. TIL |
Maryland has just made a record Of |
1889 per cent. of hits at the targets
md the naval enthusiasts along the
coast are already proclaiming her the
winner of the trophy in advance of
the work of any of the ships of the
Dig fleet.
TIE cruiser trophy is now in pos
session of the crew of the protected
.ruiser Albany, which is in San Diego
1arbor, ard has just returned from
with what is believed to
De the worlds record for rapid and ac-
,urate fire. The trophy was won last
year by the Albanys crew, while they
we're on the Boston. which Is now out
II commission. There seems little doubt
hat the Albany will retain the trophy
md the crew already is celebrating.
Fhe gunboat trophy is possessed by
he Princeton and the destroyer trophy
~ the Prcble. On each of the trophy
,lacques which bear designs of naval
-essels in heavy seas or gun crews in
teton, is the inscriptions:
Trophy for excellence in naval gun
lery. Presented by direction of the
President of the United States to the
vessel having the highest score in
ecord target practice Each year the
lame of the winning ship is engraved
N the trophy.
READY FOR SERVICE.