The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-07-10
FLEET LEAVES FRISCO
Battleships Start on Homeward
Trip BY Way Of the Orient.

~ W. ~AssAAs
WILL VISIT FOREIGN PORTS
Stops Are to Be Made In Australia,
Japan and China and Hampton
Roads Will Be Reached Late in
February. Of Next Year.
San Francisco. July 8.-A splendid
picture of Americas fighting strength
on the sea was presented when the
sixteen b%attleships of the Atlantic
fleet, led by the magnificent Connec-
ticut with Rear Admiral Charles S.
Sperry on the bridge, headed out Of
the Golden Gate and bathed. their
bows in the blue Pacific. In imposing
array they passed beyond the head
lands out Of the. view of the thousands
of cheering watchers on shore and
started fairly on the long voyage
through five seas from San Francisco
to Hampton Roads-a striking demon
stration of the power and efficiency of
the United States navy.
The battleships which sailed on the
longest voyage ever undertaken by
such a powerful fleet, during which
they will completely encircle the
world, from Hampton Roads to Hamp-
ton Roads, have a total tonnage Of
1s6,100 tons. The fleet is capable of
steaming on an average of ten knots
an hour under any sea conditions and
Is following an itinerary which will
bring the ships to Manila on Oct. 1,
1908. The complete route from Manila
to Hampton Roads has not yet been
definitely announced, but 1t is expect
ed that the fleet will arrive at its ulti-
mate destination during the latter. part
of February, 1909, when it will be
Joined at Hampton Roads by most of
the other ships of the American navy
then OF the Atlantic coast, and this
great feet of war vessels-greater
even than that which gathered in San
Francisco bay on the morning of May
8 and greater than the one that as
sembled at Hampton Roads Dec. 16,
when the present record breaking voy-
age began-will again be reviewed by
President Roosevelt just prior to his
going out of Office.
The fleet is scheduled to arrive at
Honolulu July 16. After a stay of one
week In Honolulu the fleet will pro-
coed to Auckland, N. z. 1t is by spe-
cial invitation of the New Zealand
government that the American ships
go there and at this port the Yankee"
sailors will receive their first greet
ings from a foreign people since leav-
ing South America.
Warm Greeting at Sydney.
Perhaps the greatest of all the en-
.tertainments to be given the men of
the feet in any foreign city, however,
will be waiting their arrival at Sgd
ney, the great port of Australia. where
the warships, after leaving Auckland
on Aug. Is, will arrive on Aug. 20.
Half a million dollars is the sum the
government of Australia and the peo-
pie of Sydney have appropriated for
the entertainment of the American
sailors.
Melbourne and Albany are two other
ports of Australia where the fleet will
stop and where open handed hospital
ity and lavish entertainment will be
given the men. From the port of AL
bany the feet will steam on Sept. II
for Manila and it will arrive in these
American waters, the last home port
until Hampton Roads, on Oct. l..
Great interest is felt in the fleets
visit to Japan. Proceeding to Yoko-
hama from Manila the feet will arrive
: there on Oct. II. Here, on Oct. 81, 1t
will be divided, the first squadron re-
turning to Manila, where 1t will arrive
Oct. 20. The promise is that the well
come to be given the Americans in
Yokohama will not be second in gra-
ciousness, at least, to anything met
with at any port previously touched,
for It is upon the special invitation Of
the emperor of Japan that the feet
gees there. Elaborate functions at
court and social affairs, will be held
for the officers Of the fleet.
At'Amoy, China, the reception will
doubtless be the occasion Of a great
celebration characteristic Of the Chi
nese. The two squadrons Of the fleet
will be brought together again at Ma
Mia on Nov. Z and the departure
thence for Alden and the passage Of
the susz will take place within the
following few days. the exact date not
yet having been determined.
REBELS CAPTURE 0 "
lnsurractjonary Movement ereaks Out