Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-07
WAR CRAFT ON
LONG VOYAGE
TO FAR EAST
FIFTEEN BATTLESHIPS LEAVE
GOLDEN GATE
SCARLET FEVER OUTBREAK DE-
LAYS THE NEBRASKA
Mighty Vessels Form Imposing Pic
ture as They Pillow Their Way
Through Waves Of the
Pacific
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, July Fifteen
batleships of the Atlantic fleet sailed
today on the voyage that is to take
them around the world and end at
Hampton Roads, whence they started
last December.
The sixteenth member Of the fleet, the
Nebraska, was left behind because of
an outbreak of scarlet fever among
the crew. She will be held in quaran-
tine three days and thoroughly fumi-
gated, after which she will join her
sister ships at Honolulu.
Without ceremony or celebration OF
any sort, the fifteen big fighting ships
got under way promptly at o'clock
upon signal from the Connecticut, Rear
Admiral Sperry's flagship, and steam
ing in single column slowly Wended
their way out of the bay, where they
had found anchorage from time to time
since their arrival here. just two
months ago.
A few small craft followed in the
wake of the fleet as far as Golden Gate
and gave the big white ships a parting
salute with their sirens, while on the
hills were gathered scattered groups OF
people silently watching their de-
parture. which was in striking contrast
to it's enthusiastic reception upon its
arrival May s.
Make Impressive Picture
The fifteen big white and buff fight
ing machines presented as impressive
and beautiful a picture as they SLOWLY
steamed through the harbor as when
they entered the Golden Gate two
months ago. As the Connecticut passed
Fort Point the flagship set signals Tor
more speed and the bows of the war
ships were soon throwing up 8, sea OF
white foam as they plowed through
the water.
last ship in line, passed the lighthouse
at the entrance to the Golden Gate,
and half an hour later the fleet was
lost to view in a dense cloud or olack
smoke belching forth from the forest of
tunnels and the thick weather which
was rolling in from the sea.
The forenoon was one OF busy prepa-
ration. Launches and cutters dotted
the harbor, fitting from ship to ship
and ship to shore. On the flagship
Connecticut signal flags were constantly
flung to the breeze and the incessant
Zip zip" of the wireless telegraph com
ynunicating with ships and sending
farewell messages to shore stations
never ceased. Boats were made fast,
orderlies ran to and fro, and q rev
visitors newspaper men and relatives
and friends of the officers came aboard
to say last goodby.
The commanders of the other war
ships came aboard the flagship early IN
the day to receive their final orders
from Admiral Sperry.
Salute for Garfield
At II o'clock Secretary of the Interior
James r. Garfield, who arrived last
night from Honolulu on the cruiser st.
Louis, boarded the Connecticut TO pay
his respects to the commander In chiet
of the fleet. He was given seventeen
guns. the salute that members OF the
nresident's cabinet are entitled to, as
he took his leave.
On the water front patrols of blue
Jackets with stout "billies" rounded up
a few belated stragglers from the vart-
Gus ships, and at 1880 the last boat
left shore with mail orderlies
Early in the day Lieutenant Com
mander Benjamin Hutchinson, execu-
tive officer of the cruiser st. Louis, was
hurriedly detached from that ship and
assigned as executive officer to the
battleship Wisconsin in place OF Lieu
tenant Commander Phelps. The latter
was ordered to Mare Island on account
of Illness. DR.. Koltez, junior surgeon
on the Connecticut, and two surgeons
from other ships were temporarily
transferred this morning to the Ne
braska to assist in treating the scarlet
fever cases on that ship.
Just before the fleet sailed Rear Adj
mira1 Sperry received a telegram from
President Roosevelt, in which the pres
fdent conveyed to the fleet his heartiest
good wishes upon the eve of its de-
parture.