Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-05

in A GALE
DESTROYERS BATTLE WITH
TERRIFIC SEAS
LITTLE VESSELS HAVE THRILL
ING JOURNEY
Fl-r
Warshps( (7eunlte at Santa Cruz and
Are (.oined by Smaller Boats.
Evans Resumes Conn
mand Today
BY Associated Press.

| BY Associated Press.
SANTA CRUZ, May 4.-The Allan
| tic battleship fleet was united once
more today when the ships of the Sec
ond SQUADRON arrived from Monterey
and the flotilla of six destroyers Joined
it from San Pedro, the latter after one
of the stormiest voyages of the cruise.
The second squadron, headed by the
Alabama, flying the flag of Rear Ad-
miral Sperry, came across Monterey
bay arriving at $50 this afternoon.
The fiotilla came in at 1880 p. M
Admiral Thomas tonight moved from
the Connecticut to the Minnesota, al
though his flag of senior rear admiral
present still flies at the main truck
of the former.
The Connecticut is to proceed to
Monterey at $3.50 in the morning and
take on board Admiral Evans, VINO
returns to resume active command ot
the fleet.
The admiral will go aboard about
$3.50 and the flagship VIII return at
once to Santa Cruz. arriving mere at
about II o'clock. No ceremonies what
ever will attend the return of Rear
Admiral Evans.
When the Connecticut leaves port
tomorrow the blue flag of Admiral
Thomas will be run down from the
main mast and he Will hoist his red
pennant on the Minnesota. AS soon
as Admiral Evans is aboard the Con-
necticut at Monterey he will hoist his
flag as commander in chief.
Illinois Searching for Anchor.
The Illinois did not accompany the
second squadron from Monterey this
afternoon. She remained there ny
consent of the senior officer present
to grapple for the anchor which she
lost in yesterdays storm.
The reports made to Admiral
Thomas by Admiral Sperry today
stated that no damage aside from the
loss of the anchor was sustained dur
ing the blow.
The other ships which came In the
second squadron were the Alabama.
Kentucky, Kearsarge, Maine, Ohio,
Missouri and Minnesota.
The squadron came TO anchor be-
tween the first squadron and the shore
and 500 yards distant from the former.
A vacant berth was left for the Illinois
and she took her place when she ar
rived tonight shortly after o'clock.
The torpedo flotilla fought every
inch of the way from San Pedro
4 against a strong head wind that
caused big waves to break over the
bows and wash the decks from stem
to stern. The screens of the bridges
and every loose article about the decks
were washed away. Nearly every man
on board was seasick during the trip.
No serious damage of any kind re-
suited, however.
Battle with Wind
1.-THE head wind struck us as soon
as we got outside of the breakwater
at San Pedro" said Commander Hutch
l. Cone when he came aboard the Con-
necticut this afternoon to report to
Admiral Thomas 1--WE ran close in
shore all the way up, but the wind
never lessened. We set the standard
of speed at fifteen knots. but the gale
was so strong that we found it unsafe
to go faster than twelve and a half
knots. We made practically twelve
knots all the way. The weather was
clear but the head wind was one of
the worst 1 have ever seen.
I'VE simply plowed through the
heavy seas all the way to Monterey
bay. Water washed over us every
minute. We were nearly all seasick,
but we are pretty used to that sort
of thing on the destroyers, and came
right ahead without slackening speed.
1--WE were due here at o'clock this
morning, but could not make 1t at
twelve knots. We are back with the
fleet now and glad to be here"
The hotilla came into the bay this
full speed. AS they passed between
the Connecticut and Kansas on the
way into the shore the steam whistles
on the beach began to screech a well
come to the little craft. They pro-
ceeded we'll in toward the beach and
anchored at 1000 yards from the first
squadron. Hundreds of persons lined
the beach and cheered the crews of
the flotilla.
Hospital Ship Busy
The hospital ship Relief also came
into the bay shortly after noon today.
She took on board a number of sick
from the different ships of the fleet
and will return to San Francisco
either tonight or tomorrow morning.
Admiral Thomas has ordered that
she go to San Francisco in advance of
the fleet and put patients on board
ashore, returning to join the feet out
side the bay at 9 o'clock on the morn
| ing of May or as near that hour as
| possible.
The Yankton and the Glacier. the
only auxiliaries remaining with the
| fleet, will accompany it to San Fran
cisco. The Culgoa, Panther and Are
thusa, now at San Francisco, are also
ordered to join the fleet outside of the
| Golden Gate.
The Nebraska and Wisconsin will
also join the Atlantic fleet at the light
ship on the night of May 5. The for
mer will take her position at the rear
| of the first squadron and the Wiscon-
sin at the rear of the second squad
ron.
The Pacific fleet will be joined at
Angel Island, as ordered yesterday by
Secretary Metcalf.
| Admiral Thomas will succeed Admi-
raj Evans as ommander-in-chief on
NAV 8. On that date Admiral Evans
| will haul down his pennant with ga
lutte of thirteen guns from the ships.
Admiral Thomas win receive naval