Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-12
FLEET At AAGDAL[NA
As SOUND As DOLLAR
Admiral Evans Ships Arrive Off
Lower California Four Days
Ahead of Schedule
FLEET is in FIGHTING TRIM
Admiral Reports to Washington That
Vessels Are in Better Condition Than
When They Started on Their Long
Cruise - Target Practice to Begin
Next Week. !,

San Diego, Cal, March ia wire
!. less message received late last night
nv the Point Iona government Wire
less station was to the effect that
Evans battleship fleet arrived OH
Magdalena bay early last night. The
fleet is almost four days ahead OF
/. scheduled time for reaching Magda-
lena
1t is reported on good authority that
Evans transmitted message 10
washington to the effect that all the
ships were in even better condition
than they were when the fleet sailed
/ from Hampton Roads, and that he is
even now ready for any unforeseen
emergency that may arise and that
1 the entire fleet is prepared to sail Tor
any destination at an hours notice.
The Importance of this message Is
overwhelming. The eyes of the en-
tire list of naval officials, and prac-
tically every citizen of the United
States and even the entire world We're
i expectantly awaiting reports at the
terminus of the long voyage as to the
effects it would have on the ships.
Now that word has been received that
the entire fleet is in even better con-
dition than at the time it started on
IS long cruise, the mammoth naval
undertaking is crowned with bound
less success.
News to the effect that the fleet
had arrived at Magdalena early in the
evening was received at the wireless
station at twenty minutes past mid
night The message further stated that
d target practice will be started by the
heet> just as soon as targets are set
up in their respective positions. 1t is
expected this will be done about Sat-
trday or Sunday and that the battle
Ships will begin practice the first OF
next week, when they will go after the
world records in target work.
Citizens to Extend Welcome.
The steamer St Denis Aft San Di-
ego Tuesday, bound for Magdalena
Bay, with party of prominent citi-
zens of San Diego to extend greetings
of welcome to Rear Admiral Evans, his
officers and men Of the fleet. The st.
Denis will arrive at Magdalena Friday
morning AS soon as the party reaches
Magdalena it will board the Connecti-
cut, Admiral Evans flagship, and ex-
tend fluctuations in behalf of the city
OF San Diego and the state of Cali
fornia. The ST Denis was chartered
especially for the purpose of taking
A>
The big new cruiser California,
which has been at target, practice dur
ing the past several weeks. left Mag
dalena bay yesterday afternoon for
San Diego and is expected to arrive
Friday morning. The California has
been assignedA to Admiral Sebree's
famous pathfinder squadron" COM
posed of the Tennessee, Flagship, and
Washington, and so named because 1t
was the squadron that sailed in ad-
vance and paved the way for the big
battleship fleet on its long cruise from
Hampton Roads around South Amer
lea to the Pacific coast, which has
been anchored off San Diego since last
Saturday.
While no additional word had come
by wireless from the south zone none
is expected until well into the night,
when the strong light rays of the
sun make way for other impulses. L
Is believed here that 'the American
Agttle fleet" as 1t has been referred
70 by President Roosevelt, is safe in
the harbor of Magdalena bay. The last
word received from the fleet at the
wireless station here was to the ef-
feet that the ships were off Magda-
lena Bay probably distance of fifty
miles or more, and would steam into
tho hav sonn after DAYLIGHT