Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-03-12
GOSSIP OF FLEET
Wireless Communication Came Soon
or Than Was Expected on
the Pacific Coast
CHANGE At MAGDALENA BAY
Three Cities VIII Give the ofIIcers and
Men the Most Enthusiastic
Welcome They Can
Arrange.

Dan OleBO, NAL, MAI. O.-FOlnt Aoul
wireless station at an early hour Sun
day morning was in communication
with the battleship Connecticut, flag
ship Of Admiral Evans feet It Is be
Iieved that a message was received
from the navy department at Washing
ton, but absolutely no information will
be divulged by the operator at Poin
Iona wireless station.
Point Iona station expected to gel
first communication with the feel
through the armored cruiser South Da
kota which left San Francisco last
Thursday morning to have fling with
her turret guns at the Magdalena tar
gets before the "big sixteen" in Ad
miral Evans command get chance to
blow the checkerboard bits Of canvass
out Of the water. The early communi-
cation with the Connecticut, as far as
known, came direct from the flagship
was distinct surprise and Is one Of
the vagaries of the wireless service
which are to be expected from time to
time.
The naval authorities here do not
look for the battleships at Magdalena
bay before next Sunday, the 18th, as
the feet was one day behind its sched-
uled time in leaving Callao and there
is no occasion to crowd the engines
on the run through the torrid zone.
The crews have q month Of hard work
before them at the southern drill
ground and their best energies will be
saved for 1t.
From reports that have reached here
the men OF the feet are likely to find
an unexpected welcome waiting them
at Magdalena where 1t is said the
Mexican traders have established tent
bazaars of all descriptions Amuse-
ment managers also have seized the
opportunity that the deserted shore
line offers. When the ships left
Hampton Roads, Magdalena was
looked forward to as an uninterrupt-
ed waste of sand dunes with an occa-
sional Indian hut far inland as the only
sign OF human habitation. The over
night shops, theaters and dancing pa
.vilions therefore will come as a dis
tinct surprise. There is strong likeli-
hood, however, Of keen disappointment
over the undertaking Of some the pro-
moters Of the tent metropolis, for the
plans of the cruise do not call for any
material amount of shore leave for the
sailors at Magdalena and they In all
probability will not be changed. The
play days Of the men on foreign shores
practically ended with the hoisting Of
anchors from Callao. Magdalena is
the place for work and the spotless
hulls and polished decks win grow
grimy with the grease and the gaseous
refuse Of battle target practice soon
after the big ships have reported their
arrival at this crack harbor of the
Mexican coast which has been leased
by the United States as home ground
for It's navy In the western seas. Men
who work half naked at the guns in
the roar and thrill Of long days at the
targets will have small inclination and
smaller opportunity to go ashore in
the evening.
Target practice is the most import
ant work the feet now has before It,
and target practice means real work
for every man aboard. 1t is no longer
a case Of lying at anchor and blazing
away IN desultory fashion at fixed
mark, but instead each ship must be
moving at a battle speed Of ten to
twelve knots an hour and must fire at
the enemy white canvas speck
l2x2O feet-attached to the long tow
line Of a tug or tender and being
hauled away by varying angles and at
speed equal to that of the ships
themselves. The target comes within
the given range Unexpectedly some
times and It's stay Is brief.
The gun crews OF each ship must
be alert and trained to the minute for
It is the ship that fires the greatest
lumber Of shots with the greatest per
centage Of hits that carries away the
trophy and rolls in the wealth Of the
liberal prize money which is distrib-
uted after every record practice.
Upon their arrival here the officers
and men Of the feet will get the first
notes of a welcome that will ring
throughout the entire west. Three sea-
coast citles-San Diego, Los Angeles
and San Francisco-which will be Wis
tied in the order named are vieing
with one another in their plans for en-
PERTAINING the feet. They seem to
realize that Port Of Spain, Rio, Punta
Arenas and Callao have set a mark for
hospitality which It will be difficult to
surpass but the return to native shores
and the familiar sights and sounds OF
home will be marked by the most Ella
borate receptions and Representations
the enthusiastic citizens OF the coast
can devise.
The coming Of the feet Is looked for
ward to as memorable occasion. and
plans to run excursions from interior
cities as far east as Chicago are under
way.