The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-03-20
NCVOYACEE ENDS
The Battleship Fleet Lies Safely
at Anchor in Magdalena
Bay.
READY FOR ANY EMERGENCY
Admiral Evans Reports the Vessels in
Even Better Condition Than
When They Left Hamp-
ton Roads.

San Diego, Cal, Mar. 14.-When the
American battleship fleet steamed
Thursday into Magdalena bay, passing
through the rocky gateway marked by
Sail Rock ON the north and Redondo
Point on the south and dropped an
chors behind the high peninsula pro-
montory which stretches protecting
arm down from the main land and
makes Man o War Cove the most
sheltered harbor of the lower Pacific
coast the history making naval cruise
of more than thirteen thousand miles
begun at Hampton Roads less than
three months ago, practically came to
an end. Admiral Evans in reporting
the arrival of the fleet to Washington
by wireless stated that the vessels
were in better condition than when
they left Hampton Roads and were
ready for any emergency on one days
notice.
The Importance of the message from
Admiral Evans is overwhelming. The
eyes of the entire list of naval officials,
practically every citizen Of the United
expectantly awaiting the 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
its long cruise the mammoth naval I'M
dertaking is crowned with boundless
success,
Magdalena is the present naval base
of the Pacific for American target
work and battle practice drills, and
by right of temporary ownership
through government lease the vessels
If not the men of the fleet may feel
that they are again in home waters.
There remains to be made the trip
from Magdalena bay to San Francisco,
the destination originally announced,
and a matter of some eleven hundred
miles, but it will not be begun until
after target practice is concluded and
fleet drills are done. This last stage
of the journey will be a tour of holi-
day making, with stops at San Diego,
Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Santa
Cruz, where reception committees are
planning all manner of entertainments
for officers and men, the latter espe-
.cially coming in for the greatest
amount of attention. The sailors will
find themselves heroes, every one, in
she eyes of their western admirers
and are promised a series of fetes
which include features ranging from
gala balls under the patronage of eX-
elusive social sets to prizefights refer
reed by Champion James j. Jeffries
himself
The California committees an
nounce that the uniform of the enlist
place of amusement as has sometimes
been the case in other places, will
be a mark of hospitable welcome all
along the Pacific coast.
There Is serious work to be done at
Magdalela, however before the sail
.ors' tho tights can turn to the happy
days of homecoming.
large ranges are to be established
off the coast of Lower California at
once, according to the wireless dis
catches from Admiral Evans and the
ueet's divisions will be sent out with
big guns booming as soon as they are
ready. Long before the fleet passed
through the straits of Magdalena, the
ordnance officers of the 16 ships, the
turret captains and heads of the vari-
Gus gun crews were busy with the
details of the coming practice, and in
the run from Callao to Magdalena they
completed the final arrangements.
Washington, D. c., Mar. 14.-Sec-
rotary Metcalf announced the flu
ture movements of the fleet after
the cabinet meeting Friday. 1t will
leave San Francisco on July 6 for
our Pacific possessions" as Mr.. Met
calf STYLED it. The vessels will first
touch at Hawaii, where they will coal.
After that they will go to Samoa, fol
lowing this up by a visit to Australia,
where they will stop at the cities of
Melbourne and Sydney, the invita-
ton of the Australian government to
visit that country having been supple
mented by more cordial one from
the British ambassador, Mr.. Bryce
Leaving Australia the vessels are tc
70 TO Manila and while in the Philip
mines the annual fall target practice
will be held. Thence the return viii
he made TO the United States by way
Of the Suez canal, stopping only al
such ports as are necessary for coal
ing purposes. The date OF their re
turn to the states is dependent entirely
mon the amount of time required fol
the target practice in the Philippines
The visit of the battleships to Puge
Sound will be made sometime between
the conclusion of the grand review il
san Francisco Bay on May and tn
late of the sailing over the Pacific.
r.. r..4rove am Homes.