The sun., 1908-04-04
SHIPS PREPARE FOR PARADE
FLEET WILL SNOW CALIFOR-
MANS ITS SMARTEST FORM.
Fresh Paint and infantry Drills the order
Of the nay at MagdalenA Bay-Ihe
Relief ArriVes-An Hearts With Evans
Boat Races and Seine FiahlnE.

Rellef ArriVes-Al Hearts With Evans
Boat Races and Seine Fishing
MAoDALESA BAY, March 81. via San
Diego. Cal, April S,-The real work Of the
battle feet In this bay, target practice has
been practically completed. Tomorrow
morning the Kansas and Vermont, whose
shooting has been delayed because Of the
need Of preliminary practice the ships never
having fred their guns until they came
here. will finish their shooting, Torpedo
work and mine laying are all over and
there remains nothing TO do but coal again,
paint ship and wait until various Cali
iornia reception committees finish up the
work and the singal 10 start for California
10 hoisted.
All the ships will look their smartest,
The crews will try TO match them. Al
ready infantry drills for parades on shore
are going on, and although bluejackets
do not take kindly by nature to playing
soldiers. they will do their best and make
a fine showing for the holiday. California
may be sure both tars and ships will be as
smart looking as painstaking officers can
make them. TO use a land analogy, ships
and men will put their best foot forward,
The departure Of Rear Admiral Evans
from the Connecticut was regretted by
all. II he returns TO the flagship at Santa
Cruz he will get a joyous welcome. The
simple truth is that this feet has a regard
for its commander-in-ohei that amounts
almost to personal affection on the part Of
every man on the ships. The sailing Of
the Connecticut was marked not only by
a feeling Of sadness but by forebodings,
II the Admiral does come back the entire
feet will throw up its collective hats.
The Connecticut left at daylight. The
two. starred Admirals blue flag was run up
on the Minnesota, and at 8 A. NJ, those Of
the ships which had not ssluted Admiral
Thomass flag within year doomed out
thirteen guns to him. Admiral Thomas
does not however, become commander in
chief during Admiral Evans's absence. He
II simply the senior officer in Command.
He has taken charge Of routine matters.
Admiral Thomas will continue the policy
which he has pursued 80 far Of carrying
out Evsns's wishes TO the letter. He will
take personal lead in social matters per-
tanning TO receptions on shore, as he has
done all along since Admiral Evans became
ill., No man has regretted more keenly
Admiral Eyans's illness than he
The much talked Of hospital ship Relief,
under command Of DR.. Stokes, arrived
here late last Friday night She came into
the harbor in the dark. Her officers said
nothing about the performance but II WAS
evident that they we're not sverse to show
ing that ship with physicians in command
could do stunts in the navigating line.
DR.. Stokes asked his sailing master
whether he thought he could run into the
unlighted bay in the night, The skipper |
said that he could, and Stokes told him to !
60 ahead The next day the transfer Of
sick men from the various battleships began, |
and that day three surgical operations we're |
performed Many OF the cases sent to the
Relief are not serious, but 1t was thought |
that 40 long as there was floating hospital
at hand il would he we'll to empty the sick
bays Of the ships.
Most Of the cases could be taken care OF
with comfort on the battleshiPs. but there
we're several OF tuberculosis and two or
better on the Relief than on the other ships.
These cases would have all been sent ashore
anyway IA soon as California was reached.
The arrival Of the Relief gave an immediate
for the transfer and the fight
ing ships were freed from the responsible
ity Of caring for such cases.
The Relief has both surgical and medical
wards and one for the isolation Of conta-
gious cases This last named ward ia
situated on the topmast deck The interior
Of the vessel resembles a hospital very
much Special diet ia provided for the
and the Convalescents have the
benefit Of sitting in easy chairs on the after
decks.
The energies OF the feet until April II
will he occupied in painting up and in the
transfer OF stores For diversion there
will he a minstrel show tomorrow night
On the Minnesota and boat races on April
10, the last day Of the fleets stay here.
The chief races will he for the Batten-
burg cup, presented 10 the United States
Navy by Prince Henry and now held by
The Louisiana, and for the Belmont cup
Tor men on first enlistment. There will be
seven rowing races and Ave sailing ones
The men are enjoying the fishing here.
large catches with the line are made every
lay by the officers. Large hauls have
also been made by the crews with seines
Now that target practice is over 1t is prob
able that seine hauling will occupy the
attention Of the crews Of all ships nearly
svery day The catch is highly appreci-
,ted aa a variation in sea diet