The San Francisco call., 1908-03-26
GLOBE G|RDL|NG
TRIP LOOKS EASY
Fleet Excited by News of Plan
to Return by Way of Z
Suez Canal
Big Guns Are Blazing at Float.
ing Targets in Magda-
lena Bay

MAGDALENA, March II, via San
Pedro, March 25.-The news that the
feet was to continue It's cruise after
reaching San Francisco and complete
the circumnayigation OF the globe by
way of Honolulu. Sydney and Manila
and the Suez canal WAS received aboard
the flagship Connecticut today It was
at once transmitted to the command
ing omcers of the various battleships.
The news excited the greatest interest
and was the mort absorbing topic of
conversation since the feet started
from Hampton roads.
Rear Admiral Thomas, who will be
the senior rear admiral after Admiral
Evans retires, received the Associated
Press correspondent aboard his flagship,
the Minnesota, this afternoon and COM
mented briefly upon the great trip
ahead. He said:
1t can be easily accomplished by this neet.
In fact, 1t will be easier than the present cruise
has been. While there are many long trips be-
tween stops. every one of modern battle
ships is capable of carrying sufficient coal to
make them. with some to spare. We shall haye
better coaling facilities at Honolulu. Samoa,
Sydney and Cavite then we have had at the va
rlous places We have coaled on this trip.
As glance over it. no difficulties OF moment
present themselves. 1t is Of course, cruise of
tremendous length, making the one we are com
pieting seem small by comparison. 1t would
likely be the last OF December before we would
reach New York.
sunday was not day of respite for
the hard worked crews of the Atlantic
fleet. All day long from early light
at o'clock in the morning the big
guns doomed on the target ranges, the
great kissing shells tore out across the
smooth. unruff1ed waters of the bay,
smashing ragged rents in the white
canvas targets and throwing tons of
water high in the air. The men worked
with almost frenzied activity in the
turrets and casemates and exposed bat
teries. The ships sailed around the
target ranges. the guns blazing forth
ar they passed the position buoys and
came on to the range. The din on
board was deafening, the effect cleo
trical and thrilling.
Officers and men on decks and in the
gunrooms go about with their ears
stuffed with cotton that their hearing
may not be injured. Many wear a pat
ent celluloid protector inside Of the
ear, which saves the sensitive mem
brane from shock.
Guns of nearly all sizes are being
fired, from the sharp barking three
Founders to the ponderous reverberat-
ing seven and eight inch calibers. The
| largest guns. the IL and 13 inch sort,
are to be the last fired.
The Kansas and Vermont have been
busy with their preliminary practice
Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The
Kansas had already fired most of her
guns in preliminary work, but the Ver
mont had fired none. The Kansas fin
| ished the preliminary work Monday
noon and left the range, her place be-
ing taken on Range No. l by the Illi-
nois. Ahe Kansas will not get chance
at record practice for two weeks. Sew
eral of the others have already begun
their record practice. These include the
Illinois, Maine and Minnesota The
record firing will occupy about four
days to the ship. With four ships on
the range at one time it should be
completed some time between April 5
and TO- 1t is upon the record practice
that the percentage tables are COM
puted and the trophy for battleships
awarded.