Omaha daily bee., 1908-04-12
FLEET STARTS NORTH
Sixteen Battleships Leave Magdalena
Bay for San Diego.
ADMIRAL THOMAS IN COMMAND
Big White Vessels Given Parting
Salute by Destroyer Flotilla.
REACH SAN DIEGO TUESDAY
Sixty Nine Hours Allowed for Trip
of $40 Miles.
CITY is GAILY DECORATED
Omcers and Enlisted Men Are to BE
EIaborateIy Entertained DurinR>
Their Four Days
stay.
Big White Vessels Given Parting
Salute by Destroyer Flotilla.
EACH SAN DIEGO TUESDAY
'ixty Nine Hours Allowed for Trip
of $40 Miles.
CITY IS GAnY DECORATED

SAN DIEGO, CAL April 1.-THE Allan
tic fleet Of sixteen first class battleshps
began today the last leg of its originally
planned cruise from Hampton Roads to
the oGlden Gate. The four divisions Of the
fleet weighed anchor at 4 p. m. and three
quarters of an hour later were threading
their way out of Magdalen bay in the wake
of the flagship Connecticut. The com
mander's pennant on the after bridge Of
the flagship was that OF Charles M
Thomas who began the journey to the
Pacific as head of the second spadron, but
who was promoted to command during the
enforced absence of Rear Admiral Evans,
the commander-in-chief. Sailing in sim
gle column formation, according to dis
patches received here, the ships passed
Sail Rock and. rounding Entrada Point
one Of the headiands marking the gateway
to the harbor, turned in a long circle TO
the north Six black-hulled destroyers of
the torpedo flotilla gave a parting salute
to the big white vessels and the historic
stay of the American battleships in the
Mexican bay was at an end.
An easy journey of go miles lies before
the fleet, which is scheduled to arrive here
and anchor off Coronado Beach at ! p m.
on Tuesday Admiral Thomas has allowed
sixty-nine hours for the run up the coast
requiring an average of only nine knots
an hour The ships started away at the
usual cruising speed of ten Knots however
and will slow down during the latter part
of the Journey The early hour of depart
ure was fixed to guarantee against the
possibility of delay in fog.
When the ships reach San Diego they
will have logged 1859 knots since their
departure from Hampton Roads. The CON
necticut has 1,22O knsts additional on ac-
count OF the trip TO this port last week
TO bring Admiral Evans ashore and It's
subsequent return to Magdalena bay,
Every coast city from San Diego to San
Francisco is to see the fleet during the
next four weeks, 1t having been announced
that at points where no stop is scheduled
the ships win pass asclose to shore as pos
sIble. always being well within the range
of vision of persons gathered close along
the bluffs and beaches. Preparations for
the four days stay OF the ships at San
Diego are practically complete and the city
is gaily decorated with flags and patri-
ot-c bunting In this community of 4O'oN
inhabitants. a fund of nearly $4,000 has
has been raised for the entertainment OF
the officers and men of the navy. Inter
est in the coming of the ships is Intense
the strong personal sentiment being re-
flected in the banners which everywhere
wave a welcome to our fleet"
Admiral Evans Doing Nicely.
PAS RoBLEs HOT SPRINGS, cal, April
( 11.-Surgeon Mcdonald and DR.. l.. f. Phil
lips issued the following bulletin this morn
! ing:
Admiral Evans is doing nicely. He suf'
| fered some pain in his left knee yesterday
/ which kept him confined to his room and
also make il necessary for him to remain
! quiet today. This, however, is due to the
| treatment that Is being followed at the
| springs and we do not believe Will in any
/ Wny relRrd his recovery.