The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-02-21
PathfinderS Of Fleet
Steam Into Port
Cruisers Tennessee and WASH
ingfon Precede Bafffeships in
Voyage 10 Pacific

The United States cruisers Tennessee
and Washington. composing the special
service squadron that left Hampton
roads last October in command OF Rear
Admiral Uriei Sebree. arrived here yes
terday in company with the cruisers
West Virginia and Maryland. The four
ships. with the Colorado and Pennsyl-
vania. steamed from Magdalena bay in
company. Pie Pennsylvania and Colo
rado did not enter the hsrbor. but are
going direct TO- the BremeFtoH navy
yard. The West Virginia and Maryland
The '-pathfinders." as the Tennessee and
Washington are popularly known. viii
remain in the harbor for several weeks.
The Tennessee and Washington were
sent out primarily to join the second
division of the Pacific feet to which
the California and South Dakota have
been assigned. Incidentally, however,
they acted as the advance agents for
the big feet. and at least some of the
success of Admiral Evans cruise is
due TO the arrangements made by Ad-
miral Sebree and the reports sent back
by him to Fighting Bob
TOGETHER FROM THE CRADLE
Since they left their cradles-the
Tennessee was built at Cramps and the
Washington at New York-the two
cruisers have been together They
represented the United States govern
ment in France last year and in COM
psny made the long voyage just com
pleted from Atlantic to Pacific.
The Tennessee. Admiral Sebree's flag
ship, and the Washington are twin
sisters and the most formidable cruis-
ers flying the American nag. They
are more heavily armored than the
ships composing Admiral Dayton's big
four and carry heavier guns and more
of them. The Washington and Tennes-
see carry 1s s-inch guns. 90 s-inch and
4 10-inch. The men behind those guns
gave token of their quality by winning
second place in the target practice at
bay.
The cruisers left Hampton roads Oc-
tober II, and on the way around vis-
tied Trinidad, Rio de Janeiro, Monte
video, Punta Arenas. Callzo. Acapulco,
and Magdalena bay. where
they spent q month at target practice
GIVEN SHORE LIBERTY
On account of health conditions at the
southern ports the men were not al
lowed shore liberty since leaving Mon
tevideo last November until yesterday,
when about 500 men from each ship
were turned loose in San Francisco
each man with four months pay ling
ling in his pockets. When these men
have had their fling another thousand.
equally well heeIed financially, will be
given liberty.
Admiral Sebree. who was formerly on
the lighthouse board in this district.
is well known in San Francisco.
The cruisers averaged 1zls knots all
the way from Hampton roads TO the
Golden gate. They steamed through
the straits OF Magellan at an 1s knot
gait. and could have travelled four
knots faster If necessary. They were
favored win fine weather in the straits,
but entered the Pacific to find that sup
posedly placid sheet OF water in the
grip of so mile an hour gale. The
Pacific behaved after that, however, and
taken all through the elements were
kind 10 the pathfnders. The ships
arrived here in perfect condition. and
If necessary could start tomorrow for
Hampton roads, and beat their own
record