Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1908-03-19
The pacific fleet.
1t is Due at MagdalGna Bay
To-day.
There are no Towns of any Consequence
in the Vicinity, but the Bay Itself is
one of the Finest Natural Harbors on
the Pacific Side of the American
Continent.

Continent.
(By Special Wire to the ARGUs.)
Washington, D G., March 12-With-
in the next II hours, ii all goes we'll,
Che fleet Of American battIeships under
the command OF Rear Admiral Evans
will reach ~MagdaIena Bay, the last
stopping place before the arrival at San
Francisco. M~agdalena Bay is located
on the Pacific coast of Lower Calitor-
MIA. towards the southern end OF the
p~eninsuIar, and about 100 miles north
OF the Tropic OF Cancer.
There are no towns Of any cOnse-
ouence in the vicinity, but the bay it
self is one Of the finest natural harbors
on the Pacific side of the American
continent and could easily provide
safe shelter Tor the largest of the worlds
fleets.
The place has long been coveted by
this Government as q location for a
coaIing station for the Pacific fleet OF
the United states Navy.
The arrival of Admiral Evans fleet
at Magdalena Bay means that the long
trip from Hampton Roads is virtually
ended. Of the total of Il, 600 miles
only about 1000 miles remain to be
traversed between M~agdalena Bay aud
san Francisco the final objective point.
The trip from CaIlao, the last stopping
place, to MagdaIene Bay is 3,102 nau-
tical miles and forms the longest leg OF
the entire Journey. The fleet will reach
Magdalene Bay just three months and
two days out from Hampton Roads.
On reaching M~agdalena Bay the fleet
will put in about three weeks in target
practice, a practice in which it is eN-
Dected there will be great rivalry be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific fleets
the latter having also been ordered to
rendezvous at the bay. If all goes we'll,
the fleet under command Of Rear Al
miral Evans will reach Magdalena Will
every ship ready to go on the range
ready to fire i'll he target practice
This will be a convincing dernonstra-
ton that after more than r.. 900 miles
OF cruising from the Atlantic coast the
fleet has arrived on the Pacificin a high
state of efficiency. Before firing II
started, however, it will be necessary
to lay out the anges, which will Tt
ouire one or two days. The large
practice will be unusually extensive
including battle practice with a rough
sea and record practice in smooth water
Plans for the run from Magdalen'
Bay a Francisco have been worked
out in connection with arrangements Il
receive the heetatSan Francisco, which
arrangements have been prepared ten
tatlvely by Secretary Metcalf after sew
eral conferences with Governor Gillette
of California.
After h target practice is completed
at Magdalena Bay, the combined fleet
will head n~orthward and on the wa.
will engage in many drills and maneu
vers. The practice will include a diyi
sion into two fleets, each containing
eight b~attleships, eight cruisers and
small tooedo hotilla, d~estroyers, repai
ships, etc. These will be pitted agalns
each other, and viii work out the com
pick problems which have been devise
by the general board, as well as other
which may be suggested by the ha|
officers of the fleet. Again, a division
will be made into tour fleets, eacl
headed by four battleships, and stiI
other problems will be solved. Grea
benefit is expected from the work on S
elaborate a scale. It is a ~nOteWOrth.
feature of the programme that all thu
will be done without resorting TO
navy yard, there being none in tn
vicinity. and any repairs which may b
necessary viii have to be made by til
repair ships that accompany the flee
and in the machine shops on board tn
ships themselves.