The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-18
PROVISIONS AND
COAL FOR FLEET
80 Tons Fuel Per Steaning
Mile at Speed of Ten
Knots per Hour.
Nv Associated Press


Magdelena Bay, Lower California,
March 13.-Via San Diego, Calf,
March 1.-THE trip from Hampton
Roads to Magdelena Bay has demon
strated that the Atlantic fleet can go
to any part of the world if coal is
provided" declared Captain R. r. In
gersoll, chief of staff to Rear Admiral
Evans, today, when asked for a state
ment by the Associated Press. Upon
Captain Ingersoll developed a large
part Of the work of executing the
cruise.
THE plans which were formulated
last August" he continued, for the
coaling on the cruise provided for
the use of 80 tons per steaming mile.
There was added eight additional
tons, for necessary allowances. We
foun dthat we were able to keep
we'll within this estimate and main
tain the 10 knot speed. The arrange
ment for cOaling at all the various
stops have been carried out and the
pre-arranged plans have proved en-
tirely adequate.
1.-The supply loads and the provis-
ions for the fleet were computed at
the same time as was the coal esti-
mate and submitted. These have
worked out to perfection Our fresh
meat lasted until we reached Mag
delena, where we still had 200 900
pounds left over. We had one mil
hon pounds Of fresh meat when we
started. The bakeries on our ships
have supplied us with from 900 to
1000 lOaVes of bread daily. We
started with half a million pounds of
potatoes, which supply was exhaust
ed at Punta Arenas. We issued the
last 1000 pounds there From there
to CallaO the crews were rationed
with dried vegetables, which were
found to be most satisfactory. At
Callao We took on $4,000 pounds of
potatoes, which lasted until We reach
ed Magdelena. Here the Buffalo met
us with 200 tons more.
Merely Work to Them.
II may say that all taken together,
the men and officers of the feet have
not regarded the present cruise in the
same remarkable sense that the pub
lie has. With them it has merely
been a days work-nothing more.
However, they are all gratified at the
successful conclusion of the cruise
to date 1t merely confirms our ex-
pectatiOns-"
Much disappointment is expressed
over the failure to rescue the Ameri-
can sailor Jeffs from Indefatisable
Island The feet passed within
about forty miles of the island and
the tender Yankton was sent in to
make the search Phe landing party
from the tender searched all habit
able portions of the island for two
days. Remains of camp fires were
found in several parts but no trace
of the sailor was discovered. In one
place razor was found with Jeff's
initials on it. 1t Is the belief of the
men on the Yankton that the ma
rOoned sailor has been picked I'D by
some passing vessel.
Target Practice.
Target practice will occupy about
three weeks. There will be no battle
practice, that being held in the fall
of tn year. Preliminary practic is
limited to two ships, the Kansas and
the Vermont, which have not vet
fired all of their guns in practice. All
will engage in record large practice
There will be four ranges, four ships
firing at a time. The RATS for the
targets were finished this afternoon
and were being towed out 20 the
grounds to the southeast of where the
squadron is anchored.
1t is likely that the feet will leave
here between April 5 and April 10.
Stops will be made at San Diego, Los
Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Santa
Cruz.
The little town of MagdeIent has
not grown to any appreciable extent
on account of the fleets visit. 1t is
about the same size that it has been
for years past. 1t consists of a row
of small one and two-story white
washed houses located on the north
ern shore of what is known as Man
of War Cove. The houses set back
from the beach some fifty feet and
extend for perhaps 1000 yards along
the shore. Mr. Henry, cousin of
Francis ]. Henry, the assistant dis