Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-13
FLEET HAS ONLY ONE
MORE LEG TO COVER
Sixteen BatlIesh'ps Arrive In Mag
6a|sna Bay in Splendid Shape
In Every Way,
HARD work FOR JlCKY BOY NOW
For Month There viii be TARGET
Practice and Drills in Plenty =
southc California seapor, rowns
Planning to Give the Officers and
Men Royal Good Times.
(ny Associated presaN

lily Associated prcss)
SAN DIEGO. CAL. March i2-When
the American battlcshp fleet. under
command of Rear Asmiral Roblcy u.
Evans. steamed into Maglclcnn bay.
today. passing through the rocky gate
way marked by sail Rock on The north
aud ltcdono Point on the south and
dropped anchors behind the high pen
insun promoiory which stretched a
pl otcc'ing arm ont from the mainland
and makes Man % War cove the most
sheltered harbor ON the lower Pacific
coast. the history making naval cruise
OF moro than $4,000 miles begun ut
Hampton Roads less than three
, months ago. practically came 10 an
, end.
Mag tacna bay is the present naval
base OF the Pacific for American tar
} get Wort, and battle practice drills
aud by right Of temporary ownership
through government lease. the veg
sells, IL not tho men OF the fleet. may
| feel that they are again In home wa
| tiers.
There remains to be made the trip
from MaStlalena bay TO San FranciHco.
the destination originally announced.
u matter of some LOO miles, hut II
I VIII not be begun until the tnr-ct
! practice is concluded and fleet drills
are donc. This last stage OF the Jour
! hey VIII be a tour of holidays marked
with stops nj San Diego. Los Angeles.
santa barbara and Santa Cruz. where
reception committees are p,inninc all
manner OF entertainments for officers
ana men.
The sailors will find themselves he
roes. every one. in the eyes of their
western admirers and are promised
series of fctes which include fcn-
lures ranging from gala balls. under
the patronage of exclusive social sets.
/ 10 prize fights refereed by Champion
James j. Jcnries.
| The California committees Announce
that the uniforms of the cnllstod mon
VIII be mark for hospitality and
welcome all along the Pacific coast.
There is serious work to be dore AT
MaSdalena however. before the sail-
+ ors' thoughts can turn to the hapnv
. days of The home coming. Target
ranges are to be established off Tho
coast of Lower California NJ onrc ar
I cordins to the wireless DISPATCHES
from Admiral Evans and the :;yisions
OF The hcct will be sent ont with hi.,
guns enoming as soon rs they are
ready.
Two target practices are held zach
year in the navy. the spring practice
/ winch mas been completed by all the
vessels of Tho Pacific fleet, aud which
IS about TO be undertaken by the
fleet from the Atlantic.
( TROPHIES to be Shot For.
! The four trophies are bronze plaques
! which are carried by the winning
ships in The -four different classes. nm
III other ships wrest the same away
At the spring practice.
The trophies were provided by or
/ der of President Roosevelt ana rich
~ priced by the winning crew
The four classes are BattIcslin.
cruisers. grnboats ana torpedo boat
hcstroyers. In the battlcship class
are Included the state named armorcd
cruiners of the West Virginia and
Maryland tyne. of which there are now
in commission eight in the Pacific
4 fleet.
| The battleship trophy is at present
in possession of the Illinois of the At
lantic fleet. ono of Admiral Evans'
fleet. which still carry IL inch guns
in their main battery. as against tho
high calibred - inch rifles of the
! modern shiDs
The Maryland has Just made rec
ord of 1883 per cent OF hits al The
target. and tho naval enthusiasts along
. The coast already arc proclaiming her
the winner OF the trophy In advance
Of tho work of any OF the ships of the
big feet. ~ 81
The cruiser trophy is now in pos
session OF the crew of the protected
cruiser Albany, Which is in San Di-
ego harhor. ana has just returned
from Magdalona bay With what is be-
licvcd 10 be worlds record for rapi,l
and accurate fire.
Tho trophy was Won last year lbs
the Albanys crew while they were on