The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-19
Battleship Maine Arrives After
Long Journey.
Made a Trip of Thirty-Five
Thousand Miles.
STARTEDIN DECEMBER
Left Hampton Roads With At
lantic Squadron.
Visited Philippines and Return
ed by SueZ Canal.

Portsmouth, N. H, Oct. 19.-The
battleship Maine after making a circle
of the globe was sighted off the en-
trance to Portsmouth harbor at a.
m. today, under a convoy of three
tugs, which had waited outside to
meet her. A thick bank of fog de-
layed the arrival somewhat, but the
Maine was successfully locked at Sis
g. m. AS she swung around Hender-
sons Point under her own steam, her
guns doomed out a rear admirals
salute of 10 guns, which was imme-
diately answered by a commanders
salte of seven guns by the navy yard
battery.
The Maine was escorted by the three
tugs on her way to the navy yard. but
came all the distance under her own
steam. AS the big battleship was
warped into the dock the "Jackies" on
board and those stationed in the yard
gave vent to prolonged cheers.
The Maine thus today ended, to-
gether with the battleship Alabama,
which is expected to arrive at the New
York navy yard tomorrow, the most
spectacular around-the-world cruise
ever made by. a first class modern
warshfp. During the voyage which
was started from Hampton Roads and
which consumed 3OS days the two YES
sells covered about $4,000 miles.
The Alabama and Maine left Hamp-
ton Roads, December 16, 1907, with the
Atlantic battleship fleet on its cruise
through the straits of Magellan to the
Pacific, the former as flagship of Rear
Admiral Charles H. Sperry, command
ing the fourth division. and the Maine,
attached to the third division. During
the voyage Of the fleet to Magdalena bay
the Maine and Alabama were the scenes
of many festivities given during the
exchange of greetings at Port of Spain,
Rio Janeiro, Punta Arenas and Callao.
On arriving on March II, at Magdalena
bay, the naval base of the Pacific for
American target practice, military and
naval officers the world over comment
ed on the wonderful feat of seaman
ship displayed in the $4,000 miles voy-
age, which was considered proof of the
excellent material as we'll as the per-
sonnet in the makeup of the fleet.
After the successful conclusion of the
fleets cruise to the Pacific, it was an
nounced that the warships would re-
turn to the Atlantic station by way of
the Philippine islands and the Suez
canal and the Maine and Alabama
were detached from the fleet, upon the
recommendation of Rear Almira
Evans and organized into a special SER
vice squadron under command of Cap
tain Giles b. HARDER, commanding the
Maine. Their places in the fleet We're
supplied by the batleships Wisconsin
and Nebraska. The detachment of the
Alabama and Maine from the combined
fleet was due in the case of the Ala
bama to her inferior engines and in
the case of the Maine to her limited
steaming capacity. The steaming ra-
dius of the Maine without re-coaling is
limited to 1900 miles. The engines of
the Alabama, 1t is said, proved I'M
equal to those of the other battle
ships and it was feared that she might
retard the passage of the fleet should
they break down.
Officers Are Pleased.
Rear Admiral Sperry transferred his
flag from the Alabama on May 10, and
hoisted his new flag on the Connecti-
cut as commander-in-chief and on June
g. the special service squadron under
Captain HARDER started on its return
trip to the Atlantic by way of Homo
lulu, Manila and the Suez as a path
finder for the Is battleships on their
cruise around the world. The special
squadron arrived at Honolulu June 16,
where a stop of seven days was made
and after touching at Guam, the vessels
reached Manila, August l. Since leav-
ing Manila, where the vessels made a
seven days stay, they visited Singa-
pore, Colombo, Alden. Suez Ismalia,
Port Said Naples, Gibraltar and Ponta
Del Gada and although three days late
IN leaving Manila the ships made up
the lost time through the skilful man.
agement of the squadron commander.
The officers pXnraSS fharnSalVaS a c