Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-09
BATTLESHIP
FLEET is ON
THE PACIFIC
EVANS VESSELS PASS MAGEL-
IAN STRAITS
MIGHTY ARMADA GOES THROUGH
GORGE
Farewell Is Said to Punta Arenas
and Squadron Enters Upon
Waters of Western
Ocean
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
PUNTA ARENAS. Straits of Magel-
Ian, Feb. S.-The American battleships,
accompanied by the torpedo boat flo
tilla, entered the harbor at l O'Clock on
their way through the western half or
the straight to the Pacific coast OF
South America.
Through the dangerous channels or
the western portion of Magellan strait,
navigating with extreme caution until
Cape Pilares, the westernmost point or
the southern side of the strait, mas
been left well behind and the waters OF
the broad Pacific fairly entered, the
American batt1eship fleet and torpedo
boat destroyers flotilla now continue
their remarkable cruise. From Punta
Arenas their course lies southwark to
Cane Froward, the southernmost point
on the mainland of South America.
From Cape Froward the strait turns
and extends $50 miles in northwest
erly direction. After Cape Pilares the
baftleships' prows Will be turned north
ward and a course laid along the Chile
an coast to a point off Valparaiso, and
thence TO Callao. Lieutenant Cones
torpedo flotilla will part company with
the battleships when Smith channel,
thirty miles from the western end or
Magellan strait, is reached, and pro-
coed northward through this channel
will keep the little vessels well pro-
teeted from heavy weather and also
shorten their voyage to Talcahuano,
their next stopping place. 2l30 knots
from Punta Arenas. Following closely
along the rocky coast of Chile, the bat
fleships in weeks time will find them
selves off Valparaiso.
To Fire Salute
There they will run close in 70 the
CITY and each will fire the national sa-
Lutte of twenty-one guns, after which
they will continue their voyage TO Cal
lao, Peru That portion of Magellan
strait through which the fleet is now
passing is one of the most Wildly PIC
furesuue waterways in the world. and
American sailors will witness scenery
that is excessively grand. The rugged
mountains, some of them that reach
the height of 1000 feeh border the
strait on both sides.
The shores mostly are steep. and
glaciers descend nearly to the sea in
some places, and frequently crown
precipices in others. The currents are
powerful and swift. and the depth of
the water is one of it's remarkable fea-
lures in some places reaching bS0
fathoms or about $500 feet. The winds
of the strait are never at rest. Pouring
through mountain ranges, they are
sudden, powerful. uncertain in direc-
tion and usually freighted with squalls
of snow or rain.
PUNTA ARENAS. Strait of Magel-
Ian, Feb. S.-Lieutenant Commander
Rosesas of the Chilean navy is acting
as pilot for the American torpedo boats
through the strait and up to where the
flotilla will make its next step.
Admiral Evans has sent letter to
the captain of the port thanking him
for the prompt action he took at the
time of the accident TO a boat from the
Rhode Island, which upset on Wednes-
day throwing six of the men into the
water, all of whom were rescued.
The conduct Of the American sailors
during their stay here was most eX-
emplary.