The sun., 1908-05-07
STORY or 4 GREtr CRrISE.
Illness Of Admiral Evans the only Draw
h.oL vI,Ins and Mon AIIke Hen nent e1

Illness Of Admiral Evans the Only Draw
hack ships and Men AlIkr Benehted.
SAN Francisco, May with the arrival
to-day OF the battleship feet, still known
officially as the United States Atlantic
feet, at this port the longest cruise ever
made by feet Of battleships Of any navy
comes to an end The fleet believes II
was ordered to San Francisco for some
definite military or diplomatic purpose,
Whether that has been accomplished only
those in authority in Washington know,
Up to the time when Nagdalena Bay was
left the cruise WIS strictly military. On
the day the feet reached San Diego, Cal,
never was any fleet Of any nation in the
world in more efficient condition.
On the voyage from Hampton Roads,
beginning on December 10 last, 10 San
Francisco the fleet had been at five foreign
ports Il has been reviewed by the Prehi-
dents Of four republics President RUOse-
welt. at Hampton Roads; President Penna,
al Rio de JuneirO; President Monte, at
Valparaiso. aud President Pardo, at Callso.
Accord ing to the log VI the Louisiana,
the fleet has Cruised IS 1887 knots, or in
round numbers 80 sea miles Esti-
mates OF the exact distance vary on the
sixteen battleships. according 10 the Calcu-
lation OF individual nsyigators. Some
days runs we're estimated 10y dead reckon
ing, and there as no way Of determining
TO a knot the distance that the ships
travelled
GOOD STEAMING TIAlF.
The elapsed time from Hampton Roads
December 10 to dropping anchors in San
Francisco lsrbor May g. was lT days
hours. The actual time OF cruising for
tho ai3,7 $50 knots voyage was 81 days 10 hours.
Practically W days go days Y hours, 20 Ire
eGact) were consumed in various ports,
OF this time a period Of 20 days was oc-
Cupied largely in practice at Magdalena
Bay. in Trinidad there was a Hay Of 0
days; 10 Rio. 10, Punta Arenas, = Callao,
., or sixty-two days in round numbers, The
rate Of steaming was practically 10 knots
Occasionally II and even IL knots was
tried; several times speed was reduced
20 8knots and once or twice to for expert
mental purposes or because of some mishap
10 q ship. Such accidents were few and at
most only delayed the feet an hour or two,
Allowing reasonable time 10 coal in
foreign ports and eliminating the time
for target practice az Nlagdalena Bay and
the various stops along the California
coast, the trip could have been made easily
with 10 knots steaming gait in less than
eighty days. One day could have been
saved at Trinidad al Rio, . at Punta
Arenas and I at Callao. These with 80
days at Magdalena Bay and Il spent in
California stopping plS1sS make C; days
which could have been cut OF the elapsed
time IL the movement had been entirely
a military one,
These data are valuable as showing what
anAmerican battleship feet can do II called
upon in the way Of steaming long distances,
All the strictly unnecessary time spent
in foreign and home Srts, with the eXcep-
ton Of Msgdslena BayNyas occupied with
social duties and pleasure The Govern
nelt nov knows it would take seventy-eight
rays without undue speeding to send a fee,
II bsttiOShips from Hampton Roads 70 San
Francisco. providing all coaling arrange
nsnts we're made in advance.
TIE CRUISE IN RUNS.
Inc longest run Of the cruiss was from
Trinidad 10 Rio, distance Of s.22S miles
As the feet sailed 1t, occupying thirteen days
twenty honrs There vas : strong bead
~tnd, sOuthsaSt trade wind This and