The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-13
FLEET NOW RESTS
IN MAN O WAR COVE
Completes 10000 Mile Cruise,
Arriving atMagdalena Bay
TwoDays Ahead Of Time.
SHIPS IN BETTER SHAPE
THAN WHEN SAILED
Admiral Evans So Declares, and
Asserts That They are Ready
for Any Service on a Days
Notice-Trip Up Coast
to Follow
Practice.
Admiral Evans So Declares, and

~ AN DIEGO, CAL. March i2.-
When the American battleship
fleet. under command of Rear
~ Admiral Evans, steamed to-day
into Magdalena Bay. passing
through the rocky gateway marked by
Sail Rock on the north and Redono
Point on the south, and dropped an
chors behind the high peninsula prom
ontory which stretches a protecting
arm down from the mainland and
makes Man War Cove the most shel-
tered harbor of the lower Pacific coast,
the history making naval cruise OF
more than 1900 miles. begun at Hamp-
ton Roads less than three months ago.
practically came to an end.
Magdalena Bay Is the present naval
base of the Pacific for American target
work and battle practice drills, and by
right of temporary ownership through
government lease, the vessels. II not
the men OF the fleet. may feel that they
are again in home waters.
There remains to be made the trip
from Magdalena Bay to San Francisco,
the destination originally announced.
and matter of some 1,10o miles, but
1t will not be begun until after target
practice is concluded and fleet drills
are done.
Holiday-MakinE Tour.
This last stage of the Journey will
be a tour of holiday with
stops at San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa
Barbara and Santa Cruz, where recep-
tion committees are planning all man
ner OF entertainments for officers and
men. The sailors will ind themselves
heroes every one, in the eyes of their
Western admirers, and are promised a
series of fetes. which include features
ranging from gala balls. under the
patronage of exclusive social sets. to
prize fights refereed by Champion
James j. Jeffries. The California COM
t.littee announces that the uniforms Of
the enlisted men will be mark of
hospitality and welcome all along the
Pacific coast.
There is serious work to be done
at Magdalena. however, before the
sailors thoughts can turn to the happy
days OF homecoming. Target ranges
are to be established off the coast of
lower California at once. according to
the wireless dispatches from Admiral
Evans. and the divisions of the fleet
will be sent out with big guns boom
ing as soon as they are ready.
AZ >ohtSst AuF AiopuRCSs
Two target practices are held each
year in the navy-the spring practice,
which has been completed by all the
vessels of the Pacific fleet, and which
is about to be undertaken by the fleet
from the Atlantic, known as the rec
four trophies annually are awarded.
Prize money in large sums is distrib-
uted to the men at the guns that make
the best scores at the targets The
q nj
which are carried by the winning ships
in four different classes until other
ships wrest the same away at the spring
practice. The trophies Were provided
are richly priced by the winning crews.
The four classes are: BattleshIps.
cruisers. gunboats and torpedo boat
des5royers. In the battleshlp class are
included the State-named armored
cruisers of the West Virginia and
Maryland type. of which there are now
in commission eight In the Pacific
fleet.
in. the possession Of the illinois, of the
Atlantic fleet, one of the four of Ad-
miral Evens's fleet which still carry
teries, as against the high-calibred
twelve-inch rifles of the modern ships.
The Maryland has just made a record
of 1889 per cent. of hits at the tar
get, ana the naval enthusiasts all
along the coast are already proclaim
ing her the winner of the trophy in
advance of the work of any of the
ships of the big fleet.
The cruiser trophy is now in pos
session Of the crew of the protected
cruiser Albany. which is in San Diego
harbor. and has Just returned from
Magdalena with what Is believed to be
worlds record for rapid and accurate
fire. The trophy was won last year by
the Albany's crew while they We're on
the Boston. which Is now out of COM
mission. There seems little doubt that
the Albany will retain the trophy.
The gunboat trophy is possessed by
the princeton. and the destroyer trophy
by the Preble. Each year the name OF
the winning ship is engraved on the
trophy.