Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-09
GREAT FLEET
IS SPEEDING
NORTHWARD
NOW 1900 MILES SOUTH OF
MAGDALENA
HARD PERIOD OF TARGET PRAc.
TlcE AHEAD
American 5attleships Due at Mexican
Port Next Sunday--Jackies VIII
Have Little Time for
Pleasure

b. Associated Press.
SAN DIEGO, March Sat 1880 O'Clock
this morning the Point Iona wireless sta
tiOn received dispatch for the navy de-
partment from Admiral Evans, on board his
flagship, the Connecticut, which with the
remainder of the battleships comprising the
Atlantic squadron left Callao, Peru. for
Magdalena bay February 20.
The Point Iona operator was unable TO
determine the position of the Connecticut as
the signals which doubtless would have in
dieated the whereabouts OF the fleet were
indistinguishabIe.
Nc ng could be learned as to the con-
tents Of the message.
The Point Iona station had ex-
pected to get it's first communication
with the fleet through the armored
cruiser South Dakota, which left San
Francisco last Thursday morning to
have fling with her turret guns at
the Magdalena targets before the "big
sixteen" in Admiral Evans command
get chance to blow the checker
board bits of canvas out of the water.
The early communication with the
Connecticut, which so far as known
came direct from the flagship, was a
distinct surprise, and Is one of the
vagaries of the wireless service which
are to be expected from time to time.
Due at MagdaIena Sunday
The naval authorities here do not
look for the batueships at Magdalena
bay before next Sunday, the fifteenth.
as the fleet was one day behind its
schedule in leaving Callao and there
is no occasion to crowd the engines on
the run through the torrid zone. The
crews have a month of hard work be-
fore them at the southern drill ground
and their best energies will be saved
for 1t.
From reports that have reached here
the meii of the fleet are likely TO find
an unexpected welcome awaiting them
at Magdalena, where it is said the
enterprising Mexican traders have es-
tablished tent bazaars of all descrip-
tions.
Amusement managers also have
seized the opportunity of monopoly that
the deserted shore line offers When
the ships left Hampton Roads Mag
dalena was looked forward to as an
uninterrupted waste of sand dunes.
with an occasional Indian hut far in
land as the only sign of human habi
tation. The overnight shops, theaters
and dancing pavilions therefore will
come as a distinct surprise. There is
strong likelihood, however, of keen
disappointment overtaking some of
the promoters of the tent metropolis.
for the plans of the cruise do not call
for any material amount of shore
leave for the sailors at Magdalena.
and they, in all probability, will not be
changed.
The play-days of the men on foreign
shores practically ended with the
hoisting of anchors from Callao bay.
Magdalena Is the place for work, and
spotless hulls and polished decks will
be grimy with the grease and gaseous
refuse of battle target practice soon
after the big ships have reported their
arrival at this crack harbor of the
Mexican coast, which has been leased
by the United States as home ground
for it's navy of the western seas.
Target Work Important
Men who work half naked at the
guns in the roar and thrill of long
days at the targets will have small
inclination and smaller opportunity to
go ashore in the evening. Target
practice is the most important work
the fleet now has before it,. and target
practice means real work for every
man aboard. 1t is no longer a case
of lying at anchor and blazing away
In desultory fashion at fixed mark,
but instead each ship must be moving
at battle speed of ten to twelve knots
an hour and must fire at the enemy
"a white canvas speck twelve by
twenty feet-attached to the long tow
line of a tug and tender and being
hauled away at varying angles and
at speed equal to that of the ships
themselves.
The target comes within the given
range unexpectedly sometimes and its
stay is brief. The gun crews of each
ship must be alert and trained to the
minute, for it is the ship that fires
the greatest number of shots with the
ereaest percentage of hits that carries
away the trophy and rolls in the wealth
of the liberal prize money which Is
distributed after every record practice.
In battle target practice the fleet
commander-in-chiefa as we'll as the ad-
mirals of the four divisions bear the
responsibility of the maneuvers, and
the efficiency of the work Is sup1ect
to the closest scrutiny.
Ship captains from the forward
bridge control the movements of their
vessels in consonance with the signals
which yari-colored flags cry out from
flying trucks, and far up In the fght-
ing tops the ordnance officers direct
the fire of the many-calihered guns py
pressure of electric buttons. Close by
their sides sharp-eyed ensigns or mid
shipmen call out the ranges of fire.
and thus from stoke hole TO masthead
the giant ships hum with the din OF
mimic war.
To Clean Up Vessels
When target work and battle drills
are over at Magdalena the task of
cleaning ship and sprucing up for the
return to home ports awaits the
sailors, and it is expected that no mat
ter what tropical sea-growths may
cling to huIls below the red of the
water line, the white free board above
and the buff superstructure of the
vessels-veterans of memorable
cruise-will glisten and sparkle in the
warmth of the California sun as they
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