Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-17
BAT7LESHIPS BUSY
RIDDLING TARGETS
AT MAGDALENA BAY

MAGDALENA BAY. Lower Califor-
alo to San Diego, March 16).-Ready
for immediate action, if need be, ac-
cording to the declarations of all the
commanding officers from Real Ad-
miral Evans down, and with three or
four feet of heavy armor belt show
ing red above the blue of the placid
southern waters, the American battle
ship fleet of sixteen modern vessels
sailed into Magdalena Bay today, and
after exchanging courtesies with the
Mexican authorities, represented by
Governor Sanginez of the southern
division of Lower California, prepared
Immediately ior the annual record
spring target practice, which Is ex-
pected to occupy about three weeks.
Ready for Anything
Look at u.s. exclaimed Admiral
Evans when the fleet had come to
anchor off the little town of Magda-
lena in four divisions of four ships
abreast. I'VE are ready at moments
notice to begin shooting at the targets,
to go out to sea and fight battle, or
to continue the cruise. If anyone
thinks we are not ready for target
practice, let them come down here
tomorrow and see. And if they think
we can't hit the targets, let them come
along and take a look at them."
Admiral Evans health has greatly
improved during the latter part of the
voyage. He was in the pilot house of
the Connecticut when the fleet steamed
through the gateway to the bay, and
remained there giving orders and
watching their execution until anchor
chains had whirred their way into the
water and the great mud hooks had
found resting place in the sandy
bottom of the harbor.
Admiral Evans was greatly disap-
pointed at not being able to attend
the social functions in honor of the
fleet at various South American ports,
but he declared today, while sitting on
the afterbridge of the flagship, that
he expected to go ashore at all of the
California ports to be visited and take
part in the festivities of the home
coming of the fleet
The entire town of Magdalena, which,
despite the reports of a wonderful
boom. is still a tiny village, turned out
it's total population of 140 souls-four
of them Americans-to watch the COM
ing of the fleet. Wireless messages last
night told of the near approach of the
battleships, and the town had shaken
off its tropical lethargy to arise and
greet both the dawn and the American
ships in joint celebration today.
Get Glimpse of Fleet
Watchers on the high hills of the
arm of land reaching down from the
mainland and forming protection to
their first glimpse of the leading ships
soon after the first faint streak of the
approaching day slanted from the east
ern shore of the bay.
A heavy mist had hung over the
waters since early the evening before,
and 1t was not until the rising sun had
driven the fog away that the long, pre-
else column of sixteen ships burst into
view. The Connecticut, with Rear Ad-
miral Evans double-starred flag of blue
fluttering from her peak, was in the
lead. The line that followed was as
straight as an arrow. Not a ship de-
Waited in the slightest degree from the
course of the leading vessel.
With fifteen fathoms of water be-
meath them, the navigating officers hal
nothing to fear, and as the gateway
between Point Redondo on the south
and Point Entrada on the north-was
reached the speed cones" dangling
from their end of the signal yards on
the foremast of the flagship gave no
hint of a break in the specified cruising
speed of ten knots an hour On
through the entrance to this most mag
nificent of southern Pacific harbors.
the great column passed, with dense
clouds of smoke pouring from the fun
nels.
Frightened small birds flew with Il
great fluttering of wings from their
roosting places on the rocks. and lum-
bering old pelicans picked themselves
reluctantly from the smooth waters to
make way for the big white ships.
The morning was perfect once the
sun had taken command. The air was
balmy and the light breeze which blew
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