Omaha daily bee., 1908-03-13

SAN DIEGO. Cal. March 12.-When the
American battleship fleet under command
u Rear Admiral Robiey D. Evans steamed
today into Magdalena bay, passing through
the rocky gateway marked by Sail Rock on
the north and Redondo point on the south
and dropped anchor behind the high pc
ninsula's prorontory. which stretched a
protecting arm down from the main land
ana makes Man-o'-War cove the most
Sheltered harbor of the lower Pacific coast,
the history-making naval cruise Of more
than l8.O0O miles. begun al Hampton Roads
less than three months ago, practically
came TO an end.
Macdalena is the principal naval base Of
the Pacific FOR American target work and
battle practice drills, and by right Of tenn
po1ary ownership through government lease
the vessels, IL not the men Of the fleet,
MAY feel that they are again in home
waters.
SERIES of Gala Fetes.
There remains to be made the trip from
MaEdRleua bay TO San Francisco, the des-
tination originally announced, and mat
ter Of some 1,lO0 miles, but it will not be
begun untn after target practice is con-
cluded and fleet driIls are done. This last
stage OF the journey win be tour Of holi-
day making with stops at san Diego Los
Angeles. Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz.
where reception committees are planning
al manner Of entertainments for officers
and men. the latter especially coming in
for the greatest amount Of attention The
sailors viii find themselves heroes, every
one, In the eyes of their western admirers,
and are promised series Of fetes which
include features ranging from gala balls
-. ...~gu~ 0Hgu1
sets. to prize tights refereed by Champion
James J. Jeffries himself.
The California committee announced that
the uniform Of the enlisted men, far from
eng a bar TO any place OF amusement.
as has sometimes been known TO be the
case in other places, win be a mark Of hos
pitallty ali along the coast.
Fonr Days Ahead of Time.
A wireless Tnessage received late last
night by the Point Iona government wire
less station WAS 10 the effect that Rear
Aouiirsl Robley d. Rvans and his big bat
lleship fleet arrived off Magdalena bay
early last night, According TO the message,
the neet viii iay of Magdalena until early
this morning. when II win proceed into the
bay
News that tie big fleet has already ar
AANNA ~ AAAeE lleAAtA4A Ae1 AAAliNa As q US III
prise. The itinerary Of the long voyage be-
ming with the start from Hampton
hads on December l5 last, ala not cal
ar the arrival Of the ships al Magdalena
.rntn Sunday so with their arrival at the
= Mexican bay last night the fleet is almost
four days ahead Of time.
Il has been known for some few weeks
past that the big sixteen would arrive
al ms practice ground ahead Of time. but 4
was never suspected that such an excellent
showing as this would be made The I'm.
portAnt fact about II is the most Of ths
four days gain In time was made on tn.
last stretch OF the voyage from Callao
South America. Previous TO the visit u,
that port the fleet was kept on schedule
making the various stops the fun length
called for in the itinerary.
Fleet in Sea GOinE CORditiSa.
II Is reported on very good authority tha
an official message was also received from
Rear Admiral Evans himself by the locA
91ralesE station last night 10 be Transmitted
20 Washington II was 10 the effect tina
Admiral Evans reported 70 Washington tha
he arrived al the bay with all the ship
Of the fleet in even better condition thai
the time when II sailed from Hampton
4Ath0e ana Aslal ne IL even now NthlN 10
any unforeseen emergency that may aris
and that the entire fleet Is prepared q
sail FOR any destination at an hours notice
The importance Of this message Is over
NhelminE. The eyes Of the entire list O
naval officials, practically every citizen o
the United States and even the entire worl
We're eKpeutan.ly awaiting the reports a
the termii.uE OF the long voyage as to tn
hnnr ~.
mat word has been received that the entir
fleet Is IN even better condition than a
the time It started on It's long cruise. tn
mammoth naval undertaking is crowne
with boundless success.
The news 20 the effect that the fleet ha
arrived az Magdalena early in the evenin
WaE received az the wireless station a
l2s4 The messaee further stated tina
target practice viii be started by the flee
3ust as soon as the targets are set up an
Blhce6 in their respective positions. II
Astpected that this viii be done about SAT
irday or sunday and that the battieship
win begin practice the first Of next weeE
when they VIII so after world records /
target work.
Vessels New Under Cover.
The last word received from the fleet .
the wireless station here was 20 the effeC
thar The ships were Oft Magdaiena. prob
ably a distance Of fifty miles OF NOR,
ana would steam, into the bay soon afte
daylight These sailing orders should q
noon have put the fleet into Mnn-o-Ada
oover behind The rocky peninsula lsadin
down from the north and serving as on
" the unusual means Of protecting mi
favored harbor. This peninsula also cor
tains the little adobe settlement Of Mae
dalena and the improsised customs hons
which has been opened by direction OF m
Mexican government 10 enable ira dsrs fraI
the north 10 carry an business with m
officers and men uf the neet. who for
period of month or more are 10 be pras
Ideally en- ag IRON trc ,rst of the W5rl,
Ca.nnhu gnw-ap ---.~rss fNnann.