The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-08-27

jackfes were captivated by it and that
our correspondents accompanying the
fleet described this garden in the Pa
cifc as the modern islands of the
blest'
Kept In Touch With Washington.
From Honolulu the sixteen battle
ships steamed over the $3.50 mile
course to Auckland, New Zealand, as
already described. Besides making the
longest battleship run without coaling
on record, there were two other notable
features belonging to this part Of the
journey. The first was daily keeping in
touch with Washington through wire
less. This was accomplished in nov
ell manner. At Suva, Fiji islands, is a
station Of the ocean cable to Vancou-
yer. BY leaving the supply ship Ola.
cier as wireless station at Suva and
staHoning other small vessels at inter-
walls between this point and the fleet it
was possible to send wireless messages
daily from ship to ship till they reach
ed Suva, whence they were dispatched
by cable to Vancouver and Washing
ton.
Another noteworthy accomplishment
Of the run was the decreased con-
sumption Of coal, already noted. This
was brought about through a system
Of competition established by Admiral
Sperry between the various vessels of
the fleet. Each day report was made
Of the amount Of coal burned, and If
any ship showed an unusual amount
an explanation was demanded. A RI
valry in economy thus sprang up,
which not only brought out the largest
development of power to the least con-
sumption Of fuel, but improved the
skill in navigation. It proved as ef-
fective drill for the engineers as had
the previous competitive tests in
craftsmanship proved for the gunners.
This cruise will be of invaluable serv-
ice to the officers and men in giving
them experience as navigators, besides
1mpressing all other nations with
wholesome respect for Uncle Sam as
sea power.
Warmly Greeted In New Zealand.
On the way to Auckland the fleet
passed Samoa, where Robert Louis
Stevenson lived and wrote. Here it
was greeted by Old Glory, for the
United States controls one of the is
lands Of the group and has fine har-
Dor at Pagopago. The reception of
our battleships in New Zealand was
enthusiastic in the extreme. After
Auckland the feet is moving on to the
Philippines, Japan, China, thence
through the Indian ocean, Suez canal
and the Mediterranean back to it's
starting point at Hampton Roads. Ger
tain yellow newspapers recently had a
sensational story, lifted from a mod
ern novel, to the effect that when our
battleships reached japanese waters
they would be secretly and 7treacher-
ously attacked without declaration
Of war, as the Russian fleet was at
tackled at Port Arthur. The story went
on to recount how all our vessels in
the Pacific would thus be sunk before
we had any intelligence that trouble
was impending. Then hundreds of
thousands Of Japanese troops would
be transported to our shores overnight
and we would awake to find ourselves
not famous, but prisoners. It was
great blood and thunder story and
about as far from possible truth as
most of the yellow sensations, yet it
no doubt resulted in few increased
paper sales.
There Is no need of the American
people growing excited over such wild
prospects, at least as long as Charles
Stillman Sperry is in command. He is
not the sort of commander that allows
m enemy to steal on him unawares.
With all his quiet courtesy, he has the
snap Of command and the spirit Of the
fighter. When he heard Of his ap
pointment he remarked, II am the re.
sponsible head of military organiza.
ton, and I propose to be one.'' Thus
far he has made good, and all who
know him are certain that he viii
make good to the end