Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-04
FLEET IS
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
Arrives Sunday Morning at Suez After
Good Run From Colombo Ships
Due at MeSSina Jan. 5 and 9.

SueZ, Jan. 3.-1he United States Al
lantic battleship fleet finished two day
ahead of its scheduled time, the ne>
to the longest run of its world-gr(
ling cruise, by arriving here this mon
| ing from Colombo. The distance is 81
| knots.
The fleet sailed from Colombo De-
90 The loss of a seaman from the ba,
tleship Illinois, who fell overheard an
was drowned, as previously reported
was the only accident TO mar the Voy
age from Colombo. The array of bat
tlesnips was an impressive sight. I'll
weather was splendid and the bay wa
crowded with launches and sailin
craft, the occupants of which cnthu
siastically welcomed the ships Wbicl
despite their long trip, looked a
smart and trim as though they ha
turned out for a naval review. All tn
vessels We're i'll first-rate figltin
condition.
| When the fleet had come to ancho
the Egyptian and canal authorize
went aboard the flagship and wei
coined Rear Admiral Sperry, who eX
pressed himself as well satisfied wit
the results of the cruise from Colombo
! He regretted that he was compelled
curtaiF his stay in Egypt but hope
that at some future time an oppol
tunity would be given him TO Wis;
Cairo The admiral spoke of the Aus
tralian visit of the fleet as the specia
feature of the trip.
Universal regret is expressed by til,
people here that the visit of the bat
tleships will be SO brief 1t had beer
expected that & representative Officer
would visit Cairo and be presented tt
the Khedivc on the anniversary of his
accession to the throne, Jan. S. A con
tingent Of 500 officers and men left b!
special train for Cairo at o'clock thi.
afternoon.
The concerted cruiser Yankton en-
tered tie canal at . o'clock this after
noon and the supply ship Culgoa prol
ably will pass in tonight. The form,
has a number Of doctors aboard al
tile latter large supply of provision
and stores. Both are going to Messir
at full speed. All arrangements wei
made by wireless for the ships
pass through the canal as quickly
possible and to coal at Port Sal
where $4,000 tons have been ordered i.
them
The canal authorities have ma.
special arrangements for all the ba
tleships to have a clear run throus
the canal and they therefore will
stop at any of the numerous plac
where ships usually tie up to allo
the passage Of vessels which 0
Ginarily have the right or way. II
battleships are moored in three line
The Connecticut. the Vermont. Ia
sas and Minnesota will enter the can
at o'clock tomorrow morning al
are due at Port Said at 10 o'clock Mo
day night. The second group, consis
ing of the Louisiana, Kentucky, Oh
Missouri and Virginia will enter Tue
day and the third line, composed of Il
Wisconsin,, the KearSarge, New Je
sey, Rhode Island, Georgia and n
hraska will start Wednesday. At p,
Said coal will be taken on board Il
ships by their own crews. New YcaI
day was passed by the men of the tic
i'll a continuous round of fun. Thel
were athletic contests, boxing and 70,
racing, eliminating in the evening
a grand entertainment on board til
flagship Connecticut. consisting of
sketch and costume contest, yaudevill
and minstrel performance. The mem
berS of the ships company were tn
actors, and the evening ended In
cake walk. the stunning costumes an,
millinery for which were made ABOARD
ship.
With cooler weather the officers O.
the fleet will shift from their white tt
blue uniforms. All of them are an
ticipating interesting visits in the Med
iterranean and many are Arranging
flying visits to Cairo and the pyramids
The news of the disaster In southern
Italy and Sicily was received In pro
found sorrow by the officers and mel
f the feet. In a reply to a message
mt to him by the navy department
ear Admiral Sperry said that he hat
upplies available for distribution t.
he Italian earthquake sufferers a
nlloWs:
Beverages $4,000; bread $4,000
iOunds; cereals $4,000 pounds; fruit
t,OO0 pounds; fresh meat 5000
/ pounds; other meats 100000 pounds
vegetables canned, $4,000 pounds; mil
$4,000 pounds and also numerous othe
items
The Culgoa will distribute these pro
visions. There are six surgeons an
a number of hospital men on board TIL
Culgoa and Yankton and they are tax
ing with them supplies of cots. ban
kets, etc. The ships are due at Mes
sina Jan. s and 9.
The American fleet is the most pow
erful to pass through the Suez cana
and will be new test of the capacit
of the great artificial water route
Great Britain often has sent stron
squadrons to the East along this rca
but none has been more than one-ha
as large as the American circumnavi
gators Of the globe.
The presence of this great force i
the Mediterranean has been the objee
of the curious theoretical studies b