The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-02-18
J.. s. FLEET now
HALF WAY HOME
TRIUMPHANT RETURN EAGERLY
AWAITED AT HAMPTON ROADS.
Has SAILED 5000 NILS
Warships win Steam into Historic
Waters on Washinstonss Birth
day After Opening Eyes Of
Whole World,


Steaming proudly toward the historic
months ago. the 16 battleships. of the
United States Atlantic feet are now
half way across the Atlantic, and ON
February 20 will complete its world
voyage, adding another epoch to the
record of HAMPTON roads.
/ On the natal day of the Father Of
the Republic the feet will complete its
demonstration OF the efficiency OF the
American sailor, the marine power of
the nation, and the desirability of
world peace. Tho scene of the spec
tacle will be the idenlical roadstead
over which the hardy little British
vessels plowed that brought the first
Englishman to jamestown and Amer
lea, and over which the guns of Tho
first ironclads Numbered ir ne battle
that revolutionized naval warfare.
/ Vessels Travel 45,600 Miles.
During these months of record
steaming the heavily afmored fighting
vessels have travelled approximatel"
$4,000 miles, and are returning in ecu
dition still fit for "a frolic or a fight"
The cruise has been yeritable seSpe-
dition of the seven seas, and tasks
heretofore deemed impossible for the
modern ironclad have been accom-
plished with an ease bordering on tho
commonplace.
| That the experience gained on the
cruise will be of intending benefit to
the navy iS indicated from the fact
that probably one,half of the entire
personnel Of the naval establishment
participated in th3 epoch-making trip.
| Three Of the 16 captains who sailed
In command Of vessels are returning
home as rear admirals. Eight other
captains are returning in command Of
the same ship on which they began
the journey of the world. .,N.+
From rear admiral down to mid
shipman the training has been such az
no other naval cruise ever afforded.
Among the enlisted men the training
has been even more valuable. Lands
men shipped just before the start and,
utterly green in the ways of the deep,
are coming home an integral part of a
wonderful fleet efficiency and loyal be-
levers in all that the American navy
stands for. g.,..
i Admiral Evans Retirement.
To Rear Admiral Charles s. Sperry,
a strict disciplinarian, man of few
words, but a recognized scholar and
constant student of the higher arts OF
naval science, fell the task of direct
ing the feet on all blu: the first $4,000
miles of its journey. Rear Admiral
Robley d. Evans, now retired, took
the feet out of Hampton roads on De-
cember Is, 1907, and. although illness
soon after the start confined him to
his cabin for a greater part of The
way, he retained command until San
Francisco was reached and the first
stage of the long trip had been ac-
complished.
Death has twice invaded the ranks
of the captains who sailed with the
feet, but in both instances the officers
had been previously relieved from
duty. Capt. Henry McCraa CT thu
Georgia, most popular officer, died
soon after his return to the east fol
I
San Francisco. Capt. GreenIief A. M.r.
riam, who took the Missouri to the
Pacific coast, a capable man. also died
within comparatively short time
after turning his vessel over to a suS
cessor.
Record Target Practice.
Drills and record target practice
filled the time spent by the fleet at
Magdalena. 1t was a month of real
work-a month of work enjoyed by all.
Record target practice is eagerly an
ticipated every year. 1t is a time that
every sailor, no matter how new he
may be in the service, gets a chance
at the guns provided he has shown any
sort of aptitude in the ping pong"
trials. which are continuous aboard the
men-of-war in port and out. 1t is at
record practice that the men attain
the rank OF gun pointer and get
white star and crossed circle on their
blouse sleeve II they make a certain
mark, To be gun pointer means ex-
ira pay each month, according to the
class attained and there is prize
money for all, II the ships guns as
whole make deserving record. The
record practice OF last spring deyel-
oped an accuracy and rapidly of fire
never before attained
After Magdalena came the excursion
of the feet to the California resorts
and there was apparently. a never
ending program OF merry.making.
The story of the fleets visit to Hon
olulu. TO Auckland. Sidney, Melbourne
and Albany in Australia; to Yokoha-
ma. to Annoy. to Manila and to the
ports Of call on the way home through
the Suez are too recent to need recall.
The welcome extended in Australia
and Japan left nothing to be asked
either in lavishness Of entertainment
or in sincerity Of purpose
The battleships. had their schedule
brought them sooner to the eastern
end OF the suez. might have played a
notable part In succoring the stricken
people OF Messina. As 1t was the sery-
ices OF the ships were offered, but the
relief plans had already developed SO
~ not 70 require them.