The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-02-22
visit Of the neet to Ianan.

visit OF the feet TO Japan.
As.ie from this. all nations had
opportunity properly to estimate the
military Importance of the United
States on the seas, with the result
that the general international respect
for this country went up on the
worlds market several points. Also.
1t Is Of no small moment that the new
Turkish government was inspired
with a greater and deeper regard for
the American navy. and that as re-
suit the sultan sent a number OF on
GERS. including a direct heir 10 the
throne, on the fleet 10 the United
States. 10 study the battleshlps,
American seamanshlp and the naval
Organization on shore. And not with
out como Importance was the visit OF
a sub-command OF the feet 10 Mo-
rocco 10 salute the flag OF the new
ruler OF that country ana formally TO
recognize his government in behalf
OF the United States.
After having cruised 40, 900 miles,
with little or no repairs to the ships
during all this time. Admiral Sperry
was proud 10 report to the navy de-
partment from Gibraltar that the en-
tire command could go, intact, half
that distance again without a single
vessel necessarily being sent to dock.
unless. OF course. the unforeseen
should happen. Even naval experts.
who have carefully studied all OF the
reports of Admiral Evans, who took
the feet around the Horn 10 San
Francisco. and OF Admiral Sperry,
who brought Il home. are at loss as
10 how to measure accurately the rear
value OF the great cruise from a naval
or military point OF view.
IL was an ideal fleet as Il started
out from Hampton Roads. II is alto
gethef likely that more careful atten-
ton vas given to putting each vessel
into the best possible condition than
might have been done prior to the
Irregular southern water winter cruise
to Cuban waters. but at that the re-
port OF Admiral Evans. based on re-
ports OF the admirals and captains OF
his feet, was most surprising wheL
he said that every ship arrived at
Magdalena Bay. Mexico, after the
FIRST 3. 900 miles even In better fight-
ing condition than when il left tho
Atlantic coast.
This was borne out TO the satisfac-
tion OF all by the marvellous work of
| the big guns In the spring target
practice when the best previous rec
ords Of the American aud all other
navies we're safely ecllpsed. Although
all of the battlcships are locked twice
each year. the regular docking on The
Pacific coast after that cruise showed
a smaller average OF necessary worn
In the minor repairs than usual.
The Second Stage.
The second stage OF the cruise
from San Francisco 10 Australia,
Japan. China and Manila--was sew
eral thousand miles longer than the
first, so II was still more surprising
that on the target practice at Manila
last fall the big guns of the fleet
should increase their former record
by fully so per cent. The semi
annual docking nearly always takes
place following the spring and fall
target practice. Frequently, In the
North Atlantic and in Cuban waters
minor accidents have occurred dur
ing the work OF the heavy guns. II
Is not unusual for decks to be weak
.ened. for a gun to be cracked, for q
turret to become loosened TO some
extent, and hare-backs and fatal ex-
plosions even occasionally result In
April, 1906, several men were killed
by the ignition OF powder on the
Kearsarge at Guantanamo; in Judy
1907, several others persisted because
OF a bareback on the Georgia In
Cape Cod Bay. But at Magdalena
Bay and Manila Bay there was no
untoward accident of any nature.
At Rio de Jaueiro and Callao the
, feet found yellow fever and other
dreaded epldemics; at Manila there
was cholera; at Annoy there was
cholera; at Singapore and Colombo
there were cholera. smallpox and yell
low foyer; at Messlna pestilence fol-
lowed In the wake OF the earthquake
and fire. Yet no epidemic struck the
fleet, Although there we're number
of deaths. the casualty list, navy OFF,
cials state, was scarcely In increase
over what normally II is in home
waters for a like number OF men. A