The Washington herald., 1909-02-23
FLEET MET STORMS
Trip Across the Atlantic Was
Rough Nearly All Way.
COAL SUPPLY WAS DEFICIENT
Gales and Fine weather AIternated
Most Of the TIme-NumerOuS Wire
less Greetings Were Received from
Other Shfps-Nexy Nasts Excite
Interest as Showing Progress.

Fort Monroe. Va. Feb. 22-The trip
across the Atlantis was rough nearly ali
the way The coal supply was not bounti-
fuI for reasons, no doubt, in accord
with some departmental policy. and il
required careful management 70 con
serve it.
On the second and third days out rough
water was encountered. and then followed
one fine day. and then came a strong
northwesterly gale. almost in nid-AtIan-
tic, which lasted nearly three DAYS. Two
days later there was another gale OF one
day. Two more smooth DAYS followed.
and then as the feet approached the
coast there came a westerly blow that
raised a heavier sea than any the feet
had experienced. with the exception OF
the big typboOn il met Of the north
coast Of Luzon on the way from Manila
TO Yokohama last October
The seas were head-on and the ships
played rocking horse with them beauti-
fully. There was not much discomfort
on them, except those which have the
quarter decks cut down. On these ali
matches were battened down. interfering
with ventilation. Gun shutters on all
the ships are none too close fitting. and
consequently the decks we're in a sloppy
condition. which interfered with the COM
fort OF the crews.
Greetings by Wireless.
On the trip over, numerous wireless
messages Of greeting and good cheer
we're received from other ships. some Of
them hundreds Of miles away. The cap
tain OF the Deutschland asked the fleets
position on February p He said he
wanted to give his passengers a chance
TO see the feet When positions were
finally exchanged 1t was found that the
Deutschland was exactly 30 miles to the
north Of the feet, which was then nearly
south Of the Azores. As it was growing
dark and the Deutschland'S course vas
opposite to that Of the feet. the tourists
on board were deprived OF seeing a great
feet flying the American flag and plung-
ing homeward IN a severe storm
One liner did find the feet three days
afterward. She was the Grosser Kur-
fuerst bound 70 the Mediterranean. She
came within 1.0A0 yards Of the first SQUAD
H
the seas were running high. The blue
jackets crowded the rails and watched
the liner roll and plunge The seas were
so rough that few Of the passengers left
their. stateroons. The captain OF the
GrOsser kUrfUerst. however. sent q wire
less message thanking Admiral SpeTry on
behalf OF himself and passengers for the
superb spectacle they had witnessed.
Fully score Of wireless greetings was
received in all.
First Message from United States.
The first wireless message from the
United States was received when the
feet was 2.159 miles out. 1t came from
Fire Island. and was relayed 10 the Con
nectieut by the little Yankton which had
gone on ahead and was about 500 miles
IN front Of the fleet. and 80 miles 10 the
sOuthward- After that heeting messages
were caught from shore IN rnidocean.
When the escort squadron Joined thel
feet there was the greatest interest in
the new nlasts of the Ohio and the Mis-
sissippi. They look Ike big oil dsrrIeks
erected on the quarter deck.
Huh" said one old quartermaster
guess they must have tried TO strike OIL .
no. said another Old tar. 1t looks as
il they were building skeletons Of sky
scrapers on our afterdecks."
Nevertheless. ali hands officers and
men. were sure that it marked a distinct
advance in fighting capacity. and none
knew It better than those who have bee7
drilling day and night on the cruise IN
perfecting what is known as fire control