Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-16

IL
champion 0: the world. refereed the
sailors boxing bouts and mingled
with them in all their sports.
From Trinidad the fleet called next
at Rio. where the days OF the visit
were overerowded with social events.
At Rio an unfounded rumor told OF
a plot by anarchists 10 blow up some
Of the American vessels. The first
tArill of fear which swept the nation
Swas quickly dispelled when the story
was shown to be "a pure fabrication.
\FrOm Rio the itinerary led . Punta
Arenas. that unique and interesting,
"farthest South" settlements on the
Straits of Magellan. Here again a
hosritable people mad" the stay OF
khe fleet an exceedingly pleasant one
The chilean government sent cruis-
er 10 accompany the sixteen battle
ships through the treacherous waters
the Straits and although The naviga,
tors of the Anne rican vessels hal al
ready plotted tLeir own course
through the narrow rOck-walled water
way. the courtesy Of the South Amer
lean nation was fully appreciated.
Wnen the ships had safely left the
Straits, the department officials at
Washington undoubtedly breathed a
sish OF gratified relief. although on
the sixteen big ironclads themselves
there was never question IN the
mind of any officer or enlisted man
as TO the safety Of the sturdy fight
ing craft. Sailing up the western
coast OF South America the fee
BASED in review Of the President OF
Chile in the harbor OF Valparaiso.
sweeping in great curve into tn"
harbor and out again before the al
miring eyes of deeply impressed
people. No stops were made between
Punta Arenas and Ca,laO where again
the entertainments offered the visi
tors taxed every days time to the
utmost, After Callao came Magda
tna Ray where for & month the ships
were out Of touch with the world eX-
cept by wireless telegraphy. Drills
and record target practice filled the
time at MaGdalena. 1t was a month
of real Work-a month of work en-
5oyed by all. Record target practice
is eagerly anticipated every year. II
is time that every sailcr no matter
how new he may be in the service,
gels a chance at the guns. provided
the "pingpo trials which are con-
tinuous aboard the men OF war in
port AMI out. 1t Is at record prac-
vice that the men attain the rank OF
gun POINTER and get white star
and crossed circle on their blouse
sleeve If they make certain mark.
To be gun pointer means extra
money each month. according to the
Slass attained. and there Is prize
money fer all if the ships guns as al
whole make a deserving record. The
Tecord practice Of last spring devel
oped an accuracy and rapidity of fire
never before attained.
After Magdalena came the excur-
lion Of the fleet TO the California re-
sorts and there was apparently never
ending program of merry making.
At San Diego Coronado Beach, at
she ports of Los Angeles at Santa
Barbara. at Monterey. Santa Cruz.
End San Francisco. the people of Cal
ifornia received the fleet with wild
acclaim. II was the first time that
such an array of fighting vessels
had been seen on the Pacific Coast
and California celebrated with hos
,itaiity for which the people OF the
State are noted. A trip TO Puget
Sound took the fleet 10 Seattle, Ia
coma and Bellingham. and these cit
les offered an entertainment which
ranked with the very best Of the en-
tire trip.
When the ships set sail Out of San
for the return trip there
were many predictions that they
would be left in the Pacific and that
events might, make such course
desirable. Invitations had been &C
kepted for visits to Australia. China
and Japan. and there was never al
deviation from the outlined plans
che fleet had done exS etly what the
authorities at Washington said i'll
,woulI. bu, in a manner which sur
prised and gratified them to the full
Sst extent.
. The story Of the fleets visit to-
Honolulu. 10 Auckland. Sydney. Mel
bourne and Albany in Australia; to-
Yokohama 20 Annoy. 10 Manila and
10 the ports OF call or the way home
through the Suez are too recent to-
heed recall The welcomes extend
ed in Australia and Ja1an lief; moth
ing 70 be asked either IN lavishness
Of entertainment or in sincerity Of
purpose.
The bai;lcshi:s. had their schedule
brought them sooner to the eastern
rnd Of the Sucz. might have played