Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-11
Nebraska Smashes Into Geor-
gia, Damaging Two Guns,
Forward Bridge and Hull.
SIGNAL MEN INJURED
BY FALLING WRECkAGE
vessels Running Toward Each Other
az Half Speed Gene Near Having
hiead-on Cclilsion-Damaged Yes
sells Come lrto Hampton Roads
Win Atlantic Fleet.

One Of the most serious collisions
Of battieships in the history OF the
United StGtes navy occurred On the
Southern drill grounds. OF the Nir-
GINA Capes, late Thursday afternoon
when the battlJ ship Georgia. ilagsh
Ok Rear Admiral Comfy, commanding
the third division or the Atlantic
fleet was struck by her sistership, the
Nebi aska. VII lie the yef.,tl Is were en-
gagged in technical evclrtions with the
other ships Of the fleet.
TWO OF the finch rifles on the
Georgia we're smashed, the startoari
side OF the forward bridge was wreck
cd several plates were bent and
.prung and two signal men, who were
on the forward bridge we're Slightly
injured. The Nebraska escaped with
q Few sprung plates and loosened
rivcts. hut both vessels probably VIII
have 10 80 TO navy yards FIR repairs
before engaging in further Elanoeu-
yer; with the fleet.
Damaged Ships in Roadstesd.
News CT the collision was received
at Old Point al 1890 O'clock yester-
cay afternoon when the damaged YES
scls CAME into Hampton Roads with
the ether ships OF the fleet and
anchored in the roadstead.
Ncne of the officers of the shirs
could Re seen Yesterday anu -.-.>--
details Of the accident are meaSer.
Sailors coming ashore stated to IN
Daily PrCrs representative at on
Point that the vessels were running
toward each ether at about nan
speed. beth being on the firing line.
The NEBRASKA, il is said. swerved
suddenly from her course and fo-
few seconds he ad-on collision seem
Cd almost ineyitsble.
Georgia Changes Course.
However. the helmsman OF the
Georgia quickly changed the course OF
hi. ship ard thus averted mere
Ser'cj.s accident As 1t was the Ne
brasks struck the Georgia just ab1ft
CT the forward starboard s-inch gun
turret. smashing two of the finch
rides mounted in easements Oh the
gun deck and bending few OF tae
Shell plates. The mighty hghting
machine scraped each others bulls
"a veering CT and the after bridge
OF the Nebraska struck The fcITard
bridge Of the Georgia, almost sweer
irz tie s;artCard SIDE OF it away
The signal men were at their posts
or tie bridge and were injured os
falling wrecksge. They were taken
- the hospital OF the ship and Their
wounds dressed by the ships surgeon.
Commander Davis in Charge
Commander A. II. Davis was N
command Of the Georgia, Captain
Potts. the recent commander OF the
bat;ls.-hip. having been relieved and
h : successor not yet appointed. CON-
maudtr Davis is the executive oihcer
Of the Georgia. Captain John ?. New
10, vas in command OF the Nebraska
Rear Admiral Seaton Schrceder.
commanding the Atlantic feet. prSoa-
biv viii appo ut court OF inquiry al
o-,ce 10 pisce the blame for the col
lisicn and 10 rscc mmend whether or
no, a corrt marital will be deemed
meet scaTy.
ostcrhaus to Raise Flag
Caa!a;n Hugo OsteTheus. who mas
i,si fe-n promoted 20 the rank q i
rear admiral. VIII raise mis- Tag on me
ta,,icship Mime sofa this morning
10 VII succeed Rear Admirsi k.ch-
,-s wainwright in command Of the
s.c,rs division O. the aeft. Admiral
VA rvrirht goes 20 Washington %
bercne the aide 10 the secretary OF
no navy fCT the cpcTsticn OF the
Get
The Atlantic feet has been enea scd
sr evoirtiors On the DIN grounds
sfrcc las, Monday. but Il - under
go that Il WI remain Ia Hampton
Gca5s NATL thc latter part Ct aoH'
49, whsn II leaves for New YORK
where The ships are TO spend me
ci-i-.-,as holdavs. EaTiv IN January
-. oros viii return 70 the Roads %
ia Store rrovisicns and coal be
fcrc s.fam.nr for the West Indies 20
have the annual winicr TARGET Wac-
toc ard manc uver7.
saaors Given shore Liberty.
SON after the ships archoTcl ~
- Rcads yesterday. 2.os9 sailors
we're e,~en shore liberty and hundreds