The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-01-04
OUR BATTLESHIP
FLEET PASSING
SUEz CANAL
Home Stretch Of Voyage Round
the World
ALL IN FINE CONDITION
In Spite Of Record Breaking Service
Ships Are Ready for Parade
or Action.

Suez, Jan. 1.-The United States
battleship fleet, completing two days
ahead of it's schedule the next to the
longest run of its world-girdling cruise
arrived here yesterday morning from
Colombo, distance of 3,440 knots.
The fleet sailed from Colombo Dec. 20.
The loss of seaman from the battle
ship Illinois, who fell overheard and
was drowned, as previously reported,
was the only accident to mar the voy-
age from Colombo
The stately array of battleships
was an impressive sight. The wealth
er was splendid and the bay was
crowded with launches and sailing
craft, the occupants of which gave an
enthusiastic welcome to the ships,
which, despite their long trip, looked
as smart and trim as though they had
turned out for naval review. All
the vessels were in first-rate fighting
condition
When the feet had come to anchor
the Egyptian and canal authorities
went aboard the flagship and well
0comed Rear Admiral Sperry, who Ell
pressed himself as well satisfied with
the results of the cruise from Colon,
BIO. He regretted that he was COM
PEELED to curtail his stay in Egypt,
but hoped that at some future time
an opportunity would be given him to
visit Carlo. The Admiral spoke of
the Australasian visit Of the feet as
the special feature of the trip.
Universal regret Suppressed by the
people here that the visit of the bat
tleships will be SO brief. II had been
expected that Representative officer
would visit Cairo and be presented to
the Khedive on the anniversary of his
accession TO the throne Jan. 8. A
contingent of 500 officers and men
left Especial train for Cairo at 2
o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The news of the disaster in South
ern Italy and Sicily was received with
profound sorrow by the officers and
men Of the feet. In reply to mes
sage sent to him by the Navy Depart
ment, Rear Admiral Sperry said that
he had supplies available for distribu-
ton to the italian earthquake suffer
ers as follows.
Beverages, $4,000; bread, 100000
pounds; cereals, $4,000 pounds; fruits,
10000 pounds; other meat 100000
| pounds; vegetables, canned, $4,000
pounds; milk, $4,000 pounds, and also
numerous other items.
The Culgoa will distribute these
! provisions, There are six surgeons
| and a number of hospital men on
board the Culgoa and Yankton. and
they are taking with them supplies of
cots, blankets, etc. The ships are due
to arrive at Messina Jan s or 8.
| The converted cruiser Yankton has
number of doctors aboard and the
latter large supply of provisions and
stores. The Yankton and the supply
ship Culgoa are going to Messina at
| full speed. All arrangements were
made by wireless for the ships to pass
through the canal as quickly as pos
sible and to coal at Port Said, where
$4,000 tons have been ordered for
them.
The canal authorities have made spe
cial arrangements for all the battle
ships to have clear run through the
canal, and they therefore will not stop
| at any of the numerous stations where
ships usually tie up to permit the pas
sage of vessels which ordinarily have
the right of way,
The battleships are moored in three
lines The Connecticut, the Vermont
the Kansas, and the Minnesota, en-
tered the canal at 6 o'clock this morn
ing and are due to arrive at Port Said
at 10 o'clock Monday night. The Sec
| -.... - led q
the Kentucky, the Ohio. the Missouri
and the Virginia, will enter tomorrow
and the third line, composed of the
Wisconsin, the Kearsarge, the New
Jersey, the Rhode Island the Georgia
and the Nebraska will start Wednes
day. At Port Said coal win be taken
on board the battleships by theii
crews.