The Washington herald., 1909-02-14

through the straits, slzirtlng bleak, IN
peopled shores, daring the hurricanes of
the far Southern seas. and passing the
last stage OF the journey IN dense fog.
And this sl00.06o. GO worth OF steel fght-
ing machinery, with its resident popuIa-
ton of $500 souls, weathered the treach-
erous straits and arrived on the western
side unruffied and u1scathed. At Punfa
Arenas, the southernmCst town n the
world, they stopped again 70 coal. and
In the shadox OF giant glaciers the men
watched the sun set at 70 at night and
rise again four hours later.
A Chilean cruiser met the feet far down
the straits, and led Il to Valparaiso. where
In and out CT the big harbor the shsps
passed in review. while Chilean sailors N
white spelled out the word ''Welcome"
on the steep hillside near the city. Out
again on the Pacific, without touching
shore. they beat along the coast until they
made Callao in late February. There
were bull fights and other Latin-AneTican
diversions. and. with the Dunkers fun OF
coal, they headed eight days later for
Aagdaiena Bay, where the Pacific squad
ron was at target practice Then they
came to san Diego in April. when TIE men
saw home soil FOR the first tine IN their
long rush OF 1850 miles.
Into San Francisco Bay the feet sailed
in May. a feet bigger than the entire
navy Of any country in the world save
Great Britain. France. and Germany.
From the Pacific coast, and bit OF rest
there. they vent 10 Honolulu. passing
close inshore as they rounded Moloksf IN
order that the lepers In exile there might
see the great wonder. They then went to
New Zealand, ana 10 Australia, where az
Sydney 500 school children in a solid
mass represented the crossed flags of
Great Britain and the United States, and
where provincial authorities bestowed true
AnglO-Saxon hospitality In Manila Bay
the ships outrode a hurricane OF twelve
hours duration that played havoc with
the lighter shipping in the harbOr, and
later they returned 70 the scenes og
Deweys victory OF ten years ago 10
demonstrate n q world breaking record
at target practice the advancement OF the
ship, the gunner. and the gun ia that
decade.
They went TO japan. where much cere-
mony and many garden parties proved ths
aH1ity Of the people; then TO the China
Seas. and on TO the route that Columbus
thought he was following 20 the beckon-
ing East Indies four centuries ago, when
he touched San Salvador, on the opposite
side OF the globe Through the Indian
Ocean, Up the Red Sea, palpitant with the
history OF countless centuries, through ths
canal that has knit the Seven Seas into
one, and into the Mediterranean they
passed They brought the paneplied great
ness OF the twentieth century % cut into
crisp foam the waters where once sailed
the Argo Of Jason. the EaIleys on the Bay
20 the seige OF Troy, the barge Cleopatra,
the bireme and the Trirems OF ancient
Greece. the ships OF St Louis. OF Nz-
poleon. Of Nelson, and OF Decatur. and OF
the hundreds or other heroes who made
the history and song OF that sea through
thirty centuries.
They bombarded: Gibraltar with friend
ly greetings that hung the sea with a
pail Of smoke for hours. and doubtless
awoke false hopes IN the shades Of Moors
long dead. The ever-yaTning bunkers
received more coal there, Rnd the fess
began. on February I. its homsEsrd
cruise The cost has not been much more.
than would have been spent had the feet
remained in home waters-someth!ng Ike
s25. go a day-but each nan has learned
more IN each Cay OF that practical trip
than he would have learned IN q year os.
theoretical instruction. Il was al on e.
gigantic scale, things vera measured as
for big city Take the food, for ex-
ample The feet. exclusive OF the AK
iliaries. consumed a daily average OF
over 1,70e pounds OF fresh beef, and other
fresh meats in proportion. II used over
S.oG pounds OF sugar q day, 1870 pounds
o. -four, and canned meats that ranged
from s. pounds OF Goldfish 10 1.5oo pounds
OF beef AL other things of q widely
varied menu were IN proportion. and The
SHIPS VIII have been out z5z DAYS. al
told
This was no pleasure cruise Al the
while the ships were sailing the usn
were drilled. and drilled. Guns were
manned and marines defsassd the shin
against imaginary invaders. From TIE
crews the officers daily hammered into
shape q fighting force that win be able
70 cope with any IN the world.
The President VIII review this feet WITH
pride on its homecoming. The nation
viii smile with psrdonabIe arrogancs
over its great achievement. The world
VIII look with renewed interest on ths
plans for the new sea-going fighters that,
are being made. And the song srRuls
Britannia viii now be sung with less
assurance on the high seas. while the
lit OF Columbia. the Gem OF the Ocean.
VIII be fresher and clearer in the worlds
ears
tcOrynsht. 80. by FSsazsc :. Easkt.l
To-nOrFoT-The Motor Boat Show.