Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-04
ATLANTIC FLEET
ARRIVES SAFELY
AT SUEZ CANAL
SUPPLY SHIPS GIVEN RIGHT
OF WAY TO ITALY
GREAT WATERWAY TO BE TESTED
FOR FIRST TIME
Trip from Colombo Made Two Days
Ahead of Time-Entire Ar
nada May Visit
MeSsina

| N UEZ, Jan. 3.-The Atlantic battle
IN ship fleet, completing two days
ahead of its schedule the next to
the longest run of its world-g -girdling
cruise, arrived here this morning from
Colombo. distance of 334O knots, from
which place the fleet sailed December >.
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 Illinois remained on the scene
and is a little behind the fleet.
| The stately array of battleships was
splendid and the bay was crowded with
craft, the occupants of which gave an
enthusiastic welcome to the ships.
Despite their long trip, the warships
looked as smart and trim as though
turned out for naval review.
| When the ships had anchored the
Egyptian and canal authorities went
| aboard the Connecticut and welcomed
Rear Admiral Sperry, who expressed
| himself as well satisfied with the cruise
from Colombo.
| He regretted that he was compelled
to curtail his stay in Egypt, but hoped
at some future time an opportunity
| WOulu US gwen ulIll " NlSIL CdnO.
| The admiral spoke of the Austra1-
asian visit of the fleet as the special
feature of the trip.
Regret Visit Is Short
| Universal regret is expressed that the
visit of the battleships will be so brief.
1t had been expected that a represen-
tative officer would visit Cairo and be
presented to the khedive on the ami
versary of his accession to the throne
on January 8.
A contingent of 500 officers and men
left by special train for Cairo this
| evening.
The converted cruiser Yankton en-
| tered the canal this afternoon and the
supply ship Culgoa will probably pass
in tonight.
| The former has a number of doctors
aboard and the latter large supply
of provisions and stores.
Both will go to Messina at full
! speed. All arrangements were made
| by wireless for the ships of the fleet
to pass through the canal as quickly
as possible and to coal at Port Said,
where 25, 900 tons are stored.
The authorities have made arrange
ments for the battleships to have the
right of way for a clear run through
the canal
The Connecticut, Vermont, Kansas
and Minnesota will enter the canal at
6 o'clock tomorrow morning and will
arrive at Port Said at 10 o'clock Mon
day night.
Next Leave Wednesday
The second group, consisting Of the
Louisiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri
and Virginia. will enter Tuesday, and
the third line, composed of the Wis
consin, Kearsarge, New Jersey, Rhode
Island and Nebraska, will start
Wednesday.
At Port Said the crews will coal the
battleships with all possible speed, so
as to be in position to go quickly to
Messina if it is finally determined to
send them there
The New Years day was passed by
the men Of the fleet in a continuous
| round of fun.
There were athletic contests, boxing
and foot-racing, eliminating in the
evening in a grand entertainment on
| board the flagship Connecticut, con-
sisting Of a sketch and costume con-
test, vaudeville and a minstrel per-
formance.
The members of the ships company
were the actors and the evening end
ed in a grand cakewalk, the stunning
costumes and millinery being made
aboard the ships.
The officers and men Of the ships
will shift from their white to their
blue uniforms this colder weather. All
are anticipating visits in the Medi-
terranean.
| The men are now arranging for fly
/ ing visits to Cairo and the Pyramids.
| The news of the Italian earthquake
was received with profound sorrow by
officers and men.
Sends Many Supplies
In reply to message from the navy
department, Rear Admiral Sperry said
that he had supplies available for dis
tribution to the Italian earthquake
sufferers as follows:
i Beverages, $4,000: bread, 500, 900
pounds; cereals, $4,000 pounds; fruits,
10000 pounds; fresh meat, 10000
pounds; other meat, 10000 pounds;
canned vegetables, 100000 pounds;
milk, $4,000 pounds, and other numer-
Gus items.
The Culgoa will distribute these pro-
visions. There are six surgeons and
a number of hospital men on board the
/ Culgoa and Yankton, and they are TAX
ing with them supplies of cots, blan-
| kets. etc. The supply ships are dlue
to arrive at Messina January and g.
| The American fleet is the most pow
erful ever to pass through the Suez
canal, and will give new test Of the
character Of the great artificial water
way.
Great Britain often has sent strong
/ squadrons to the east along this road,
but none has been more than one-half
as large as the American fleet
The presence Of this great force in
the Mediterranean has been the object
Of curious theoretical study by Euro
pean admiralties.
A member of the staff of the intelli-
gence office of the British admiralty
called attention some weeks ago, when
war in the Balkans was discussed, to
the fact that the United States would
have a force in the eastern Mediterra-
mean in January holding the balance
of power in the event of naval Europe
being divided-a force capable of die
tating a settlement.
Is Like Phenomenon
! Although this may appear fanciful
suggestion, the presence of the strong
fleet is like phenomenon in European
waters and is taken into account by
experts as having future possibilities.
The passage of the canal is regard
ed as safe even for $4,000 ton vessels,
such as the Connecticut class, which
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