The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-02-25
SPERRY REPORTS
i ON FLEETS TRIP
ADMIRAL SENDS DOCUMENTS TO
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
SHIPS RIDE BIG STORM
Weather Worse Than Any Encoun.
tered on voyage---Jackles Have
Many Msmentoes Of the
n. World Cruise.

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weather which greeted the battleship
meet at the Virginia capes Monday,
the worst the 16 ships have expert
enced In any port visited on their way
around the world, continued yesterday.
storm signals were hoisted on the
beach and during the afternoon stiff
southeaster set in. driving a singing
ram before it. The ships, safely at
anchor, paid little heed to the blow,
but the little white and gray steam
launches running between ship and
shore were buffeted by wind and
waves.
This part of the roadstead running
west from the Old Point pier seemed
fairly ehoked with fighting craft yes
terday The two long lines of the
combined squadrons of Admirals Sper.
ny and Arnold stretched away from
the dock almost as far as the eye
could reach, the gray ships of the stay
at-home feet fading away in the rain
and mist which oyerspread the harbor.
The ships were made snug and tight
for the storm and only small Ameri-
can ensign at the after flagstaff and
the commanding officers flags at the
peaks were to be seen in place of the
streamers which Monday clothed the
vessels OF the feet in gala attire. :
Coal In Spite of Weather.
Nearly one-half Of the ships began
coaling yesterday in spite of the
weather. All of the vessels came in
with bunkers nearly empty after the
long and stormy run from Gibraltar.
II is hoped that the last of the ships
will have coaled by Saturday in order
that the men may parade in Norfolk
on that day. A committee from Nor
folk visited the flagship Connecticut
yesterday to extend an invitation to
the men of the fleet to be the city's
guests on Saturday, but Admiral Sper-
ry, in company with about fifty other
officers, had gone to Richmond to at.
tend luncheon there and did not re-
turn until late in the afternoon. There
is little doubt that the Norfolk invita-.
tion will be accepted, however, and
that several thousand men will be
sent there to parade and to be enter
tanned by the people. This will be the
first shore leave the men will have.
They are being kept aboard ship now
in anticipation Of an Inspection of each
ship by Admiral Sperry and an inspec-
ton board composed of the officers of
the feet & 30 80 s7- Sd. ?
sperry Sends In Reports.
Admiral sperry before going to
Richmond sent a series of reports hay
ing to do with the cruise to the navy
department. These reports have been
sent In from time to time, and when
completed will form an official history
of the entire cruise around the world.
The reports, in addition to relating a
narrative of the trip, are filled with in
teresting statistics. Whether or not
the reports will be made public by the
department is not known here. They
will be of immense advantage to the
American naval authorities in showing
the necessities and capabilities of a
feet under all conditions.
The battleship Vermont Of the first
division of the returning feet was still
in quarantine yesterday. A case OF,
smallpox developed on board among
the crew. The sick man was taken
to the naval hospital at Norfolk and
most Of the officers and members of
the crew have been vaccinated anew.
The men have been restricted to the
ship. F.,
Given Hearty Farewell.
One of the most Interesting sights
was the departure of a large number
of enlisted men whose terms of service
had expired. They came ashore from
the various ships in rowboats, which
were towed by steam launches. AS
they left the side Of the vessel on
which they had served the departing
men were given lusty cheers by the
sailors. Still attired in their sailor
toys, the men reached the government
dock loaded down with all manner of
luggage. Many of them had their be-
longings and souvenirs of the long trip
slowed away in canvas bags, while
others were equipped with natty
leather suit cases. The latter were in
variably plastered all over with labels
from foreign hotels and transportation
companies.
The first class liberty men of the
feet made many side excursions from
Z the various ports visited, and they
we're also entertained at the best ho-
tells. Their uniforms were respected
by every nation. On these visits the
men accumulated many Of the travel.
ing labels. Negro boys and porters
lettering about the dock reaped a har.
vest from the home-going sailors, who,
disdaining to carry their own satchels
and bundles, handed them over to the
boys to be taken to the railroad station
or trolley cars.
A number Of the sailors who left
yesterday were long enlistment men
who undoubtedly will come back into
the service before three months have
elapsed. They have saved consider
able money on the trip and are anxious
to go home and tell of their expert
ences. II they re-enlist within 90
days they will be rated as having
never left the navy and will receive
Increased pay.