Evening star., 1909-02-17
Invitation From Elks.
Navy Department Gets News.

Three of the battleships of the Atlantic
fleet each lost a lifeboat during severe
gale which struck them Sunday, accord
ing to wireless information received by
the Navy Department. The ships which
lost the boats were the Virginia, Illi-
nois and Kentucky. Admiral Sperry
made no report of any other injuries to
the vessels of the fleet. The speed. which
has been kept uniform at ten knots, was
retarded somewhat by the gale, the ves-
sells having made slightly less than eight
knots during the storm. In order to
reach the appointed rendezvous on time
Admiral Sperry ordered the fleet to in
crease it's speed to eleven knots.
No official advices have been received
from Admiral Sperry .thfs morning. but
his dispatch to the department last night
indicated that the fleet was in latitude "a
26 and longitude $40. which puts them
within 120 miles of the rendezvous and
officials at the department believe that
Admiral Arnold's squadron met the six
teen battleships of the fleet shortly after
daybreak today. The fleet will proceed
slowly until it has been joined by the
five cruisers of Admiral Arnold's COM
mand which have been separated from
the third squadron and are hurrying to
rejoin the command.
Plans for the Review.
When the fleet enters Hampton roads
next Monday and is reviewed by President
Roosevelt 1t will form a procession more
than ten miles In length, and the review
by the President will occupy two and a
half hours. The President after receiving
Rear Admiral Sperry, the rear admirals
commanding the divisions of the fleet and
the captain of each of the battleships
on board the Mayfiower at o'clock D. m
and addressing them will go aboard each
of the divisional fiagships of the fleet and
address representation of the officers
and crews of the. four ships forming
each division, who will assemble on their
hagships. In this way he will reach all
the men Of the fleet indirectly. For him
to visit each vessel would occupy too
much time. and Rear Admiral Sperry de-
vised the plan adopted
There will be twenty-six vessels. in
Guiding the auxiliary Yankton. The diff
ferent divisions of the fleet will steam
500 yards apart, and each Of the vessels
will be spaced 400 yards apart.
To Begin at II O'Clock.
The flagship Connecticut will reach the
Tail of the Horseshoe, where the Presi-
dents yacht Mayflower will occupy the
same position she did when the feet de-
parted, at exactly II o'clock am. The
long single column will pass the May
flower and take up position in the roads.
1t will take two and a half hours for the
entire fleet to pass. At 30 o'clock pm.
the vessels will drop anchor either in
two or three column formation. The
barges of the admirals of the fleet will
visit each ship of their respective divi-
sions and pick up the captains of the
fleet. They will then steam alongside the
Mayfiower. reaching there al . o'clock
pm.
Accompa MED by the commander-in-chief
the President will leave the Mayfiower
at go O'Clock pm and proceed to the
Connecticut spending twenty-five minutes
there and then go to the Louisiana. the
flagship of the second division, arriving
at 3O5 pm. He will visit the Georgia,
flagship of the third division at 3:35 p. m.
and the Wisconsin of the fourth division
at 1908 pm. The President will reach the
MayfoWer on return at 4:4O pm, and
that vessel will then steam for Washing
ton.
Admiral Dewey Cannot Go.
Admiral Dewey called to see Secretary
New berry at the Navy Department today
to saw he wOuld be unable TO accent the