The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-02-06
BATTLESH|PS IN
A RACE HOME TO
HAMP TON ROADS
Fleet Sails From Gibraltar on
Last Leg Of Cruise Around
the World.

GIBRALTAR, Feb. 6-With the bands
on board playing "Home Sweet Home"
the fleet of sixteen battleships under
Rear-Admral Sperry LEFT Gibraltar at II
y. NJ. to-day for Hampton Roads on the
last lap Of It's famous around-the-w world
cruise Of 5000 miles One hour later the
vessels were we'll clear OF the land and
steamlng westward In double column
formation at a speed OF ten knots an
hour. They Will follow the Southern
route TO Hampton Roads, distance OF
$500 miles. and about 900 miles of the
American coast they Will be met and
escorted home by the third squadron OF
the Atlantic fleet under Rear-Admiral
Arnold arriving on Feb. %.
The weather conditions at the time OF
departure were glorious The sky was
without cloud and there was Just
enough breeze 10 curl the crests OF the
sun-fooded waves. Nothing could have
surpassed the beauty of the marine
picture as the American armada
emerged from the shadow Of the tower
ing rock OF Gibraltar and moved out
into the straits.
British Fire Parting Salute.
The difficult operation OF getting the
sixteen huge hattleships out OF the mar
row war basin Of the port and under
way, was accomplished with a skill and
perfection Of manouevering and detail
which won the admiration OF all foreign
naval officers.
At SIS a stream Of mult-colored signal
flags on the flagship communicated the
order TO get under way 10 the Georgia.
the Nebraska, the New Jersey. the
Rhode Island and the Virginia, lying at
the rear Of the basin. As the flags came
iluttering down five minutes later the
designated battleships cast Off their
anchor lines and slowly swung their
noses In the direction OF the breaches
in the breakwater, the Georgia leading
the way with Lieut., Commander George
W. Kline on the bridge.
Once outside, Rear-Admral VAIN
wright's division fell into formation and
waited for the second and third groups.
The second group consisted OF the Yer
mont, proudly flying the battleshlp
efficiency trophy at her fore. the Mime
sofa, Kentucky, Ohio and Kearsarge,
and the third was composed OF the Wis
consin. Kansas. Louisiana, Missouri and
Illinois. The three groups waited out
side. and at 1890 the Connecticut
brought UP the rear.
Although It is not customary 10 fire
parting salutes, the Devonshirs. the
flagship OF Rear-Admiral Sir James
Goodrich. r. NJ. Admiral superintend.
ent at Gibraltar, which had taken I'D a
position at the entrance OF the harbor,
hoisted and saluted the American flag
as the Connecticut passed out. The band
on the quarter deck OF the Connecticut
played the English anthem. while the
musicians on the foreign warships
played the Star Spangled Banner" as
the respective ensigns were dipped.
Admiral Goodrich and Admiral Litvino1,
OF the Russian Navy, signalled Good
bye. pleasant voyage" Admiral Sperry
replied laconically: Thanks"
When the warships are fairly on their
way It will be a race across the ocean,
for the great sea fighters are to be put
to their best speed tests, and each will
strive to be first at the home goal,
where they are to be received by Presi.
dent Roosevelt.