The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-04
RUSH To MESSINA
American Supply Ships Hurry
ing Through Suez Canal
With Large Stores of Provisions
for Quake Sufferers.
WILL COST S15O,OOO
In Tolls to Take the Big Fleet
81 Miles.
Largest Body of Fighters That
Ever Went Through.

Washington, Jan. An reply to a
| message from the navy department,
Rear Admiral Sperry in command Of
the battleship fleet at Suez said that he
had supplies available for distribution
to the Italian earthquake sufferers as
follows: Beverages. $4,000 gallons;
bread, 100000 pounds; cereals, $4,000
pounds; fruits, 10000 pounds; fresh
meat, 10000 pounds; other meats, 1O,-
600 pounds, vegetables. canned, $780,
900 pounds; milk, 5000 pounds, and
other numerous 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
taking with them supplies of cotton
blankets, etc. These supply ships are
due to arrive at Messina January 8
and g.
The arrival of the American fleet at
the entrance of the Suez canal was an
the navy department. Admiral Sper-
~ also stated that the Culgoa and the
Yankton would go through the canal
today. Other vessels of the fleet Will
probable that two days will be reQuir-
ed to take all of the battIeships
through the canal, and two more days
will be necessary to complete coaling
facilitate these operations have been
made but the conditions are such that
it will be difficult if not impossible to
make more rapid progress. The IA
cilities for coaling are limited. No
change in the itinerary has been or
dered and unless it is decided to make
such change in accordance with the
offer of their services to Italy before
the fleet leaves Suez, the battIeships
will proceed according to the plan
agreed on. According to this plan,
eight of the battleships will proceed
to Italian ports, and four others will
Messina enroute to other places.
Fears of Changes in Channel
1t has been suggested that in view
of the extensive changes made in the
straits of Messina it might be danger
Gus for the battleships to follow that
course. The fact that British, French
and other men-of-war have been in
that vicinity since the earthquake is
looked upon as giving ample assurance
that when the American fleet arrives
there full information will be avail
able so that Admiral Sperry will. be
depended upon to use his discretion in
the particular course he pursues.
The passage of the canal is regarded
as safe even for 16 600 ton ships such as
the Connecticut class, which viii be the
heaviest fighting ships that ever have
gone through. None of the British
type have made this vol
age. ne CdIdl. WHICH OTlSludlIy pro-
vided for vessels of draughts of "a feet
inches, has been deepened to Some>
what more than % feet. Vessels of the
Connecticut class require 26 feet 9 inch
es When the present plans are execu-
ted the canal will have 81 feet depth
over a floor of 20 feet. The width is
ample. The Dewey dry dock, 135 feet
wide got through with only two feet
in breadth to. spare at one spot The
Dewey was the widest craft ever taken
the canal and the Connecticut
class will be a precedent so far as
draught is concerned. The canal is 81
miles long, sc miles being through dry
land and q through the Menzaleb-
ballah Timsah and the Bitter lakes
There are some doubtful places where
the wash in sandy cuttings tends to fill
in the channel but for the most part
the soils are tenacious and the channel
New Test of Capacity.
The American fleet is the most power-
full ever to pass through the Suez canal
and will give a new test of the capacity
Of the great artificial waterway. Great
Britain often has sent strong squadrons
to the east along this road, but none
has been more than one-haf as large
as the American fiet.
The presence of this great force in the
Mediterranean has been the object of
curious theoretical study by European
admiralties. A member of the staff of
the intelligence Office of the British ad-
called attention some weeks ago
when war in the Balkans was discussed
. -0no1uV 9 EuDcr. CD rrrrU< TNT I