The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-03-04
Fleet Welcomed Home.
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gether likely that more careful at
tention WAS given to putting each
| vessel into the best possible condition
than might have been done prior to
the regular Southern winter cruise to
Cuban waters. but at that the report
of Admiral Evans, based on reports
of the admirals and captains of his
feet, was most surprising when he
said that every ship arrived at Mag
dalena Bay, Mexico, after the first
Ii, 900 miles even in better fighting
condition than when it left the At
lantic coast.
This was borne out to the satisfac-
ton of all by the marvellous work of
the big guns in the spring target
practice when the best previous rec
ords of The American and all other
navies were safely eclipsed. Although
all of the battleships are locked
twice each year the regular docking
on the Pacific coast after that cruise
showed smaller average of neces-
sary work in minor repairs than
usual
FINE GUNNERY.
The second stage of the cruise
from San Francisco to Australia, ia
pan, China and Manila-was several
thousand miles longer than the first,
so it was still more surprising that
on the target practice at Manila last
fall the big guns OF the feet should
increase their former record by fully
fifty per cent. The semi-annaa1 dock
ing nearly always takes place follow
ing the spring and fall target prac-
tice. Frequently, in the North Allan
tic and in Cuban waters minor acct
dents have occurred during the work
of the heavy guns. 1t is not unusual
for decks to be weakened, for a gun
to be cracked, for turret to be-
come loOsened to some extent, and
flare-backs and fatal explosions even
occasionally result. But at Magda-
lena Bay and Manila Bay there was
no untoward accident of any nature.
DISCIPLINE WAS EXCELLENT.
A remarkable feature of the cruise
was the excellent discipline. Although
there were IL few assertions, the num-
Der was far less in proportion than
it usually is in home ports. The ex-
tent of drinking on the part of men
and officers at receptions and while
on liberty in strange and peculiarly
interesting places was far less than
was expected. 1t cannot be denied
that the strain of the long cruise, in
fair weather and bad, and with tedi-
Gus vigils before the bridge was a
severe test. Many of the men and
several of the officers succumbed to
temptation, and paid the penalty.
But the number of courts martial on
the whole has been scarcely more
than might have been expected had
the world voyage not been under
taken.
= = y
The technical branches of the navy
profited by the cruise as we'll as the
navigating branches. Naval con-
structors who accompanied the feet
to San Francisco came off with many
ideas rs to future construction, some
of which are being incorporated in
the North Dakota and Delaware, and
still more in the Utah and Florida.
These relate to improvement in the
width and location Of the water-line
armor belt, the placing of turrets on
the newer ships, the cooling of the
magazines, wireless telephone COM
munications. fire control and many
other important features. Such
changes along these lines as could
not be made during the cruise, will
Immediately follow the fleets return
The mail reports from Admiral
Sperry, prepared while at Gibraltar,
show that remarkably little repairing
is necessary. The vessels will all be
locked and scraped. and while some
may require considerable overhaul
ing, Others will need hardley any at.
tentiOn at ALL