Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-24

the increased pay which comes with
every re-enlistment.
A reception rendered IN the pictur-
esQue Fort Monroe club by the army
officers stationed here TO the officers
of the fleet and their wives, was one
of the social events of the day. The
club is in the easement under the
ramparts of the historic old fortress
and its long approaches built over the
moat were enclosed in canvass and
American flags.
Tonight there was a ball at the
Chamberlain. Entertainments for the
officers will continue almost unceas-
ingly while the ships are here. and
the Inequalities ashore will lie re-
turned aboard ship as soon as coaling
and inspection days are over.
The gunnery work of the navy Is
it's proadest boast. the officers and
men believing that their efficiency
at the target is superior to that OF
any other navy.
Admiral Sperry has no. had an OPP
portunity as yet to Legin his inspec'
ton of the fleet. He will go on ooard
every vessel and personally look in
to conditions in engine room. turrets
and wherever else the strain of the
long journeys and the rolling in heavy
seas would have been likely to cause
damage The information thus gained
at first hand will be embodied in q
detailed report which the commander
in chief of the fleet will make to the
navy department. This report will
cover the cruise for the time Admi-
raj Sperry succeeded Rear Admiral
Charles NJ. Thomas in command on
May Is last. at San Francisco.
Detached for Repairs.
AS the inspection of each ship is
completed the vessel will he detached
and sent to maynard for whatever
repairs may be needed. About the
most serious work to be done Is the
scraping and painting of bulls in dry
docks. The ships came in yesterday
with little or no coal left in their
bunkers. the last leg of the voyage
from Gibraltar to Hampton Roads.
through a series of storms. having
been one of the longest and most
difficult of the entire trip. In this
the red armor belts were
visible far above the line. and the
wash of the waves as the fleet steam
ed in. showed traces OF the foul sea
growth that has accumulated upon
the steel bottoms.
That the ships so long after dock
ing were able to keep up their pre-
scribed speed of ten knots except in
the face of the heaviest blows and
pitching seas, speaks volumes for the
condition Of the machinery at the
end Of the most trying voyage any
navy was ever sent upon.
President Roosevelt in his more or
,ess informal talks to the crews gath
cred on board the divisional flagships
late yesterday afternoon brought out
a storm Of enthusiastic applause when
in speaking of the self reliaoce OF
the fleet as one of the great accom-
of the cruises. and added:
When the authorities OF the ports
You visited asked you what repairs
YOU would like to make. You cOurte-
ousiy thanked the gentlemen and re-
piled that Won had attended to all
the repairs yourselves
Some To &c OverhsuIed.
A number of the ships however.
arc to have a thorough overhaulins
and are to no modernlzcd as TO tur-
ret mcchanicism and other details
tina: are needed to bring them w
to the standard Of present day fight
ing units
The Ohio is one Of the ships TO
receive particular attention. She vii!
be one Of tho first to leave the ranks
Of tie fleet and will pc sent 10 the
New York navy yard to receive the
improvements which were delayed
two wears ago because Of the pros
pec;ive sailing Of the fleet. An ef'
fort will bc made. however. to have
the Ohio ready with her modern
equipment in time to rcjoin the fleet
In the rendezvous set for Hampton
Roads on May II.
Vermont IN Quarantine.
The battIcsbip Vermont continued
in quarantine today on account Of
suspected cases Of smallpox sn board
and no liberty partie< were allowed
ashore. A number Of the officers
came ashore both last right and to
day. however. The navy 1oag-n of
thc United States had IFS annuai
meeting here this afternoon. A large
party Of officers. including Adn,irals
Spcrry and Schroeder. left for Rich
mond today 10 10 guests Of the city
at q banquet luncheon.