The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-04
SUPPLY SHIPS SENT
AHEAD AT FULL SPEED
TO HELP AT MESSINA
Great American Fleet Is Most Power
full Ever Sent Through the Suez
Canal and Two Days VIII
Be Taken Up In
the Trip.

Suez. January S-The United States bat
tleship fleet completing ten days ahead
of its schedule the next to the longest
run of its world -grdling cruise, arrived
here this morning from Colombo, dis
tance of 3440 knots, from which place the
fleet sailed on December 20. The loss of
a seaman from the battleship Illinois,
who fell overheard and was drowned, as
previously reported, was the only acci-
dent to mar the voyage from Colombo.
search for the sailor and is little behind
the fleet.
The stately array of battleships was
an impressive sight. The weather was
splendid and the bay was crowded with
craft, the occupants of which gave an
enthusiastic welcome to the ships. De
spite their long trip the warships looked
as smart and trim as though turned out
for a naval review.
When the ships had come to anchor the
Egyptian and canal authorities went
aboard the flagship Connecticut and well
coined Rear Admiral Sperry, who ex-
pressed himself as well satisfied with
the cruise from Colombo. He regretted
that he was compelled to curtail his stay
in Egypt but hoped that at some flu
ture time an opportunity would be given
him to visit Cairo. The admiral spoke
of the Australian visit of the fleet as the
special feature OF the trip.
or to Cairo.
| Universal regret is expressed here that
| the visit of the battleships will be brief.
| 1t had been expected that a representa-
| tive officer would visit Cairo and be pre-
| sented to the Khedive on the anniversary
of his accession to the throne on Jan
uary 8. contingent of 500 officers and
men left by special train for Cairo this
afternoon.
The converted cruiser Yankton entered
the canal this afternoon and the supply
ship Culgoa probably will pass in tonight
The former has number of doctors
aboard and the latter a large supply of
provisions and stores. Both will go to
Messina at full speed. All arrangements
were made by wireless for the ships of
the fleet to pass through the canal as
quickly as possible, and to coal at Port
Said, where 25,O0O tons are stored.
The Connecticut. Vermont, Kansas and
Minnesota will enter the canal at 6
o'clock tomorrow morning and will arrive
at Port Said at 10 o'clock Monday night
The second group, consisting of the Louis
lana, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri and Vir-
ginia will enter Tuesday and the third
line, composed of the Wisconsin, Kear-
sarge, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Geor-
gia and Nebraska, will start Wednesday.
At Port Said the crews will coal the
battleships with all possible speed so as
to be in position to go promptly to Mes
sina if it is finally determined to send
them there.
New Years Day.
New Years Day was passed by the men
of the fleet in a continuous round of fun.
There were athletic contests, boxing and
foot racing, eliminating in the evening
in grand entertainment board the
flagship Connecticut, consisting of a
sketch and costume contest, vaudeville
and minstrel performance. The mem
bers of the ships company were the ac-
tors and the evening ended in a grand
cakewalk, the costumes and millinery for
which were made aboard ship.
In reply to a message from the navy
department Rear Admiral Sperry said
that he had supplies available for dis
tribution to the Italian earthquake suf-
ferers as follows:
Beverages, $4,000 gallons; bread 500, 900
pounds, cereals, $4,000 pounds; fruits, 90,-
900 pounds; fresh meat $4,000 pounds 9TH
er meat. 100000 pounds; vegetables
canned, $4,000 pounds; milk, $4,000 pounds
and numerous other items
The Culgoa will distribute these pro-
visions There are six surgeons and a
number of hospital men on board the
Culgoa and Yanktown and they are TAX
ing with them supplies of cots, blankets,
etc. These supply ships are due to ar
rive at Messina January and 9.
Most Powerful Fleet.
The American fleet is the most powerful
ever to pass through the Suez canal and
will give a new test of the capacity of
the great artificial water route. Great
Britain often has sent strong squadrons
to the east along this route but none has
been more than half as large as the
American fleet.
A member of the staff of the inteli-
gence office of the British admiralty
called attention some weeks ago, when
war In the Balkans was under discus
sion, that the United States would have
a force in the eastern Mediterranean
in January holding the balance of power
in the event of naval Europe being di-
vided
The passage of the canal is regarded as
safe one even for 5000 ton vessels
such as the Connecticut class, which will
be the heaviest fighting ships that ever
have gone through. The canal which
originally provided for vessels Of draughts
OF "a feet inches, has been deepened
to somewhat more than 2S feet. Vessels
of the Connecticut class require 26 feet
8 inches. When the present plans are
executed the canal will have 81 feet depth