New-York tribune., 1909-02-07
FLEET SAILS FOR HOME
ADMIRAL SPERRY TELLS
RESULTS OF TRIP.
Great Gain in Effciency-The De
parture of the WarShips from
Gibraltar.

Gibraltar Feb. 6.-Rear Admiral Sperry prior
to the departure OF the battIeships for Hampton
Roads this morning. expressed the greatest sat
isfaction with the results of the around-the-
world cruise He then made the following state
ment:
This cruise marks epoch in naval an
nails for the fleet has found itseIf-been welded
into unity. An aggregation Of battleships ir-
respective OF the power and efficiency Of the in
dividual units Is not fleet in the highest sense
of the term until by long, faithful and harmoni-
GUS work on the part or the personnel the sPlllt
of the fleet has been developed. That now has
been accomplished. The American people have
come TO appreciate the Importance or sea power
| Of the most potent factors in the preser-
walton of a just peace, and they should appre-
ciate what II means TO have fleet Ike this
The lessons Of the cruise have been many
and it is eXaggeration TO say that the Cond1-
tion of the ships is better to-day than ii was
when they sailed from Hampton Roads in De
cember Of 1907. During these fourteen months
the fleet has been practically sustaining IN
the matter Of repairs The officers and men
responsible for repairs have met every test, and
the results prove that the ships have been bet
ter cared for than when they depend upon the
navy yards
Enlistments in the navy certainly will be
stimulated by the general interest in this cruise
and the splendid opportunities afforded the men
to see the world. Cruises to foreign ports, which
keep the men interested and contented, should
be the rule and not the exception.
New standards Of efficiency in steam engi-
neeTing, which means economy in coal Consump-
ton and increased radius of action. have been
established. The voyage Of 3.651 miles from
Honolulu to Auckland was the longest ever
undertaken by a large fleet without recoaling;
yet reached Auckland with coal enough in
miles
For technical work the cruise has been ideal.
The long stretches between poEts permitted un-
remitting daily exercise and manpuvring. The
degree Of gunnery efficiency has been greatly
improved, the conditions of drilling and train
ing during long distance cruising cannot be
equalled in home waters, where there is con-
stant interference. This is proved by the un-
equalled results Of the target practice at Mag
dalena Bay and Manila.
The fleet everywhere has encountered un-
bounded hospitality. The lavish entertainment
and perfect good feeling displayed were almost
without precedent, and they should always be
has been intensely interesting and valuable to
officers and men there is naturally widespread
elation throughout the feet at the prospect OF
reaching home IN fortnight.
With the bands on board playing Home
Sweet Home the feet Of sixteen batteships
left Gibraltar at II o'clock this morning for
Hampton Roads the last lap Of its round the
world cruise of 45 900 miles One hour later the
vessels were well clear Of the land and steam
ing westward in double column formation at d
speed Of ten knots. They will follow the south
ern route to Hampton Roads, distance Of $500
miles and about 1000 miles off the American
coast they will be met and escorted home by the
third squadron Of the Atlantic fleet. under Rear
Admiral Arnold.
SHIPS SKILFUILY HANDLED
The difficult operation Of getting the sixteen
huge battIeships out of the narrow basin
Of the port was accomplished with skill and
perfection of manpuvring and detail which
the admiration of all the foreign naval officers.
who watched the proceedings critically from
land and sea. Admiral Sperry directed the
movement from the after bridge of the Con
necticut At S:55 o'clock signal flags the
flagship communicated the order to get under
way to the Georgia, the Nebraska, the New Jer-
sew the Rhode Island and the Virginia. lying at
the rear Of the basin. and five minutes later the
Georgia led the way out. with Lieutenant Com
mander George W. Kline on the bridge
Rear Admiral Wainwright's division fell into
formation outside and waited for the second and
third groups consisting. respectively. Of the
Vermont flying the battleship efficiency trophy
at her fore: the Minnesota the Kentucky the
Ohio and the Kearsarge and the Wisconsin, the
Kansas. the Louisiana, the Missouri and the IlH-
nois The three groups waited outside, and at
10:3O the Connecticut brought up the rear.
Although it IS not customary TO fire parting
salutes the Devonshire. the flagship of Rear
Admiral Sir James Goodrich R n, admiral
superintendent at Gibraltar, which lay at the
entrance to the harbor hoisted and saluted the
American flag as the Connecticut passed out.
The band on the quarterback of the Connecticut
DIaved the English anthem, while the musicians
on the foreign warships played The Star
SpangIed Banner" as the respective ensigns
were dipped Admiral Goodrich and Admiral
Litvfnof. Of the Russian navy, signaIled,
"Cioodby; pleasant voyage" Admiral Sperry re
piled laconcaIly, Thanks"
FLAGSHIP LEADS THE COLUMN
The Connecticut steamed along the line Of
the waiting American vessels, took place at the
head of the column. and set the guide flag Five
Of clubs" The fifteen other vessels wheeled in
behind her. and moved to the south, The align
r7ant of the ships was perfect and the spectacle
was so impressive that the spectators crowding
the terraces of the Aenada and Europa Point
could not restrain exclamations of delight, while
the American passengers on two liners anchored
near shore burst into cheers.
For a distance of about twelve miles the fleet
stood to the south Then being clear Of Cape
rarifa. the most southerly point Of Europe. the
flagship headed abruptly 70 the westward and
the fleet followed in single file
Tho dispatch boat Yankton is seven hundred
miles ahead Of the fleet and three hundred
miles ahead of the supply ship Gulgoa, which
left here on Thursday The collier Ajax and the
repair ship Panther will remain here until to-
morrow to clean up odds and ends.
washington. Feb 6-Fonowing the review at
Hampton Roads the vessels of Admiral Sperry's
fleet will go to their home yards for repairs,
which are expected to be completed by May L.
after which the entire fleet will again reassenble
FOR the summer manoeuvres along the Atlantic
Coast The vessels will take up the record
target practice in Cape Cod Bay late in the
summer
The American battlesnip fleet. composed of six