East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-02-01
Members of Great BattIeship
Fleet Prepare for Final
Dash Home.
GREATEST SPECTACLE OF
KIND WORLD EVER SAW
Never Before in Worlds History Have
Such An Array Of Floating Forts
Been Pitted Against Each Other i'm
Speed COntest-Ships VIII Be
Matched Against Ship and Squad
ron Against Squadron Sixteen
Battleships and Four Others.

ders for the grooming and coaling of
the ships Of the Atlantic fleet have
been sent to Negro Bay, on the North
coast of Africa, where all the war;
ships rendezvous today to begin
preparations for the final lap of the
worldtour, which will be marked by
races of ship against ship and squad
ron against squadron. "and may the
best boat win" Never before in the
history OF the worlds navies has there
! been such a free-for-all struggle be-
tween men-o-war. And the fame
and glory II will attach to the admin
istration of President Roosevelt, who
devised this spectacular finish for the
great Journey.
According 10 advices received here,
all the ships of the fleet are gather
ing at Negro Bay today and will pro-
ceed thence to Gibraltar. where on
February 9 the passage of the At
lantic will be commenced, with
Hampton Roads the place and Feb
r1ary % the date Of the finish
The Contestants.
Among the contestants in this ocean
free-for-all will be the Connecticut,
flagship; Kansas, Vermont, Mime
sofa, Georgia, Nebraska, New Jersey,
Rhode Island, Louisiana. Virginia,
Missouri. Ohio. Wisconsin. Illinois,
Kearsarge and Kentucky.
The Illinois surprised some people
when she came out, although she is
only rated now as 17-knot ship,
while the Connecticut, Georgia, Louis
lana, Minnesota, Nebraska. New Jer-
sey, Rhode Island and Virginia are
rated as 19-knot ships.
Never before in the worlds history
will such an array of majestic float
ing forts have been arrayed one
against the other for speed suprem-
acy.
The cruise has been a practice trip |
throughout but IT has remained for |
the final lap to institute the man.
oeuvres and tests planned. The in
tention is to give the vessels the Sc
verest trials at the finish of their
land journey, in order that any de-
fects in them may be demonstrated
StOreships and Golfers.
In addition to the 16 battleships
that compose the fleet. there are the
and Panther two store
ships and two Golfers. These will
start ahead from Gibraltar. Before
they have negotiated much of the
distance westward across the Allan
tic they will be met by the welcom-
ng fleet sent out from the United
States. This will consist of the bat
.leships Maine. New Hampshire, Ida
no and Mississippi, the armored
,rusers Montana and North Caroli-
IA. and the scout cruisers Salem, Bir-
ningham and Chester. When they
DIN the others 1t will make fleet
'f 90 battleships, five powerful cruis-
RS, and two smaller fighting craft.
is soon as the warships are assem-
lied the real work of the homeward !,
ruise will be undertaken. Admiral .
'perry Is reported to have framed an ,
Elaborate program in which all the +
essels will take part.
While the fleet. or the main body
t It, will jog along at a pace that will q
ring It into Hampton Roads by Feb !,
uary %. the individual ships will be
ut through speed trials and endur- o
nee tests. Ships of similar class will
ace to determine individual excel
,ncy. while battleships of differing
esigns will be pitted one against the
ther to determine the superiority Of
lyle
Squadron Races.
1t Is proposed also, to have races
etween squadrons and battle man.
euvres in which squadrons and di-
Ill be gunnery practice under prac-
cally battle conditions. and so ex- =,
'llent have been the scores of the ~
dividual ships heretofore that some n
ew records are confidently expect q,
!, pl
The chief interest of naval authori- W.
es. however lies in the problem Of 50
DIV aft" the ships will be after their tn
ng trip and exciting finish when
ley steam into Hampton Roads for 10
spection by the president Calling pr
! the vessels for such gruelling work tn
the end of their globe-grindIng ar
uise is recognized as being as ia