New-York tribune., 1909-01-04
FLEET REACHES SUEZ
rs TWO DAYS AHEAD.
The YaRktOn and the CMgoa Enter
CanaHOthers to F0llozC Soon.

~
morning from Colombo, q, distance of s,440 knots.
| The fleet sailed from Colombo on December 20.
The loss of seaman from the battleship IL
| lnois, who fell overheard and was drowned as
previously reported, the only accident 10
| mar the voyage from Colombo.
The stately array of battleships an i'm
pressve sight The weather fine and the
bay was crowded with launches and sailing
| craft, the occupants Of which gave an enthusi-
astic welcome to the ships. which despite their
long trip looked almost trim as If they had
turned out for naval review. All the vessels
were in first rate fighting condition.
When the fleet ad come to anchor the Egyp-
tan and canal authorities went aboard the flag
ship and welcomed the fleet through Rear Ad-
mira Sperry who expressed himself as we'll
satisfied with the results OF the cruise from
Colombo He said he regretted that he was
compelled to curtail his stay in Egypt but hoped
that at some future time opportunity would
be given him to visit Cairo. The admiral spoke
Of the Australasian visit of the fleet as the spe-
cial feature of the trip.
Universal regret is expressed BY the people
here that the visit of the battleships will be 50
brief It had been expected that representa-
tive officer would visit Cairo and be presented
to the Khedive on the anniversary of his acces-
sion to the throne. January 5. contingent Of
five hundred officers and men left here by special
train for Cairo at O'Clock this afternoon
The converted cruiser Yankton entered the
canal at O'Clock this afternoon, and the supply
ship Culgoa passed in tonight The former has
a number of physicians aboard and the latter
| large store Of provisions and other supplies.
Both are going to Messina at full speed. All
arrangements were made by wireless for the
ships to pass through the canal quickly as
possible, and to coal at Port Said, where 5000
tons have been ordered for them.
The canal authorities have made special ar
rangements for all the hattleshps to have
clear through the canal, and they will not
stop at any Of the numerous stations where
ships usually tie up to permit the passage OF
vessels which ordinarily have the right Of way
The battleshps moOred in three lines. The
Connecticut the Vermont, the Kansas and the
Minnesota will enter the canal at o'clock to-
morrow morning. and due to arrive at Port
Said at 10 o'clock at night. The second group,
consisting of the Louisiana, the Kentucky, the
Ohio the Missouri and the Virginia VIII enter on
Tuesday morning, and the third line, composed
Of the Wisconsin, the Kearsarge, the New Jer-
sey the Rhode Island, the Georgia and the Ne
| braslla, Will start Wednesday. AT Port Said
| coal will be taken on board the battleships by
their crews.
New Years Day was passed by the men OF the
feet in a continuous round OF fun. There were
athletic contests including boxing and foot rae
ing and In the evening entertainment on
| board the flagship Connecticut. consisting of
sketch and costume contest vaudeville and a
minstrel performance. Members of the ships
company were the actors. and the evening ended
in a grand cakewaIk, the rainbow hued cos
TUNES for which We're made aboard ship.
With cooler weather the officers of the fleet
will shift from their white TO blue uniforms. All
Of them are anticipating interesting visits in the
nd arranging fyiUg
visits to Cairo and the Pyramids.
The news Of the disaster in Southern Italy and
Sicily was received with profound sorrow by tho
officers and men OF the fleet. In a reply to
message sent to him by the Navy Department
Rear Admiral Sperry said that he had supplies
available for distribution TO the Italian earth
quake sufferers as follows
Beverages 10000 bottles: bread 100000
pounds; cereals, 10000 pounds: fruits 10000
pounds: fresh meat, 10000 pounds; other meat.
100000 pounds: vegetables canned, S0.ODO
pounds. milk 10000 pounds. and also numerous
other items.
The Culgoa will distribute these provisions.
There are six surgeons and number of hospital
attaches on board the Yankton and the Culgoa,
and they are taking with them supplies of cots,
blankets. etc. The ships due TO arrive at
Messina on January and respectively.
> IL
lean feet of battleships at the entrance of the
Suez Canal was announced in Il cable dispatch
received by the Navy Department to- day. Ad-
| miral Sperry also stated that the Culgoa and
| the Yanltton would go through the canal to-
t night Other vessels OF the fleet will follow az
! rapidly as possible It is probable that two days
! will be required to take all of the battleships
! through the canal and two more days will be
necessary to complete the coang Of the fleet
-.F..-
! these operations have been made but the condi-
tions are such that it will be very difficult If not
| impossible, to make more rapid progress in
| starting the fleet away from Port Said. The
| facilities for coaing are limited, and it is be
! Iieved that two days viii he the least time in
which all the batteships can be supplied with
| fuel
| No change in the itinerary of the American
| fleet of battleshps has been ordered, and unless
| It is decided to make such change in accord
! ance with the offer of their services to Italy
before the fleet leaves Port Said the battleshIps
| will proceed according to the plan long ago
| agreed upon According TO this plan, eight Of
the battleshps will proceed 10 italian ports and
four others will go with them through the Strait
| of Messna route to other places. 1t has been
| suggested that in view of the extensive changes
| made in the Strait of Messina it might be dan
gerous for the battleships to follow that course
| The fact that British French and other men-of-
war have been in that vicinity since the earth
! quake is looked upon giving ample assurance
| that when the American fleet arrives there full
| information will be available. that Admiral
Sperry will be depended upon to his dis
| erection in the course TO be pursued.
The American fleet is the most powerful to
| pass through the Suez Canal, and will be new
test of the capacity of the great artificial water
route. Great Britain has often sent strong
| snnadrons to the East along this road. but none