Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-29


Day signaling by searchlghts. Admiral
Schroeder reports. has been developed in
the fleet, and on one occasion, in a thick
fog. eight miles of, ship was called
back to her anchorage. and the search
light signals were read without the use
OF a glass.
and health of the men and the results at
tanned in target practice and maneuvers
Admiral Schroeder reports as excellent.
Regarding the wireless operations Ad-
niral Schroeder says:
THE commander-in-chief desires to
urge the necessity OF government control
of all wireless plants. In addition TO
interfering needlessly with the fleets
work, certain shore operators have taken
II upon themselves to heap vituperation
upon our operators on occasions when
the latter were attempting to carry on
legitimate work. On many occasions the
work Is interfered with by amateurs
frequently schoolboys. who at nominal
defeat from time to time the efforts of
our operators to carry on their work.
Stringent government control seems to
be very desirable.
Communication Kept Open.
During the visit OF the fleet at Guam
tanamo the usual amount Of wireless
work was carried on in the fleet. Com
munication was maintained with Key
West practically all the time the fleet
was in Guantanamo bay-day and night
The 25 X. w. set was used extensively.
and frequent messages sent to Key West
were read by ships at New York.
On one occasion q wireless request from
the Connecticut that provisions be sent
In the Culgoa, which was reiayed through
Key West to Washington, was read by
all tt1n q N0N cd
York, as sent by the Connecticut, and
communicated to the commandant OF the
yard. and before the message which came
by way Of Washington was received the
order had been filled and the articles re-
quired were on board. Our messages
were nearly always copied by Panama
and frequently by San Juan. Time sig
mails were received daily from Key West.
"A portable set was installed on shore
on the camp site in Guantanamo bay and
service maintained during the period the
landing force was in camp. This set was
able to communicate with all ships IN
the vicinity and frequently caught Key
West and New York, and sometimes with
Cape Cod.
High State OF Efficiency.
During the entire year rapid and r.
liable wireless service has been main
tanned in the feet, the whole wireless
corps having been brought to and main
tanned at q high state OF efficiency. a
very large amount OF work is carried on
daily in spite Of almost constant inter-
ference, and the work OF the meet mas
been greatly facilitated by the efncient
service Of the wireless corps ana OUT
hts
All possible encouragement has been
given to athletics, says Admiral Schroed-
err, with the result that a continuing IN
terest has been maintained among both
,rptx
says, has been done, with a naturally
excellent effect both upon the physique
and morals Of all concerned In order
to stimulate interest q sum of money was
raised by fleet subscription for the pur-
chase of medals and trophies.
AT the naval station, Guantanamo
bay, the remarkable facilities. due to the
natural characteristics OF the surround
ing country, offer unusual opportunities
for the athletics Of the fleet. An exhaus-
tive program was prepared, and OWING
to the absence of outside diversions the
interest Of officers and men during rec
reation hours was naturally centered In
the athletic events and training THEREFOR
Immediately upon arrival working par
ties from the various ships collected ma
terial and laid out eight baseball nelds
on the fats in the rear or Hicacal oeach.
A uuarter-mile running track was also
laid out at that place. The base ball
fields were fitted with suitable backstops.
and during the remainder of the stay
these athletic grounds were in constant
USE"
Praise for the Men.
In concluding his report Admiral
Schroeder says:
I'm closing this report II is with cordial
commentator OF officers and men that
the commander-in-chief assures the de-
partment that they have labored inces-
sanity and with q zeal and loyalty beyond
all praise and there Is no doubt that the
fruits of such thorough and diversified
work will prove of immediate and possible
la sting benefit to the fleet. With the
foundation of the results achieved and
with the plans recommended IL is beliet-
ed that II the fleet can be kept intact
without material changes of ofilcers or
men for a year at time II can be kept
in a very fair condition OF efficiency"