Evening journal., 1914-04-15
DREADNOUGHTS
ARE DUE OFF
COAST monday
Continued from FIRST Page.

Continued from First Page.
had 90 men over her regular compile
ment
Hampton Roads was bustling with
craft. Small navy tenders, tugboats.
and lighters criss-crossed through
the water. Ohiccrs and blueiackets
we're taken TO and from the Ports
mouth navy yard docks and Old Point
Comfort Tenders awaited steamers
arriving early this morning from
Washington and Baltimore With Of
flcers and newspaper men who we're
TO board the squadron.
All night long the harbor and roads
we're alive with craft Red and green
lights flashed their signals.
The naval training station was
drained Of men 20 fill places OF men
on shore leave who could not be
reached with rush orders for Tam
pico. Boatswains' crews were out all
night rounding up the straRglers.
Many OF the crew OF the New Hamp-
shire were on leave IN Norfolk. New
port News. and Old Point Comfort
Much difficult was had In locating
the men. particularly OF the New
cargoes into the bunkers OF the bat
tleships all night long. Each Dread.
nought was laden 10 the limit OF its
capacity.
After leaving the Portsmouth
yards. the ships swung restively un-
der leash Of only one light anchor
each off Lynn Haven Bay, awaiting
the final flash from Rear Admiral
Badger His private launch scurried
to and FRO between the ships OF his
command this morning. for final con-
ference with the captains and com
mandera OF the vessels OF the flotilla
That every ship should be I'm motion
toward Cape Henry before noon was
the imperative direction OF Admiral
Badger. The original sailing orders
we're to raise anchors at N o'clock
but such rapid progress was made
during the night that Badgers showed
ahead the tentative sailing time "a
10 o'clock. This would mean they
would clear the capes" by IL.
Despite the torrential rain, Hampton
Roads was lined with spectators. The
wharf at Old Point Comfort was black
with humanity. Bright uniforms of the
coast artillery, officers and privatos,
flashed through the haze. The shore re.
sorts and cottages disgorged hundreds.
The Arkansas was the center of atten.
tion. Badgers pennant as commander.
in-chief, foated from her mast. The
admiral had recently made the Arkan.
sas his temporary flagship because the
Wyoming, the regular flagship of the
Atlantic fleet, Is In drydock. 10 was
expected today that since Badger is
now installed ON the Arkansas that ves-
sci viii be continued as the flagship of
the squadron. The Arkansas and Wv.
oming are sister ships.
The battleships South Carolina
Louisiana and Michigan were expected
TO join the other four vessels sailing
today from Hampton Roads of Key
/ West.
The ginboat Yankton was ordered &,
accompany the four battleships toda,
II sho could be made ready. She viii
follow the quartet of seahghters an,
because of greater speed. will soon over
take them outside the capcs.
Indicative of the urgent orders from
Washington, Admiral Badger will TAX,
the shortest, although the most dan
erous route. The ships will proceed via
Key West, Fla. instead of via th,
windward passage, the regular CONNER
cial route. The shorter route, via Key
West, makes the vessels traverse IN,
coral beds of the gulf of the NORTH
Cuban coast. where the water is very
shallow.