The Seward gateway daily edition, and the Alaska weekly post., 1919-07-15
GREAT FLEET WILL
 NOW GO 10 JUNK PILL

Spanish American war and remained on duty in home waters for many years. After the Oregon had been placed in reserve the three sister ships were for several years used as traiL- ing vessels and conveyed the midship- men from the Naval Academy abroad each summer for a practice cruise. Finally they too were moored to the docks in navy yards apparently to rust away.
 In the meantime later class Gf ships had been launched to add to the might of American naval power. The Kearsarge, Kentucky, Illinois ,Wiscon- sin, Maine. Missouri and Ohio, launch ed between 1898 and 1901, formed the neucluS of the new "steel" navy that was winning the United States an as Sured place among the great naval powers. These ships then unsurpassed in the world. carried the American flag into the ports of the world for many years and in 1907, when the mighty United States fleet left New York for the historic cruise around ! the world to demonstrate in all lands the might and power of the American navy, they held their places with their more modern sisters throughout that memorable voyage. Greeted with re- markabc demonstrations in South America, the west coast of the United States. Australia, New Zealand the islands of the Pacific, far eastern ports and points in the Mediterrenean' the great fleet completed the most comprehensive cruise ever undertaken by so large a body of ships of war.
 On the return of the fleet to th;S country the older ships were forced in- to the background by the "new" navy and were sent to the back channels Of the navy yards to join the Oregon lo- wa. Massachusetts and Indiana.
 The entrance of the United States into the World War brought demand
 for every ton of sea power the'United States could command and again the Old Navy was called upon to defend the flag. All of the l2 old vessels were outfitted modern fire control appli' ances were installed. new coats of "war paint" were applied to their time-scarred sides and they were call ed out to join the fleet.
 The Oregon saw service on the west coast throughout the war as coast defense vessel and training ship for enlisted personnel. The Massachu setts. Iowa. and Indiana were used for a time as station ships at New port, k. l.. Norfolk. Va. and New York respectively and later. were ordered south to join the main fighting force which already included the Kearsargc' Kentucky and the other vessels of an- cient fame For the remainder of the war the historic old ships took part in the operations of the Atlantic fleet along the coast and rendered valuable service as training ships.
 After the armiStice the Iowa. Mas sachusetts and Indiana were sent to the navy yard at Philadelphia where their colors were hauled down for the last time and they were consigned to the graveyard of ships. The Oregon suffered a similar fate on the Pacific coast. The other ships of the Old Navy remained temporarily on duty most cf them for use as troop transports bu' they too will soon be relegated to thc scrap heap.
 The Oregon has been offered to the state of Oregon for such use as tn, Sldlt lIldI Stt ill " iloNN VI " ss' - training ship and naval historical mu'' cum. the only condition being that the commonwealth keep the old sea fight er in good condition as befits a time honored pensioner of glorious history. The Iowa. Massachusetts and Indiana will probably be broken up in order that the valuable metal contained in them, particularly copper and brass may be utilized in the construction ot more modern vessels. Several of the other old ships will be used for tar gets and the rest junked. /
 Three other vessels, famous forev' CT in American naval annals the Oly' mpia. Admiral Dewey's Flagship aS Manila Bay, the New York Rear Ad- ,miral Sampson's flagship and the Brooklyn Rear Admiral Schley's flag