The Cordova daily times., 1919-07-12

missed the fight, gained revenge the
next night when that vessel and the
old battleship Texas engaged and sunk
the Spanish cruiser Reina Mercedes as
that vessel attempted to escape from
the harbor at Santiago.
The Massachusetts was the flagship
of the naval vessels in charge OF con-
voying American troops from Cuba to
Porto Rico for the Porto Rican cam
paign A few years ago the Texas,
later renamed the San Marcos, was
used as a target for later battleships
at Tangier sound, Chesapeake bay.
After the Spanish-American war the
Oregon returned to the west coast,
where the glorious old ship, then in
the height of her fame, was received
with tremendous demonstrations. She
remained there on duty with the Pa
cific fleet until a decade ago, when,
her usefulness gone, she was placed in
reserve commission.
ana participated in the homecoming
of the victorious Atlantic feet after
the Spanish-American war, and re-
manned 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
training vessels, and conveyed the mid
shipmen from the naval academy
abroad each summer for a practice
cruise Finally they, too, were moored
to the docks in the navy yards, appar-
emily to rust away.
In the meantime a later class IF
ships had been launched to add to the
might of American naval power. The
Kearsarge, Kentucky, Illinois, Wiscon-
sin, Maine, Missouri and Ohio,
launched between 1898 and 1901,
formed the nucleus of the new "steep
navy that was winning the United
States an assured 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 remarkable demOnstra-
lions in South America, the west coast
of the United States, Australia, New
! Zealand, the islands of the Pacific, the
far eastern ports and points in the
Mediterranean, the great fleet com
pleted the most comprehensive cruise
ever undertaken by so large a body
of ships Of war.
On the return of the fleet to this
country the older ships were forced
into the background by the new"
navy, and were sent to the back chan
nels of the navy yards to join the Ore
gOn, Iowa, 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 twelve old vessels
were outftted, modern fire control ap-
pliances were installed new coats of
war paint" were applied to their
| time-scarred sides, and they were
called out to join the fleet.
The Oregon saw service on the west
coast throughout the war as a coast
defense vessel and training ship for
enlisted personnel. The Massachu-
sets, Iowa and Indiana were used for
time as station ships at Newport,
R. l.. Norfolk, Va, and New York re-
spectiveIy, and later were ordered
south to join the main fighting force
which already included the Kearsarge,
Kentucky and the other vessels of
ancient fame. For the remainder of