Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-07-19
FLEET SAILS
TO THE GOLDEN GATE
Departure Of Armada From
Hampton Roads With 800
Officers And 1880 Men
SEC. DANIELS MESSAGE.

Secretary III the Navy Daniels il his
message 10 the great American naval
aeei that steamed out of Hampton
Roads this morning, drew i vivid com.
Darison between the mighty force. and
the fleet that the United States sent
around the woT4d eleven years ago.
Oficers and members Of the crews Of
the newly organized Pacific feet were
wished Godspeed and safe and pleas
ant voyage by Secretary Daniels III q
message sent To Admiral Hugh Rod
man, fleet commander, On the eve Of
the departure Of the armada from
Hampton Roads for the West Coast
Attention was called hy the Secre-
tary to the fact that the force sent on
the history making voyage around the
world, the mtghtiesf fleet the United
States has ever gathered together pre-
yious to that time. was almost Insight
ticant in comparison with the new
Pacific force. He commented on the
fact that the new West Coast fleet will
have d tonnage more than twice as
great as that OF the ships assembled In
1907 under command OF Admiral Rob-
ley D. Evans. and said that while the
most powerful vessel in the fleet that
went around the world mounted four
12inch guns with maximum effective
range Of 10000 yards, the New Mexico,
Admiral Rodman's flagship. and sew.
eral other vessels Of the Pacific fleet
had batteries Of twelve 14-ineh guns
capable Of penetrating armor at 10000
yards.
MIR Daniels, iii commenting on the
advances In naval science achieved
since the fleet went around the world
pointed ont that while the 1907 force
was greatly restricted Iii IT'S cruising
radius by reason OF using coal for
fuel Admiral Rodman's vessels for the
most part were oil burners. while the
New Mexico is electrically propelled
an innovation almost undreaIned Of III.
Admiral Evans time
Two Powerful Fleets
81 regret that imperative duties.
here Iii Washington deny me the priyi-
lege OF reviewing your magnificent
feet as it sails from Hampton Roads.
to the Golden Gate The country Is
to be congratulated that the American
Navy Of today is big enough and pow
erful enough To be organized into
two powerful fleets Of 534.I42. tons
each The world gave glad welcome
~ what we called ogr great fleet when
X made It's historic tour around the
world Tie tonnage Of that fleet was
zoe, SGT, or less than half your Pacific
fleet, which will soon sail through
The Panama Canal. We have, in addi-
ton 10 this an equal fleet iii the At
iantic's Asiatic fleet which is to be
strengthened, and there are still a
number OF ships til European waters.
There were SEQ officers and 1850.
men. IN the ileet when It circied the
globe IL years ago. You are honored
to command 1000 officers and $4,000
men ii your splendid feet
Fighting strength
These comparisons afford an inIi-.
cation Of -iiie growth In tonnage and
personnel iii these years but the
growth III lighting power IS many
times greater. Then the largest ship
had four I2-inch guns and could shoot
10000 Yards. Your splendid flagship,
The New Mexico. Of $4,000 tons, car
ries twelve 14-inch guns and can hit
the starget at 10000 yards.
The electrical propelling machinery
hoe fysarly6d q X osasSnh a., 10 -, ,,Ss1..
ress, and since 1907 the substitution
Of Oh for fAel has greatly Increased
the lighting radius Of our ships,
From every city and town on the.
Pacific Coast felegrams announce the.
warHth of the welcome awaiting your
fleet Ny greetings to all on board
your i6 dreadnoughts and other tight
Ing craft and my best wishes for fair
winds and successful voyage,