CRUISER'S NOVEL VOYAGE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12583, 2 October 1908, Page 7

CRUISER'S NOVEL VOYAGE.

Departure from San Francisco Towing Torpedo Boat Destroyers SAN FRANCISCO, August 25. Beginning a cruise which is becond only in significance to the historic voyage of the Atlantic fleet from Hampton Itoads, the cruiser squadron of the Pacific fleet, numbering s-'V^n armoured cruisers, towing as many torpado boat destroyers, departed tram fc>an Francisco yesterday morning for Honolulu and Pago Pago, Samoa. In single colmun formation, with the i rakish black torpedo boats hugging close by the starboard side like a puppy to its mother, the glistening cruisers glided swiftly out through the Golden Gate to the open sea, where they soon became indistinct blurs on the ocean.

The cruisers passed through the Golden Gate in single column formation, the torpedo boat 3 running abreast of them on the starboard side. The formation while passing out was as follows : West Virginia (flagship), Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, California, and South Dakota. Once outside the cruisers took up their tows. Irom the single column formation they dropped into ■ double column, 400 yards separating the two columns.

When the land was well behind, the cruisers took the torpedo boats in tow at the end of 10-inch hawsers and 5-inch steel cables. In this position they will remain, with Ihe exception of when entering and leaving Honolulu and Paga Pago, until the cruise of thousands of miles is ended.

Admiral Swinburne has under his command seven of the biggest and fastest cruisers of his fleet, beside ' the torpedo division of the Pacific fleet. This is the first time so big a 1 fleet of armoured cruis:rs has taken a voyage of such length. There will be continuous drill, batfle manoeuvres, and tactjes. It was expected that there would be battle manoeuvres by the Atlantic fleet, but these have been omitted on account of the delays incident to them and a desire to get to Manila for target practice. Admiral Swinburne, however, will indulge in extensive battle practice at Honolulu or ; Samoa. The fleet will arrive at Honolulu on September 2nd, leaving there a week later. Arriving at the port in Samoa a stay of a week will be made there, and then the return trip will begin. The fleet will arrive at Honolulu on the return on October 7th, according to the itinerary, and will leave the same day for Sau Diego, remaining two days at tie latter port. At Magdalena Bay the fleet will go in for target practice lasting the entire month of November. On December 4tK' the cruisers are due again in San Francisco Bay.