Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1907 — BATTLESHIPS' CRUISE [ARTICLE]

BATTLESHIPS' CRUISE

It Will Cost $375,000 in Provisions Alone for the Long Vovage at Sea. FOUR ANCHORS FOR EACMSHIP < Admiral Evans Want* To Be Ready for Any Trouble. Figures on Cost of Feeding 15,000 Men for too Days-Tests To Be Made With Provision*— Small Arms Practice.

Washington, Nov. 11.—Every detail In the preparations for the sailing of the battleship fleet to the Pacific ocean Is now well In hand, and by Dec. 16th, the date on which the vessels will pass out of Hampton roads In review before President Roosevelt, members of his cabinet and high officers of the navy, all arrangements for the comfort of the men en route will have been attended to. At all of the navy yards, the work of making necessary repairs is being pushed, and these will be completed by Dec. ljj provisions are being stored aboard the vessels and their coal buukers are being filled to their capacity. Provisions to Cost $875,000. Upon the recommendation of Admiral Evans four anchors will be carried by each vessel, so as to be ready for 1 any emergency. The cost of provisioning the fleet Is estimated at about $375,000, contemplating the reeding of a force of 15,000 men for 100 days. Only last week contracts were awarded for head cheese. Frankfurter and other sausages, and veal. Will Make Some Tests. Advantage will be taken of the twoocean cruise of the battleships to make several tests with the provisions aboard their preservation, packing and handling. It is desired to find some suitable form of bagging in which to carry dried provisions, as it is believed bags will afford the advantage of compactness and greater facility In handling in difficult places than If their contents were carried in boxes or barrels.

To Practice with Small Arms. Incidental to the visit of the fleet to the Pacific const the navy department is making arrangements to qbtain a place for small arms firing there, so as to give the men an opportunity for experience in that direction. It may be tliat Improvised targets will be estate lished at Magdalena bay, where there is to be considerable target practice, but the preference is to secure land for the establishment of ranges to accommodate 2,000 men a day, as at Guantanamo.