Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-24
fastening Warships to the Asiatic
Station,
VESSELS ARE IN EXCELLENT REPAIR
OverhauIing Will Not Generally
Require Much Time.
OTHER NATIONS FLEET

The Navy Department is doing every
thing in its power to expedite the dispatch
| of the ships which the government has de-
cided to send to the Asatic station to re-
! inforce our fleet there. The Wilmington,
attached to the South Atlantic station, has
sailed from Palmyra for Montevideo, where
she will coal and sail Immediately for
China by way Of the Mediterranean. The
cruiser Albany. now at Piraeus. Greece,
was today ordered to proceed to Manila.
The other ships selected for service in
Asiatic waters-the battle ship Kentucky,
| the gunboats Annapolis and Vicksburg and
the converted yacht Dorothea-are in
American waters. They will be put in
first-class trim for foreign service. All will
go into dry dock at once. The Kentucky.
which sailed yesterday from Newport will
go into dock at New York; the Vicksburg
has been ordered to the Boston dock,
and today the Dorothea will go into dock
at League Island and the Annapolis at
Norfolk. They will be thoroughly over
hauled. Their sea valves and running gear
will be placed in apple-pie order. their bot
toms will be cleaned and painted. such
ealking as is necessary will be done, extra
stores Will be taken aboard and everything
necessary to fit them out for protracted
service on foreign station will be attended
to. ''t
The ships are in excellent repair. and the
overhauling will not require much time ex-
cept In the case of the Annapolis. which
mas been used as a training ship, and which
must now be fitted out for active service.
But even In her case the Navy Department
estimates that not over a month will be re-
CURED. Within that time all of them will
nave STARTED on their long voyage to Asia
Inc Albany will reach Manila in the course
OF three weeks. 1t is expected that all the
vessels will have arrived at their destina-
ton by December /.
Fleet of Thirty-Four Vessels.
with the addition of these six ships the
United States fleet in Asiatic waters will
consist of thirty-four vessels. by far the
largest American fleet ever employed on
strictly foreign service. Although many of
the ships are SMALL there will be nucleus
OF neaFy hghting ships which will make a
formidable showing in the event that future
complications should necessitate an Ameri-
can demonstration in Asatic waters. The
meet VIII consist of two battle ships one
afTnored cruiser, three cruisers three mon
itors seventeen gunboats and eight aux
lilary yachts and miscellaneous vessels
hear Admiral Remey will remain in COM
nahd OF the American naval forces in the
east, ana VIII probably make the port of
Manila his principal headquarters. The
Meet viii be divided into two divisions the
first. cruising in the Philippines to be I'M
der the direct command of Admiral Remey
and the second which will confine it's cruis-
ing To Chinese waters. to be commanded by
Rear Admiral Kempf who is the second
station
In case actual hostilities should be neces-
sary the Pacific squadron, which now con
sists of the battle ship Iowa. the cruiser
Philadelphia and a number Of smaller fight
ing ships, would be In position to effect
juncture with the Asiatc squadron By
sending the present reinforcements from
the Atlantic, the present Pacific squadron
can be retained In American waters to act
as a reserve for emergency purposes While
not as large as the fleets of England, Japan
and Russia in Asiatic waters, the Ameri-
can. fleet, after 1t receives the reinforce
mentS to be diSpa tched to it, will compare
favoraby with the fleet of Germany and
will exceed in effectiveness the naval forces
of France and the lesser powers Of Eu-
rope.
Fleets of Other Nations.
Great Britain now has in AsIatic waters
three battle ships, three armored cruisers
two protected cruisers Of the first class
four of the second class and five of the
third class: thirteen gunboats. four sloops
OF war. six destroyers. six torpedo boats
and nine miscellaneous vessels.
France has one battle ship one armored
cruiser. two protected cruisers Of the first
class, and seven of the second class one
armored gunboat and ten gunboats
Germany has four battle ships. one ar
mored cruiser, three protected cruisers of
the first class, two of the second class
and seven Of the third class. two sloops of
war, four gunboats and three torpedo boats.
Japan has two battle ships, five armored
cruisers, seven protected cruisers of the
second class, three Of the third class four
unprotected cruisers, four gunboatS, one
torpedo gunboat. four destroyers, two tor
pedo boats and seven gunboats.
Russia has three battle ships. five ar
mored cruisers. one protected cruiser four
cruisers. two armored gunboats, three gun
boats, four destroyers and six torpedo
boats.
Austria has two armored cruisers and
three protected cruisers: Holland one bat
% n ty.n In w.
cruisers and five protected cruisers, and
Portugal one gunboat.