Evening star., 1900-07-24
LACK OF A NAVAL BASE
NAVY HANDICAPPED IN CASE OF A
CHINESE WAR.
Golfers Are Being Overhauled and
Sent to the Orient With Coal
for Our Ships.

The Navy Department is preparing for
possible eventualties arising out of the
situation in China. One of the great diff
culties which would confront the United
States in the event of naval warfare in
Chinese waters is the lack of a naval base
close to the scene of operations. Manila
is 1000 miles from Taku, while some Of the
other powers have bases within striking
distance. England has base at Wei Hal
Wei and coalng station at Chefoo; Rus
sia has a naval base at Port Arthur and
Germany at kaiachaio. Besides. in case of
naval war, the ports of China which in
ordinary times are open for the purchase of
all ordinary supplies and stores would be
closed.
Must Utilize Coal Ships.
The same difficulty confronted tthe de-
partment during the Spanish war, and, so
far coal is concerned, the same method
will have to be pursued to supply our war
ships. A fleet of Golfers will have to be
utilized to take out coal for our ships and
to ply back and forth between our squad
rons and Manila. And even this plan has
its obstacles, owing to the fact that foreign
countries have gobbled up everything atioat
which could be utilized for shipping coal
and stores. Germany and Japan have even
impressed steamers. The result is that at
the present time 30 per cent of our govern
ment freight for the orient is now being
carried in foreign bottoms. Consequently
prices have materially advanced. Freight
charges on coal which the Navy Depart
ment was able to ship to Manila for 81 a
ton now cost 3d. and the price of coal it
self has materially increased. The depart
ment would, therefore, practically be COM
PEELED to rely upon its own vessels.
Fitting Up the Golfers.
AS a precautionary measure the Golfers
purchased during the Spanish war, which
had gone out Of commission, are being fitted
out for service The water ship Arethusia,
which was also purchased during the Span
lsh war, but which was procured too late
for service, IS also being prepared at the
League Island yard. Modern warships need
1reSh water for their boilers, and the sup
ply of fresh water is Indispensable if they
are to be kept in tirst-class condition.
The Indiana and Iowa came to grief dur
ing the Spanish war because they were
compelled to use salt water in their tubular
boilers. Owing to the lack of naval officers
available the golfers the Atlantic coast
under orders for China are being equipped
with merchant crews There are sixteen
ships in the collier fleet. Five others are
either in Pacific or Asiatic waters. The
Saturn and the Alexander are loading at
the Norfolk yard and will proceed soon
as possible via the SueZ canal. The Caesar
is already en- route. Admiral Bradford.
chief of the bureau of equipment, today
recommended that the Leonidas and Pom
pey, both at the League Island yard, be
fitted out at once.
Admiral BrndfOrd's Statement.
While the United States is immeasuraby
better off now in the matter of coaling sta
tons in the Pacific, owing to the acquisi-
ton of the Hawaiian and Philippine Islands.
the practical difficulty of carrying on naval
operations the north coast Of China in
the event of war emphasizes the statements
made by Admiral Bradford in his last
nual report. in which he said:
AS matter of fact it may be stated,
without fear of contradiction, that at pres
ent it would be impossible for & United
States fleet to carry active operations
during anywhere about the coast of
Europe. Africa, large portion of Asia and
South America, for want of COAL