Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-12
TO WATCH MANEUvERs.
Foreign Powers Interested in Coming
Navy Movement Under Dewey.

|
Foreign Powers Interested in Coming
Navy Movement Under Dewey.
from Europe indicate that the foreign
powers are displaying the utmost in
terest in the approachinf maneuvers of
the American navy that are to take
place in the late fall in the Caribbean
sea, when Admiral Dewey will be in
command and direct the movements
of the forces.
Naval officers who have returned re-
Gently from foreign stations say that
the American navy occupies a distinct
ly different position today from what
it did three or four years ago. Every
where our officers go they see evil
dences of the increased respect and
regard with which our service is con-
slider. An officer who has just con-
cluded tour of duty on the Asiatic
station, says:
Il was struck on dozen different
occasions with the great esteem in
which the American navy is now held
| by the English, French, German, Ital-
ian, and other naval powers of Eu-
rope. For instance, while our ship was
in Chinese waters we We're treated
with great Difference by all the for
eigners in the different ports, who
showed strong desire to cultivate
us. In the old times we would receive
a formal visit from each of the foreign
ships when we arrived in strange
| port, and that usually ended the mat
| ter.
But now things are different. In
China they paid us the customary visit
of form, and after that made a point
of seeing more of us. We were invited
on board the different vessels to din
ners and fetes in our honor, and the
foreigners actually seemed to vie with
each other in entertaining us. They
showed a respectful curiosity about us
as individuals, and about everything
connected with our vessels Formerly
we were ignored. The deep interest of
the present day is easily traceable to
the performances of the American
navy in 1898. find that all the naval
countries of Europe are greatly con-
and it is safe to say that all the
ships in the winter war games will
bors."
The various navies of Europe are
also actively preparing for summer
practice The French navy will at
tempt work on more elaborate scale
than any of the others, and will to
certain extent repeat last years pro-
gram. Four squadrons are to be form
ed, and known as A, A prime, B, and
c. Great curiosity was displayed last
year to know what was meant by the
division of the fleet, and what sort of
problem France was trying to work
out. 1t was finally determined that
one fleet represented the French navy
and was working against combined
force of Italy and Germany.
Austria will jfhave some naval ma
neuvers this year, extending over
period of two months, and all her
ships will be engaged. Russia's navy
will be similarly engaged this year,
but our naval attaches thus far have
been unable to find out what prob
lens and exercises will be attempted.
1t is very difficult to get information
about the operations of the cars YES
sells of war, their movements being
more closely guarded than those of
any other foreign power. England's
magnificent navy is already MOBILIZE
ing for summer work. The whole Med
iterranean feet will be engaged as
we'll as the channel fleet.
Floating Dock to Cross Osean.
The navy department will soon call
for bids for a huge floating dock to
accommodate g. 16,O00-ton battle ship
to be built in the United States, and
floate1 over to the Philippines. This
will be one of the largest floating dry
docks ever constructed. The amount
available is $1,250,000 and Admiral En-
dicott of the bureau of yards and docks
has about completed the specifications
under which the large structure will
be built Whether it will be towed
across the Pacific or across the Allan
tic through the Suez canal will depend
upon the place of its construction, but
in any event the towing of this gigan-
tic steel structure such distance will
be formidable undertaking.
The naval board of construction has
passed upon the contract and advertise
ment for the new 16,O00-ton battleship
Louisiana, which is to be built by con-
tract at the same time that similar
ship is to be built in the navy yard.
The bids are to be opened on Octo-
her