The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-03-13
EUROPE SEE
OUR new NAVY
BattIeship Squadron viii MAJ
newer Where 1t May Create
an Impression.
LIKE EN- PLANNED
it is Calculated That Contemplation OF
the Present Fleet and Of the Fu-
ture Building Program Will
Impress Nations.

Washington. March 1.-The plans
for sending the powerful battleship
squadron into European waters next
May contemplate a more impressive
object lesson on the growing strength
of the United States navy than has
been supposed. Behind the shield of a
practice cruise" with the most friend
ly intentions 1T is proposed to demon
strate forcibly the ability of the gov
to carry a war to the doors
of any country in Europe. To prove
this in emphatic style the port of Lis
bon, Portugal, Is to be '~blockaded" at
the end of "a long trip across the ocean.
Portugal was selected for h unique
test because the impossibility Of the
United States ever becoming involved
in a war with that country is well rec
ngnized. Representations will be made
that will prevent any Portuguese sus-
picions OF an Interior motive. Rear
Admiral Barker. who will command the
fleet, will entertain the nobility and
naval officers of Portugal in lavish
style on his flagship and visitors will
be welcomed on all the ships.
The fleet will be grouped off Lisbon
long enough to prove h a United
States warships can cross the ocean
and tax sufficient coal along to assume
offensive operations on an extensive
SCdlG, lLOlOpG IldS 4CuIlSlQGTeQ ILLS lIll@
possible.
The feet will consist of the Kear-
sarge, Admiral Barker's flagship; the
Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Iowa, Massa-
chusetts and possibly the second class
battleship Texas, the cruisers San
Francisco and Albany and golfers and
supply ships.
In the lee Of the Azores the fighting
ships will be coaled and proviSioned so
tN q 4 the will ranch pprfDlGat in rna1i.s
ness for action. The fleet will proceed
as though wal was actually on. The
cruisers will scout in advance and the
supply ships will be protected by the
battleships.
to Warn the Kaiser.
While the operators are intended as
a lesson to all Europe, it is known hat
the navy department Is especially
anxious to let the kaiser see just what
its ships can do. When Prince Henry
was in Washington last year he asked
Chief Constructor Bowles as to the rel-
ative efficiency of German and Amer
lean warships.
I'VE build our ships to carry coalias
well as to fight" replied Bowles. They
can cross the ocean,, and some of them
can return without coaling. Your
ships cannot do that"
The kaiser mas regarded this as some
thing of a boast. He is to be shown that
it is not.
Naval attaches of European coun-
tries are displaying great interest in
the transatlantic m~aneuvers, and
many of them have asked to be allowed
to accompany the feet. Their requests
probably will be granted, as the navy
department wants to make the ease
complete.
The department is constantly work
Ing to Increase the coal capacity of
the warships and extend their steam
Ing radius. The Texas a steam only
$500 miles. The Kearsarge can team
more than 5000 miles without %recoaling.
which is half as far again as the Iowa,
Indiana and Massachusetts, while the
latest addition-the Maine-carries 1000
cons Of coal. as compared with 1.645 tons
Of the Kearsarge.