The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-06
OUR FLEET IN PECHILI GULF.
u,n.Ia Has w Less Than FIFTY Vessels
yhrre Admiral ENRns's Warming
Takes On New Significance Largely
\uvmrn;ing Our AsiatlG Fleet.

WASHINGTON. July 5-The significance
Of the gathering Of American warships
in the Gulf Of Pechiii becomes more APP
rarert with the news that Russia has now
no less than fifty vessels, including an en-
tiroly new squadron. in that important
boGy Of Chinese water
While tine concentration Of the American
naval contingent in this broad gulf was
primarily due to the Navy Departments
,oli,y To keep all naval divisions engaged
IN n,anorlvres, there can be no doubt that
Tins mobilization has a broader meaning
that speaks well 70. the foresight OF those
in charge Of preparing for any hostile
contingency.
To say that this Government is anxious
IA hive trouble with Russia over the Man
chursr affair would be far beyond the
Tact hu' il may he not exaggeration to
assert that the Administration in Wash
ngtor intends to take every precaution
TO protect The Far Eastern interests in which
II believes it has share.
Rear Admiral Rohley y. Evans, the
,nmmsnder-in chief of the American naval
force on the Asiatic station, has recently
warned the Navy Department that in his
opinion serious trouble is imminent in China.
When the Department became aware that
news Of the receipt Of such advices from
Admiral Evans was known TO the press, it
.Ipcilped 10 make any statement, but the
impression was conveyed that the anxiety
If Admiral Evans was with reference 10
informal nprsings in the vicinity Of Cam
lon, and did not extend to a renewal of the
Danger ~ foreign complications over the
choice territory further north. upon which
.oma Powers have looked with longing
cvns
But considered in the light of more re-
cent knowledge, and the concentration Of
practically the whole Of Admiral Evans's
feet in the Gulf Of Pechili his feeling Of
concern assumes q clearer meaning.
The extreme reticence OF the naval author
iiAs makes ii impossible to say whether
his warning Of a coming storm was based
on the unrest among the Cantonese or in
formation Of the intended foreign aggres-
sion in North China, but the suggestions
made by him all point to the latter az the
moving cause Of his apprehension.
In one Of his reports on this subject
Admiral Evans said that conditions in
China were such that he felt II would be-
unwise to permit to return home tho
hattalions ~ marines concentrated az the
Olongapo naval station, not far from Manila,
until an equal number Of men had relieved
them.
The tour OF foreign service for the ma
rjnes at OIongapo expired several months
auo and In view Of the peaceful condi-
lions prevailing in the Philippines the
...l.
them and to send only comparatively
small number Of others from the United
States 10 take their places. On account
Of Admiral Evanss reports. however,
fully "a many marines are now at Cavite
Ns heretofore.
In addition to augmen ting the Asatic
rr"t 10y the now hat'leship Wisconsin, the
Department is sending to China the first
Iaa- cruisers Albany, Cincinnati and
talegl. and significance may he found
20 in orders for the armored cruiser
Tev York the cruiser Marblehead and the
gInhrat Bennington. under command of
oar Admiral Glass. to the Aleutian Islands.
'""uyrNy for Il summer cruise.
glance at a map of the North Pacific
avail show how surprisingly short is the
N"uian group and the Gulf Of Pechili
,lo advantage Of having a squadron in the
Ncutians in tho event Of international
n,plicatio IONS in China would be very great
rdc"d
Tho direct accusation Of Russian I'M
10 ondInnss toward the United States in the
Naurhurian open door" negotiations which
vas contained in the statement prepared
81 Oyster Bay. presumably by the Presi-
Gent and issued by the State Department
"a Wednesday midnight, showed the temper
II this Government.
The controversy over the transmission
II the kishncf petition il mere pin prick
compared with he sore that has been pro-
dnc"d hy the conviction on the part of the
President that Russia is trying to prevent
NINA from opening Manchurian ports to
Foreign trade
While II il known here that the Admins
ration was chatting over the impediments
Wlrh Russia was suspected of having
paced in tn" way of concluding the COM
m"rcal treaty between the United States
ana China it was not supposed that Mr..
roosevelt regarded the matter as a serious
menace 10 the continuance of friendly
"eIations between this and the Russian Gov
eminent.
inc Wednesday night statement, while
BASED on the authorized announcement
mat Russia would decline TO receive the
hShlnef petition. was intended to be a
warming that the United States Govern
neht was prepared to defend her rights
~ china against Russian Vaccinations
and had dropped her mask of diplomatic
politeness.
Admiral Evans has in his fleet three
separate squadrons, two OF them COM
handed by Rear Admiral Philip II. Cooper
ana Yates Stirling, and the third, which
~ me most formidable, by himself The
squadron. really fleet, now in the Gulf
VI fechlli, consists Of the battleships Ken
lucky, Wisconsin and Oregon; the mont
,orS Monadnock and Monterey; the cruiser
We" Orleans. the gunboats Annapolis,
Uoh Juan de Austria. Helena. Vicksburg,
wilmington and Wompatuok. and will
s0on be augmented by the cruisers Albany
ana Cincinnati, now at Colombo Ceylon,
una the cruiser Raleigh, now at Alden.
arabia, total Of fifteen ships. five OF them
ar1nored