The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-09
What the q. S. Practice Cruise. Next.
May IS Intended to Dem &
s-E "A
onstrrate. 5. D..
Port Of Lisbon in Portugal Is to Be.
Blockaded-Pointer for
& the Kaiser.
lew York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service. :
Washington March 9.-The plans for
sending the powerful battleship squadron
into European waters next May contem 5
plate 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, friendly intentions it Is proposed to
demonstrate forciby the ability Of the
government to carry a war to the doors
OF any country in Europe To prove this
|. in 4. emphatic style the port Of Lisbon,
Portugal, is to be ''blockaded'' at the
end of the long trip across the ocean.
Portugal was selected for the unique
test because of the impossibility of the
United States ever becoming involved In
a war with that country is we'll recognized.
Representations will be made that will
prevent any Portuguese suspicious OF an
Interior motive. Rear Admiral Parker,
who will command the fleet, will enter
tain the nobility and naval officers or
Portugal in lavish style. on his flagship
and visitors will be allowed on all the
ships. The fleet will be grouped off LIS
bon long enough to prove that United
States warships can cross the ocean and
take sufficient coal along to assume Of
fensive operations on an extensive scale.
Europe has considered this impossible.
The fleet will consist of the Kearsarge,
Admiral Parker's flagship; the Illinois,
Indiana. Maine, Iowa, Massachusetts,, and
possibly the .second-class battleship
Texas, the cruisers San Francisco and
Albany and colliers and supply ships.
In the lee Of the Azores the fighting
ships will be coa1ed and provisioned SO
that they will reach Portugal in readiness
for action. The fleet will proceed as
though war was actually on. The cruisers
will scout in advance and the supply
ships will be protected by the battleships.
While the operations are intended as a
lesson to all Europe, it is known that the
navy department is especially anxious to
let the kaiser see just what its ships can
do. When Prince Henry was in Wash
ington last year he asked Chief Construc-
| tor Bowles as to the relative efficiency OF
German and American ,warships.
I'VE build our ships to carry coal as
| well as to fight replied Bowles. 'Tlley
| can cross the ocean and some Of them
can return without recOaling. Your ships
| cannot do that"
| The kaiser has regarded this as some
thing of a boast He is to be- shown that
it is not. g. .-
Naval attaches of European countries
are displaying great interest in the
| transatlantic naneuVers and many Of
! them have asked to be allowed to accom-
pany the fleet. Their requests probably
will be granted, as the navy department
| wants to make the case complete. ~ !
The department is constantly working
| to increase the coal capacity OF the war.
| ships and extend their steaming radius
| The Texas can steam only 1900 miles
| The Kearsarge can steam more, than 6,O0'
miles without recoaling, which is half a:
! far again as the Iowa, Indiana and Ma S
sachusetts, while the, latest addition
the Maine-carries 1000 tons of coal, a.
compared with the 1,645 tons of the Kear
sarge. ~~