The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
Is NO NEED TO
WATCH AMERICA
Fastest English Battleships VIII
Remain on Guard Nearer
at Home.
srEcIAL. BY CABLE To TIE ST. LOUIS RE

SPECIAL BY CABLE TO THE ST. LOUIS RE
PUBLIC AND TIE NEW YORK HERALD.
London. Dec. 17.-fCopyright 1871 THE
NOR the new scheme for the organiza-
tion and distribution OF the British Navy
IS discussed the more the reforms 10 be
effected are enthusiastically welcomed
and approved. Organs OF all shades Of
opinion concur in credil!ng those r.spou-
sible with having made an effort toward
combining economy with al cfficieE-y
which promises success
There is one point. however. which has
created not little discussion among stu
dents OF naval affairs. This has reference
10 a conversation which NJ d. Lanesson
former Minister Of Marine IN France. IS
reported TO nave had on Sunday last. with
the correspondent OF = London paper. NJ.
De Jameson is reported 10 have said that
the object Of the Atlantic squadron was
clearly to provide against cvcntua!iti+S
which might arse in future relations be-
tween Great Britain and the United
states. ana he went on 20 prophesy that
England would place her fastest battle
in conjunction With tn. Mediterranean
fleet. It might be used against America
THIS view Is not sha. ed by anyone in
LONDON. ON the contrary, not only are
the statements of Lord SclDorne's memor-
andum- but the actual outcome OF the new
distribution IS entirely opposed 10 the idea
la the first place. the object Of the At
lentic fleet remains. after the new urr!er
comes INTO play, exactly what 1t was be-
fore that order. Its object is 10 be In a
position - rr-enforce either the Medit
eIranean or the CnenHel divisions. !nay
be considered necessary. the only change
being that whereas its base was formerly
home ports. IL viii now he based on GI-
braltar. and thus be in position more
nearly central than before.
In the second place. Il is not composed OF
f.szF h.4A- al -
in the now Channel fleet or the Mediterra-
mean feet. But, quite apart from this
the whoi- result OF the redistribution Of
forces as regards the western Hernis-
phere indicates that the British Admi-
rally no longer considers 1t necessary 10
maintain Iieets IN time OF peace in waters
iti, wheh are sueienilE Po;Gs ,Iors hy 'ne ae
divisions, which hitherto were main
tanned in American waters. have now
been practically dtsestabitshed st.
week 10 the statement recently made that
would become the flagship OF the ATTAIN
tic, now the Channel feet. 1t is under.
stood that as the other seven ships oe
the King Edward VII class. the most
powerful men OF war ever constructed,
each being OF $3.50 tons displa,cenlehht. ,h are
computed they will also pass into the A.
lan;lc. fleet, which will become me most
imposing force in the worlds navIes
BY the time Rear Admiral W. H. May
Charles Reresfor5. the command OF the
Atlantic feet two more huge vessels OF
the King EiTard VII type will be IN
commission. the CoIHu0nw ealth and me
H!rtf.s:an and th"sa wi. be followed by
the New Zealand and the Dominion and
later still by the Africa. the Britannia
and the Liberia. forming force OF eight
battleships unique IN lighting power ahS
reEEarka bic by reason Of the names OF
Imperial significance when theE WI pear,
the vessel christen"d with n" Title OF the
King and Emperor acting as the senior
At present Lord Beresford Is known as
Vice A,inira. Comma udiDC. but in future
the senior Admiral wili !" stTled Com
,rarldcr IN Chief ~ the Atlantic feet"
Tndors!nC the statements made by the
British Naval correspondent in cable
dispatch Of last THURSDAY with regard tn
Military Record gays:
THE reorganization Of training vessels
OF all kinds into n particular service
SQUADRON under the command Of the Ad-
dies station. with headquarters when at
home at Devunport. is q charge the i'm
portaace and value oi which Will b. gen
eral.y recognized. II NOT only insures
most fitted to insure thor
oUgh irrulCation Of seamanship practice
and under conditions most favorable to
the health of the Youngsters under train
combined action under conditions which
will in no wise interfere with the war
of the fighting fleets At home
1T Will be accepted IS a compliment in
could be given Cf the entire confidence
felt bv F1el2Dd in the continued friend,i-
ness OF that great closely related Power"
Signatures supporting Doctor Wace, so
far received, number more than $500 in
GLIDING five Bishops. four deans and So