The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-02-23
ASIATIC FLEET
is TOO SMALL
More American Warships VIII
Be Sent TO the Orient.
EVANS REMAINS IN COMMAND
CRUISERS HAVE BEEN ORDERED
TO STAY AT SHANGHAI.

I VIZ fciaIs are considering earnestly
the strengthening of the Ameri-
/ can Asiatic fleet i'm view of the vast in
I terests of this country in the Philip
/ pines ard in China and in Korea, and
the probability that disturbances may
lnecessitate their protection at any time
/ At the same time that the deet is re-
garded as too small there ~ q desire
to avoid exciting the suspicious Of the
/ Old World powers lest this government
may be put in the false light of inter
I feTing in the eastern struggle notwith-
standing our declaration of absolute
neutrality A high naval officer to-
night said:
Ohio Will Not Be Ready.
"The need Of increasing the Asiatic
feet has been long felt It was intend
ed that the new battleship Ohio build
ing at the Union iron works, san Fran
cisco should be sent to the Asiauc
station in the spring, and that she
should be followed there by the ar
mored cruiser South Dakota and thu
protected cruiser Milwaukee as soon
as these vessels are completed The
Ohio, however, viii not be ready before
autumn, and we are now considering
the dispatch within the next month or
I two of an additional battleship. IT has
been suggested that the Iowa be select
ed for this mission. but no decision has
beer reached. She is now receiving
rush repairs at the New York navy
yard.
The Tacoma Getting Ready.
IN addition the Tacoma, which was
/ commissioned a short time ago ana is
getting ready for sea, has been tenta-
lively selected 10 go to Asia q 8 the re-
lief OF one of the vessels OF the cruiser
squadron, but under present circum-
stances it is probable that none Of the
cruiser. squadron viii be brought home
now. however many ships are added 10
it. II also has been suggested that the
New York row al Panama. be returned
to the Asiatic station, and that she
make the cruise with the Tacoma. rms
is undecided and the uncertainty of the
Panama situati together with the
fact that the New York IS due Tor
thorough overhauling. rather initiates
against sending that vessel to join Ad-
miral Evans feet.
Ordered to Shanghai.
so rapidly are events in the far east
moving that it is impossible to say one
day what move on the Asiatie station
the next days developments may de-
mand f. was originally suggested that
the DdtLieSnID SffNcLIIDn 80 uR " INC
Foo, but this was not approved, and an
order was issued for the battleships TO
remain in Philippine waters and for the
/ cruiser squadron to assemble at Shang-
/ hal. Repairs to the valves of the Ken
I tncky, the flagship Of the Asiauc STA
/ ton, however, have necessltated the
/ sending of that ship to HOngkOng to De
/ docked, and il is probable the other
ships Of the squa drOn, the battleshlps
/ Oregon and Wisconsin, viii accompany
/ her. Meantime the cruisers viii be
used to keep in communication with our
/ agents at New Chuang, che Foo, Che
mulpO and Seoul.
! Evans Wants to Stay.
! Rear Admiral Evans has Cabled the
navy department. expressing q wish TO
! remain in. the far east for the present.
/ in the event that the Kentucky is not
] to be brought home when repaired. he
/ feels that the situation is extremely i'm
pOrtant out there, and for this reason
/ offers to remain, although his time Of
sea duty is mp next month and the plan
is for him to return 20 New York on ms
I flagship The department has Cabied
him leaving the matter entirely to his
/ judgment, and the announcement was
made tonight by q high official that the
] department had every confidence IN the
I wisdom of Admiral Evans decision 1t
/ IS expected that the docking Of the
! Kentucky viii show just what repairs
! the ship needs, and IL was said tonight
/ that she may be on her way home with
! in two weeks. The Kentucky would
/ come by way of Suez, making the usual
stops
Cooper Next in Command.
/ In the event that Admiral Evans de-
/ cides to return now orders viii be is
( sued Immediately assigning him to the
I presidency of the lighthouse board.
] Rear Admiral Philip II. Cooper. now
/ commanding the cruiser squadron Of
/ the Asiatic fleet, viii be named as the
! successor of Admiral Evans in supreme
/ command Of the station, and in turn
{ will be succeeded by Rear Admiral
( Yates Sterling, now commanding the
! Philippine squadron, the command of
/ that squadron being taken by Rear Adj
/ miral w. NJ. FOlger.