The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-23
AMERICAN WAR FLEET IN
AS|AHC WATERS MAY Be
MATERIALLY INCREASED
Naval Officials Considering AdviS-
ability of Giving Admiral
Evans More Ships.
OUR INTERESTS GREAT
Vessels Needed Both in the Philip
pines and Near the Scene
Of Present War.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Naval officials
are considering earnestly the strengthening
of the American Asiatic fleet in view of
the vast interests of this country in the
Philippines and in China and Korea, and
the probability that disturbances may ne
cessitate their protection at any time. At
the same time. though the fleet is regarded
as too small there is a desire to avoid ex-
citing the suspicion of the old world pow
ers, lest this government may be put in
the false light of interfering in the East
err struggle notwithstanding our declara-
tion of absolute neutrality.
A high naval officer tonight said: 1.-THE
need of increasing the Asiatic fleet has been
long felt. 1t was intended that the new
battleship Ohio, building at the Union Iron
Works, San Francisco, should be sent to
the Asiatic station in the spring. and that
she should be followed there by the ar
mored cruiser South Dakota and the pro-
tected cruiser Milwaukee as soon as these
vessels are completed The Ohio. however,
will not be ready before autumn, and we
are now considering the dispatch within
the next month or two Of an additional
battleship. 1t has been suggested that the
Iowa be selected for this mission, but no
decision has been reached. She is now
receiving rush repairs at the New York
yard"
'In addition, the Tacoma, which was COM
missioned short time ago and is getting
ready for sea, has been tentatively selected
to go to Asatic as the relief of one of the
vessels of the cruiser squadron, but under
present circumstances it is probable that
none of the cruiser squadron will be
brought home now, however many ships
are added to it, 1t also has been suggested
that the New York, now at Panama be re-
turned TO the Asatic station and that she
make the cruise with the Tacoma. This
is undecided and the uncertainty of the
Panama situation, together with the fact
that the New York is due for a thorough
overhauling, rather initiates against send
ing that vessel to join Admiral Evans's
fleet
$50 rapidly are events in the far East
moving that it is impossible TO say one
day what move on the Asiatic station the
next days developments may demand. II
was originally suggested that the battle
snip squadron go up to Che-Foo, but this
was not approved and an order was issued
for the battleshiDs to remain i'm Philippine
waters, and for the cruiser squadron to
assemble at Shanghai. Repairs TO the
valves of the Kentucky. the flagship of
the ASiatic station however. have neces-
STATED the sending OF that ship TO Hong
Kong to be docked and IL is probable the
other ships of the squadron, the battleships
Oregon and Wisconsin, will accompany her
Meantime the cruicers will be used TO
keep in communication with our agents at
Nieu-Chwang, Che-Foo, Chemulpo and
Seoul"
Rear Admiral Evans has cabled the NAVY
Department expressing a 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 important out
there and for this reason offers to remain
although his time of sea duty is up next
month and the plan is for him 10 return to
New York in his flagship. The department.
has cabled him, leaving the matter entirely
to his own judgment and the announcement
made tonight by a high official that
the department had every confidence in the
wisdom of Admiral Evans's decision Ii is
expected the docking of the Kentucky will
show just what repairs the ship needs and
il was said tonight that she may be on her
way home within two weeks. The Ken
lucky would come by way of Suez, making
the usual stops.
Rear Admiral Evans has distributed the
gunboat division which is attached 10 the
battleship squadron follows: The Cal
lao was reported last at Canton, the ElcanuO
at Nankin, the Helena in dock at Men
Chwang. the Nicksburg at Chemulpo.
the Philippine squadron of gunboats Rear
Admiral Stirling commanding the Annapo-
lis, and the FrOlic are al Shanghai and the
remainder in Philippine waters. OF the
fleet auxiliaries. according to weekend re-
ports, the collier Pompey is at ChemulDo
and the supply ship Zafiro is on her way to
CaVite.