The Washington times., 1906-06-29
BroWnSon'S Arrival in
Those Waters Expected
to Augment Prestige.
POLICY OF PRESIDENT
Cruisers Virginia, PennSyl-
vania, Colorado, and Mary
land Leave September l.

If the old saying in the Far East that
Prestige and commerce go hand-in-
hand" American commerce in Asia and
japan ought to be materially increased
within the next year, following the ar
rival next autumn. in Asiatic waters. of
Rear Admiral BrOwnsOn's formidable
cruiser squadron, one of the most i'm
posing commands OF armored cruisers in
any navy of the world.
The mighty force Of warships that viii
augment the Asiatic squadron at present
are in q command known as the Fourth
division. or cruiser squadron, or Rear
Admiral Evans Atlantic fleet They are
all armored vessels of late construction
and new type. They are the West Vir-
ginia, flagship; Pennsylvania. Colorado.
and Maryland
All are now undergoing repairs TO their
boilers In the New York navy yard
Investigating Blunder.
In view of the long tourney before
them and the impOrtrnt service they are
expected to render In the Far East, the
Navy Department is conducting an in
vestigation TO determine the RESPONSE
bIlity for the costly blunder which neces-
states expensive repairs 90 these ships,
all four Of which are practically new. II
they can be made ready for the Journey
more than half way round the globe BY
September l, they will set sail at that
time for Manila. starting first Cor Glib
raltar.
It is probable that collier VIII ac-
company them, in order that they may
cover the distance by way Of the Medi-
terranean and the Suez IN less than
sixty days. The itinerary calls for no
parade in the waters of northern Eu-
rope.
Presidents Idea.
The cruise Of Asiatic waters is strict
" a business affair. 1t is in line with a
policy outlined by the President and his
Secretaries of State. Navy. Treasury.
and Commerce and Labor several
months ago to formidabIy increase the
strength Of the American navy in the
Far East, principally as a matter Of
prestige which may aid American COM
mercial enterprises TO more successful
" transact business with China and the
new Japan
Upon their arrival at Manila these
ships Will relieve the battleship Ohio.
flagship Of the commander-in-chief Of
the station. the place of which will be
taken by the West Virginia. The Ohio
will return home during next winter
TO be attached to the Atlantic fleet.
while the Wisconsin Will be brought
across the Pacific. likely TO be made
the flagship of the Pacific squadron.
The Oregon, now undergoing repairs at
the BremerUon navy yard, Puget Sound.
also nay remain on the Pacific coast,
which means that the Asiatc station
for the first time since the Spanish
American war, viii be without at least
one battleship.
Much More Formidable
Notwithstanding the withdrawal OF the
three battleships. one at a time. the
Asiatic station will be made more for
n1idable than it ever has been
Aside rom these six cruisers, the per
sonneI Of the Asiatic squadron will be,
under tn new formation: Cruisers, Bal
timore. Cincinnati. and Raleigh; gun
boats, W IminEton. Villalobos, Concord,
Callao, Quiros. FL Cano; the first tor
pedo fioulla. compr3s ng the destroyers
cambridge Barry Chauncey, Dale. and
Decatur; the Philippine squadron Of five
small ships: Rainbow. flagship; Arayat
Frolic. and Monadnock, which is held
in reserve at Cavite; Pampanga. and
ParaSua.
The new Asiatic feet will be organized
into several divisions. under the general
command of Rear Admiral Train.