The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-09

Announcement was made yesterday at
the Navy Department that the proposed
voyage OF the battle ship fleet to the Pa
cihc viii in no way interfere with the
plan already arranged for the summer
maneuvers Of the Atlantic fleet.
The decision has been made that Rear
Admiral Evans, commanding the fleet,
shall assemble his vessels for midsummer
operations at some point on the New Eng
land coast on August %
The maneuvers will be completed some
time IN October. Then. following the
usual custom, the feet viii move south
ward toward Guantanamo for drill opera
tions and target practice. but instead Of
doing so this fall. thay viii go on the
cruise to the Pacific. The proposition TO
send the feet 10 the Pacific at an early
date-that IS, this summer-has not been
considered. Much greater difficulty would
be experienced in getting the big ships
around to the Pacific now than five or six
months later
The South Atlantic Is now IN midwinter.
the weather IS unfavorable. and much
danger might be encountered.
Not Sent as n Menace.
The impression which officials seek to
convey is that the fleet is not 10 be sent
to the Pacific as a menace 10 Japan, or
because there is any danger Of war, but
rather 20 demonstrate our ability to make
a dash around the Horn in the event of
an emergency. Whether or not the ships
will be brought back TO the Atlantic Is
matter for determination after further
developments. Next December will be
midsummer in the South Atlantic, ard
conditions will then be favorable for the
long cruise.
The decision &c send the battle ships on
a long cruise is not a new one It was
considered months ago, the original in
tentiOn being TO have them go TO the
South Atlantic. Then there arose the
menace of Japan, the suspicion Of possible
trouble with that country growing out of
the San Francisco incidents. Thereupon
the President took up the proposed long
cruise and amplided II by a decision that
the long cruise should be around the Horn
to the Pacific Whatever may be the
moral effect Of such a move OF whatever
the actual necessity Of the presence Of the
feet in the Pacific. the cruise is one which
viii afford great experience 10 the crews
and ships. It is something they have
never had before. and Ii IS something
which all naval men agree is what they
need.
Think Trip VIII Not BE Made.
In some naval quarters the opinion is
TIL held that the battle ship feet will
Ynever go to the Pacific. and in this con
nection the impression IS given that the
proposition is largely a bluff for the pur-
pose Of showing Japan what we would do
in the event that It became necessary. to
have q large fleet In Pacific waters
They conoede that tho fleet VIII 90 far
South next winter but contend that II
will do its maneuvering and 90 through
its drills without going 10 the Pacific:
that when these are completed It will re-
turn to the North Atlantic, unless. al
ways, its presence should be needed IN the
Pacific.
These same officers believe that II
would be a dangerous thing 10 leave the
Atlantic coast unprotected. as It would
be in the event Of the withdrawal OF the
entire battle ship fleet At the same time
they point out that the transfer Of tho
feet 70 the Pacific, and the abandonment
OF the Atlantic coast would be an argu-
ment for a large increase I'm the navy
the building OF a corresponding battle
ship fleet for the Atlantic, IN order that
the country might be adequately pro-
tected in both oceans
Naval officers are inclined to doubt the
accuracy Of the reported statement Of
Admiral Sakamoto, IN which he casts
reflection upon the valor and patriotism
Of American sailor men.
BrOwnsOn Is Quoted.
You may say for me-" said Rear Ad-
miral Brownson, chief Of the Bureau OF
Navigation, yesterday morning, that I
do not believe Admiral Sakamoto has been
correctly quoted. 1t is true that we
nave desertions from our ships in time
Of peace, but that is due TO the fact
that men get homesick. and weary Of
sea life, rather than to a lack of patriot
ism.
But assertions in time Of war are
extremely rare. In fact our experience
has been that the very men who would
desert In time Of peace were among the
first to try to get back into the service
in time of war"
Attention is called to the fact that
the alleged interview with the Japanese
admiral appeared in the HOchi. an anti
administration and an anti-American
newspaper. The story is discounted be-