The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-29
IS TO
AWE JAP ANESE
European Nations Gasp at
Scheme to Send Big Battle
ships Around the World.
WILL STEAM $4,000 KNOTS
NO OTHER POWER WOULD DARE
RISK INVASION.
Chicago Tribune Specially


Washington, d. c., Aug. 25.-Instruc-
tons have been received at the navy de-
partment to make preparations for the
voyage around the world by the battle
ship fleet. The cruise will begin in De
cember and end early next fall The ships
Will start from New York and return to
cast anchor at New York.
1t Will be the most tremendous naval
demonstration the world ever has seen
not in number of ships. for Great Britain
has force almost three times more DOW
ertul-but in the ability OF the American
government to transport such large mod
ern fighting craft to any possible scene
of action.
1t will give Japan and Europe an object
lesson: The administration thinks it about
time they should have an object lesson in
the efficiency of the American naval Of
fcers and American seamen, which it is
alleged abroad they do not possess. 1t
also will have the effect of making the
OFFICERS more skillful in maneuvers ard
provide them with that training in fleet
battle tactics which they have not had
up to this time.
Real Purpose to Awe Japs?
There is not the slightest doubt in diplo-
matte circles that the real purpose of the
presidents move is to awe Japan. That
nation has just done what foreigners an
tlcIpated-replied to the action of the
president by the organization of the new
squadron at Hong Kong. 1t was from
this point that Admiral Dewey started on
MS Wy age III 1910 WHICH eIueu III the con-
quest of the Philippines Lying but coo
miles from Manila. Hong Kong furnishes
an admirable base for naval operations
The United States can no more object to
the proximity of the Japanese squadron
to the Philippines than Japan can object
to the dispatch of the 5atteshiD fleet to
the Pacific and thence to the Atlantic.
If trouble should arise, the japanese
command will be in a position to descend
quickly upon Manila and Olongapo and
gobble up the small craft which this gov
eminent has left in the islands and wrsak
as much damage as possible before the ar
rival of the battleShip fleet An attack
on the Philippines would mean tina. the
far east would be the theatre of war, ami
it would be to that distant scene the Unit
ed States would have to go in order to
carry on hostilitieS.
Move to Recover Prestige.
In other words, Japan has taken steps
to recover the prestige lost by the presi-
dents decision to send the battleship
fleet to the Pacific. This. at least is the
view of diplomats and of welI-informed
naval officers. 1t is a move which the
administration will use to justify the Or
ders to the battleship fleet should justifi-
cation be necessary.
The time allowed by the navy depart
ment for the cruise around the world will
not be too much for fleet that will have
TO sail with the elaboration a battleship
command must observe.
As announced after the conference az
Oyster Bay the other day the fleet will
leave New York. stop at Trinidad. off lie
east coast of Venezuela, call again at Rio
de Janeiro, put in at Sandy Point in the
Straits of Magellan, proceed thence 10
Callao, Peru, and Magdalena bay. where
target practice will be held. From Mag
dalena bay the ships will steam to San
Francisco and may go to Puget sound
for docking.