The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1907-10-05


This will prove one of the most
difficult and the most expensive
features of the proposed practice
cruise of the Atlantic squadron from
its base on the Atlantic coast around
the southern point o. South America
and up to San Francisco.
Naval experts at work on the de
tails of the coming cruise figure that
it will cost $4,000 900 to provide the
fuel which will be needed to steam
the 16 great battleships. the five or
SIX auxiliary cruisers and the torpedo
fotilla over the l3,000mile course.
According to present plans the fleet
will set sail in December, and be-
tween now and that ume the greatest
question of all the many relating to
the success of the CruisC-that of fuel
must be settled and arranged for.
Five or six coaling stations at least
must be touched between Hampton
Roads and Puget sound during the
two months and a half or more that
will be required to make the mo-
montOus excursion, Certainly, there
will be several GOLFERS waiting upon
the fuel needs of the battIcships and
those nominations of all naval Off
GERS, torpcdoboats, but their supplies
will by no means meet the require
ments Of the fighting machines. Much
will depend upon the supplies ordered
weeks ago by the navy department
through the consular agents at the
coaling stations whore the fleet is cX-
pectcd to collect during the long and
tedious itinerary.
That the extraordinary demands
upon the usual fuel stores to be
found at authorized stations to be
made by the great fleet will result in
a prOportonatC increase Of price is
admitted by the navy Department. but
unfortunately there is no way Of oh
tanning cheaper coal. Hence II is
known in advance that the cost per
ton will be from eight dollars to Sl3
! on the Atlantic coast station, while
| from $l3 to Sl7 may be the price be
! tween Sandy Point, in the Strait Of
| Magellan, to Puget sound. As most
of the warships will consume from
90 to 100 tons per day, 1t IS readily
seen how very expensive their trip
from ocean to ocean will be.
Most of the men.of-war can steam
| between 5000 and 5000 miles with
out rcCoaIing, so that ii will be an
| -, l.,
! between the established stations. But
| the torpcdoboats will require the con
! slant attention of the Golfers II is
| said that their average fuel cndur.
ancc is between 1000 and 800 miles
! Besides, they will need the constant
/ surveillance of the larger ships, being
! frail craft and liable to many dam.
/ ages The notilla viii keep close to
/ the coast while skiwting down the At
! lanUc ana up the Pacific. ANA may be-
/ the cause Of numerous delays on The
| part OF the whole fleet. Therefore il
/ is small wonder that the entire naval
force rcyiIcs This type Of vessel II is
She general conviction among the old
or officers in the navy that the tor
podoboat has demonstrated that it is
utterly worthless in active warfare,
and the American sea fighter is too
much of utilitarian to tolerate the
impractcabIc
| The first station 10 be drawn upon
for coal by the armada will be St
| Thomas, in the Danish West Indies.
1t Will be remembered that the Unit.
ed States government some time ago
offered $4,000 foa the possession
Of this port and the Danish posses
sions in the Antillcs-an offer which
was first accepted, to be refused later
on mature consideration
Very likely the delicate little tor
pcdo hotiIla will ina it necessary to
put into San Juan, Porto Rico, for
fuel, This being the only port con
trollcd BY America in the Antilles,
and SO hamper the progress Of III"
armada.
The next coaliug station on the
route is Bahia Al This picturesque
and historic town several Of the