The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-27
ALL WORKED OUT.
Plans for Cruise of the Battle
ships Completed.
VIII Start in the Early Part of
December.
10 TEN MILES A DAY.
Will Require IOO,5O4 Tons of
Coal Extra.
Big Fleet of Golfers Will Be in
Attendance.

Washington, Aug. 27.-ActinE Secre-
tary Newberry returned to Washington
today bringing official word of the con-
clusions reached at the Oyster Bay
conference last week relative to the
projected cruise of the battleshfp feet
from the eastern to the western coast
of the United States by way of the
straits of Magellan. Necessarily these
conclusions were on broad lines and IL
was found expedient to leave to Ad-
miral Evans the arrangement OF the
details of the itinerary and to the head
of the various naval bureaus the pre-
parations which will make 1t possible
for the great fleet to leave the Allan
tic coast in perfect condition for this
voyage of 13,772 knots.
Even up to this moment 1t has been
impossible for a variety of reasons to
precisely fix the date of departure of
the Atlantic fleet Naval regulations
require that each vessel should carry
out the established order as to target
practice every quarter and no naval
officer is willing that this important
practice should be dispensed with
even for this cruise. The target prac-
t1ce is invariably followed by more or
less damage to the ships requiring their
return to navy yard for repairs before
they can be regarded as in proper con-
oltlon for a prolonged absence from
their home ports. Then it is fully ex-
pected that the tCrret board now in ses-
sion in this city will recommend num-
ber Of changes in the turret mechan-
iclsm of the ships to protect the lives
OF the gunners and ammunition hand
lers. Soma time too, must be allowed
the colliers to arrive at designated
points and 1t is expected several months
will be needed to place the yards on the
Pacific coast in readiness for the recep-
ton of the battleship fleet which win
certainly be in need of repairs by the
time it arrives on the Pacific coast sta
ton. --..-.--
Everything will be in readiness for
the fleet to sail on December i and the
date of departure will be between De-
cember and Is. All of the orders to
the heads of bureaus are of a verbal
character. AS arranged the itinerary
provides for ten knots an hour. which
IS regarded as the most economic speed
for the fleet .-..-..-
This will permit the golfers to accom-
pany the fleet for part of the voyage
on the Atlantic side. Starting with full
bunkers of coal the ships will REQUIRE
IN ADDITION 100 5O4 tons, not counting the
coal that will be burned by the torpedo
boats which will be provided by mer-
chants en- route. This great supply of
coal must be provided by GOLFERS Four
small cOllierS, the Hannibal Marceilus
Sterling and Nanshau, carrying 2.200
tons each, will accompany the feet to
Trinidad, and five large colliers, the
Ajax. Abarenda, Brutus, Caeser and
Nero, carrying 1000 tons each will go
as far as Rio Janerio. 1t will be nee
essary to charter IL additional colliers
and four of these will meet the fleet at
Sandy Point, Magellan Strait. four at
Callao, Peru and four at MagdaIena
bay. Each of the colliers will carry g.
900 tons of coal.
1t is the intention of the navy de-
partment to buy as much American
coal as possible but in some instances
foreign coal will have to be used The
character of the torpedo boats makes
it possible for them to coal at regular
stations devoted to commercial steam
ers.
The Panther, carrying a full machine
shop and the Culgoa and the Glacier,
supply ship| will accompany the fleet
MagdaleAa bay will be reached about
March according to the plans but the
itinerary al this point gives ten days
additional target practice, and will con-
tinue for about a month. Some of the p
battleships will then go to Puget Sound
and part to San Francisco. Nothing
has been settled concerning the return
of a part or of all the feet and pro-
badly it will not be settled until so
days in advance of the actual return.
For Tactical Reasons.
New York, Aug. 27.-Congressman
Ernest w. Roberts of Massachusetts,, q
member of the house committee on
naval affairs who is here with fellow
members of the committee investigating
the needs of the Brooklyn navy yard,
said that the trip of the battleship feet
through the Straits of Magellan is for
tactical reasons alone.
I'VE have all read with interest the
discussion of the two routes" said Rep
resentative Roberts. Now there is not
one of us who does not believe that the
Suez route is both easier and cheaper.
But the navy now wishes to work out
some tactical problems while we are at
peace, problems that might become
stra tegical in time of war"