Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-07
SHIPS GATHERING IN HAMPTON
ROADS.

The shlpa which arc 10 participate
In the cruige from Hampton Roads "a
| san Fancisco, ara now assembling
In the waters whore the James river
and Chesapeake lay join each other
ana their getting together means an
experimenting event Tho cruioo viii
be notable one in every respect, and
the Interest in tho big lighting ma.
chimes from the limo Of asscmbllne
10 the day they reach tho G'cldon
Gate VIII be of the kccnest. The
movement OF the feet nfter next May
Is hnzy; In fact. IL seems to DO Ger
talnty that no planae have been oven
prepared IA TO what shall he done
with tho ships nitnr they reach the
Pacific coast. They mny be taken
ovcr 10 tho Philippines. and II they
arc, much interest will DO taken In
how they are received BY tho Jnpa.
ncfc II Is the belief In naval circles
that tho reception accorded 10 the
fleet by the Aiikado's subjccts will DO
friendly In the extreme. Anyway they
would appear friendly whether they
felt 20 or not But ns II matter OF
fact. there lb no good reason why
they should feel aggricvcd In any re-
sRect t.y the visit of iioet OF Amcri-
can hattlcshlps to tho Aslatic alta.
ton because nomc newspapers havo
said that tho viait would in effect he
an attempt To lntImidate Japan, 1t docs
not follow that such would be tho
case. Japan understands that wo
hhyo as much right to send q fleet OF
hattlcships to the Paclnc coast ms she
han 10 send n feet of Dor warshps
u any point on tho coast OF any one
of her Islands
Tho trln OF tho ileot Is goleiy plan
of President Roosevelt, and therc Is
no doubt but that tho President has
assumed n very great responsibility
In sending the battlcahips ON their
lcng voyage IL any Of tho nhira
should be lost tho President would
como in for severe criticism. Besides,
1t Ia almost certain that Congress will
want To know all about tho cost OF
tho expedition. There lave been sew
cral estimates OF tho cost published,
but II III doubtful il any ono OF them
10 anywhere near accurate. Tho liz.
urea would make mighty Interesting
reading. Snt fer the present tho poo
bio will bn compelled to remain in ig.
norance on the subject. However.
whatever, tho cost may proyc to be,
1t N'culd seem as II tho expenditure
would be we'll worth the results that
arc to DO obtained. Tho Presiden;
clalmB that tho practice and expert.
encc that tho oilcers mud men OF the
aattleships Will get In making tho
long voyage will be worth erea,
deal moro than 1t will cost. There
Is truth In his position. It is true
that tho gunners and gun crews
have had q good deal OF experience
in tho course of the past year. but
there has been thus far very little OPP
portun!ty To become expert In hand.
ling ships on long voyages, The
american naval officer and tho sea-
man have boon always. In tho pas!
equal TO the emergency as was shown
In tho Oregon's wonderful run, but NJ
the same time it is just as we'll to
have men cn board of our warships
who have had tho experience that the
coming cruise. will furnish. All
things considered, it will te probably
a good thing for the officers md men
to have tho experience in handling
battlcshlps they will got on the lcng
voyage the eest is to MAKE.
.%z=,r=-x-ssz-===H=@-
The experts are again trying to DC
away with the crush at the Brooklyn