The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-07-05
DETAILS IN THE
MOVEMENTS Of
ATLANTIC FLEET

Washington. July "Details of the vast
movement OF the Atlantic fleet to Pacific
waters have been theoretically worked
out weeks In advance by the national
general board But these details are
necessarily subject TO constant change.
resulting IN the withdrawal OF batteships
from active commission, on account OF
having been declared antiquated or In
charge of repairs and the substitution OF
new ships. Just going into commission.
There is In the navy department today
scarcely any one authorized TO AFFORD any
information officially as to the contem..
is I'm California, Assistant Secretary
Newberry r. at Watch Hill. r. l. Admi-
raj Brownson. the chief OF the navigation
bureau, who Is next in line. has gone TO
New York. and the acting secretary OF
the navy today is Rear Admiral Mason,
chief OF the bureau OF ordnance, who
assumes the office by virtue OF seniority.
but can scarcely be regarded as an au-
thority in the matter OF disposition of
ships which does not directly concern his
bureau work
The opinion OF the officers on duty today
is that but one route is feasible for the
big ships and that Is by way OF the Straits
OF Magellan The route from New York
across the Atlantic and through the Medi-
terranean and the Suez canal is open 10
the objection that II would bring the big
ships almost into japanese waters and
the movement might consequently be re-
graded as a menace, which Secretary
Metcalf has stated, has never been con-
templated. The Suez route, too. is longer
by a thousand miles than the Magellan
route.
Admiral Evans will, II Is expected. start
out with is batteshps besides the coll
liers. The armored cruisers Washington
and Tennessee, which are now In French
waters are under orders
The opinion Is that under ordinary
cruising seas which for the big battle
ships means about 10 or IL knots an hour.
and allowing a reasonable time for coal
ing en- route the Atlantic feet can make
the passage from New York to San Fran
cisco in less than 60 days.
II is conceded that Rear Admiral Rob
lev D. Evans will command the fleet In
this great movement, as II is known by
his friends that he would like TO wind up
his active career by safely conducting
around the American continent the great
est fleet OF warships ever gotten together
In these waters.
1t is believed now that the sailing
route OF the ships will be about as fol-
lows: Leaving New York or Hampton
Roads in the early fall, the battleships
would probably stem TO Culebra. where
coal would be taken on. The next stop
will be Rio de Janeiro and the next Sandy
Point I'm the Straits OF Magellan. Here
again the coal supply would be replenish-
ed for the run TO Calloa. Peru. The next
stage would be from Callao. to Panama
and from that point the ships would pro-
ceed without a stop TO San Francisco
II is believed that after reaching Peru
Wan waters the movements OF the ves-
sells will be much more deliberate than
up TO that point. Although the reason for
this statement is not officially ohtaina-
BILE. Il Is apparent that the explanation Is
TO be found in the fact that the battle
ships will be within easy reach OF San
Francisco: In other words. thcy could IN
an emergency arrive in that port before
any other feet could.
Two methods OF coaling have been pro-
vided for In the plans OF the general
board and IL is not possible now TO say
which will he selected. The first is 10
send with the battleships SUFFICIENT
number of colliers 10 enable them TO re-
plenish their coal supplies without de-
pendence upon foreign coaiing stations.
In this case, no less than 20 golfers VIII
be necessary because something like a .OOO
tonr of coal will be needed