Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-18

Paris Dec. 17-Admiral Gervais,
president of the French Naval League
and the greatest of the French naval
tactica as was questioned today by The
Associated Press regarding the voyag4
Of the American battleships to the Pa
citic. He said that the FrenC navy
would watch the progress of the cruise
with thu keenest interest from the tao
teal point of view. 1T is the greatest
feat of naval maneuvering ever under-
taken in time Of peace" continued the
admiral. 1T is in short an experiment
which will absorb the attention of the
entire naval world for the next three
months
Il myself navigated the Horn twice
in 1880 on board the Triumphant. l do
not consider the undertaking to be nee
essarily extremely perilous, bur it will
be long and tedious. Everything de-
ponds upon the care in preparing for
the voyage in the matter of coaling
and equipment, the securing Of the
latest charts. etc The greatest diff
Guilty will be experienced in the Straits
of Magellan on account of the swift
and perpleXing currents, especially IL
it is intended to keep such large num-
Der of ships in close formation. These
waters are now fairly well charted
ana February, the summer season in
the Southern Hemisphere. affords the
best chances for favorable weather.
Every sailor knows, however that ter
rife and dangerous storms are some
times encountered in the straits.
Il assume that after doubling the
cape the fleet will take the inside chan
mel This course has the great ad-
vantage of affording protection from
the north wind, but it has the dlSad-
vantage of most difficult crosS-currentS
THE voyage will call for the most
constant vigilance from officers and
men and it will undoubtedly constitute
q great strain upon both, but it Will Dc
the finest possible training for them
it, successful accomplishment Will
demonstrate the high state OF efl-
cheney of the American navy and VIII
afford a most valuable lesson to the
navy of the world.
The French newspapers continue 10
devote columns of space to the depart
IRE of the American fleet. puDnShlng
detailed descriptions Of the ships, with
Illustrated maps Of the proposed voyage
or the fleet. They all agree it rivals
if it does not surpass Admiral Ro1est-
vensky's feat. Naturally. the papers
are principally interested in its polltlca
significance and speculation covers the
widest field The articles generally are
temnerate so far as the immediate out
look is concerned, but the sensational
J.'Intransigeant announces that the de-
nartura Of the American fleet is an mn
plied declaration OF war.
The Tennis thinks the move is COM
,nendable act of prudence and says
that the conflict between white ana
yellow labor, not to speak OF the proau-
err aspects of the rivalry Of the Paciiic
coast must be recognized. NeVerlhe
lees il does not believe that war Is
near and it is convinced or Ameri'a
naaceful intentions STILL it forsee days
when the circumstances might chd"so'
"Tbe economic competition between
America and Asia" says the IelnpS
..annears to every impartial observer
&c tha strongest theoretical cause 1or
u,or now existing. President Roosevelt
has discharged his full duty in taxing
INDISPENSABLE defensive precautions
II 10 necessary to prepare for the worst
hvpothesis, not for the best
The Journal Des Debats considers the
cruise the natural consequence Oh
changed political conditions
while England is withdrawing her
feet from the Mediterranean, con-
Times the Journal. lin order 10 mass
II an the British coast in order 70 meet
nossiblc eventualties, America, hhulh9
Tho Atlantic freed by European recos
milton of the Monroe doctrine is Se'u-
;r,, bor feet to the Pacific, Wner'
clouds are gathering.
The belief is expressed by this paper
too that the immediate effect OF the
no,neuvre will be to strengthen the 10
clifton of the Imperialists in favor "i "
| larger navy and the early cohnpietioi'
of the Panama canal