Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
SQUADRON IS READY
TO LEAVE TRINIDAD
battIeShIpS Will Start for Rio
This Morning.
SHORE Entertainments
Preparations Being Made for Recep.
tions Down the Coast,
PERU GETTING READY EARLY
Former Minister John Barrett Talks
on Fleets Mission to the Eco.
:
nomic Association.


PORT OF SPAIN. Decebber 2s.-The
American feet will sail for Rio Janeiro
tomorrow morning, PROBABLY at an early
hour, although the exact time has not
been signaled by the admiral. The bat
tieships have been cleaned up and given
hnai preparations for the long voyage and
are now looking spick and span. The
engines the boilers and all the machinery
have been overhauled and everything is
in first class condition for the trip.
rear Admiral Evans. on his flagship
Connecticut. and accompanied by the Ala
bama, the flagship of Rear Admiral Sper-
ry; the Illinois. the Kearsarge and the
Kentucky, steamed out into the gulf this
morning to adjust compasses. They re-
turned about noon. During the stay of
the fleet In port considerable time has
been devoted to important drills with the
big and small guns. TORPEDO and torpedo
defenses.
Many of the bluejackets again enjoyed
|
the New Jersey and Virginia had a base
ball match this afternoon.
The news of the naval controversy in the
United States, which has been cabled
I here and in which Surgeon General Rixey
and Admiral Brownson figure prominent
ly, is exciting considerable interest among
the officers of the feet, but they refuse
to publicly express their views regarding
it.
Dinner to Evans Friday Night.
Toasts to King Edward, President
Roosevelt, Prosperity" and the navy
were offered by the British governor, Sir
Henry Moore Jackson, at dinner to Ad-
| miral Evans and few of the officers of
the American battleship fleet last night.
There were no speeches, and the dinner
WIZ greatly enjoyed.
Admiral Evans said yesterday that the
welcome of the governor and people Of
Trinidad had been most cordial and
friendly, and that American ships like to
come to Port of Spain, because they are
sure of great hospitality.
Preparations of Brazil.
RIO JANEIRO, December 2s.-As the
day for the arrival here Of the American
battieships under Rear Admiral Evans ap-
proaches, interest in the festivities that
will be given in honor of the American
officers increases. The preparations ara
now almost entirely completed, and while
the program has not yet been issued Of
ticially, it is easy to perceive that the peo-
pie are anxious and eager to repay we'll
| the welcome extended to Brazil at Wash
ngton and Norfolk last summer.
President Penna will entertain all the
American admirals, a number of officers
he Arna
bassador, at dinner to be given at the
presidential palace in Petropolis. The
minister of marine will invite the ad-
mirals, the commanders and other officers
to promenade lunch" on Corcovado
mountain, two miles from Rio Janeiro,
while the Naval Club will offer similar
entertainment at T1juca Park. A ban
quet of 6UU covers will be given in the
Monroe Pavilion by the minister of for
eign affairs, Baron de Rio Branco. On
this occasion DR.. Ruy Barbosa, president
of the senate, will deliver speech OF well
come. January 13 Mr.. Dudley will give
a reception in honor of the American Of
iicers at his residence in Petropolis.
Peru Getting Busy.
Forty rooms in the best hotel at Petropo-
lis already have been reserved for the
use of the American visitors.
News comes here from Peru of the
preparations being made by the govern
|
| ficers of the American fleet when they
reach the west coast President Pardo
will give them banquet of 800 covers,
the minister of marine is making prepara-
tions for a great ball. for which LOO in
vitations have been sent out, and the gov
ernment will give to each officer an album,
containing collection of Peruvian photo
graphs.
Barrett on the Fleet.
! MADISON, Wis, December 2S-Ths
beneficial effect of the Pacific cruise now
being made by Admiral Evans big fleet
on the relations of the Latin-Amertcan
republics to the United States was point
ed out by John Barrett in an address be-
| fore the American Political Science AS
sociation in session here today. Mr.. Bar
rett, now director general of the inter-
| national bureau of American republics
and formerly United States minister to
Argentina Colombia and Panama spoke
on 1.-The New South America and Its
Relations to the United States.'
Continuing. after reviewing the deveI
| opment of South America and speaking
| of the high Importance to the United
States of maintaining commercial con-
| troll and moral influences in competition
with Europe in the republics. Mr.. Bar
rett said:
lone of the most important effects, il
not the principal result. of the sailing of
the battleship fleet to the Pacific has
been almost overlooked in the constant
discussion of the erect on Japan, and
that is the impression created in South
America
South America Progressing.
I'VE have failed to note that the great
newspapers and leading men of our sister
republics are giving even more attention
to movements of this armada than are
those of our oriental neighbors.
THE powerful and progressive republics
of South America. like Brazil. Arg entine.
Chile and Peru, which are fast becoming
world powers, are not only welcoming
the coming of the ships and applauding
this vast and unique naval undertaking.
but are planning to give the fleet re-
ception that will not be surpassed in cor
dialty, enthusiasm and extent by any re-
ception that may be accorded them later
on either our own Pacific coast or In tho
ports of the orient.
"At Rio Janeiro in Brazil and again at
Gallo in Peru, Admiral Evans fleet will
he greeted and treated as the real repre-
sentative of the naval strength as Secre-
tary Root was the true envoy of the new
Diplomacy of the United States. which
politically. commercially. historically and
reopraphically Is the natural ally and
friend of all South America.