New-York tribune., 1907-10-25
BATTLESHLPS WILL
NOT STAY IN PACIFIC.
PRESIDENT HIS NO FEAR
OF VAR WITH JAPAN.
Fleet Likely To Be Ordered Bach
Within Ninety Days after
It's 4rriUaL.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. Oct. 24-The President to-day
made st absolutely clear TO friends who inquired
about HIS plans that it is his wish and expecta-
ton that the. Atlantic fleet shall return to its
usual station after stay of not more than two
or three months on the Pacific Coast. He has,
however. indicated that the return of the feet
will rest with Congress. as IL will be necessary
for the national Legislature TO appropriate
money 10 meet the expense Of the return trip.
The fund from which such expenses are de-
frayed will be exhausted by the cost of the out
going voyage. and this fact will be set before
Congress so that on it will rest the responsible
fly Of placing at the disposal Of the Navy De-
partraent sufficient money TO bring the great
hattleship fleet back TO the Atlantic Sugges-
tions that It was the purpose OF the adIninistra-
ton 10 maintain the feet for & considerable
peraod on the Pacific Coast the President has
emphafically denied
The efforts OF certain newspa pers to create
war scare out of the Pacific cruise and to at
tach sensational Importance TO the work which
Japan is doing TO effect a state of preparedness
in her military establishment the President re-
cards as too absurd 10 be treated seriously, and
he has INDUCED in much banter at the expense
Of the correspondents who have been sending
sensational dispatches of this type from Wash
inEt00 aCNlceS
character TO cause the slightes: uneasiness. and
there is nothing on the international horizon
which can be nagnihed into war scare. The
President laughingly told correspondent
that Information had Just reached him of char
acter so sensational that il would he eagerly
seized by the pre-eminently conservative paper
he represented It was to the effect that Au-
rliral Togo had been detected in Europe IN the
act Of buying a box Of lucifer matches From
secret agents Of the Navy Department still fur-
Their developments were obtained to the etect
that the admiral had also purchased a package
Of cigarettes.
The President has absolutely no apprehension
If war with japan. and the short stay OF the
feet in the Pacific will amply demonstrate the
truth of the statement heretofore made from
authorized sources that the purpose OF the
cruise is TO test the capabilities Of modern
i,attleship feet. under conditions almost as tr5-
ing in point of endurance at least, as might
ie expected TO arise in actual war
JAPAN NOT PREPARING FOR WAR.
II was pointed out in an authoritative quarter
to-day that an erroneous impression mas pre-
vailed as 10 the great activity OF the Japanese
IN the purchase of large quantities OF torpeooes
and guns and other war material Whlie lhese
reports have appeared from time to tirle IN Uiie
rewspapers of this country and Europe, 1t Is
ton authorities have been able TO obtain from
careful and trustworthy agents. after investigat-
ing most Of these reports. is that japan Is not
IN the market as a large purchaser OF war ma
,er,aI hut. on the contrary. appears to be Oil
gently pursuing the ways Of peace ana stru8-
Cling 70 recuperate from the eXhausuhg ehec'7
Of the with Russia
The continued presence in Washington Oh
Pear Admiral Evans. who is to COMMAND 'he
ta,tIeebine on their voyage to the Pacific; the
daily appearance Of orders making changes III
the rersonnel Of the feet and the conferences
between the President and Secretary Metcal
since Mr. Roosevelt returned to washington
have renewed interest in the rapidly approach
ing departure of the fleet
Admiral Evans goes on the retired list next
August About this time the ships will be on
,beir return 10 the Atlantic. if the present tin-
erarv is not changed. There is precedent for the
continuance of retired naval officer in com
ynand Of a ship. but it is not recalled by naval
officers that z rear admiral has been continued
IN command of A fleet after the date set for
his retirement, although il is probable owing
n Admiral Evans's record and executive abil-
ftv that an exception may be made in his case
e his health admits, and he may command the
feet on its return voyage. It is now estab-
Nghed that the feet is TO return almost as
soon as the great ships can be cleaned up. re-
pleDish their supplies OF coal and provisions
and be made completely ready for the l4'"oo-
mile return cruise.