New-York tribune., 1907-10-02
MORE SHIPS FOR EVANS
CRUISE IN THE PACIFIC.
EI9bOrate MGnaauUres Made Possible
by 4dmvaL BrO1cnson.
TErn1n lie Tribune Bureau. l

7,,rea,I of navigation. has been doing in fur
,berance of the Presidents desire that the navy
he afforded opportunity for practical drills and
extensive manuuvres, so that, by experiencing
,bo conditions attendant upon actual warfare in
"a fa~ as they can be simulated in time of peace
!. NAV develop the highest degree of efficiency
of anv navy in the world. is becoming daily
more evident the plans made by the admiral
for the Pacific cruise mature. Improved per-
sonnel the most modern equipment aboard ship
freouency and thoroughness of duty. culti-
walton of the initiative of individual command
ers and concentrated feet which will permit
Of the most elaborate man9uvres are the chief
ends to which he has been working.
The policy which will result in the effective
sea training of navy captains at a period in
their careers when their age will permit Of
their still rendering valuable service. both on
the staff and as division commanders, has al
ready been outlined in these dispatches. The
extent of the recent maneuvres off the mouth
Of the Chesapeake, during which certain cap
tains were given command of divisions and the
odtine formal tactics were for time ahan-
doned and officers were encouraged 10 work out
new problems, develop their own initiative and
accomplish results. has also been touched on in
these dispatches, although not extensively de-
scribed The perfection of the equipment OF the
hattleships by the installation of the latest sys-
TEN Of fire control has been announced as has
the report Of the so-called turret board, whose
recommendations affecting the improvements Of
turrets. especially to their interior arrangement
are being carried into effect rapidly op-
portunities permit.
The increase Of Admiral Daytons Pacific
feet by what may be termed gradual accretion
while perhaps. contained in orders. issued from
time TO time has not hitherto been outlined in
its entirety nor had it been generally realized
that by the time Admiral Evans arrives on the
Pacific Coast with the Atlantic fleet the Pacific
feet will have been increased until it contains
four divisions. composed in all Of eight armored
cruisers and eight protected cruisers, which,
with the sixteen battleships which Admiral
Evans will bring to the waters will make
combined naval force of thirty-two armored
vessels IL addition to the torpedo lotilla and
smaller craft which will go TO make up the fleet
When Admiral Dayton returned from the
Philippines he commanded q feet composed of
the armored cruisers West Virginia, Maryland,
Pennsylvania and Colorado and the protected
cruisers Milwaukee. Chicago. Cincinnati. Ra-
leigh Albany and New Orleans To this fleet
gradually have been. or will be, added the
armored curisers Tennessee and Washington
which. under the command of Admiral Stock
ton, recently returned from the French exposi-
tion and the new armored cruisers just COM
pleted and placed in commission. the California
and South Dakota which are already on the
Pacific Coast.
The protected cruiser St. Louis which sailed
for the Pacific last June also has just arrived
at San Francisco after completing a successful
cruise around South America while the Charles
ton which conveyed Secretary Root TO the west
coast of South America, has remained there and
IS added to Admiral Dayton's feet making
a total of four divisions of four vessels each.
The Cincinnati and the Raleigh. which have just
returned from the Philippines. are now out Of
commission. having been laid up for repairs.
but II is expected that these will be completed
and that the vessels will have rejoined the feet
before Admiral Evans arrives with the Atlantic
feet
The assembling Of this great feet in Pacific
waters will not only make possible maneuvres
with feet Of thirty-two large vessels. but will
enable the admiral to divide his forces into two
reasonably large fleets, consisting. for instance.
OF eight battleships. four armored cruisers and
four protected cruisers each. and to place one
feet against the other in mock warfare or again
10 separate It into its eight natural divisions
each commanded by a admiral and conduct
more complicated and useful manGuvres than
have been possible Hitherto.
The preparations for the Pacific cruise also
are furnishing to the staff practice in conditions
closely approximating those wt-h which it would
be confronted in actual warfare, and, with pos
sihly few exceptions. Admiral Brownson is in
sisting on such foresight would be required
Were the fleet going to attack enemy instead
Of making a peaceful practice cruise. 1t was
Announced, for instance. several weeks ago that
the Minnesota and the Tennessee would rendez-
vous at Hampton Roads on September 2S. ready
70 start for the Pacific. 1t required much work
ana energy to accomplish this, and under diff
ferent policy II probably would have been de-
clded that a day or two delay would make no es-
sentiai difference. but that policy no longer pre-
walls In the Navy Department and the vessels
reached Hampton Roads on schedule time Tn
Iact' IL any delay is permitted it will be only
that rendered unavoidable by the decision to in
stan fire control system on every bsttleshIn
II was stated to-day at the bureau of nsv,-
cation that tentative programme for +bo o..
signment of commanders had been reaobaa ,rs
the following names were given out. Can.a;
Southerland 10 command the New Jars.,, G.,
tain Veeder, the Alabama: Captain F4ske the
Illinois; Captain Hutchins the Kearsarre can
tain Bartlett, the Ohio. and Captain Cowles the
Kentucky. Captain Fox will command the
South Dakota; Captain Cottman is to command
the California; Captain Phelps, now in COM
msnd. succeeding Admiral Lyon as commandant
n the Maryland Navy Yard, as Admiral Lvon
retires October s. AS already announced
captain knight and Captain Howard will be In
Smnnand of the Washington and the Tennessee