The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-07-08
UNITED STATES
READY FOR WAR
(Continued from Page one. !

The big fleet will sail from New York
harbor some time next fall or winter,
probably, though il may be I'm shape TO
take the high seas by the last OF Au-
gust. That's when Admiral Bob" wants
TO get away Down the Atlantic coast,
around Cape Horn and up the Pacific
coast 20 Frisco It will go over "a route
covering approximately 1900 miles.
WHAT ADMIRAL DEWEY SAYS.
New York. July S-Admiral Dewey
who Is sojournng for the summer at
Richfield Springs, N. Y. is quoted in an
interview. as saying I'm regard to the
transfer OF the battleship fleet TO the Pa
cifc; ut Is pity we have not ships
enough 10 keep powerful fleets In both
oceans, but since we have not, II seems
that I'm the interest OF peace II is best at
this time that our fleet should be in the
Pacific.
This cruise or transfer. or whatever
you like TO call IT, is a mission OF peace.
! do not think II likely that this country
will become seriously involved with any
power. But II trouble should come by
any chance IL Is well to be fully prepared
for II.
1T is necessary for us TO hold the bal
ance OF sea power on the Pacific. The
defenses on that coast are not up TO the
standard OF the Atlantic That the nation
that has this power controls the situa-
ton was proven in our war with Spain.
There were l75co0 Spanish soldiers on
the island when Cerveras fleet started
out OF the harbor OF Santiago de Cuba.
With the sinking OF the fleet the war
practically ended.
Fortunately the United states Is so
big and has such vast internal resources
that Il cannot be bottled up as were the
Spaniards, but the necessity for power on
the seas remains"
"An enemy might take the Philippines
and Hawaii but as soon as we met them
on the sea they would have to give them
up. The very presence OF our sea force
I'm the Pacific will serve every purpose"
Admiral Dewey said there should be no
trouble I'm taking the fleet around the
Horn into the Pacific. The battleships. he
said should have no more difficulty than
ferryboat has in crossing to Hoboken.
IL was merely n question of coal and q
question of dollars.
EUROPE is STARTLED.
All Europe lis startled because the Unit
ed States Is TO prove that IL Is there with
full hand when IL comes To a show
down For this movement OF hghtng
vessels from one side OF the world to
the other side which is being planned by
the navy department OF this nation is the
greatest and most important In time OF
peace In the history OF the world. Moth
ing approaching II has ever been attempt
ed before.
ACTIVITY ON PACIFIC COAST
Portland. ore. July s.-A despatch To
the Oregonian from Seattle, WASH says
Orders have been given TO rush the work
on the battleships oregon and Wisconsin
which are undergoing extensive repairs
nj the yard. The new battleship Nebras-
ka. which went into commission n week
ago. is to have her alterations made ana
the crew will be called out as soon as
men can be brought here.
Admiral Burwell, commandant or tne
Puget Sound navy yard, has sent an ur-
gent request that two extra drydocks ne
built AT Bremerton In addition to the new
dock congress authorized year ago, ana
which the navy department has just COM
menced to construct. The drydock is 10
be built Immediately, but twice as large
as the solitary dock on the Puget SOUND
ward but Admiral Burwell believes, with
the natural Increase in the American fleet
I'm TIA, Pacific and the fact that the deep
er drauggnt boats cannot get into the Mare
Island dock, extensive additions VIII nave
IN be made at Bremerton.