The Washington herald., 1907-08-25
LOEB TELLS OF TRIP
Admits Fleet Is Going to
the Pacific Coast.
TO VISIT SOUTH AMERICA
Big Battle Ships VIII Call at Ports
Below the Equator Just 10 show
What United States Has by Way
of Naval Strength-Eoute Via Ma
gelinn Straits-ResuIt of the Trip.

Throwing aside all conceaIment and
subterfuge, Secretary Of the President
Loeb has at last made definite announce
ment that the Atlantic feet OF sixteen
battle ships Is going to the Pacific Ocean.
Added to this, which has been public IN
formation for several months, II is also
disclosed that the feet will go by the way
Of the Straits OF Magellan, instead Of by
the Suez Canal, and that they will start
some time In December.
These facts were all definitely an
nounced in these columns several weeks
ago. Indeed. It may be said that the
general naval board. which first suggested
and planned the trip. never seriously con-
sidered sending the ships by the Mediter-
ranean route. While it would be shorter
for the feet to go by that way, II il were
destined for the Philippines. there are po-
litical, as well as material. reasons for
sending it around the South American
Continent.
Secretary Of State Roots trip last year
to the principal cities Of South America
was as educational TO him as ii was 10
the people whom he visited.
Result of Roots Trip.
He came back with a better conception
Of the vast opportunities for trade. and
with higher respect for the political
importance Of the Southern countries
than has been shown by any preceding
American statesman. not even excepting
Blaine, who. while making a hobby Of
the cultivation Of South American inter
course. had never actually visited there.
While the great modern cities Of Rio
de Janeiro, MontevideO Valparaiso. and
Others have been frequently visited by
individual ships Of the American navy,
they have never seen in their harbors
any adequate display OF the naval
strength of the United States The op-
pOrtunity offered by the transfer OF the
great battle ship feet TO the Pacific &
show our navy 10 our Southern neighbors
was too good 10 be lost.
The sixteen battle ships viii 20 IN d.
visions Of four ships each. i IS probable
that there will be an interval OF a day or
two between the departure Of the several
divisions SO as TO facilitate coaling at
the various ports on the long journey.
Their first stop will be at Guantanamo.
Japan, Too, Forms Fleet.
The announcement from Yokohama that
Japan is organizing Hongkong squad
ron, in addition to her present South
China squadron. which Is stationed at
Shanghai, IS believed here to be that
country's answer TO the move OF the
United States in sending the battle ships
10 the Pacific.
Hong Kong is the nearest Chinese port
to the Philippines. While It is officially
declared that japanese trade IS increasing
SO largely in that direction as 10 require
more close attention. II Is believed to be
significant that this fact has Just been
discovered The new squadron will, how
ever, not be formed for more than a
year. The estimates for its cost are 70
be included I'm the budget Of next year.
Must Guard Islands.
In the meantime. If anything sinister
should develop from the japanese de-
signs, measures viii have been taken TO
meet them. The mining OF Philippine har-
bors and the fertilization Of the principal
ports is now going on and being rapidly
pushed 10 completion
After the American battle ships reach
San Francisco and Puget Sound. where
they viii be met by the TWO cruiser divis-
ions under Rear AdmiEals Dayton and
Sebree. and have had an opportunity 10
maneuver with them IN fleet formation.
il Is more than probable that at least TWO
divisions Of the battle ships and one d.
vision Of the cruisers will be sent 10 guard
the Philippines.