Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-05
Details For the Vast Naval
Transfer to the Pacific Are
Practically Arranged
WILL I. SAIL $4,000 MILES
Admiral Evan. Will Command Fleet
in It. Trip, Which Will Be by Way
Of Straits Of MaseIIan-vessels Will
Make Several Stops Enroute-FIeet
Will Be Later Increased.

Washington, July "Details OF the
vast movement of the Atlantic fleet to
the Pacific waters have been theoreti-
cally worked out weeks in advance by
the naval general board. But these
details necessarily are subject to con-
stant change resulting from the with
drawal . battleships from active COM
mission on account of having been de-
clared antiquated or in need of repairs,
and the substitution of other ships just
going into commission and fresh from
the builderI hanus.
There Is in the department today
scarcely anyone authorized to afford
any information as to the contemplated
fleet movement. Secretary Metcah is
In California. Assistant Secretary
Newberry is at Watch Hill, r. l. Ad-
miral Brownson, chief Of the naviga-
ton bureau, has gone to New York
The acting secretary of the navy to-
day is Rear Admiral Mason, chief OF
the bureau of ordination, who assumes
the office by virtue of seniority, but
can scarcely he regarded as authority
in the matter of the disposition of
ships which does not directly concern
his bureau work.
The opinion of officers on duty today
Is that but one route is feasible for the
big ships, and that is by way of the
Straits Of Magellan. This, according
III, hoa+ lo tinpc ond o1loWinp
for short visits to the ports not on the
miles in length. 1t is conceded that
Rear Admiral Robley d. Evans will
command the fleet in this great move-
ment. It is believed now the sail route
for the ships will be about as follows:
Leaving New York or Hampton Roads
in the early fall, the battleships would
probably steam straight to Cuoebra,
where coal could be taken on. The
next stop will be Rio Janeiro. From
that points vessels would not halt un-
til they reached Sandy Point in the
Strait Of Magellan. Here again the coal
supply would be replenished for the
run to- Callao, Peru.
The next stage would be from Callao
to Panama, and from that point ships
would proceed without a stop to San
francisco. It is believed that after
reaching the Peruvian waters the
movement of the vessels will be much
more deliberate than up to that point.
Altho reason for the statement is not
officially obtainable, it is apparent an
explanation is to be found. In fact, the
battleships will be within easy reach of
San Francisco. In other words, they
could in an emergency, arrive at that
port before any other fleet could. Ad-
miral Evans will, it is expected, start
otu with sixteen battleships besides
the golfers, which will move more or
less independently. and, indeed. will
probably precede him considera bly,.
The armored cruisers Washington and
Tennessee, which are now in the
French waters, are under orders to re-
turn to the United States and after
refitting to proceed to the Pacific coast
to form part of the armored cruiser
squadron to be assembled there. When
Evans arrives off the Pacific coast his
fleet will be increased by the addi-
tional battleships Nebraska, Wisconsin
and OREGON,