Omaha daily bee., 1907-07-09
DEWEY THINKS IT GOOD MOVE
Admiral Says Moving of Fleet May
Hasten Canal Work.
MAY ALSO BRING LARGER NAVY
Sees No Danger I'm Leaving Atlantic
Coast Unprotected, but Would
Not Favor Visit to the
Philippines.

NEW YORK. July S-Admiral Dewey,
who is sojourning for the summer at Rich
field Springs, N. Y, is quoted in an inter-
view published in the American today as
saying In regard to the transfer of the
bettleship fleet to the Pacific:
1T Is a pity we have not ships enough
to keep powerful fleets in both oceans,
hut since we have not 1t seems that in the
interests of peace II is best at this time
that our feet should be in the Pacific.
This cruiser transfer. or whatever you
like to call it, is a mission OF peace. I do
not think It likely that this country will
become seriously involved with any power.
But If trouble should come by any chance
It is we'll to be- fully prepared for II.
1T is necessary for us to hold the bal
ance Of sea power on the Pacific. The de-
fenses on that coast are not up to the
standard of the Atlantic. That the nation
that has the power controls the situation
was proven in our war with Spain"
In discussing the possibility of the fleet
going to the Philippines, the admiral said:
II would say that unless the danger was
most imminent It would not be advisable
to concentrate a large fleet with hundreds
Of officers and thousands of men in Philip
pine waters. The climate is not right, as
l know from personal experience
Moral Eject would he Good.
"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 in
the Pacific will serve every purpose"
Admiral Dewey said there should be no
trouble in taking the fleet around the Horn
into the Pacific. The battlesnips, he said.
should have no more dificulty than
ferry has in crossing to Hoboken. 1t was
more a question of coal and question OF
dollars. So far as leaving the Atlantic
coast unprotected by the transfer of the
fleet, Admiral Dewey said there was moth
ing to fear. There were no enemies to
threaten the Atlantic coast, he said, and
even II there were, tho army could take
care OF them. The admiral said the coast
defenses there are in excellent shape.
In closing the interview Admiral Dewey
intimated that he saw two possible eff
fects Of Importance in the transfer of the
feet. He believes it will urge the con-
struction OF another Atlantic feet with the
ships now building a nucleus and pos
sibly 1t win stimulate and hasten the
completion of the Panama canal
Rushing work on BattIeshipe.
PORTLAND, ore, July S-A Seattle dis
been given to rush work on the batueships
oregon and Wisconsin. which are under
going extensive repairs at the yard The
new battleship Nebraska, which went into
commission a week ago. is to have its alter
ations made and the crew will be called out
as soon as men can be brought here
A special to the oregonian from Seattle
says Admiral Burwell, commandant OF the
Puget sound navy yard. has sent an urgent
request that two extra dry docks be built
at Bremerton, In addition to the new dock
congress authorized 4 year ago and which
the Navy department has just commenced
to construct The dry dock Is to be Inn
mediately built and will be twice as large
as the solitary dock at the Puget sound
dock, but Admiral Burwell believes. with
the natural Increase in the American feet
In the Pacific and the fact that the deeper
draught boats cannot get into the Mare
Island dock, extensive additions will have
to be made at Bremerton.
Japanese Are Optimistic.
THE HAGUE, July S.-Vice Admiral
Ijuin and the officers of the japanese
cruisers Chitose and Tsukuba, lying Off
Flushing, dined with Queen Wilhelmina at
Loo palace today. The Japanese minister
and the Dutch minister were included in
the party
Speaking of the American-Japanese ques-
tion, the Japanese officers said they did
not believe that a serious misunderstanding
was possible. The Japanese wished to
maintain good relations with the Amer
leans, and pointing to their swords. the
oficers added:
I'VE are determined not to draw them for
offense. but only for the defense of our
country from attack. In the latter case
you will fnd us ready for all sacrifices"