Evening journal., 1907-08-08
BIG FLEET
TO GUARD
CALIFORNIA
Almost the Entire Cruiser
Strength Will be Modified
on Pacific Coast
SIXTEEN WARSHIPS
WILL BE ASSEMBLED
by THE JOURNALS Special wire.

by THE JOURNALS Special Wire
WASHINGTON. Aug. s-surprisine
revelations were made to-day through
the disclosure Of tho hitherto wells
guarded plans of the administration
20 begin at once tho mobilization in
Pacific coast waters. Of the most pow-
erful cruiser fleet ever assembled.
orders have been issued for almost
the entire cruiser strength OF tho
Asiatic squadron to be brought across
the Pacific. two new monster cruisers.
the California and Sough Dakota. viii
shortly be ready for service. the St.
Louis rs now making her way up tha
west coast and the Washington and
| Tennessee win start out to join them
before the close of August.
Fleet For California.
In accordance with the plans, the
people Of California viii shortly have
the opportunity of viewing sixteen
modern and capable lighting ships-'
eight Of the worlds biggest armed--
cruisers and an equal number Of pro-
tected cruisers-nefore Rear Admiral
Evans sails out from Hampton Roads
with his sixteen monster battleships
to ioin them
This new Pacific fleet will be undor
the command Of Rear Admiral James
H. Dayton. who will leave Manila
shortly. with four Of the heavy
armored cruisers.
The plans promise to create almost
as much Of a stir throughout the
world as the original announcement
of the decision Of the government to
transfer the Atlantic feet to the Paci-
hc
Officers OF the navy express the
opinion that the mobilization is for tho
purpose Of defending the Pacific coast.
should japan resent the movement Of
Admiral Evans fleet Of battleships.
, Philippines at Japans Mercy
II japan should see ht to strike a
sudden blow, the Philippines and other
insular possessions VIII be left to her
mercy, SO far as the navy is con-
cerned. as It is plainly apparent the
present force in the Far East would
not be sufficient to cope with for
midable enemy. and to attempt 10
= strengthen the force materially would
doubtless be resented by Japan as an
unfriendlv act. The transfer Of the
Atlantic fleet to the Pacific, Of course.
. viii leave the Atlantic coast unde-
= Tended. but il IS understood Admiral
Evans win keep I'm constant COM
munication by wireless or cable with
= the Washington authorities. The early
!. mobilization of the Dayton fleet is
made to prevent possible enemy from
sailing across the Pacific, and at NO
time win Admiral Evans be so fan
! away from the Atlantic that he could
= not turn about and arrive in time for
defense in case hostile fleet were
despatched from the Ear East through
the Suez
y Composition Of the Fleet.
" The composition of the new Pacific
fleet will be as follows:
First division-First squadron under
j command Of Rear Admiral James FL
Dayton-West Virginia, IS guns. 1s,-
$50 tons.
Colorado, IS guns, i30SO tons.
MARYLAND rs guns. 1850 tons.
!, Pennsylvania. is guns, 1850 tons.
. Second Division.
Tennessee. 20 guns. 1880 tons.
= Washington. 90 guns. 14500 tons.
California, is guns 1850 tons
! South Dakota. IS guns, 1850 tons.
Is Third Division.
r ST. Louis. Il guns. s,7OO tons.
r. Charleston. IA guns, 1900 tons.
r. Milwaukee. IA guns, 9.Ioo tons.
,e Chicago. IS guns. 5000 tons.
~ Fourth Division.
N Cinclnatti. II guns. s12s tons
In Raleigh. II guns, S,i29 tons.
y New Orleans. 10 guns, 3,43o tons
Ie Albany, 10 guns, s,iSO tons.
ust.r, r,Topc will hiring fOgnther of
the coast OF California by the end O
December. four divisions Of four yes
sells each. representing an aggregate
Of 159 $3.50 tons. and an aggregate o
90 guns Of four inches and over
N Admiral Evans IS battleships have
n an aggregate Of 2Ss 1856 tons, and 8
total number of s56 guns Of foui
inches and over.