New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-06
ADD TO ATLANTIC FLEET
NAVY DEPARTMENT Plan.
Concentration, Not Separation, of
Battleships FaUOred.

washington, sept 5-It is authOritattvely
stated at the Navy Department that President
Roosevelt does not contemplate the creation
of two battleship fleets. Neither Secretary Met
calf nor the General Board. which is supposed
to represent the extreme view in naval de-
veopment, favors either the division of the pres
ent fleet under Admiral Evanss command or
the creation Of another fleet in order that
there may be formidable American navy in
both oceans-the Atlantic and the Pacific On
the contrary. it is regarded at the Navy De-
partment as better policy 10 maintain one per-
fectly equipped and well drilled fleet. free to
move speedily to any part of the globe at
short notice.
The present plans contemplate the increase
of the strength OF the existing Atlantic fleet
from eighteen to twenty-eight battleships This
will afford a command as large as can properly
be directed by any officer. and it will
moreover about mark the capacity of the ports
and drydocks in any particular section of the
world
1t is asserted positively at the department
that there is not the least intention of keeping
the battleships which will go to the Pacific per-
manently in those waters That feet. it is
added. surely will return to the Atlantic sea-
board after it has fulfilled its mission and
demonstrated the feasibility of transferring
safely such a vast naval force between the
oceans II is suggested at the Navy Depart
ment that before the gathering Of a similar
number Of naval vessels in the Pacific becomes
necessary this problem will be solved by the
completion of the Panama Canal
1t is pointed out at the department that even
were the President or the department SO us
posed, il would be impossible for them 70 pro-
vide for another such fleet Admiral Evans's
nresent command without authority from Con-
gress Several battleships. notably the New
Hannshire the Idaho and the Mississippi. ana
the three feet scout cruiserS-the salem, the
birmingham and the Chester-are under con-
s+ruction on the Atlantic seaboard, but naval
officials saw that before any of these SHIPS VIII
he IN commission the Atlantic fleet probably Will
have returned 10 Eastern waters
Z &c again stated at the Navy Department
that beyond his determination 70 nave Dii0
Atlantic fleet return TO its home stanoh' res
dent Roosevelt has not decided how the meet
shall return to the East. The General boalu
and Admiral Evans. with his staff. have pre-
nared MANS and full itineraries for return
cruises nv way OF the Straits OF Magellan. oy
the Cane Of Good Hope route, and by the NorIh
Pacific route via Manila and the Indian ocean
and Suez Two months notice Will De sur
fcient to enable the Navy Department bureaus
to execute all Of the preliminaries. such as &C
cumulating ample supplies Of coal at the Coh-
venient points. for the following Of any or
these itineraries so that the PRESIDENT has
until probably next July 10 decide
Secretary MetcaIf left San Francisco last
evening for the Bremerton naval station on
Puget Sound. After he has completed the ex-
animation of that station and ascertained how
many Of the battleships of Admiral Evans $
fleet can be conveniently accommodated there
he will return to Washington and begin the
preparation Of his annual report. devoting spe-
cial attention TO the problem Of the new naval
construction 10 be recommended TO Congress at
the approaching session. The understanding
is that al least two battleships will be sug-
gested.