Evening star., 1907-08-27


from commercial establishments at the va
rous ports of call. The battle ships must be
coaled entirely by golfers. 1t Is estimated
that with four large colliers IN each port a
division Of four battle ships n,ay be coaled
| each day. the disagreeable operation requir-
ing thus four days for the entire fleet. Lib
erty will be given freely to the men at Rio
Janeiro and Callao.
Secrecy as to Coal Supply.
1t is stated that there will be considera-
Bile secrecy as to the coal supply at each
point as we'll as the facilities of the govern
ment for transportation. in order to prevent
any advance in prices which contractors
might ask If they knew there was a short
age Of available transports at any one
point. The estimate of 1O054O tons Of coal
required for the voyage means an initial ex-
pense of more than $500, GOO for fuel alone.
1t is frankly admitted that no plans have
yet been made for the return of the fleet
from the Pacific. An itinerary which would
take the battle ships entirely around the
world was submitted to the President. but
1t was not adopted.
Many persons here interpret this as mean
| ing the President is not at all the ships
will return from the Pacific. These persons
believe that after some time on the coast
the entire battle ship fleet, probably aug
! mented by the new battle ship Nebraska,
will cruise 1900 miles to the Philippines.
/ Arranging the Details.
Details of the movement of the great
battleship fleet around the continent of
South America are being systematically de-
veloped both on board Admiral Evans flag
ship Connecticut, where he is busy con-
suting with his personal staff and the Of
ficers in command of the fleet, and at the
Navy Department. where, by the Presidents
orders, the various naval bureaus are at last
formally authorized to put into execution
the plans for the fleet movement. Acting
Secretary NeWberry today stated that the
big ships are now under orders to engage
at once in their usual fall drills. In fact,
Admiral Evans telegra phed from Fort Mon
roe last evening that he had sailed from
Hampton roads with his flagship Connect
cut and fifteen battleships for The southern
drill grounds, lying about forty miles Off
the Chesapeake capes. There is at this
place large triangle, on the three sides of
which a great deal of shipping passes day
and night but within the limits of which
very few craft venture, thus affording a
sple endid water space for unobstructed naval
drilling.
Here the fleet will spend two weeks in
practicing fleet and squadron formations,
a most necessary work of preparation for
the long cruise in contemplation, well
as of great value in time of war. Then
the ships are to engage In the regular fall
target practice, consuming in this work be-
tween two weeks and a month.
Following that, Mr.. NewDerry said, the
ships would so to the navy yards, in pre-
arranged order, separating into groups ac-
cording to the various yards to which they
are permanently assigned. Two weeks
spent in the yards should put the vessels
in perfect condition for their cruise. and
in fact it is believed that they will be in
readiness by the first of December How
ever, few days will be spent in further