Albuquerque citizen., 1907-10-25
NOTHING WILL PREVENT
SAILING OF BIG
WARSH|PS
Secretary MetCalf Says to
Stop Would Make
Country Laugh.
ing Stock.
OFFICERS ASK TO
REMAIN IN ISLAND
Both Generals Wood and Bliss
Desire to Continue On Duty
In Philippines Because
Trouble Is In Sight
There.

Washington, ID, c., Oct. 25.-The
navy department today authorized
the installation of fire control. on the
Pacific fleet. This provides for the
new system of range finding and fire
control to be installed in the Me-
braska, Pennsylvania, Colorado,
Maryland, West Virginia, South Da-
kota, Milwaukee and Charleston.
Regarding the persistent criticism
in this country and abroad regard
ing the policy of sending the battle
ship fleet to Pacific waters of the
United States. Metcalf today declared
that no pressure could prevent the
fleet from going and that the result
would be a larger navy for this
country.
He remarked that to withdraw the
order for the fleet to sail would be
to stultify this government and make
1t a laughing stock, as it alone was
the judge of the policy involved in
ordering the fleet to take the long
cruise. No other government, he in
sisted, had any right to question the
movements of the United States navy
in its own waters. As to the criti-
cisms that the fleet was not in con-
ditlon to make such trip, he said
they were unfounded and that the
ships could have left on twelve
hours notice after the assembly in
Hampton Roads. Moreover Admiral
Evans has said that he could get his
fleet in action at moments notice.
Would Isemain in Islands.
There are strong surface indica-
tions that important military devel-
opments are looked for In the Phil
ippine islands in the near future.
Chief among the things pointing
to that conclusion is the fact that
Major General Leonard Wood, com
manding that military division, and
Brigadier General Tasker II. Bliss,
commanding the department of Min
danao, have asked for further service
in the archipelago.
General Wood will start for the
United States next month by way of
Europe to take command of the de-
partment of the east at New York,
as relief of Major General F. d.
Grant, who Is to be transferred to
Chicago to command the department
of the lakes.
Wood VIII go Back.
Major General John f. Weston,
now commanding the department of
Luzon, will succeed General Wood
in command of the troops in the
Philippines. After a brief stay in the
United States General Wood plans to
return to the islands and resume
command. General Weston would
then resume his duties at Manila.
1t is understood that General Wood
has asked that this be done and that
the president has approved his ap-
plication.
General Bliss also has asked that
he be continued in command in the
Philippines for another two years
following his present term of service
in the islands.
The circumstances are regarded of
more than ordinary significance in
view of the possibilities for trouble
in connection with discrimination
against Orientals Dy the United
States and also with the mainten-
ance of the open door in China.
When the fertilization works in the
Philippines now in progress are
completed, within the next two years
the Islands will be a military base of
great Importance. The administration
wants a strong man there and Gen
eral Wood is thought to I'LL the bill.