The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-08
Admiral Dewey Discusses the
Transfer of the Fleet.
Thinks 1t Will Lessen the Like
lihOOd of War.
NOT TO PHILIPPINES.
Thinks 1t Bad Policy to Cross
the Ocean.
Could Soon Retake the Islands
If They We're Lost.

New York, July S-Admfral Dewey.
who is sojourning for the summer at
Richard Springs, N. Y, is quoted In an
interview published in the American to-
DAY as saying in regard to the transfer
Of the battleship feet to the Paoifc:
1t Is pity we have not ships enough
to keep powerful fleets in both oceans.
put since we have not, it seems that
In the interests of peace It is best at this
Pacific. - -,
This cruiser transfer, or whatever
you like to call it, is a mission of peace.
do not think it likely that this coun-
try will become seriously involved with
any power. But, If trouble should come
by any chance, it is well to be fully pre-
pared for it.
1T Is necessary for US to hold the bal
ance Of sea power on the Pacific. The
defenses on that coast are not up to the
standard of the Atlantic. That the ma
ton that has this power controls the
situation was proven in our war with
Spain.' 4 =
In discussing the possibility OF the
fleet going to the Philippines. the adj
miral said:
"I would say that unless the dsnaer
was most imminent it would not be ad-
visable to concentrate a large fleet with
hundreds of officers and thousands or
men in Philippine waters. The climate
is not right as 1 know from personal
experience.
IAN enemy might take the Philip
pines 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 battle
ships, he said, should have no more
difficulty than a ferry boat has in cross
ing to Hoboken. 1t was merely a ques-
ton 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
nothing to fear. There were no enc
mics to threaten the Atlantic coast, he
said, and even If there were the army
could take care of them. The admiral
said the coast defenSes there are in ex-
cellent shape
In closing the interview Admiral
Dewey intimated that he saw two pos
sible effects of Importance in the trans
fer of the fleet. He believes it will urge
the construction of another Atlantic
feet, with the ships now being built as
a nucleus and he hopes 1t will stimu-
late and hasten the completion of the
Panama canal.
Rush Orders Given.
Portland, Ore, July S.-A dispatch to
the Oregonian from Seattle, says orders
have been given to rush the work on the
Eattleships oregon and Wisconsin, which
are undergoing extensive repairs at the
yard. The new battleship Nebraska
which went into commission a week ago
is to have her alterations made at once
and the crew will be called out as soon
as men can be brought here.
A dispatch to the Oregonian from Sc
attle says Admiral Burwell, command
ant of the Puget Sound navy yard, has
sent an urgent request that two extra
dry docks be built at Bremerton in addi-
ton to the new dock changes authorized
g. year ago and which the navy depart
ment has Just commenced to construct.
The dry dock to be built Immediately
will be twice as large as the solitary
dock at the Puget Sound yard, but Ad-
rniraI BurweIl believes with the natural
increase in the American fleet in the
Pacific and the fact that the deeper
draught boats can not get into the Mare
Island dock, extensive additions VIII
have to be made at Bremerton-