The Washington herald., 1907-07-19
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1907.


The New York World has obtained from
Oyster Bay what is represented to be
an authoritative statement indicating the
view Of the President himself and Of this
government" as 70 the proposed transfer
of the battle-ship feet 70 the Pacific.
The statement agrees with all the others
that have emanated from official sources
in declaring that the projected fleet move
ment has nothing to do with the Jap
anese question, but it adds a fresh ex-
planation TO those already given as to
that it is intended simply 20 find out
in what particulars, # any, our battle
ships may be defective" Moreover. the
statement leaves the matter Of desti-
nation undetermined, saying that the
present plan is TO have the battle ships
go on a cruise IN the fail, when they
may go TO the Pacific"
So far from clearing up the mystery
surrounding the genesis and motive Of
the plan for the transfer Of the battle
ship fleet TO the Pacific, we are of opinion
that this latest statement intensides it.
Il have planned this cruise around Cape
Horn for the practice Of the squadron"
said Secretary Metcalf at Oakland to
which Oyster Bay replied There Is no
intention Of sending a fleet at once 10
the Pacific, but if it does go. the move
ment will be merely part Of the ordinary
routine OF naval administration. Then
Rear Admiral BrOwnson visited the Pres
ident and came back with information
that the fleet would sail for the Pacific
in order 10 demonstrate its speed. At
the same time an inspired utterance was
given TO the press, saying IN effect that
the President would use the feet for the
same purpose for which he had urged
its augmentation-as a guaranty of peace.
Meantime. Admiral Dewey, who, as chair
man Of the general board of the navy,
is credited with having recommended 10
Mr. Roosevelt the concentration Of battle
ship strength IN the Pacific as a guaranty
Of peace, declared that the transfer Of
the fleet was necessary in order 10 seize
and hold the balance Of power in the
Pacific as a preparation for possible
trouble in the Orient This Interpretation
OF the significance Of the proposed naval
movement has been widely accepted and.
indeed no other Interpretation is intel
ligible. unless we assume that the whole
business was intended as a bluff or a
threat. Is Admiral Dewey's conception
Of the purpose of the battle-shlp move
ment all wrong. and was the news sup
piled by official sources in Washington
concerning the movement a gigantic
No a
of tergiversatiOn? 1t looks very much as
il there were some hedging in this newest
Presidential statement Why not a frank,
straightforward declaration Of naval
policy If there is to be a new policy?
It is hardly necessary 10 send the battle
ships on long cruise 10 discover their
defects, for they are well known 10 naval
officers, il not 10 the public, Defective or
not, they are, according to & writer in
the July number Of The Navy no more
ht 10 make an early appearance in battle
trim on the waters OF the Pacific than
was the Inflated fleet commanded by
Rogestvensky.' The same magazine de-
clares:
This scheme for the dispatch Of the battle fleet
to the Pacific is one Of two or three things: 1t is
4 diplomatic move made fnIitless and ridiculous by
hasty denials and still hasty admissions; il is
piece Of politics PLAYED for the benefit Of Pacific
Coast constituencies or it is simply and solely
blunder. The mistake Of the government is due to
its failure 10 recognize Just what ought to be DONE
Just bow what ought TO be done should be done and
how far the means at hand were sufficient for the
object sought The whole affair is a humiliating
mess"
Who IS responsible for the blunder, and
the humiliating mess. and all the rest of
the miserable business And what was
the object of it all? The mystery Of the
maneuver remains unsOlved