Evening star., 1907-07-08

United States batteship fieet-sixteen huge
floating fortresses-from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. the longest cruise OF the sort in
naval history.
That there might be no mistaking his
meaning Admiral Dewey dictated the ALL
meaning phrase as he sat on the shady
piazze of the Berkeley -waiontha Hotel in
peaceful Richfeld Springs. late yesterday
afternoon. 1t was his first utterance on the
subject since the navy board took up the
startling project Of transferring the ma
tons sea-fighting force around the Horn.
Balance Of Sea Power.
In the long. exclusive interview which
followed the Father of the Peace Cruise
for such title Is surely coming to him
tore off the fiinsy cloak which had been
officially thrown around the movement
since 1t was exclusively announced by the
American, June 10. To him the 5000
mile cruise Is not an experiment in naval
mobility 1t is for the purpose of keeping
peace in all the Pacific by seizng as
quickly as possible the balance of sea
power.
Although Admiral Dewey does not be-
lieye that this country Is likely to become
seriously involved with any foreign power.
he believes 1t necessary for the United
States navy to be paramount in the ocean
that has jumped into such strategic i'm
portance since the Spanish and the Rus
sian-Japan wars.
Reasons founded on his own experience
in the Philippines he gave for preferring
the Pacific coast to Manila as a permanent
naval base. From which one can safely
surmise that Admiral Evans tremendous
feet will go by Magellan instead of Suex
and that the majority of the big battleships
will shortly say goodbye to the Atlantic
for years to come.
Question Of Coal and Money.
He laughed at the dangers and difficult
transfer.
big as they are they will go around as
easily as the ferries cross the Hudson to
Hoboken." he said
1T Is simply q question of coal, and coal
in times Of peace Is a question Of money"
He refused to trenble over the prospect
OF an unguarded Atlantic coast. His an
swer to all such fears Is:
The army can care for coast defense"
In the transfer of the feet Admiral Dewey
sees two possible effects Of great national
Importance. He believes it will urge the
lantic fleet, with the ships now building as
a nucleus. and he hopes it will stimulate
and hasten the completion Of the Panama
canal.
mention of Japan. and that was in illus
trating the ease with which harbors like
New York and Port Arthur could be de-
Tended -
In Interest Of Peace.
This cruise or transfer or whatever you
like OF call 1t is a mission Of peace" con-
tinued the admiral. after his opening dicta-
ton Of belief. Il do not think 1t likely that
this country will become seriously involved
with any power. But IL trouble should
come by any chance 1t Is well to be fully
prepared for it.
Down in New York when your chief of
police hears Of a riot does he withdraw his
men? Not at all; he calls out the reserves
and stations them as preventive measure
In or about the scene OF the difficulty.
1T Is necessary for US to hold the bal
ance OF sea power on the Pacific. The de-
lenses on that coast are not up to the
standard Of the Atlantic. That the nation
which has this power control the situation
was proven in our war with Spain
There were 175.0oO Spanish soldiers on
Of the harbor Of Santiago de Cuba. with
the sinking of the feet the war practically
ended.
United States Too Big to Bottle Up.
Fortunately the United States Is 80 big
and has such vast internal resources that
it cannot be bottled UP as were the Span
fards. but the necessity for power on the
seas remains"
When l called his attention to the crit
tcfsm in certain quarters because the feet
IL rounding the Horn to q Pacific COAT
base instead Of cutting through Suez direct
ly to Manila, the admiral did not lack
reasons to support the navy boards recon-
mendations.
II would say that unless the danger was
most imminent 1t would not be adyisab,e To
concentrate large feet With hundreds of
officers and thousands Of men In Philippine
waters. The climate Is not right. as T kpnw
from personal experience.
There was thirteen months that I was
not out Of Manila bay. I sent the Olympia
to dry dock for cleaning and repairs, trans