The Washington herald., 1908-01-19
FLEETTOPHILIPPINES
Congress Said to Have Been
Notified by President.
NEED OF COAL FORCES HAND
Thousands OF Tons stored at Ha-
WRii ana ut Cavite-MiIitary Prep
arations Being Made Here Despite
Friendly Attitude Of Japanese Of
ficials-Hay Affect Their Feeling.

Within the past few days the admins
tration has made known 10 some OF the
Congressional leaders that Rear Admiral
Evans battle ship fleet would cross the
Pacific Ocean to the Philippines.
In this connection the Congressional
leaders We're informed also that il was
intended to have the feet return to the
Atlantic coast of the United States by
way OF the suez Canal and the Mediter-
ranean Sea.
Ever since and for some time before
the departure Of the fleet from Hampton
Roads, just a month ago, all inquiries
es to the programme Of the fleets move
ments after its departure from the Pacific
coast have been met in official quarters
by the statement that no determination
in this regard would be reached until
after the battle ships had arrived at San
Francisco.
The intention to send the fleet across
the Pacific to the Philippines would not
now be disclosed, even to friends of the
administration, had it not been necessary
to explain the reasons for a request of
the Navy Department for an increased
additional appropriation to purchase and
transport coal for the navy
Need Money to buy Coal.
In order to bring the fleet home by way
of the Philippines large amount of coal
must be bought in this country and
shipped to Cavite. the navy yard on
Manila Bay. Much money viii be needed
also to buy coal at ports on the home
ward route by way of the Suez and the
Mediterranean. In explanation of the
desire for an increased appropriation for
coal, the administration found it advisable
TO admit TO the legislative leaders that
decision had been reached TO have the
fleet return by the route indicated
Already the Navy Department has be-
gun 10 make It's preparations for sending
the fleet across the Pacific. Sixty thou
sand tons Of coal have been stored at
Honolulu, and by April /, according to
present plans. there viii be 10000 tons at
Cavite
The money asked from Congress will be
sufficient To place more coal at Cavite
and buy coal supplies at ports In Asia
and Europe on the hOmeward voyage.
Making Military Preparations.
It IS apparent that there has been a sHd-
den renewal Of activity in the way Of
military preparation 10y this government
but there is no real reason for believing
that this has any marked significance
other than an awakening on the part Of
the government 90 the fact that its de-
fenses on the Pacific Coast and in the
Hawaiian Islands and the Philippines are
In "a very unsatisfactory condition. The
diplomatic negotiations with Japan for "A
settlement of the cOolie labor question
are I'm excellent shape and barring the
possibility Of the overthrow Of the present
Japanese cabinet which is friendly to the
United States. and the accession to power
Of a JiuEo minority. there appears to be
little danger of q clash.
Ignore Friendly Attitude.
In the face of this favorable state Of
affairs. however. the Washington govern
ment is preparing 20 send the great bat
tie ship feet 70 the far East, and al
though the lnsistent declaration that the
mission Of the ironclads is entirely peace
able may DE accepted in thorough good
faith by Japan, il is evident that a sec
ton of the japanese people viii be glad
20 take advantage of the opportunity 10
revive the anU-American feeling in that
country which followed the exclusion OF
japanese pupils from the San Francisco
schools. and the attack by the h00dlums
on japanese restaurants in that city
Secretary Taft's declarations in Philadel-
phia on Tuesday night The influence Of
the navy in the Orient for the United
states can but be beneficial" and that
che eye of the Oriental is the organ
through which he reasons and thinks"
are likely TO be read more carefully in
Tokyo when it becomes generally known
that the fleet will cross the Pacific.