The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-03-17
SQUADRON TO SAIL
AROUND THE WORLD.
Voyage Will be Made by Way Of
Suez Canal-Invitation of Aus
tralia Accepled-Will Visit
Number of Foreign
Cities.

Washington, March 13.-Aimiral
Evans's battlcslip fleet, after leav-
ing San Francisco, will visit Hawaii,
Samoa, Melbourne and Sydney, Aus
traia, and the Philippines and re-
turn to New York by way Of The Sucz
canal.
Secretary Metcalf announced the
future movements Of the fleet at the
cabinet meeting today. 1t will leave
Sam Francisco on July G''for our Pa
clflc possessions" as Metcalf STYLED
at. The vessels will first touch at
Hawaii, where they will coal. Ate:
that they will go to Samoa, following
tnls up by a visit to Australia, where
they will stop at the cities Of Mel
bourne and Sydney, the invitation of
the Australian government to visit
that country having been supplement-
cd 10y Il most cordial one from the
BRITISH ambassador, Mr.. bryce. Eeav-
ing Australia, The vessels are to 90
TO Manila and while in the Phil]iD-
pines the annual fall target practice
VIII be llc'd. Thence tllc return will
be made to the United States by way
or the Su'z canal, stopping only at
such ports is arc necessary for
coallng purposes. The date Of their
return to The United States is depend
cnt entirely upon the amount Of time
required for the target practice in the
Ihlllpplncs. The visit Of the battle
ships 10 Puget sound will be made
some time between the conclusion of
the grand review in San francisco
May S and the date Of sailing over
tho Pacific.
Asked to Visit Australia.
Secretary Motcalf today made pub
lie Il copy Of Il letter addressed to
Secretary Root on March . by AM
bassador Bryce, supplementary Tho
invitation extended by Sir Alfred
pcakiu in bAlalr Of the common
wealth Of Australia for the battle
ships t" visit Inai country on their
return to the United States. The lei
ter Is rs OlIOWS:
81 am directed by his ma.icsty's
principal secretary Of state for for
cign affairs to bring to the attention
OF tl.c Omitted States government the
hope expressed by INC government Of
the commonwealth Of Australia thai
the United States fleet now in the
Dn.iii,. ,.,,n n,,, Ia, ,,,i ,,,1 ~
visit the principal ports of Australia,
where it. would be assured II MOST cor
dial and enthusiastic welcome.
81 ann further directed to inform
.you that this invitation Of the ATS
tralian government to the American
fleet is endorsed most cordially by
his majcStyE government and to en-
press I" y"n the satisfaction with
which his ma. irSly's government will
welcome an inlimation Of It's accept
ance by the government of the
United Statcs.'
Secretary Mctcalf said tlw,t the
bmttlcships would remain i'm San
Francisco until about May %, dur
ing which time they would fill their
bunkerS with coal. According to the
present plan the entire fleet will 80
up to Puget sound and some of the
ships may be scmt over to Vancouver.
all returning to San Francisco, how
cver, before departing from home.
Admiral Evans will retire in August
by operation Of law. Secretary Met
calf said that no decision dad vet
been arrived ut as to who will sue
ceed him in command of tho fleet on
its homeward voyage.
1t has not been determined by the
navy department whether the torpedo
boat destroyer flotiln shall accom-
pany the battlcShips on t;,eir voyage
around the world. The settlement of
this question will depend on the O II
dition OF tho little vessels when thay
reach San Francisco. There is a posi-
bility THAT the hospital ship Relief
will accompany the fleet, ms also
will the supply ships, the repair ship
and some Of the golfers.