Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-14
GERMANS ARE SURPRISED
British Officers Anxious to Extend
Hospitality.
SQUADRON MAY STOP AT MALTA
Hawaiians Are. Already Making
Preparations for the Reception
of the Warships.


cision to send the American battleshp
fleet back to the Atlantic coast by way
of Australia and the Suez canal is re-
ceiveu here as a crowning revelation Of
statement that the cruise is to be
tended in this manner has opened the
eyes of the French public, which had
been led to believe that the American
navy was a good deal OF bluff" Tho
cruise around South America would DEM
onstrate the incapacity of the vessels.
and that if it was accomplished the ships
would be ready for the scrap heap. Even
that the long voyage would develop struc-
tural weaknesses in the vessels them
selves. or at least serious breakdowns
in the engine rooms In view of these
arrived at Magdalena bay ahead of its
schedule, ready for target practice, and in
better condition than when 1t saio0
from Hampton roads in December, has
Want Full Particulars.
Many French officers now frankly say
that the impressive demonstration given
by the American fleet of its ability TO
keep at sea raises the American navy to
an equality with that of Great Britain.
and that if the return journey Is sue
cessful as the trip around South America
has been the American navy will have
demonstrated that it has no superiors in
the world.
The French minister of Marine NJ.
Thomson, is so impressed with the result
of this cruise that he is instructing Lieut..
Commander de Blanpre. the French ma
val attache at Washington. to proceed
to San Francisco and send in a full re-
port of the condition of the ships and
the lessons of the cruise. The lack Of
boiler accidents during the voyage al
ready has called out criticism of the con-
trast furnished by the French navy.
where trouble in the engine room is con-
stant. and NJ. Thomson has been inter-
pellated as to why the government does
not use the American type Of boiler.
which is now being manufactured in
France.
A salient feature of the cruise which is
attracting attention here is the success
obtained from the American system OF
employing line officers in the engine
rooms. This procedure up to the present
cism in French naval circles.
Great Britain Interested.
LONDON. March 14.-The announcement
that the American battleship fleet will re-
turn from the Pacific TO the Atlantic by
way of the Suez canal has created the
here. who are anxious to see the Amer
ican vessels and observe the effects of the
long cruise upon them. The news of the
cruise homeward was received too lats
naval officer has suggested that the gov
ernment should send an invitation to the
batteshps to come TO England. or if'thac
should be impossible for them to make an
official call at soma British port en- route
home. There will be opportunity for
British officers to show courtesies to the
officers of the fleet during it's visit to
Australia, at coaling stations and other
points. but these. naturally. will he on
small scale when compared with what
will be done should the battlcships come
to England or stop at Malta or Gibraltar.
Wanted at Malta.
Should the Americans fail to come to
England Malta would be the better place
to entertain them. as besides being the
headquarters for the Mediterranean fleet,
the Duke of Connaught. the new COM
mander-in-chief of the military forces OF
the Mediterranean has a residence there.
which makes it the center of much social
activity.
The cruise of the battleships from
Hampton roads to Magdalena bay has
been closely followed by Englishnen, who
Iaud the achievement. and a visit by them
to some British port would prove eX-
tremely popular.
Germany Gives Praise.
BERLIN. March 14.-Gcrman naval
critics are commenting upon the wonder
full feat of seamanship displayed in the
twelve-thousand-milc voyage of tho
American battleship feet under command
of Rear Admiral Evans and its arrival at
Magdalena bay four days ahead of its
schedule without ship being disabled
They consider it proof of excellent ma
teriai as we'll of personnel
The announcement that the feet will
continue its voyage after reaching San
pine Islands and Australia, ano thence
return homeward through the Suez canal
is regarded as the second half Of an un-
exampled voyage by a great war fleet.
The newspaper specialists on naval al
fairs say that these performances are
certain to place the American navy on a
high level in the worlds opinion, and that
they are likely to add to the esprit de
corps for which its personnel has long
been famous.
The details of the homeward voyage OF
the fleet will be watched with keen inter
est in Germany.
Preparations in Hawaii.
HONOLULU. March 14.-The official an
nouncement that the United States At
lantic battleship fleet is coming to Hawaii
has created the greatest enthusiasm here.
and preparations for the entertainment OF
the officers and men only await advices as
to the time of the arrival.
The commercial bodies and organiza-
tions of Chinese, Japanese and Hawaiians
will unite and form a committee OF 100
persons to be appointed by Gov. Frear. or
which the secretary of the territory will
act as chairman.
The matter of supplies for the ships, e.