The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-03-14
under GUSE OF FIGHTING China is PREF airing FOR WAR
WITH UNITED STATES THIS is The OPINION Held AT washington
FLEET. 10
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCER I'm or
ITINERARY THAT INC LlJpEs
PHILIPPINES AND
AUSTRALIA.

AUSTRALIA.
WASHINGTON, March IA AdniraI
Evans battleship fleet, after LEAVING
San Francisco, viii visit Hawaii.
Samoa, Melbourne and sydney. Aus
tralIa. The PHILIPPINES and return
to New York by way ofthe suez canal
Secretary Metcalf announced the
ture movements Of the fleet after the
cabinet meeting to-day. It win leave
San Francisco on July 9Th, afor our
Pacific possessions as Mr.. MetcaIt
styled IT. The vessels will first touch
at Hawaii, where they Will coal After
that they will go to Samoa; following
this up by a visit to Australia, whore
they will stop at the cities Of Mel
bourne and Sydney, the Invitation 81
the Australian government to visit tint
country having been supplemented by
a more cordial one from the British
ambassador. Mr.. Bryce. Leaving Aus
tralia the vessels are to go to Manila
and while In the Philippines tine m
nual fall target practice wtii be held.
Thence the return Will be made TO q
United States by way Of the suez, z,atop
ping only at such ports as are
sary for coaling purposes. The date
of their return to the States IS q e
pendent, entirely upon the amoiint 81
time required for the target practice
in the PHILIPPINES The visit of the bat
tleshlps TO Puget Sound VIII he iiiilte
some time between the conclusion p
the grand reyiew In San Franeisco
bay on May stt and the date 81
calling over the Pacific
IAN rtEGo Cal, March A. News
that the American battleship fleet a
to .lndertake tour Of the world With:
in two oSmonths after his ARRIVAL sssen
francisco on May 9th. was flashed by
aiteIess telegraph to the battieshlns
fof Admiral Evans at Magdalena Bag
late last night by the goveTnEle 80
tion at Point Iona. There ever
treason to believe that It was received
on board the vessels BY the oiileeFs
an raws alike with the greatest
gree 81 satisfaction. 1t has generally
been understood for some time IN M
val circles that the trip back to the
lantic station would be made BY way
OF Suez, but the otficial announcer
coupled with the early date Of start
ing on the second half Of the great ma
val narrower VIII give keeT plsssprs
to the men already proud OF the a
table achievements of their fleet,
The wireless station here was flood
ed with messages from Washlngton
during the day. The messages 81
cluded the news that the itinerary q
the world cruise starting from san
Francisco on July 6, and tnciudIfe
Hawaii. Samoa, Australia. and tho
Philippine Islands in the points to Pc
visited. had been formally appfoyed
by the president and his scabinet. The5
also included the cordial messagea II
congratulation of the President and
the navy department.
No Repairs Needed.
The fact that but two months sro
to be allowed between tie arrival ot
the fleet at san Franclsco and Il d
parture for the far east indicate that
no serious repairs are needed by any
CT the vessels and that any stays thas
may ge made in drydocka VIII be ex-
ceedingly short
So much interest will attach r. the
passage Of the fleet through Aslakic
waters and along the North African
shore and southern Europe that preaa
ing invitations undoubtedly VIII come
to the president from France Ger-
many and England. and 1t Is belIeyed
by navy oncers here that the iIeel
will visit al of those countries Instead
of sailing direct from Gibraltar q New
York.
Some comment Is occaslnned by the
fact that no mention 10 made 81 tie
possibility Of visit 81 tho ID tleships
to Japanese waters. Atornal invita-
tion from Japan. It Is SAID, Inifh be
complied with during the stay 81 The
fleet in the Philippine island 81 affar
the completion or the fallpfactice
ts. siesl'i3 y,