Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-07
RETURN OF WARSHIPS
SECRETARY METCALF AP-
PROVES OF ARRANGEMENTS

Now that it has been practically deter
mined by the President that the battle
ship fleet shall return to the Atlantic by
way of Suez, the near approach of the
feet to it's original destinaton-the CaiiA
fornia coast-has made it necessary for
the naval officials to arrange the details
of the itinerary for the homeward move
ments. Already several conferences have
been held upon this subject between the
President and Secretary Metcalf. Admiral
PilIsbury chief of the navigation bureau.
and Admiral Cowles. chief of the equip
ment bureau. the latter being specially
charged with the duty of coaling the
fleet
The last conference. held yesterday, was
intended to place Secretary Metcalf in
possession of full information as to what
had been accomplished by the bureau
chiefs in preparation for the return
cruise. He was perfectly satisfied with
the result. Admiral Cowles has already
dispatched large stores of coal to the
Hawaiian Islands and to Manila. and he
has further ascertained Just how much
fuel he can obtain at Port Said and the
price he will have to pay for it.
This is as far as he could go in the alb
sence of official orders to make pur-
chases. 1t is the business of Admiral
Pillsbury to prepare these orders and he
has already. after consultation with his
assistants in the navigation bureau. been
able to frame them and lay them before
the President So it is expected that in
the course of a few days the formal or
ders will issue. and Immediately all OF
the plans that have been so carefully
worked out for the fleets return move
ments will be put into execution. The
point of doubt is the disposition to b.
made of the ships upon their arrival in
Asian waters. for while it is reasonably
certain that some of them will be sent t.
Japan it is not known whether the move
ment in that direction will be general or
confined to about four representative
ships.
The Return Route Discussed.
Secretary Metcalfs announcement yes
terday that the homeward itinerary of
the Atlantic battleship fleet is how under
active consideration and would be COM
pleted and announced shortly has led to
considerable interesting discussion on that
subject
The return route which is being given
the most favorable consideration is that
by way of the Suez canal. The alterna-
tive routes are to retrace the outward
journey and again skirt South America
or to loop the African continent and go
by way of the Cape of Good Hope.
The possibility that international COM
plications might result from the accept
ance of the hoSptable invitations of for
eign countries for friendly visits is
known to be one of the serious problems
confronted in arranging the itinerary.
Should the SueZ route be decided upon.
the stops might be restricted soleIy to
coaling stations. and but five stops made.
Those considered in that connection are
Honolulu, Manila, Colombo, Auel anu
Gibraltar.
The evoIutions of the fleet on the Pa
cific coast are being planned, and 1t Is
likely that the expected itinerary an
| nOuncement spoken of may lnciude only
the plans for these festivities and that
the question of a return route may be left
open for decision. to depend on future de-
velopments and conditions.
Trip Ends March Is.
The feet, which left Callao February %
is expected to reach Magdalena bay
March 15 About five weeks will be re-
auired for the sixteen battleships to COM
plete thei- target practice, when they
will move to the southern California
coast Stops at San Diego and other
places on the coast will bring the fleet to
San Francisco between May 5 and s. The
exact date of arrival will be set within
the next few days, SO as to accommodate
the people of the Pacific coast, who are
arranging elaborate programs of recep-
tion.
Following the review OF the fleet in
San Francisco bay by Secretary Metcalf
the ships will be docked at Hunters Point
and the Puget Sound navy yard. That
will require two or three weeks. depend
ing upon the extent of repair work neces-
saw.
| The entire fleet will assemble at Seattle
| the early part of June. as soon as the
| ships are out of dock. and an extensive
program of joint maneuvers and battle
| practice will be carried out, in Puget
sound.
| Following that work which will last till
! well into July, the fourth division Of the