Omaha daily bee., 1908-03-14
First Stop Will Be Made in the
Hawaiian Islands.
WILL THEN VISIT AUSTRALIA
Fall Target Practice Will Be Held 0A
Philippines.
NEWS IS SENT TO BATTLEsH1ps
Fact that start 10 to he Made So
Early Indicates that Vessels
Are in Splendid Con-
dttion.

WASHINGTON, March 49, - Admirs
Evans battleship fleet after leaving Sal
Francisco will visit Hawaii, Samoa Mel
bourne and Sydney. Australia. the Philip
pines and return to New York by way
the Suez canal
Secretary Metcaif announced the fitur
movements of the fleet after the cabine
meeting today. 1t will leave San Fran
cisco on July s, for our Pacific posses
sion." as Mr.. Metcalf styled II. The YES
sells Will first touch at Hawaii, where the
will coal. After that they will 20
Samoa, following this up by a visit
Australia, where they will stop at tho elite
of Melbourne and Sydney, the invitation o
the Australian government to visit tina
country having been supplemented by
more cordial one from the British ambas
sador Mr. Bryce.
Leaving Australia the vessels are TO &C
to Manila, and while in the Philippines
the annual fall target practice will be held.
Thence the return will be made TO ne
United States by way of the suez canal,
stopping only at such ports as are neces-
sary for coaling purposes.
Return Date Uncertain.
The date of the return to the states is
dependent entirely upon the amount of time
! ItVulIeQ lOI lne AdTktl pEdClNe III tue
| Philippines. The visits of the battleships
to, Puget Sound will be made some time
between the conclusion of the grand re-
view in San Francisco bay on May and
| the date of the sailing over the Pacific
The following congratulatory telegram,
| signed by Secretary Metcalf. was today
sent TO Rear Admiral Evans:
The department consratulates you and
| the men and officers of the Atlantic fleet
/
| Pacific in exact accordance with the
itinerary and also upon the efficiency Of
! the ships and the time of the arrival at
Magdalena bay.
On behalf of President Roosevelt the
Navy department also sent congratulations
to Admiral Evans on the arrival of the
fleet and the splendid record II had made
News Sent to the Fleet.
SAN DIEGO, Cal, March 19.-News that
tho American battle fleet is to undertake
| a tour of the world within two months
after its arrival at San Francisco on May
was flashed by wireless telegraph TO
the battleships of Admiral Evans com
mand at Magdalena bay late tonight by
the government station at Point Iona.
There is every reason to believe that it
was received on board the vessels by off
GERS and crews alike with the greatest de-
gree Of satisfaction. 1t has generally been
understood for some time in naval circles
that the trip back to the Atlantic station
would be made by way of Suez. but the
Official announcement coupled with the
early date on the second half of the worlds
greatest naval maneuver. will give keen
pleasure to the men already proud Of the
notable achievements OF their fleet.
The wireless station here was flooded
with messages from Washington during the
day and there was several hours OF send
ing work before the operators late this
evening established communication with
the Connecticut Practically all of the
messages were in code but they included
the news that the itinerary of the worlG
cruise. starting from San Francisco OF
July and including Hawaii, Samoa Aus
tralia and the Philippines in the points t,
be visited had been formally approved BY
the president and his cabinet. They aisc
Included the cordial messages OF congratu.
lation from the president and the Navy
department. These messages win be read
to the crews Of the sixteen ships at quar-
ters" tomorrow morning. at which time an
nouncement of the SueZ route and another
round of friendly visits to hospitable for
eign ports will be made.
ships fn Good Condition.
Admiral Evans, who will relinquishz com
mand of the fleet during its Forthcoming
stay at San Francisco, and who goes on
the retired list when he attains the age
of So years in August, was expecting some
official word from Washington on the sub
ject of the future movements of the fleet
and it was in view OF this and to enable
the department to prepare It's program
that he sent the message on the night OF
his arrival off Magdalena bay to the effect
that the ships could start on any mission
at days notice. and were in far better
shape as to machinery and efficiency Of
crews than on the day of sailing from
Hampton Roads
The fact that but two months is to be
allowed between the arrival Of the fleet
at San Francisco and its departure for the
far east Indicates that serious repairs are
not needed by any Of the vessels and the
further fact that any stays that may be
made in dry docks will be exceedingly
short.
The time for repairs further viii be cut
> down by the excursion Of the fleet to the
Puget sound to give the people OF the
north Pacific coast an opportunity TO see
and visit the ships which have occupied so
much of the worlds attention during the
last three months. The residents OF the
coast are somewhat disappointed over the
brevity OF the ships stay in these waters
, but they are patriotiealy proud OF the fact
. that the flag is TO be shown all the way
, around the world.
Longest Cruise on Record.
/ President Roosevelt announced In his last
message TO congress. In referring to the
A trip OF the battle fleet" to Magdalena
i Bay and San Francisco. that no such fleet
had ever undertaken such a cruise In the
history OF the worlds nRvies.
The significance and importance. there
fore. OF the added journey through "ouI
> Pacific possessions" and on through. the
suez canal and the Mediterranean sea- IL
the eyes OF the chief executive and the
} navy officials. can well be imagined. Sc
: much interest viii attach to the passage
A.. OF the fleet through Asia, along the north
4 African shore and southern Europe. that
3 pressing invitations undoubtedly win come
| 10 the uresident from France Germany an