The sun., 1908-01-19
VOL. LXXV.-N0. 14l.
FLEET TO CROSS The PACIFIC
LEADERS IN CONGRESS BEING
LET INTO THE SECRET.

VIII he Asked for Money for Coal supply
for Long Voyage Home Via philippines
ana saez CAnAl-stOres In Manila and
Honolulu AlreAdy-Japan's Attitude.
WASHINGTON. JAM ls.-Within the last
few days. the Administration has made
known to some Of the leaders in Congress
h,at Rear Admiral Evanss battleship feet
would cross the Pacific Ocean to the Philip
pines. In connection with this programme
rhe leaders were informed also that it was
intended to have the feet return to the At
lantic coast Of the United States by way OF
the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea.
Ever since the departure Of the Heet from
Hampton Roads, just a month ago. all in
auiries as to the programme after the de-
parture from the Pacific Coast had been
met in official quarters by the statement
that no determination In this regard would
be reached until after tho battleships arrived
AZ San Francisco. The intention to send
the feet across the Pacific to the Philippines
Is now disclosed because It 10 necessary TO
explain the reasons for a request Of the
Navy Department for an increased appro-
rriation TO purchase and transport coal.
In order to bring the feet home by way
nf the Philippines a large amount Of coal
must he bought in this country and shipped
10 Cavite. the navy yard on Manila Bay.
Much money will be needed also 20 buy
coal at ports on the homeward route by
way Of the Suez and the Mediterranean.
10 explanation Of the desire for an increased
appropriation for GOAL the Administra-
ton found it advisable to admit to the leg
;slative leaders that q decision had been
reached to have the feet return by the
route indicated.
Already the Navy Department has be-
gun 70 make its preparations for sending
the feet across the Pacific. Sixty thousand
tons Of coal has been stored at Honolulu,
and by April l. according TO present plans.
there will be 100. 900 tons Of coal at Cavits-
The money asked from Congress viii be
sufficient 70 place more coal at Cavite and
huy coal supplies at ports In Asia and Europe
on the homeward voyage.
Il is apparent that there has been q sudden
renewal Of activity in the way Of military
preparation by this Government, but there
is no real reason for believing that it has
any marked significance other than an
awakening on the part Of the Government
70 the fact that its dsfences on the Pacific
Coast and in the Hawaiian Islands and the
Philippines are in a very unsatisfactory
condition.
The diplomatic negotiations with Japan
for settlement Of the coolie labor question
-. aha nd hav-r h.
posi- bility Of the overthrow II the present
Japanese Calumet, which is friendly 60 ttte
United States. and tho accession TO power
of a lingo Ministry there appears to be
little danger Of a clash. ..
In the face Of this favorable state OF
affairs, however. the Washington Govern
meut is preparing TO send the great battle
ship feet to the Far East, and although the
insistent declarations that the mission Of
the armorclads is entirely peaceable may
be accepted in thorough good faith by
Japan. it is evident that a section Of the
Japanese people will be glad to take ad-
vantage Of the opportunity to revive the
anti-American feeling in that country
which followed the exclusion Of Japanese
people from the San Francisco schools
and the attack by hoodlums on Japanese
restaurants in that city.
Secretary Taft's declarations in Phila-
delphia on Tuesday night that -the infiu-
ence Of the navy in the Orient for the United
States cannot but be beneficial and that
the eye Of the Oriental is that organ through
which he sees and thinks" are likely to be
read more carefully in Toxic when il be-
comes known generally that the feet will
cross the Pacific.
Rear Admiral Evans, at Rio de Janeiro.
has cabled the Navy Department asking
for permission to order the torpedo hOtilla
to accompany the battleships from Rio de
Janeiro TO Sandy Point, because Of the fact
that the destroyeTs have fallen 30 far be-
hind their schedule The Department has
authorized Admiral Evans to use his dis
cretion in the matter, and it is not likely
that the hotilla will make any stops be-
tween Rio de Janeiro and Sandy Point.
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