Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-03-21
TO Be WORLD CRUISE
Battleship Fleet to Visit Australian
Ports.
RETURN BY SuEz CANAL
President and Cabinet Accept Invita-
ton Of Australia to the Fleet
viii Not Touch at Japan.

/ Washington, March 14-At the cab
met meeting Friday the president and
his advisors decided to accept the ia.
vitation extended by Sir Alfred Daak.
| In, in behalf. Of the Commonwealth OF
Australia for the battleship feet. now
at Magaaiena Bay, to visit Australia
During the discussion Of The timer
airy for the homeward trim or the feet
Secretary Root submitted to the eresi-
dent and cabinet letter from James
! Bryce the British ambassador, which
was sent to the state department on
March 2, in which King Edward IN
dorses the invitation to the feet TO
visit Australia Ambassador Bryce's
letter is as follows:
Sir. | am directed By His Majestv's
principal secretary Of the state for for
eign affoirs to bring to the attention
of the United States government the
hope expressed by the government OF
the commonwealth of Australia that
the United States fleet now in the Pa
cific ocean may be instructed to visit
the principal ports Of Australia, where
it would be assured most cordial and
enthusiastic welcome
I am further desired to inform you
that this invitation of the Australian
government to the American feet is
Endorsed most cordially b. His Males
tvs government, and to express to you
the satisfaction with which His Mai
esty's government viii welcome an in
timation Of the acceptance Of it by
the government of the United States
have the honor, ETC.,
JAMES BRYCE
The Return Itinerary.
After the cabinet meeting Secretary
of the Navy Metcalf announced that
the return itinerary for the fleet had
been arranged He stated that the
frora Magdalena Bay until Hay 5.
they would be welcomed by the citi-
zens, and on May the grand naval
parade and review would take place
The ships will have to coal at San
Francisco. and the stay at that port
will be for a length of two weeks at
least At the invitation of thu Can
adam government ii is probable that
run will be made from Seattle to
Vancouver, British Columbia, after
which the battleships will return to
Puget Sound to dock and and be made
ready for the homeward trip. 1t s
not probable that the fleet will visit
Alaska, as the vessels have to be dock.
ed and rendezvous at San Francisco
by the list Of July so as to be ready
to start from that port on July 6.
To Visit Our Possessions.
The secretary stated at the cabinet
meeting that it had been decided to
visit "our possessions in the Pacific"
and on its way to the Philippines to
allow stops at Australia. The first
stop after leaving San Francisco will
be Honolulu, Hawaiian islands, thence
the fleet will go to Guam, Samoa, and
from there to Australia, stopping at
both Sidney and Melbourne The
length of the stay at these ports is
not decided upon vet Leaving Aus
traIia the fleet win go to Manila and
remain there long enough for the fleet
TO participate in fal target practice.
The fleet will not visit any port in
Jaran and after the practice and ma
neuvers in the Philippine waters the
homewsrd voyage to the Atlantic
Cost will be begun via the Suez canal.
It is not expected that the feet will
reach the Atlantic Coast of the United