New-York tribune., 1908-03-14
FLEET TO CRUISE
AROUND WORLD.
RETURN TRIP ITINERARY
ANNOUNCED.
BaftIeships WU Tisit Hazraii
Samoa. australia and the
Philippines.

San Diego. Cal March 13-Nevs that the
American hattIeship feet is TO undertake a tour
O. the world within two months after its arrival
g San Francisco on May was flashed by wire
less telegraph 10 the battleships OF Admiral
Tvans's command at Masdalena Bay late to-
right hy the government station at Point Iona,
There is every reason TO believe that it was re
reived by officers and crews alike with the great
time in naval circles that the trip to the
Atlantic station would be made By way Of Suez,
but the Official announcement, together with the
early date OF starting the second half Of the
great cruise. Will give keen pleasure TO the men.
already proud Of the notable achievements OF
the feet
The wireless station here was flooded with
messages from Washington to-day. and there
were several hours of sending work before the
operators late this evening established communi-
cation with the Connecticut. All the messages
we're in code. but they included the that the
itiners-y Of the world cruise. starting from San
Francisco July and including Hawaii,
Samoa Australia and the Philippines in the
r,ojrts 10 be visited had been formally approved
nv the President and the Cabinet They also in
Guided the cordial messages Of congratulation
IRON. the President and the Navy Department.
These messages ~iI be read to the crews Of the
sixteen ships q quarters tomorrow morning.
when announcement Of the Suez route and an
other round cf friendly visits to hospitable for
etgn ports viii be made.
THE SHIPS IN FINE CONDITION.
Admiral Evans Who will go on the retired list
when he reaches the age of sixty-two. in Au
gust vas expecting official word from
Washington on the future movements Of the
feet and il II view Of this and 10 ena bic
the department TO prepare its programme that
he sent the message on his arrival off Mag
dalena Bay that the ships could start on any
mission at a days notice. and in far bet
ter condition machinery and efficiency of
crews than when they sailed from Hampton
Roads
The fact that only two months are to be al
lowed between the arrival OF the feet at San
Francisco and its departure for the Far East
indicates that no serious repairs are needed by
anv OF the vessels and that any stays that may
70 made il drydocks will be exceedingly short
The time for repairs Will be cut down by the
excursion OF the feet 10 Puget Sound TO give
ths people Of the North Pacific Coast an op-
r7o-t1nity 70 see and visit the ships
The residents Of the Coast somewhat dis
appointed at the brevity of the ships stay in
these waters, but they are proporuonateIy
proud OF the fact that the flag is to be shown
al the way around the world. President Roose-
xet announced in his message to Congress. IN
referring 20 the trip of the battle feet" to Mag
dslena Bay and San Francisco, that no such
feet had ever undertaken such q cruise in the
f7isto-- of the world. The significance and I'm
rortance. therefore. OF the added journey
through our Pacific possessions" and on
and he
II the ewes CT the Chief Executive and the naval
officers can well be imagined. So much Interest
viii attach 10 the passage Of the feet through
As;atic waters and along the North African
shore and Southern Europe that pressing 1nF1-
rarions probably viii the President from
France Germany and England, and 1t is be
lieved by officers here that the feet VIII Vislt
II those countries instead OF sailing direct from
Gibraltar TO New York
TALK OF VISIT TO JAPAE.
The cruise. which to-day's announcement
tends 10 make ALI the more notable, is more
r1sr ever the enc topic of conversation here
some comment is caused by the fact that no
mention is made OF the possibility OF WISH OF
the bsttlesfips TO japanese waters formal
invitation from Japan. il is said, might be ac-
oepted while the feet is in the philippines oi
after the completion OF the fall target pracIice-
Ire new armored cruiser Soutn bakola anu
the California arrived to-day from MagcaIeha
Bay and joined the Tennessee and the MashlIls
ton q Admiral Sebree's command, al anehor OIL
Coronado Beach. The supply ship Cuigoa' one
q -7e auxiliary ships Of Admiral Evans i1esl'
also came into port to-day and viii take on sup
plies and mail for the ships at Magdalena BAY
She viii start south again IN few Gays Inc
Albany Is still in the bay. making SIX naval yes
seis here now
Wireless communication with the feet al Mag
oalena Bsy still is possible only for a few hours
g nirh. Signals seldom are exchanged carrier
Than 10 or i O'Clock az night, and the coming ol
dsy alRavs puts an end 10 the wireless COM
rnun5ca1ion between ships and shore IL Is sug-
Feste6 that il order 70 maintain communication
II the day or al least between sundo"n ana
sunrise. Admiral Evans may send one Of the
suxiIiaries fitted with wireless apparatus 10 d
point midway between Magdaiena ana San Dlego
70 relay messages. This would make the inter-
vening distances 10 be traversed by the e1her
waves orfv three hundred miles each Cnti
sorne such action is taken il is believed tha'
litte or nothing outside official business can De
handled bv the wireless establishments