Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-03-20
OUR GREAT ARMADA WILL
CIRCLE THE GLOBE.
To Touch Hawaii-Stop at Philippines
and Probably Other Ports in Orient
Return Via Suez Canal-Officers
and Men of Great Fleet at Practice
at MagdaIena Bay.

tie fleet" of 16 battleships is to under
take a tour of the world within two
months after it's arrival at San Fran
cisco on May 5.
The itinerary of the world cruise,
starting from San Francisco on July q,
and including Hawaii, Samoa, Austria
liza and the Philippines in the points
TO be visited, has been formally APP
proved by the president and his cab
met.
Admiral Evans will relinquish COM
mand of the fleet during its forthcom-
ing stay at San Francisco, and who
goes upon the retired list in August,
was expecting some official word from
Washington on the subject of the fu-
ture movement of the fleet, and it was
in view of this and to enable the de-
partment to prepare it's program that
he sent the message the night Of his
arrival off Magdalena bay to the effect
that the ships could start on any mis-
sion at a days notice and were in far
better shape as to machinery and eff
cheney of crews than the day of sailing
from Hampton Roads.
Short Stay on the Coast.
The residents of the Coast are some
what disappointed over the brevity of
the ships stay in these waters, but
they are periodically proud of the fact
that the flag is to be shown all the
way around the world. President
Roosevelt announced in his last mes
sage to congress in referring to the
trip Of the battle fleet to Magdalena
bay and San Francisco that no such
fleet had ever undertaken such a
cruise in the history of the worlds
navies. The significance and impor-
lance, therefore, of the added journey
through our Pacific possessions" and
on through the Suez will, in the eyes
of the world, add to the influence of
our naval power.
1t has not been decided by the navy
department whether the torpedo boat
destroyer flotilla now on the way from
Callao, Peru, shall accompany the bat
tleship fleet on the voyage around the
world. The settlement of this ques-
ton will depend upon the condition
of the little vessels when they reach
San Francisco.
Secretary Metcalf has made public
copy of letter addressed to Secre-
tayy Root March by Ambassador
Bryce supplementing the invitation
extended by Sir Alfred Deakin in be-
half of the commonwealth of Austria
liza for the battleships to visit that
country on their return to the United
States.
English Naval Men Interested.
The announcement that the Amer
lean battleship fleet will return from
the Pacific to the Atlantic by way of
the Suez canal has created the greatest
interest among naval officers in Lon
don, who are anxious to see the YES
sells and observe the effects of the
long cruise.
Should the Americans fail to come
to England, Malta would be the better
place to entertain them, as besides be-
ing headquarters for the Mediter-
ranean fleet, the duke of Connaught,
the new commander in chief of the
military forces of the Mediterranean,
has a residence there, which makes
it the center of much social activity.
The cruise of the fleet from Hampton
Roads to Magdalena bay has been
closely followed by Englishmen, who
laud the achievement, and a visit by
it to some British port would prove
extremely popular.
Germans Comment.
The German naval critics are COM
menting upon the wonderful feat of
seamanship displayed in the 10000
mile voyage of the American battle
ship fleet under. command of Rear
Admiral Evans and it's arrival at Mag
dalena bay four days ahead of sched-
uled time without a ship being dis
abled. They consider it proof of ex-
cellent material as we'll as of per-
sonnet.
The details of the homeward voy-
age of the fleet will be watched with
keen interest in Germany.
Hawaii Is Enthusiastic.
The official announcement that the
United States Atlantic battleship
fleet is coming to Hawaii has created
the greatest enthusiasm in Honolulu.
and preparations for the entertain
ment of the officers and men only
await advices as to the time of ar
rival.
Japan Invites the Fleet.
Toxic. Japan.-The official route of
, the American battleship fleet ON its