The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-10-08
FLEET EXPECTED
IN A FEW DAYS
CONTINUE, from Page one.l


(Continuet from Page One.1
spread that the fleet is not coming
here and many of them are prepared
to hear that the cruisers and destroy
ers are headed for Japanese waters.
A great numbe> OF Japanese, so GER
tain do they seem of the non-return
of the fleet, have removed the deco
ratiOns from their stores and places
of business which had been put up in
the honor of the presence of the last
visit. On the other hand, Chinese who
had booths for the sale OF fruit and
refreshments in and near the old fish
market, Alakea street, during the last
visit of the fleet, have, some of them
again erected their places of business,
although nothing has been done since
yesterday when the fleet failed to show
up.
This morning tfso coal piling CONT
nues on the Nava, wharves, about a
third more coal being gotten ready
than was put out when the cruisers
and their lows were expected from the
coast last month.
! I'm the light of the non appearance
of the Double-Seven the significance
of the last words, before leaving here,
of Admiral Swinburne, exclusively
published in The Star, are recalled:
I'VE may not come back" Also the
report, published in the same arti-
Gle, that the fleet left mere under seal
ed orders. 1t will be remembered that
the flagship West Virginia, when the
time of clearing out came, signalled
the rest of the fleet by wireless that
sailing would be delayed two hours.
Then it was, doubtless that an impor-
! tant cable message was being sent
from Washington.
1t is very significant that in all the
history of the Naval maneuvers since
December of last year this is the first
instance of the Navy not keeping a
date. The Atlantic fleet has reached
ports ahead OF schedule, but never be-
fore has date been allowed to pass
without fulfillment of the original sche-
dule as far as arrival is concerned.
The only inference is a change OF
orders from original plans or accident.
Accident is not likely. The cabled ac-
cident to the supplyship Solace is not
likely to have delayed the entire Pa
cific fleet
AS on frequent occasions pointed
i nnt in fhaca ooluOnnc tho ITnftad Efafac
has probably little idea of taking war
ships from this ocean until all pos.
sibility of misunderstanding with Ja-
pan is settled. Up till the last week
there was nothing definitely announced
as to the date of the return to the
Atlantic seaboard of the Atlantic feet
then, it will be observed, the date was
set away ahead, February ~, which
according to the despatch referred to-
would allow six or seven weeks loaf
ing in the Mediterranean sea, pre-
sumably doing the courteous act with
Eureopen ports, but it is far more pro
bable that the date of proposed return
to the Eastern States was set Iar
ahead to allow the further change OF
plans so that the Atlantic fleet can
hang around Asiatic waters until there
is no further possibility of the neces-
sity of its presence. Perhaps there is
no more necessity at this time for the
presence of the American fleets in this
ocean than there was when they Sc
prows in these waters, but there Il
certainly no less necessity. The Paci
fic fleet is clearly a reinforcement t.
the Atlantic fleet and, as such 1T
movements necessarily depend on tn,
movements of the Atlantic fleet IN,
sending of the Pacific fleet to Samoa
/ OF course, was a strategic move ant
a move that did not necessarily meal
anything further until further devel
opments. 1t by no means followed tina
, because it was scheduled to arriv
here yesterday that it should COM
here. A possible coming change IL