The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-18
Order Issued For Pur-
chase of Large Guam
tity of Provisions.
Experiment in Storing
Shells Being Tried on
BattleshipS.

| Immense quantities of naval stores
are being accumulated on the Paclfc
| coast-enough for an entire Teprovis-
| Joining and coaling OF the Atlantic feet,
putting 1t IN condition to continue on
a cruise as long as its FIRST one. PrapF-
rations have been going steadily for
ward at the Navy Department ever
since the fleet sailed from Hampton
Roads. When IL arrives at its announced
destination, San Francisco, there will be
on the docks Of the Mare Island, BTe-
merton, and other navy yards sufh-
Client stores for as long cruise again
as that completed.
Purchases Authorized.
4 few days ago the department au-
thorized the purchase Of a large store
of provisions 20 be delivered at the
Mare Island Navy Yard in anticipation
OF the arrival there Of Admiral Evans
command.
These tons of provisions are not all
that are being assembled on the Pacific
coast and in the Philippines. immense
stores Of coal are also betag piled up
| there.
Not since the first outbreak Of the
Japanese trouble in California have the
possibilities of war with Japan been 80
| remote as they are at present, ia the
| opinion OF officials of the State and
! Navy Departments It Is pointed out
/ that the political disruption in japan
/ Is as great an obstacle 10 that country
/ taking tie offensive as Democratic
/ landslide would be behind the present
Administration, or a Republican land
| slide behind a Democratic Administr6-
| ton, Policies are upset and countered,
] md ha-- had NJ
going 10 war with the United States
/ are set at rest. The most potent factor
/ Of all In this statement is, however, that
/ the very Uproar that has caused the
| Administration alarm in Japan has been
| against heavier taxation and a pursu-
I ance Of military policy. Japan
/ finances are not such that she could
with impunity engage in war.
/ This condition of affairs in Japan has
4 added strength TO the determination to
| send the fieet to the Philippines. and
| leaving one squadron OF four battleships
/ there back 10 the United States by the
| 6ueZ.
Formidable Squadron.
The great battleship feet. the Pacific
| fleet and the Asiauc feet combined,
/ will undoubtedly make one Of the most
| formidable squadrons OF war vessels
] ever assembled in the history OF the
world This. too. would not be con-
1 ducive TO offensive operations by Japan.
/ Il is fully believed that the IL migration
question VIII be settled expedit:ously
! and without tUmult japanese Minister
/ Miyaoka stated yesterday that there
was no problem involved, the answer
was simple, that America hso asked
| Japan TO stop immigration To the ter
| riIOTiel borders Of the United states.
/ and Japan would do so By stopping the
! issuance Of passports to labOreTs.
/ Incidentally, IN connection with anOth-
! or long cruise by the Atlantic deet. an
| important trial is now being conducted
| on TWO of the vessels the Vermont ard
! Louisiana. The Navy Department has
| authorized an experiment in the storage
/ of shell. using one turret OF each OF
| theCe vessels. Ii has been suggested
| that tho time Of firing the big guns
| would be saved. were the prOjeCules
! stored in the turTets, instead Of below
! where they would have II be handled
! several times. II IL were not neces-
! SaTy to handle the heavy prOjeCGlCS
| from the hole It would greatly Increase
! the rapidity Of firing. II has been found
| possible to store One-half OF the fun
/ allotment Of prOjectles for that struc-
tUre in any of the tUTretS. Report viii
/ be made by the commanding officers of
| the Vermont and Louisiana, after the
| ICCOTd-target practice in MagdaleT.a
! bay in the spring.
| Comparisons will be made of the "a
/ ptdjty OF fire from the turrets Of the
I Vermont and Louisiana with the other
vessels, and the element Of risk in
/ the new storage scheme will be consid-
/ cred.
Reception at San Francisco.
Elaborate plans are being made for
| the reception Of the fleet in San Fran
| cisco bay, and the festivities viii sur
pass if possible those accompanying
the departure from Hampton Roads.
Many navy and other officials viii make
| the trip across the Continent. as will
! also several members Of the Diplomatic
Corps including Ambassador Jusserard,
Of France.