The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-05-23
Final Preparations for Great
Trip Of Batt|eships
ITINERARY IS AGREED ON
FLEET TO SPEND MONTH VISIT
ING PORTS IN JAPANES
WATERS.

WASHINGTON, May 23.-(Special,
The Atlantic fleets stop at Seattle is
the last G;ticial visit the fleet will pay
at Pacific coast ports, before continuing
its tour Of the world
Preparations for the voyage are
now being completed by the navy de-
partment and the itinerary has now
reached a final stage. A total of APP
Fortunately 1880 miles will have been
covered by the Atlantic battleship fleet
when it arrives at Hapton Roads IN
February % next, according to esti-
mates made by the naval officials.
Some Long Laps.
The distance to be covered, accord
ing to an itenerary made public to-
day for the voyage OF the fleet from
san Francisco to the Philippines,
theme to China and Japan and back
to Manila is 1928 miles. The longest
lap OF this distance is from Honolulu
to Auckland, 1850 miles, said by naval
officials to be the greatest steaming
distance ever made by any battleship
fleet in the American navy without
stopping for coal. This will require
slightly more than 16 days, and during
about six days of that time the de-
partment expects to be in touch with
the fleet through the operations of the
wireless telegraph apparatus aboard the
battleships and the auxiliaries and the
cable station at the Fiji Islands.
Coal Bothsrs Illinois.
one of the GOLFERS and two of the
supply ships will stop at Samoa for
coal and the battleship Illinois, which
under ordinary circumstances cannot
carry enough fuel to steam 1000 miles.
will store some coal in bags on deck
and also take fuel in her fire room.
Regular coal supplies will be taken on
board at the various stopping places
when needed.
The feet will leave San Francisco
On July s, as originally intended, make
TWO stops instead of one at Manila
hold extensive manaeuvres in the Med
hp,raroan and reach Gibraltar the
arst week in February. The first stop
IN Mania will be eight days, after
which the fleet will return for three
weeks target practice in the Philip
pines Upon reaching Australia the
fleet viii be divided. eight ships 60
inr to Melbourne and eight going 70
sydney. thereby saving several days
time The stops at Yokohama ano
Chefoo will be for only six or seven
days, the fleet making longer stops al
Haiai and Samoa owing to the dim
cglty in coaling more than one or two
ships at a time The plans are for the
fleet to be on the Atlantic coast not
later than February %.
Ten Days at Hawaii.
Leaving San Francisco July 6, the
batteships are scheduled to cover the
zoe knots to Hawaii in nine days, ar
irving there on July Is, where the
coaljrg process will be long, keeping
the feet until July %
The next run from Hawaii to Samoa
q 1858 knots. will require at the ~
knot cruising speed, 10 days, so tna'
the fleet may be expected at Sa-
moa on August 4. Another long stay
VIII be made on account of the coaIihE
process at Samoa, the fleet leaving tha'
port about August IA for the 1856 miles
run TO Australia.
Two divisions Of the fleet will steam
late sydney about August "a, whereas
Tie other two divisions make their cal
al Melbourne, where they will rema Il
.o7 tie last week in August, stealiiiHs
out at the beginning of September e
JON the battleships at Sydney aH'
start on the long cruise to Manila.
Reaching Manila the middle of Sep
'e'nber the fleet will spend eight Gay
n Manila bay before leaving there IL
Yokohama.
Japan In October.
he fleet VIII arrive in Japan liz
Continued On Page FiVe.)