New-York tribune., 1908-03-15
yHTPTy-SETEN THOUSAND MILES.

\ voyage of thrty-seven thousand miles Is
in effect what is now prescribed for our war
fleet and it may easily he prolonged 10 more
tlan forty thousand. The distance from
Hampton Roads 10 San Francisco is about I'-
500 miles. and had the fleet been directed 10
double upon its track in returning II Would
thus have made trip Of 1850 miles. But III
u turning home by circumnaviSatng the globe
il will have a longer cruise the distance from
san Francisco to New York by the route
roughly outlined being about 23,3o4 miles. All
the details of the voyage are not yet deter
mined, and it is entirely possible that some
visits to additional ports. perhaps OF emma,
Japan or India. or in Europe. may be ar
ranged, which will increase the itinerary 10y
from two to five thousand miles.
The first rlIn will be from San Francisco to
Honolulu distance of zoos miles. At Homo
lulu the ships will again he in American waters
but there will be some regret that the long de
sired improvements at Pearl Harbor have not
been made. that our fleet could be received
there Thence course will be laid directly to
our Samoan possessions. 2,251 miles, and there
again it will be regretted that the superb har-
bor of Pago-Pago has not received the improN-
ing attention which it merits Next. after thus
sailing more than 1900 miles without entering
alien waters. the fleet will steer TOR Brltish
port Sydney and Melbourne, in the Common
wealth of Australia, are mentioned as the dual
objective. and sydney, Fthe nearer of them, is
2357 miles from Samoa. But it seems prob
able that the new Dominion of New Zealand
will be visited on the way. in which case we
must reckon the distances from Samoa to Auck-
land as 1915 miles and from Auckland to sgd
ney as ! 264 miles. From Sydney to Melbourne
is only 516 miles Then will come the longest
stretch of the whole cruise-from Melbourne
to Manila distance by way of Torres Strait,
of 4.511 miles.
At Manila the keels will again plough Amer
lean waters. for the last time before the final
homecoming The route from Manila west
ward is not yet definitely announced. If visits
10 China and Japan were decided upon, the
distance from Manila to Hong Kong and Can
ton would be 64O miles, and from Hong Kong
to Yokohama and Toxic 1850 miles, with the
necessity of doubling those distances for the
return "trip. If, however such visits are not
made and the ships come straight home from
Manila the route will doubtless lie first TO
Singapore, 1,343 miles. Thence it may be
direct to Alden, 1898 miles, or first to Colombo
1877 miles, and thence to Alden, lib miles
OF course, too, there is the possibility or q
visit TO Bombay, which is SS3 miles from
Colombo and 1850 miles from Alden. From
Alden the course will lie up the Red Sea TO
Suez. 1910 miles. through a furnace seven
times heated. ana IlleH o. ullitc thiouSA thN
canal To Port Said. From Port Said the direct
course would be to Gibraltar. 1906 miles, and
thence to New York. 1906 miles. But it seems
probable that the feet will at least call at
Malta on It's way through the Mediterranean,
and there is possibility of detour along the
shores of that sea, so to visit Italy, France
and Spain: and it is still problematc Whethef
after passing the Pillars of Hercules the west
ward track Of Columbus will be pursued or a
trip northward will be made to the British and
German shores.
However simple and direct the trip is made
il will be of great length and it VIII he a
UNIQUE exhibition to the world OF the ell
icency Of the American navy. Already Euro
pean experts are pronouncing enthusiastic en-
comiums upon a fleet of sixteen heavy battle
ships which is SO well built and so well man
aged as to be able 10 steam twelve thousand
miles without mishap or need OF repairs 10
show its ability to go on 2.0o0 or 10000 miles
further in the same admirable condition Will
mark al epoch in tire history of steam naviga-
ton and will add glory to the record OF
the American navy.