Imperial Valley press., 1913-10-22
Preparing Jaunt
To Mediterranean
BY Burton X. Standish
Written for the United Press J


Washington. Oct 22.-Of far great
er significance than a mere visit of
courtesy the trip Of the Atlantic fleet
Ito the Mediterranean next fall is eN-
pected by officers in the navy to DEM
onstrate to Europe two important
facts. They are, first, that the ships
/ of the American navy in actual ser
vice are in position to hold their own
against any European navy outside Of
England, and that, because of its geo
graphical advantages this country can
enjoy the exceptional privilege of
sending her sea-fghting force 5000
miles from home and not feel unsafe.
The fleet will start from Hampton
Roads some time this month. Details
of the starting are being arranged py
Secretary Daniels and Rear Admiral
Badger. who will command the eN-
pedition. 1t is possible that Presi-
dent Wilson Will witness the depaft-
ure. Composing the fleet will ue
twenty battleships-nine Of the first
and eleven Of the second line-in ad-
dition to auxiliary crate and colHers.
Prior to the departure, there is nov
being held the hall target practice,
which viii last several weeks. The
fleet will return to America in time
for the Christmas holidays. It IS pos
sible that one of the new battleships
now building will be added to the fleet
Iefore il starts.
According to the navy department
experts the American armada will be
able to show to Europe that in volume
of fire and the number of large guns
fred broadside. it is superior to lie
French navy. or the combined navy
Of Austria and Italy. and, in respect
to 12-inch guns. to the German navy.
That the trip will be significant IN
illustrating what naval men style the
american freedom Of movement
which renders the American fleet -
great potential factor in foreign af-
fairs. is shown by the fact that not
long ago England. with the greatest
navy in the world, was compelled to
abandon the idea Of sending battle
SQUADRON on a cruise to Australia for
fear Of endangering her position n
Europe.
Following its return from the Med
iterranean. it is possible that next
spring the fleet will make trip
through the Panama canal, providing
the full depth Of water is in the canal
bv that time. Just before the formal
opening of the canal in 1915, the fleet
will again go through, escorting naval
vessels of other nations to the Pana-
ma-Pacifc exposition.
While there may be some changes
in the makeup of ~ Atlantic fleet
between how and the tine for the
.Iediterra near cruise, the personnel
and battIeships taking part have al
been made up.
Rear Admiral Charles }. Badger
will be ommander-in-chief Of the
great fleet. Commander Charles T
Hughes will be chief Of his personal
stall, The fleet staff viii be composed
Of Surgeon William c. Braisted, Pay
Inspector Samuel MCGOWAN, fleet pay
master; Naval Constructor Richard
D. Gatewood and Major Of Marines
Albertus ". Catlin. The fleet will
comprise four divisions which will
be commanded by Rear Admirals
Cameron McR. Winslow, Frank F.
Fletcher, Nathaniel R. Usher and F.
! E. Beatty. The Wyoming, commanded
by Captain F. L. Chaplin, will be the
flagship Of Commander-in-Chief Bad
ger The other battleships which viii
participate in the cruise will be:
First Observation-Disclosures, Della
aware. Florida, North Dakota, Utah;
second Observation-Disclosures, Michigan,
New Hampshire. South Carolina, Yer
mont; third division-Rhode Island
Georgia, Nebraska, New Jersey, Vir-
ginia; fourth Minnesota,
Idaho, Connecticut, Kansas. Ohio.
/ The ships named, not counting the
colliers and accompanying ships, will
represent an approximate gross ton
mage Of 385,5OO tons and All, ,720
horsepower. The twenty fighting ship,
named viii carry total complement
Of 472 guns