The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-10-21
SHIPS OF NATIONS
TO GATHER IN 1915
Navies of World Asked to CeIe-
brate Completion of Canal.
WILSON TO WELCOME.
Great Armada, Led by American
Fleet, Will Proceed Afterward
to San Francisco Exposition.

Washington, Oct. 2O.-Anchored
In Hampton Roads early in 1918 will
be the greatest International feet
ever gathered In American waters
assembled in answer to the invitation
Of the United States government to
celebrate the completion of the
Panama canal by making a voyage to
the Pacific through the new water
way.
The precise number of vessels
which will lie in Hampton Roads is
not yet known to the officials of the
navy department in charge of the ar
rangements for rendezvous, as so far
there have been no formal responses
received to the invitations dispatched
by the state department to all of the
nations of the world. Some of the
nations with great navies may be
represented by squadrons of four or
more warships; others by only one
or two, and some of the countries
practically without navies including
vessels of the first class, will be rep
resented only in the personnel of
their legations and commissions to
the Panama-Pacific Exposition.
NATIONS INVITED.
The exact date of the rendezvous
probably will be announced within
the next two months. The formal in
vitation of the United States was
dispatched by Secretary Bryan to all
the department officials abroad, Sep
tember II last. 1t recites the fact in
the naval Appropriation Act of 1911
the President was authorized and re-
quested in extending his invitation
to foreign nations to participate in
the Exposition, also to invite their
representatives and their fleets to as
semble at Hampton Roads, Virginia,
and from thence come to the city of
Washington, there to be formally
welcomed by the President"
The President also is to go to
Hampton Roads to review the assem-
bled vessels as they start on their
voyage to San Francisco. 1t is ex-
pected that the American invitation
will meet with general acceptance
and the result will be the gathering
of a fleet of perhaps rs or 100 war
ships of the best type, for the reason
that slow and antiquated warships
will be unable to keep pace with the
rest Of the fleet from Hampton Roads
to the Golden Gate.
UNDER AN AMERICAN OFFICER.
The international fleet will per-
haps be under command of an Amer
lean vice admiral, in all likelihood
Cameron MGR. Winslow, for it is said
that the changes which have been
authorized will make provision
for this new grade, rather than
to have the American commander
outranked by some foreign naval
officer. The ceremonies at Hampton
Roads and the time required for a
visit to Washington by the foreign
visitors will consume about a week or
ten days, and then, headed by the
American fleet, probably with the
superintendent New York at the
right of the column, the great armada
will start southwaTd for Colon.
1t is estimated that about four
days will be required to pass the fleet
through the locks and the canal, and
about twice that length of time will
suffice to replenish the coal bunkers
and oil tanks of the ships before they
resume their cruise, this time steam
ing northward for San Francisco. 1t
is planned to make the complete
voyage from Hampton Roads to the
Golden Gate in forty-two days,
which will include stop of a day
or two at some convenient harbor or
roadstead on the Pacific coast, prob
ably Magdalena Bay, for additional
fuel and supplies. At San Francisco
there will be elaborate ceremonies
conducted under the auspices of the
Exposition management, and when
these have ended the great feet will
break up and the different squadrons
start for their home ports.