The evening times., 1913-10-20
GREATEST NAVAL
FLEET PROPOSED
Will Gather in 1914 and Pass
Through Panama Canal
Invitations Out.

Washington, Oct. 20.--Anchored in
hampton Roads early in 1915. will he
the grcatest international fleet ever
gathered in American waters, assem-
Dled In answer to the invitation of
tne United States government to cele-
prate the completion Of the Panama
canal by making ~ voyage to the pa
ciflc through the new waterway.
The number Of vessels which will
lilo in the famous roadstead Is not
Vet Known to the officials Of the navy
department as so far there have been
no formal responses received to the
Invitations dispatched by the state de-
nartment to all nations of the world.
some OF the nations with great navies
may be represented by squadrons of
four or more warships: Others bv onIv
one or two and some Of the countries
practically without navies will be rep
resented only in the personnel of their
legations and commissions to the Pan.
anna Pacific exposition.
The exact rendezvous probably will
be announced within the next two
months.
The formal information Of the Uni
ted States was dispatched to all the
diplomatic officers of the United
States abroad, September II last. by
Secretary Bryan. 1t recitcd the fact
that the president extended his in
Nttation to foreign nations to partici-
pate In the exposition also to invite
their representatives and their fleets
to assemble at Hampton Roads, Va.
and from thence come to the city of
Washington, there to be formally well
coined by the president"
| The president also is to. go to Hamp-
ton Roads to review the assembled
fleets on their voyage to San Francis
co.
Expect General Acceptance.
1t Is expected that the American
invitation will meet with general ac-
ceptance and the result will be the
gathering of a fleet Of perhaps as or
100 warships Of the best tyne for the
reason that slow and antiu tied yes-
sells will be unable to keep pre- w::H
the rest Of the feet in the cruise from
Hampton Roads to the Golden Gate.
The international fleet will probab-
ly he under command of an American
vice admiral. in all likelihood, Cam
that congress which author,zel the
assembly will make provision for this
new grade rather than have the
American commander outranked Sy
some foreign naval officer. The csre /.
monies at Hampton Roads and the
Tune required for a visit to Wash
ington by the foreign visitors will con-
sumo about n week or ten days, and
then headed by the American fleet,
probably with the super-dreadnaught
New York at the right of the column,
the great aramada will take its way
southwark for Colon.
Four Days In Canal.
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. Al
together 1t is planned to make the
complete voyage from Hampton
Roads to the Golden Gate in two days
which will include stop Of day or
two at some convenient harbor in the
Pacific coast-probably Magdalena
Baylor fuel and supplies. At San
Francisco there will be elaborate GER
emonies conducted under the auspices
Of the management of the exposition
and when these have concluded the
great fleet will break UP and the Diff
ferent squadrons start for their re.
spective home ports.