Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-08
GREAT FLEET I 0
CANAL


nary I, next. VIII be the greatest in
! ternational feet ever gathered in
American waters, all assembled in
answer to the invitation OF the Unit.
ed States government to celebrate the
completion Of the Panama canal The
precise number of vessels which VIII
lie in the famous old road is not yet
known to the officers of the Navy De-
parfment who have been placed IN
charge Of the Arrangements for the
Assembly OF the deet for the reason
that SO fari there have been no formal
response received to the invitations
which have been dispatche, by the
State Department TO all of the nations
or the world.
Some OF these nations with great
navies mar be represented by as
many az four warships, others by
only one or two, and some Of the ma.
tons practically without nayies, in
| GLIDING vessels Of the first class, will
, be represented only in the personnel
OF their legations and commissions to
the Panama Pacific exposition, .
/ Fletfs Efibfaced ID Invitation,
The formal Invitation Of the United
all the diplomatic officers Of the Unit
ed States abroad September II by
Secretary Bryan II recites the fact
that in the navy appropriation act OF
1911 the President is authorized and
requested in extending his invitation
Ito foreign nations to participate in'
tine exposition. also to invite their
representatives and their fleets to-as-
semBle at Hamilton Roads, Va, and
from thence to the city of Washington,
there to be formally welcomed by the
| President" The President was then
| to proceed to Hampton Roads to re.
view the assembled fleets as they start
| on their voyage TO San Francisco.
Our diplomatic officers were told
that in communicating this invitation
| they should express the pleasure
which the President would feel should
llhey Gecidr to accept II by appointing
| IGblesf tdtiYes and by sendiag as
many Of their national war vessels
las they may deem proper to assemble
at Hampton Roads
Because this invitation is extended
by the government of the United
| States on its own account, it is ex-
peeted that It viii meet with general
acceptance and the result will be the
gathering of feet Of perhaps Is or
| 100 warships of the best type, for the
reason that slow and antiQuated YES.
sells would be unable to keep pace
with the rest Of the feet In the cruise
from Hampton roads to the Golden
Gate.
American Vice Admiral Ii Charge.
This feet win probably be under
| the command Of an American vice nd
miral, In all likelihood Cameron McR.
Winslow. for It is expected that Cong
ress, which has authorized the assem-
| bly,, will make provision for this new
grade rather than have the American
commander outranked and made juni-
or to some foreign naval officer. The
ceremonies at Hampton roads and the
time required for visit to Washing
ton by the foreign sailors viii con-
sumo about q week or 10 days, and
then, headed by the American fleet,
probably with the superdreadn thought
New York at the right of the column,
the great fleet Will take its way south
ward for Colon. It is estimated that
about four days time will be required
| to pass the feet 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 take up their voy-
age. this time northward for San
| Francisco.
From Point to Point in ~ Days.
Altogether it is planned to make the
complete voyage from Hampton roads
to the Golden Gate in 40 days, which
will include stop of day or two at
some convenient harbor or roadstead
on the Pacific coast, probably at Mag
dalena bay, for additional coal and oil
supplies
!, At San Francisco there viii be
| elaborate ceremonies, conducted I'M
lsdef the auspices and management of
the, exposition, and when these have
concluded the great fleet will break
up into It's atoms. which will find their
way to their respective home ports