Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-10-22
ATLANTIC FLEET TO
SHOW SOME BIG FACTS
One Is That Ships Can Hold Their Own
and Another Nation Is Not Afraid
to Send Navy Away.
TWENTY BATTLESHIPS ARE
TO MAKE THIS LONG TRIP
Plan to Demonstrate Navy Superior to
French and Other Navies in Some
Important Respects.
BY BURTON X. STANDISH
Written for the United Press)

Washington, Oca. 22.-Of far greater
Significance than mere visit of court.
esy the trip Of the Atlantic fleet to the
Mediterranean next fall is expected by
officers in the navy to demonstrate
to Europe two important facts. They
are, first, that the ships of the Ameri.
can navy in actual service are in posi-.
tion to hold their own against any
European navy outside Of England, and
that, because of its geographical ad.
vautages this country can enjoy the
Exceptional privilege of sending her
seafighting 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 by
Secretary Daniels and Rear Admiral
Badger, who will command the expe.
dition. 1t is possible that President
| Wilson will witness the departure. Com.
posing the fleet viii be twenty battle.
ships-nine of the first and eleven Of
the second line-in addition to the aux.
Hilary craft and colliers. Prior to the
i departure, there is now being held the
ball target-practice, which will last for
several weeks. The fleet will return
to America in time for the Christmas
holidays, 1t is possible that one of the
new battleships now building win be
added to the fleet before it starts
According to Navy Department ex.
porst the American armada will be able
to show to Europe that in volume of
fire and the number of large guns fir.
ing broadside, it is superior to the
French navy or the combined navy Of
Austria and Italy, and, in respect to l.
inch guns, to the German navy,
VIII Be Significant.
That the trip will be significant in
illustrating what naval men style the
" American freedom of movement"
which renders the American fleet 50
great a 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 a battle
squadron on a cruise to Australia for
fear Of endangering her position in
Europe,
Following it's return from the Med.
iterauean, it is possible that next
spring tho fleet will make a trip
through the Panama canal, provided the
fun depth of water is in the canal my
that time. Just before the formal open.
ing Of the canal in 1915, the fleet will
again 90 through, cSeoriing naval YES
sells OF other nations to the Panama
Pacific exposition.
While there may be some changes in
the makeup -of the Atlantic fleet be
tween now and the time for the Med !
itcrranean cruise the personnel and bat
tie ships taking part have all been
made up,
Those Who VIII Have Charge,
Rear Admiral Charles J., Badger will |
be commapderinchicf Of the great |
fleet Commander Charles f. Hughes |
win he chief OF his personal staff The |
fleet staff will be composed Of Surgeon |
William C. Bpisted; Pay Inspector
Samuel MeGowan, fleet paymaster; Ma. /.
val Constructor Richard D. Gatewood I
ana Major Of Marines Abcrtus W. Cat |
tin. The fleet will comprise four di .
visions which will be commanded by 1
Rear Admirals Cameron Me Il. Wins.
low Frank =. Fletcher, Nathaniel Il. |
uShcr and Frank T., Beatty. The /.
Wyoming, commanded by Capt, +, L. I
Chaplin, will be the flagship Of Com. ,
manicr.iU.Chiet Badger The other .
battlcships which will participate in the ,
cruise win be:
First division; Arkansas Delaware, /
Florida, North Dakota, Utah. second I
division; louisiana, Michigan, New |
Hampshir,N South Carolina, Vermont; 1
third division; Rhode lshud. Georgia, I.
Nebraska, New Jersey Virginia; fourth /
division; Minnesota, Idaho, Couuccti. |
cut, Kansas, Ohio,
The ships named, not counting the /
corier and accompanying ships will |
represent an Approximate gross tonnage |
OF 5Si,5oO tons and ill.Tso horsepower,