The Washington herald., 1913-08-25
SHIPS OF WORLD
VISITU. S.
Secretary Daniels Plans to
Bring Navies Together
for Canal Opening.
WILL SIGNALIZE' PEACE
Vessels Will Meet at Hampton Roads
and Steam Through the
Panama Glitch"

In addition to marking the formal
opening of the Panama Canal by the
celebration of the Panama. Pacific Expo
sition in San Francisco in 1915, Secre-
tary Of the Navy Daniels now is at work
on plan further to perpetuate the MEM
ory of that year by holding naval
pageant, the like Of which has never
been seen in the history of the world.
The Secretary of the Navy is prepar-
ing TO issue formal invitation to all the
nations of the world to send the greater
Part OF their fleets to Hampton Roads,
Va, in February or March, 1915 and
to steam through the Panama Canal
and up the Pacific Coast to San Fran
cisco, remaining in the harbor of the
Golden Gate for a month before re-
turning home.
The full immensity OF this scheme does
not appear at first glance, but consider
the sight afforded by all the fleets of
the world at anchor of the Virginia
Capes, their sleek sides glistening with
white peace paint" their banners un-
furled, their guns cased in the vari-
Colored tarpaulins, affected by the
various nations, the smoke from their
tunnels curling laZily upward as their
sailors call from deck to deck. 1t will be
a spectacle such as the world has never
seen and such as may not be witnessed
again.
The invincible Spanish Armada would
be as a collection of fishing boats to
this great world-ieet. The most fOrmid-
able navy of any single nation would
be powerless against the attack of one
fifth of this vast gathering. The COM
bined brOadsideS of this fleet could lay
in crumbling ashes the entire city of
New York. while the fleet lay off-shOre
out of reach of the shore batteries.
Capitalization of Power.
And then consider what a sight the
ships will make. The onlooker will be
able to see, for the first time in the
history of modern warfare, the flower of
the combined fleets of England, Ger
many, Japan. France. and the United
States-the big live in matters pertain
ing TO naval matters.
In addition he will witness the flags of
all the South American nations which
have already signified their willingness
to participate in the celebration of the
wedding of the Atlantic and the Pacific.
He will see the pride of the English navy
dde by side for the nrst time in the
worlds history with the flower OF the
Japanese fleets, and even the diminutlve
tives at Hampton Roads.
The lighting strength of this vast ag-
Eregation OF warships will be tremendous. ,
The English. German. Japanese. and |
American Ddeadnaughts alone will be |
powerful enough to sweep from the seas
the combined fleets OF the remainder of |
the world, past or present, it having |
been cOnclusively proved that one modern |
Dreadnaught of the type of the new New |
hn IA
for 200 ships of the type of the old Ore
EOn. for the single giant battleship could |
lie out of range OF the shorter-distanced |
guns of the Oregon and batter away at |
the approaching fleet, sinking every one
of the 200 vessels before the latter got |
within range.
Speaking of the old Oregon, We must
not forget the part she is destined TO
play in this vast naval pageant. The
Dattleship, once the pride of the AmeTi-
IAN navy, and the ship which won un-
Tying fame for her part in the Spanish
American war and the trip the fleet
took around the world. will have at least
two more occasions of glory before she
is relegated to the naval junk heap. Her
irst proud moment of her old age will
come when, with colors flying and guns
parking defiance to the newer and
ships of the world, she leads
he American fleet through the Panama
Canal next spring as the first celebra-
ion of the opening of the passageway
between the two oceans.
Oregon VIII Lead Van.
Her second moment of triumph will
.ome when, old and decrepit, compared
o the strong and verile fighting ships
IF the world. she leads her pounger op-
,onents once more through the canal,
his time with guns covered and the ls
1unting of peace floating from every
masthead. For the second trip of the
american fleet and the first of the world
leet through the canal is to be a sig
lalization of peace, not war; a celebra-
ion of the great brotherhood of nations;
recognition of the fact that it has been
century since English speaking nations ,