Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-05
Panama Waterway May Be
Utilized by Beiligerents
After August IS.
VESSELS AT WAR MUST
SAIL WITHIN "a HOURS
Fears Entertained That Naval Dis
play. Incident to February Cele-
bration. Must Be Postponed.

the dat. upon which the Panama Ganai
Will be thrown open to the uainc VI
the world any warship OF any nation
will have the right of peaceanle an"
uninterrupted passage through It. Luz
is guaranteed by the provisions OF the
second Hay-Pauncefote treaty. ratliled
November IS, 1901
This statement. made today oy Iiha-
lev NJ Garrison, Secretary OF war
serves to draw attention to the lac.
that the first important use of the canal
may be by warships of the foreign pow
.rs now in conflict or which may come
into conflict Nearly all the belligerent
powers have possessions in the "est
Indies or along the northern coast OF
south America. and if German wa
ships. now reported in Canadlah Wdte,S'
should by any chance attack draaa'
Japan. according to her treaty % w
fense with Great Britain might ma /,
Immediately necessary to use the ca an.
for her warships. as Jaran has officlaiiy
stated that she will come TO England
defense if the latter is attacked
II was always intended that warships
should play a great part In celepi itiil-
the opening of the canal, although, OF
course when these plans were made no
one foresaw the present European sltua-
tion. Under the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
the duty devolves upon the United states
TO maintain the neutrality oil the canal
Canal Treaty Provisions.
The provisions of one article OF the
treaty apply to waters adjacent TO the
canal and within three marine miles al
both ends This provision states:
Vessels of war of a belligerent shan
not remain in such waters longer than
twenty-four hours at any one time eN-
cept in case of distress. and IN sucf Ease
shall depart as 500 as possloiei ~. ~, ot
vessel of war of one belligerent shali not
depart within twenty-four hours from
the departure of a vessel Oh war Vi INC
other belligerent- ,,
What effect, if any. the war i'll Europe,
and especiaIly in European waters, VIII
have on the proposed naval celebration
TO be held in connection WIN 'he op ~
ing of the canal in February Is now tne
subject OF informal discussion aiilols
naval officers in Washington.
May Postpone Naval Parade.
The result of the war is expected to
play an important part in the success or
failure of the naval celebration and 1t Is
stated today that if the war continues
as long as from now until February it is
not improbable that the naval part of
the celebration will be postponed
The opening of the Panama exposition,
SET for February 20. it is said, cannot De
postponed.
AS the result of conference between
the Secretaries of State, war ana Nay
a tentative program was prepared LOT .lle
assemblage in Hampton roads and DIS
patch to San Francisco by wy OF the
Panama canal of proposed international
fleet which was invited by act or con-
gress to participate in the celebration OF
the completion of the Panama canal and
the opening of the PanamaPacific inter-
national exposition. Copies OF this pro-
gram have been completed and dispatched
10 the various powers for presentation 70
ha poI which they are aC-
credited.
Subject to changes. this is the official
program
February lois, 1915-Foreign ships
rendezvous at Hampton roads
February 20-Foreign naval representa-
tiyes to be received by the President in
Washington.
FEBRUARY a2-The President will proceed
TO Hampton roads and there review the
combined fleet. after which the fleet Will
proceed to the Isthmus of Panama.
March 5-The President. on d battle
ship. will depart for the Panama Canal
March 1o-The President arrives at
Colon.
March 1s-Ceremonies at Balboa, or
Panama.
March 1.-THE President sails for San
Francisco on a battleship.
March 1.-THE fleet leaves Balboa, pro-
ceeding TO San Francisco
March 23-The President arrives at San
Francisco.
Invitations Sent Out.
The original invitations to the maritime
powers to send vessels to participate IN
these great events-the opening of the
Panama canal and the San Francisco ex-
position-were sent in September last. So
lar favorable responses have been received
from twelve countries. viz. Argentine Re
public, Austria Hungary. Cuba, France,
Germany, Great Britain. Italy, Japan,
Portugal Russia, Sweden and SPAIN
The State Department has dispa tened
10 American embassies ana Iesatlone
abroad "A circular which asks Tor reply
10 three questions: First, the number
Of ships which the country VIII send;
second. their size, and third, thelr
Much depends upon the answers to
these questions Regarding the tirst II
is neither expected nor desired that
there shall be a wholesale gathering OF
the navieS of the world in Hampton
roads The idea is rather to have "a
small but representative showing from
each nation. 1t is expected that the
greater naval powers Will be more nu-
merously represented than the smaller
states Italy already has unofiicially
signified an intention to send a com
pIete squadron of three fine cruisers
under command OF an admiral. and II
may he that this offer Will mark the
proportion of representation OF the other
lavieS. The speed requirements Oh the
long cruise from Hampton roads TO the
Golden Gate will be rather severe, SO
much so indeed as to bar from par
ticipation in the great voyage any of
tile little gunbuatS which form the only
strength of some of the small states
The second question, relating to the
size of the vessels, is important as in
dicatiuC the possibility of passing them
IN pairs or. even triplets through the
great locks of the Panama canal and
thereby saving valuable time. Also IL
viii assist the naval commander of the
international fleet in arranging his
itinerary by informing him of the prob
able ability of the units to meet heavy
weather conditions.
Coal Endurance.
No less important is the third question
relating TO the coal endurance of the
vessels; the Navy Department must be
advised of the maximum distance which
each ship can make with fun bunkers OF
coal in order to plan for fresh supplies
AT the proper point Ii is believed that
II the navies represented comprise only
modern largs~snz.d ships Il will he posi-
BILE To- make the run OF 500 miles from
Hampton reads 10 Colon without stop. In
the canal fresh supplies of coal will be