The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-08-05


Subject to slight changes, this is the
official program:
February 1918, 19l5-Foreign ships
rendezvous at Hampton Roads.
February 20.--Foreign naval repre-
sentatives To be received by the presi-
dent in Washington.
February 22.-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 n bat
tleshlp, will depart for the Panama
Canal.
March lO.-The president arrives at
Colon.
March 12.-The president and fleet
pass through the canal.
March 13-Ceremonies at Balboa, or
Panama.
March 13-The president sails for
San Francisco on a battleship.
March 1.-THE fleet leaves Balboa,
proceeding to san Francisco.
March 23-The president arrives at
San Francisco.
The original invitations to the mari
time powers To send vessels to partici-
pate in these great events-the opening
OF the Panama Canal and the San
Francisco exposition-were sent in
September last. So far, favorable re-
sponses have been received from
twelve countries. viz. Argentine Re-
public, Austria Hungary, Cuba,
France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy,
Japan, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, and
Spain. 1t is certain that this does not
by any means represent the total num-
Der of naval participants for it is
known that other governments are
simply awaiting the further develop
ment of plans for these celebrations to
signify their intention to participate.
Three Questions Asked.
Their decision will be FASTENED by
another circular note which the state
| department has just dispatched to Am
erican embassies and legations abroad.
This circular asks for a reply TO three
questions: first, the number of ships
which the country will send; second,
| their size, and third. their steaming ra-
| dius. Much depends upon the answers
to these questions. Regarding the first.
| it 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 preventative 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 unofiicialy
signified an intention to send COM
plete squadron of three fine cruisers
under command OF an admiral. and it
may be that this offer will mark the
| proportion OF representation OF the
| other navies. The speed requirements
! OF the long cruise from Hampton
Roads to the Golden Gate will be
rather severe, so much so indeed as
to bar from participation in the great
voyage any of the little gunboats
which form the only strength OF some
OF the small states,
! The second question relating to the
size of the vessels is important az in
in pairs or even triplets through the
great locks OF the Panama Canal and
thereby saving valuable time. Also IL
will assist the naval commander OF the
International fleet in arranging his It'll
nerary by informing him Of the prob
| n hlA ability az tha iinitg
heavy weather conditions.
No less important Is the third ques-
tion relating To the coal endurance Of
the vessels; the navy department must
be advised of the maximum distance
which each ship can make with full
bunlSers OF coal in order to plan for
fresh supplies at the proper point. II
Is believed that If the navies repre-
scented comprise only modern large
sized ships. it will be possible to make
the run Of 1000 miles from Hampton
Roads to Colon without stop. In the
canal fresh supplies OF coal will be
taken but even then it may impose a
severe strain upon the small vessels
to make the run from Balboa to San
| Francisco, 2.1S9 miles, and some OF
them may be obliged to put in for coal
at Pichllinque, the American coaline
station in Lower California, or to take
fuel from Golfers In Magdalena Bay
on the west coast OF Mexico. Some OF
the naval vessels OF even the larger
European powers are very deficient
according to American standards, In
this matter Of coal endurance, prlnci-
pally because they were designed fol
home defense and short cruises.
Wilson to Review Fleet.
Because floating ice In Chesapeake
Bay some times makes 1t impossible
for days at time to take on coal and
other supplies, and in order To guard
against delay I'm the execution OF the
short and crowded program, the for
eign naval vessels have been request
ed to assemble several days at least
I'm advance OF the date of February IL
mentioned in the memorandum. Their
commanding officers with their stats
will be the guests OF the United States
government as will be the special nava
representatives invited to attend. The
presence OF the latter will relieve the
diplomatic body In washington from
the obligation to be present at Hamp-
ton Roads. which is fortunate In view