Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-05

Washington, Aug. AS the result OF
conference between the secretaries of
State, War and Navy, a tentative pro-
gram has been prepared for the assem-
blage in Hampton Roads and dispatch to
San Francisco by way of the Panama
Canal of the great international fleet
which has been invited by Act of Con-
gress to participate in the celebration Of
! the completion of the Panama Canal
| and the opening of the Panama-Pacific
| International Exposition. Copies of this
program have just been completed and
dispatched to the various powers for
presentation to the governments to which
they are accredited.
Subject to slight changes, this is the
official program:
February 10-l5, 1s15-Foreign ships rem
devious at Hampton Roads.
February 20-Foreign naval representa-
| tives to be received by the President in
Washington.
February 22-The President will pro-
coed to Hampton Roads and there review
the combined feet, after which the fleet
| will proceed to the Isthmus of Panama
March 5-The President, on battle
ship, will depart for the Panama Canal.
March 10-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 battleship.
March 1.-THE feet leaves Balboa, pro-
ceeding to San Francisco.
March 23-The President arrives at
San Francisco.
The original invitations to the maritime
powers to send vessels to partiei-
pate in these great events-the open
ing of the Panama Canal and the
San Francisco Exposition-were sent
in September last. So far. favorable
responses have been received from
Il countries. viz, Argentine Republic,
Austria-Hungary, Cuba. France, Ger
many, Great Britain, Italy. Japan, Por-
! tugal, Russia, Sweden and Spain. It is
certain that this does not by any means
represent the total number of naval par
fieipants for 1t is known that other gov
ernments are simply awaiting the fur
Their development of plans for these ceie-
brations to signify their intention to par
tieipate.
Their decision will be FASTENED by an
other circular note which the State De-
partment has just dispatched to Ameri-
II can 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 representative showing from
each nation. 1t is expected that the
greater naval powers will be more num-
erously represented than the smaller
states. Italy already has unofficially
signified an intention to send complete
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 Gold
| en- Gate will be rather severe. so much
| so indeed as to bar from participation
in the great voyage any of the little gun
boats which form the only strength of
some OF the small states.
The second question relating to the size
| of the vessels is important as indicating
| the possibility of passing them in pairs
or even triplets through the great locks
of the Panama Canal and thereby saving
valuable time. Also 1t win assist the
naval commander of the International
feet in~arranging his itinerary by In
forming him of the probable ability of
the units to meet heavy weather condi-
| tons.
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 full bunkers of
coal In order 10 plan for fresh supplies
at the proper point. 1t is believed that
IL the navies represented comprise only
modern large-sized ships, 1t will be possi-
BILE to make the run of 1900 miles from