The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-11
FLEETS CANAL
TRIP LIKELY TO
/, Be CALLED OFF
Cnwise to Leave Atlantic
Coast Unguarded, Said to
Be Nays View.
WATERWAY OPEN, BUT
SLIDES ARE A DANGER


reason 10 believe that the Atlantic feet
viii not be sent through the Panama
Canal to Pacific waters In July. as had
been planned by the Secretary OF the
Navy. When the announcement Ia made
that the feet cannot take the Pacific
Journey. physical dih,cui,ies will be
Eiven as the cause Of tho postponement
Of the programme.
Ohnciais will not admit II. but thers 10
reason TO believe that the strategists Of
the navy insist that at this juncture In
the worlds affairs II would be unwise
to leave the Atlantic coast unprotected.
The strategists are not figuring on war.
possibly. but. as q matter Of precaution.
they have advised. II was said to-day.
that the Atlantic feet BE- retained In It's
homo waters.
The knowledge that the Adrninistra-
ton has stopped TO consider whether II
IL advisable to send the feet through
the canal became known to-day. follow
ing a conference by Gen. George W.
Cocktails. Governor Of tho Panama Zone.
with officials Of the Navy Department.
Among others, Gen. Goethals conferred
with Secretary Daniels. Mr.. Daniels
expressed a desire to see Gen. Cocktails
to ascertain whether It Is certainty
that the feet could be put through the
canal as planned.
Danger In Canal Trip.
while Mr.. Daniels declined to com.
ment on his interview with Gen.
nnAthaIa Il that fhA had 0f
the Navy Department regards the canal
situation such as to make II practically
impossible to put the feet through ex-
cept in case of emergency.
II was learned to-day, coincident with
the visit OF Gen. Goethals, that the
slides continue In the canal, although
ships are passing through II daily. Gen.
Goethals told the Secretary. so II is re-
ported that II is practicable at present
TO handle vessels with a draught OF
thirty-five feet. The depth required for
vessels OF the draught indicated would
be sufficient for the ships OF the neet.
However. IL was pointed out by Gen.
Cocktails that under present conditions
vessels Of a draught OF more than thirty
feet cannot go through the waterway
under their own steam. They would
have to be towed. Secretary Daniels
thought that II would take at least
week TO tow the feet and auxiliary ves-
sells through the canal. and he regarded
this as an unsatisfactory way to carry
out the programme that he had planned.
Gen. Goethsls directed attention to
another physical problem that has given
Secretary Daniels reason to pause In
his desire TO carry out the projected
naval demonstration at the canal
Facilities for the storage OF coal at the
Atlantic end of the canal are meagre
and only small quantities can be kept
on hand.
Need All the Golfers.
Naval officials said to-day that n
vessels OF the feet were required to take
coal with them it would be necessary
practically TO detail all the colliers in
the navy for the purpose. This Ia re-
garded as a troublesome proposition and
Il IL known that II is a matter OF deep
concern TO the Secretary. Taken all in
all, II may be said that Secretary
Daniels felt rather discouraged over the
movement 10 take the feet through the
canal after his talk with Gen. Goethals.
Secretary Daniels announced to-day
that he would talk in a day or two with
Capt. Hugh Rodman, the naval COM
mander at Panama. He will discuss
with him, as a naval expert. all OF the
difficulties suggested by Gen. Cocktails
ana DINERS tndt nave arisen IN the MINUS
OF Department officials.
It is understood that tho naval
strategists have another reason for OPP
posing the transferring OF the feet
besides that involved in tho belief that
tho ships be kept on the Atlantic sea-
board as matter OF national policy.
They have emphasized statements made
by Gen. Goethsls, publicly and privately.
that no one can tell how long tho
slides In the canal will continue They
have suggested the possibilit:' OF q slide
after the feet had landed In the Pacific,
thus compelling a voyage around the
Horn In the event OF an emergency re-
curing It's presence on the eastern coast.
Secretary Daniels was asked to-day
whether tho naval demonstration At
Panama would be carried out az
planned.
There has been on change in our
programme yet" he said.
officials OF the Administration discuss
with great caution all questions even
remotely related TO the present COM
plicated international situation. and II is
for this reason possibly that Mr.. Daniels
10 unwilling to admit at this time that
the Pacific voyage In to be cancelled.
When the time for cancellation comes.
II is believed the Secretary will an
nounce that conditions at Panama will
prevent It.
WfnterhaIter t. Com ind Fleet.