The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-07-20
BIG PACIFIC FLEET
STARTS D n V0YAG
FOR WESTERN COAST
EVENT MARKS COMPLETE CHANGE
IN NAVAL POLICY or THE
GOVERNMENT.

Old olnt omfort, Va, July l9.-Thc
Pacific fleet was well on its way tonight
on the first leg of its long voyage to
the west coast.
None OF the pomp and ceremony
which marked the departure OF the
worldgirdling Atlantic fleet from
Hampton Roads in 1907 attended the
sailing today of the armada under Ad.
miral Hugh Rodman. That is being re.
served for the triumphant entrance of
the ships into the Golden Gate about
the middle of August whore President
Wilson is expected to review them.
After a week in the Virginia road
stead preparing for their voyage, the
grim superdreadnaughts and swift de
stroyers weighed anchor at $50 u. m.
and turned their prows seaward on a
voyage that is to furnish the first real
test of the Panama canal and carry to
the people of the Pacific seahoard the
first great fleet assigned to their de.
fense.
Swinging out of the capes the fleet
turned southward in cruising formation
with the six uperdreadnaughts, which,
form the backbone of the Pacific naval
defense, steaming within Il triangular
screen made by 80 destroyers. In that
formation the ships will remain until
the end of the first leg of the voyage
to Colon.
Upon its arrival at san Diego, the
first stop on the Pacific coast the fleet
will be joined by many other craft as
signed to Admiral Rodman's command,
and the combined armada will enter San
Francisco harbor. Secretary Daniels
will meet the vessels at san Diego and
accompany them on their travels from
port to port and finally will go to Homo
lulu with several of the craft.
Plans for the extensive maneuvers
and battle practices in which the fleet
will engage after the conclusion of its
welcome home" cruise along the coast
already are being worked out, and later
will come battles" with the Atlantic
fleet and joint fleet exercises in both
the Pacific and the Atlantic.
Complete Change in Policy.
The beginning of the voyage marks
an epoch in American naval history.
For the first time the fleet has been
divided, with exactly half of its power
assigned to guard the western seaport.
For the first time, also, the strategic
value of the Panama canal is TO be fully
tested when Admiral Hugh Rodman
moves his armada through Pacific
waters.
The sailing of the great fleet today
marks complete change in naval poll
cy. Not while the German fleet eX'
listed nor while German eyes We're lev
eled at the rich and undeveloped re
sources of South and Central America
could American naval strength have
been divided The composition of the
Pacific fleet tells its own story. The
three most modern ships of the line of
the navy are the New Mexico Idaho
and Mississippi, are headed west
Not since President Roosevelt sent the
Atlantic fleet to girde the globe have
the people of California, oregon and
more powerful and modern fighting
craft than the old her-ship Oregon. Be
side the 80 ,00Oton flagship of the Pacific
fleet, the Oregon will be almost pigmy.
Leading the fleet is the New Mexico,
in some respects SURPRISING any fight
ing ship ever built, for she is electrically
driven, the only battleship in active
thus equipped. The only
vessel of considerable size previously
launched carrying this wholly American
is the collier Jupiter, built at
the Mare Island yard in aClifornia.