THE AMERICAN FLEET

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 187, 2 May 1908, Page 5

THE AMERICAN FLEET

ILLNESS OF ADMIRAL EVANS. THE VISIT TO AUSTRALASIA. ar AESOOUTION— COryRIGD svaney, May 1. The steamer Ofctorburn hits arrived liei from Magdalena Bay, on the west coast < South America, where she coaled the Amer can fleet.' '' 1' . , - The captain states that/Admiral' Evan; who had been ailing ever since lip left Ne 1 became indisposed at Magdalena, an under medical advice left the' fleet with th intention of entering a sanatorium in ,Sa Francisco. The senior ■ officer, Admin Thomas, assumed ppmmand, and hoisted ii: flag on tho Missouri. '•'lt is understood that Admiral 'Evans r< !jl?9U'?hed tho pommarid ■ only temporarily ; and will rejoin the fleet as soon as his healt is| restored.' " The crews had received .the news of th .■ Y'?it of the flpet to Australia an Zealand, had caused much* pi thusiasm.' ' '•:"" THE QUESTION OF COALING, 1 DISCUSSION BY THE NAVY LEAGUI ■ ■• '.The question of a possible visit of: th American fleet to Wellington came lip fc - at _ ihe meeting of the Committe : of , the > Wellington- branch' , of ' thb''"Nav Leaguo yesterday, afternoon. ' ; ■ ■ fhe . secretary,'' Mr.G. "W. Palmer, r< marked thai it 'appeared; that ;th float yrould come past' Auckland,' " The Mr. E., j.rLij Grove, sai that _it might' still bo , possible ' for. tin Premier to arrange that one-hair of th fleet should call at Wellington in' view e . the extra coaling, facilities here'; A numbe of the members were undpr' the impressio that tho coaling facilities at Auckland wer . not.: too great, and on account of th . consequent . economy it might, pay ' .'tli Americans to. come' herd. "• T' le . Secretary, thought that perhaps on i or two ships at least could bo diverted t Wellington. " ' • ' •••:. . .v. Chairman said the question of iiioe ; importance .ivas the coaling'facilities. ': (• The. Secretary said that" he lia'd 'been' in . formed that >, the whole matter, of .the -cr ; tcrt'ainmehi of tlip fleet would bp considers by this or at tho beginnin of: : next and. this 'suggestion/ of th L'eagup" w'piild be'.ppn'sidered .'.'at''the 'sam time. '-Nothing "could 'bo done 'then:'"'' 1 In, view-.'of '.the' aflijice" that: the A'ustro ■ lasian squadron was coming to Wellingtei next 1 mont.hj/'tha.Secretary.' stated'"that"i " h a .d occurred to ' him 'thai,' failing' the "visi of th'e 'American flept, 1 there/ Should' be.'' chaiice. of-wplcpmiug' the'" formpr' squjdron , A remark: ivas. ''m'adp''thai : thp . Weiljrigtoi ; people had not exerted themselves sulE : cicntly. to obtain a visit of the America: .. fleet:'" '; 'v. '"-V-" "■ [ ' Tiio' Secretary r Lpt' Auckland have tliein : There dpes not:, seem I .any"' anxiety here. i get tho fleet.' : If the Chamber of Com ; morco'and tho other local bodies , had takei : action, we, TTOuld have '.had a. chance".' : 1 ' ] : 'Tho Chairman."Auckland/' is rather sue 1 picious. If 'tlipy g'et''it;''into their .head 7 thai /Wellington'"is /-tryipg ;t'o"; usur'i) thei position, the,re might 1 bp': a, .little jc'alpiisy but I.'don't' know'if that sho"uld"st6p''iis:' . ; Mr. Arnold: The American Consul block us/ , Ho' naturally intp 'tbd "hand of ; . the" Aubklahders; ':"": Without "pressure ' A'upkland "wofild: bp .allowed' to''have ' every , thine;; 'at'. tl/expense' of / the. Public men hero don't seem |o realise-thi V difference' a visjt'by the fleet Tybuld I 'make "t< ' trade." A '/'," /: /*/'/': : 'The .Secretary's. suggestioh.,was approvei of." /, " ""'"