AMERICA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13726, 15 August 1908, Page 2

AMERICA AND JAPAN.

KEASON FOR THE FLEET'S CRUISE.

A 'JACK TTArSR r S SHREWD GUESS.

ANOTHER FLEET IN THE PACIFIC

In th© course of conversation with an Auckland Star reporter, att American bluejacket had something interesting to say with regard to the Pacific cruise of the fleet. He had the movements of the American navy at his finger tips, and was certainly entertaining. His statement is given for what it is worth. "You 'know," he said, "those battleships here are not the only vessels we have in the Pacific at the present time. The armoured cruisers Washington and Tennessee, vessels of 14;000 tons, are due to arrive at Suva, in the Fijis, to-day (That was on ' Wednesday). But 1 am getting a little ahead of my story. From Auckland, of course,, the sixteen battleships proceed to Australia, ana . thence on to Manila, around which the chief 'interest of the tour centres. When we reach Manila there will be -^awaiting us there a fleet in itself. Ittwill consist of "the battleships Maine, and Alabama, which were sent from *he- Atlantic coast to the Philippines direct, four monitors, ten armoured cruisers, 27 protected cruisers, about 15 gunboats, - rhe first, second, and thirds destroyer flotillas, and the second, third and fifth torpedo flotillas, five vessels in each ; and also the first and second submarine flotillas, consisting of Wo boats. Among "the cruisers I might name the Desmoines, Galvaston, QHatnogstg De.nv.er, Cleveland;, Taooma and Rainbow. The nan&s or the submarines are the Shark and Porpoise. J "About the time of the arrival of the fleet at Manila, a cruiser squadron will be assembling at Tutuila, America's mid-Pacific coaling station. The Washington and Tenessee, .which, as I have already indicated, are due at Fiji today, will, after coaling there, return to Samoa, where "they will be joined by six other cruisers with five torpedo boats of the third flotilla and two submarines.^ These vessels will; remain at Samoa until the battleships leave Manila. "A fleet is also to assemble at Gibraltar consisting of the battleships New Hampshire, Idaho, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Indiana, lowa, Montana, and North Caroluia, with the fourth torpedo flotilla, comprising eight vessels^ It will thus be seen that a very large fleet could be assembled at Manila. We can communicate by wireless up to 1,200 miles, and $here are also cables,. „ - \ s * "We do not know wny we t canle cut j I could make a pretty good guess, but can't makfrany/jrta^eifient. The executive officer's instructions were ..that we were coming out for a trial cruise. We are due back home" again \on Februafry 22, but we. are Ijo Jay -in 'Manila for two <months. During that time the Japanese Immigration Treaty expires, and a new one.,, will ..be made. Well, you will bo able to dope why we are *he«r." t>: - --■•«Tt, * - •-'-•'*