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Show PROVIDING A NAVAL BASE. Naval Department Preparing for Eventualities Eventu-alities In the East. The navy department is preparing for possible eventualities arising out of the situation in China. One of the great difficulties which would confront the United States in the event of naval warfare in Chinese waters is the lack of a naval base close to the scene of operations. Manila is 2,000 miles from Taku, while some of the other powers have bases within striking distance. A fleet of colliers will have to be utilized util-ized to take out coal for our ships and to ply back and forth between out squadron and Manila, and as a precautionary precau-tionary measure the colliers purchased during the Spanish war, which had gone out of commission, are being fitted out for service. |