Show INVITATION OF JAPAN American Fleet Will Visit Some Port of the Em Empire Empire Empire pire CHANCE FOR THE CHINESE NEW ITINERARY BEING AR ARRANGED ARRANGED ARRANGED RANGED IN tN WASHINGTON Washington March 20 OThe The Amer AmerIcan Amerlean lean Iran battleship fleet Is in to tn visit Japan The desire of ot the emperor of ot the Island kingdom m to play host to t the tIe fleet ivas ras laid ald before Secretary tary Root yesterday by Baron the Japanese o ambassador The Invitation which was couched In most cordial cordia terms t waS made the subject of ex ox extended tended consideration by b President Roosevelt and amI his entire cabinet to today toda today day da Secretary Root was vas directed to accept apt tho the Invitation and the tho acceptance accept acceptance acceptance ance was laid before the Japanese am ambassador ambassador ambassador late today It is regarded In official circles here as more than likely that China will be benet next net to bid for a look at the tho fleet and that should this be the case caso the invitation invitation invitation tion will vill be accepted Arranging New Itinerary Secretary 8 Metcalf and anti Admiral Pills Pillsbury Pillsbury Pillsbury bury chief of ot navigation n are aro arranging arranging arrangIng ing the details of or the new Itinerary With the tho exception of China Chinn It Is de do determined all nil other Invitations should any be received will be de declined lined dined for at the best the fleet will vili not now be able to reach the seaboard before the tho first of next arct The itinerary which seems to be the most direct includes stops slops at the tho Hawaiian Ha Hawaiian HawaIIan Islands Samoa Melbourne Sydney Sdney Manila Yokohama should that port be selected as the stopping place in Japan possibly a Chinese port vort back to the Philippines and then home hon by b way of the Suez canal with only filly such stops as are necessary for tor coaling Target Practice at Manila The fall target practice has been planned to occupy a month at Manila either before or after the visit to Ja Although target practice Is re regarded regarded as decidedly important and the is to have the ships occupy a month each spring and aud fall fail In gun practice the desire dewe to have the fleet return to Its home borne station may ma lead to toa toa a It curtailment of the month planned for Manila Japan will have the ships a week tl to the tentative plans While the stops in foreign ports so far made have bave Jeen been een on an average of ot ten days duration a part of that time was oc occupied j In taking on coal With a visit to Manila lI no coaling operations will willbe willbe be necessary in Yokohama This would enable thi th entire stay there to tobe tobe tobe be given up to the festivities and show features of the visit The acceptance of ot the Japanese in Is la regarded in official circles as of considerable importance In the way of If a demonstration of the cordial cordiality cordialIty cordialIty ity existing between the American and Japanese governments The added trip Is nearly nearl equal in distance to a voy voyage VO voyage age from New York to Europe The Th text of or the Invitation and the reply has been blen held from publication by the th department of state pending its re by the Japanese government |