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Show SHIPS TO LEAVE VERA CRUZ. Atlantic Battle Fleet to be Sent North by September 1. Washington. All the big skips of the Atlantic battle fleet will be withdrawn with-drawn from Vera Cruz and brought north by September 1. Secretary Daniels announced Wednesday Wed-nesday it was his intention to leave in Mexican waters only small craft capable of patrol duty or w-hich might necessarily be ordered across the gulf to Dominican or Haitien waters. It is the plan to have Rear Admiral Ad-miral Fletcher take command of the fleet at Hampton Roads about September Sep-tember 1, in succession to Rear Admiral Ad-miral Badger, who then retires. At the navy department it was said the movement of the ships had no connection con-nection with the European situation, although some of them might be used in safeguarding: neutrality. |