Show A ATTS I 1 S A ARE k I 1 TO aa I 1 L 0 O R I 1 PACIFIC I 1 1 NAV NAVY tn IN THOSE WATERS IS TO BE strengthened t I 1 1 t 2 i then japan will have no advantage advantage over tha the american 1 force 4 I 1 chicago feb peb 4 A dee despatch patch frota from I 1 washington says secretary metcalf will issue this week a most important order designed to increase tho the strategic effectiveness of f the he american navy he will consolidate the squadrons now on oil the I 1 pacific coast and in asiatic waters into one fleet under the supreme command of rear admiral willard H Drow brownson neon this fleet will engage in comprehensive sive the object of which will be the protection of the pacific slope and our pacific dependencies cies cles in case of war it Is stated authoritatively there Is no connic connection whatever between the re tion of the navy in the pacific ocean and the controversy with japan over the san francisco school question and I 1 the exclusion of the japanese laborers labore ra from this country indeed the general era board of service the president of which Is admiral dewoy dewey Is considering tor som some time the steps which should be taken to make more effective the hips now in the pacific it Is apparent to anyone who understands der stands the situation that it would be an easy matter for the american warships to be beaten the way they are now stationed there Is a squad I 1 I 1 ron on the pacific coast consisting of four protected cruisers two of which are heavily armored two gunboats gun boats and five live torpedo boat destroyers in asiatic waters there are four armored cruls crula ers two monitors five protected cruisers a number of gunboats gun boats a divi division sIgn of five torpedo boat beat dest destroyers mil aud tour four 0 others united these would woula be a match for any of the great having ships on an the pacific but they have proved a force would I 1 i to be looked after one even more formidable mi dable and thus would not be con a serious menace to any plan of campaign which might be deter upon secretary metcalf and the general board do not propose however to permit I 1 the american fleet in the pacific to be weaker than a possible enemy and there ia reason to believe that before i many ganv months have passed a squadron Equa dron ot of battleships numbering eight ot of the most modern vessels flying the stars and stripes will baht be stationed in the pacific |