Bibliography Notes. The Asiatic Fleet, under command of Admiral Albert Gleaves , who, after his notable service as chief of the Cruiser and Transport Force, was assigned to this important duty, now comprises 26 vessels, including 8 destroyers, as follows:.
Admiral Gleaves, who has fully measured up to the naval and diplomatic duties imposed upon him, on his way to the Asiatic Station last year in his flagship the South Dakota renamed the Huron , visited the Gallapagos and Marquesas Islands, Tahiti and Samoa, and later made a trip to the southern Philippines to familiarize himself with the conditions there.
Last December he visited Japan and China, and in both countries was cordially received by the naval authorities. The Asiatic fleet has pursued its duties of protecting American lives and property in the Orient. When Vladivostok was thrown into disorder by the overthrow of the local government last January, the South Dakota and the Albany assisted in preserving order, and these vessels were stationed there during the evacuation of American troops from Siberia, where they had been engaged in protecting a portion of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
In March Admiral Gleaves again visited Japan, his flagship returning in April to relieve the Albany , which engaged in target practice and established a summer base at Chefoo. The Yangtze Patrol, plus the Helena , was assembled off Woosung, and held practice during May, with the exception of the Palos , required for patrol duty on the upper Yangtze.
All vessels completed short-range battle practice, and also director practice, except the Upshur and Elliot , required for patrol duty on the Yangtze. The Yangtze Patrol was reorganized last December, Capt.
Kearney being placed in command. The Palos and Monocacy were active last spring in defending vessels from river pirates and lawless elements, who were holding up and looting steamers and junks, firing on passing craft.
Our vessels aided materially in putting an end to this interference with traffic. The Elcano and the Samar assisted in restoring order during the riots at Kiukiang last March. Two of our gunboats were stationed near Chungking during the disturbance in that province. The destroyers Upshur , Rizal , and Elliot assisted in the Yangtze Patrol, being especially serviceable in establishing radio communication along the river.
Admiral Gleaves made an inspection trip up the Yangtze in June, going as far as Yochow. Division 2, the Helena and Pampanga , operated in connection with the South China patrol, and were employed in typhoon protection in the vicinity of their station. Division 3 was engaged in patrolling the Yangtze. Destroyer Division 13 joined the Asiatic Fleet in May, , and since that date has operated in the Yangtze-kiang. The mine detachment, consisting of two light mine layers, the destroyers Hart and Rizal , joined the Asiatic Fleet in May.
The Rizal operated on torpedo range and kite-flying duties in the vicinity of Chefoo, China, and the Kentucky Islands. The auxiliary detachment, in addition to performing its duties in attendance of the fleet, also furnished vessels for ferry duty between Cavite, Olongapo, and Manila.
In Asiatic waters, Admiral Joseph Strauss, with a considerable fleet, is called upon to make momentous decisions and to act frequently, as the Nation's representative, in a manner not purely naval.
These forces act for the protection of Americans and foreigners generally in the disturbed regions of South China and the valley of the Yangtze River. It is not possible to detail in particular the activities of these patrol detachments. It is enough to say that they are constantly involved in preventing strife and protecting persons and interests in case strife begins.
They operate in areas where there is no peace. No doubt there are pages of honorable history reserved for recording the disinterested services of these little-known forces, not alone to our pioneers in the distant markets and missionary fields of the world, but also to the stricken populace in territories devastated by war. The mission of the Navy on the Yangtze River is to protect United States interests, lives and property, and to maintain and improve friendly relations with the Chinese people.
This has been done very effectively during the past year by a United States naval patrol consisting of the USS Isabel flagship and five gunboats, basing on Hankow, miles from the mouth of the river. The force is now under the direct command of Rear Admiral W. Phelps, United States Navy.
The Yangtze River, the main artery of China, is navigable for 1, miles, floats about 59 per cent of China's commerce, and reaches over 50 per cent of its population of ,, At least half of this, and probably more, were handled via the Yangtze River. Considering the perpetual banditry, piracy, and revolutionary conditions obtaining in this area, without the protection of our Navy this commerce would be practically nonexistent. United States naval forces on the river are distributed over its entire length.
In summer they are usually at Hankow and above. In winter some are locked up to the upper river with the deeper-draft craft in the lower river. Our forces cooperate with the British, taking turns at guarding certain points, each protecting the interest of the other.
Due to the chaotic condition now existing in China, and especially on account of the difficulty experienced by the central Government in suppressing banditry and piracy, American gunboats have been unusually active in caring for American interests. Through the tactful and forceful stand taken by the American Navy in these waters, the passenger steamer Alice Dollar was saved from destruction or capture on the occasion of an attack being made by several hundred bandits firing on the steamer.
Many junks of oil have been secured and returned to the American owners after being captured by pirates. Recently, through the tact of one of the commanders of a United States Navy gunboat on the Yangtse River, representatives of the generals of two opposing armies were brought together in a truce, which prevented the bombardment of a large and populous Chinese city. The forces of the general surrounding the city held such strategic points that the bombardment of the city to dislodge the opposing troops would have cost great loss of life.
The naval commander received the warm thanks of the city officials for arranging this truce and effecting the withdrawal of troops from the city without a bombardment. The department has received letters from the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai protesting the inadequacy of the protection we are able to give in the upper reaches of the river, due to the lack of shallow-draft gunboats.
In a country with few railroads, commerce and population is centered chiefly on the rivers. In recent years American business has increased its commerce greatly in these rivers.
The three gunboats now in the lower river, the Isabel , Elcano , and Villalobos , are of too great draft to get into the section of the river between Ichang and Chungking, a distance of about miles, where a great deal of banditry has taken place. Since , when these two gunboats were built, a great number of light-draft merchant vessels have been built at Shanghai for operating on the upper river.
The increase in river commerce since that time has been great and is demanding more protection. Although the Navy Department is sending two mine sweepers to the Yangtse, they are of use in the lower river only, as must any boat be that is not especially built for the upper river work.
All of the gunboats now on the river are so old as to be maintained at great expense. Two of them, the Elcano and Villalobos , were former Spanish gunboats. It appears that the use of worn out, improperly equipped, and inefficient vessels on the river, in addition to failing to render the actual protection required by American interests, does not reflect credit on our flag nor add to our prestige.
The Navy Department has included in its budget for next year estimates for the construction of six small river gunboats for use on China rivers. The needs of commerce, our national prestige, and the protection of the lives of our citizens, all demand immediate solution of this problem by the construction of adequate and suitable gunboats.
The Asiatic Fleet carried out the usual drills and exercises in addition to participating in several incidents of international importance. Admiral Thomas Washington relieved Admiral E. Anderson as commander in chief, Asiatic Fleet, on October 11, Appeals came also from American shipping for protection of Americans traveling on American vessels in China and from the church in China for more adequate police protection for American missionaries who were in the most troubled and dangerous sections.
The United States Asiatic Fleet has been cooperating recently with the other naval powers at Shanghai, China, and is now acting in concert with them in the vicinity of Pekin, in protecting the lives and property of foreigners who may be endangered because of the civil war now raging there.
To meet these demands and to replace the old gunboats on Chinese rivers with a type suitable for navigating the shallow rivers and swift currents, the Navy Department asked the Sixty-eighth Congress for funds for the construction of six river gunboats.
In the meantime, to augment the old gunboats doing duty on Chinese rivers, the mine sweepers Penguin and Pigeon were placed in commission on October 13, , at Pearl Harbor and proceeded to the Asiatic Station for duty in the lower parts of the rivers, their draft being too great for duty in the upper reaches of the rivers.
The Quiros , an old gunboat no longer serviceable on the rivers, was placed out of commission. In concert with other forces, the United States sent six destroyers to Canton.
The firm stand and cooperation shown by the various naval forces compelled Sun Yat Sen to recede from his threat to use force and the customs continued to be administered as formerly. Expressions of thanks and gratitude were received from American commercial interests and from the resident bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in China for the work done by the vessels of the Yangtze River patrol in protecting American lives, property, and business.
The Governor General accepted the offer of assistance of the commander in chief, Asiatic Fleet. The Sacramento landed a force of marines and constabulary with machine guns at Socorro, their stronghold, drove the Ship Boats Activities For Kindergarten insurrectionists from the town, and order was restored.
The merchant ship Canopus was obtained from the Shipping Board and converted into a submarine tender during the year. Admiral C. The Asiatic Fleet carried out the prescribed forms of gunnery exercises and engineering performances. The vessels of this fleet were employed frequently for the protection of American lives and property in China during the year. Following the urgent appeals for protection of American shipping and trade in China, and for more adequate police protection for American missionaries in the disturbed sections, the Sixty-eighth Congress authorized the construction of six river gunboats.
These gunboats will be capable of operating in the upper reaches of the rivers and will be of much greater value than the old gunboats and mine sweepers they will replace. In September and October, , the operations of contending Chinese armies threatened the safety of American lives and property in the vicinity of Shanghai and the lower Yangtze River. Vessels of the Asiatic Fleet available, reinforced by marines from Guam, were employed for their protection.
Acting with other powers, navigation to Shanghai was kept open and fighting in the city was prevented. Due to political disturbances, practically the entire Asiatic Fleet has been employed for the protection of American lives and property in the coast cities of China and on the Yangtze and West Rivers.
The Heron was commissioned and on December 18 assigned as an additional aircraft tender to the Asiatic Fleet. Political turmoil in China was such as frequently to require the presence of United States vessels in order to protect American lives and property where outbreaks occurred.
Recently increased activities of Chinese belligerents has caused the Yangtze Patrol to become quite active, and this patrol has been strengthened by a force from the Asiatic destroyer squadron. Appeals came from American shipping for protection of Americans traveling on American vessels in China, and appeals also came for more adequate police protection for American missionaries who were in the most troubled and dangerous sections.
The past year in China has been one of intense naval activity. Not only have the regular forces of the Asiatic Fleet been almost constantly employed in guarding American interests, but these forces have had to be increased by the addition of 3 cruisers, 2 transports, and a brigade of marines consisting of some 4, officers and men.
The protection of American citizens in China has been most difficult and has required the greatest amount of tact, patience, and calm judgment in the face of tremendous provocation and insult by the various local authorities, as well as actual assault and attack by mobs of frenzied zealots.
That the loss of American life has not been greater can be ascribed in large measure to the efficient and devoted manner in which the naval personnel have performed their arduous duty. The principle role of protection has been the actual transporting in many cases, and always the guarding and convoying of refugees from the interior during the period of evacuation, their concentration in certain centers, and Ship Boats Activities Question protection therein until the storm of lawlessness had swept on, or on their final evacuation from the war-torn country.
Although the protection of American lives was the paramount duty, such measures of protection as were practicable were afforded American property, but due to the isolation of much of this property and the necessity of avoiding actual war, the same success in protecting property was not attained as in the case of American lives.
While occasions for the employment of actual force have fortunately been few, yet when used force has been prompt and effective, and sufficient only to accomplish the object of protecting American lives. The principal clash occurred at Nanking on March 24, There can be no doubt that this attack on foreigners, including Americans, was premeditated, carefully planned, well organized, and efficiently executed by organized troops. Nor can there be any doubt that the energetic and prompt action of the naval forces of America and Great Britain in laying down a barrage around Socony Hill, where our consul general and other Americans were congregated, and later in the firm stand demanding the safe evacuation of other foreigners in the city, prevented a possible wholesale massacre.
Practically the entire Asiatic Fleet was assembled in Chinese waters toward the end of the fiscal year The regularly assigned forces of the Asiatic Fleet were augmented by the temporary assignment of Light Cruiser Division 3 to the Asiatic Fleet.
In order to transport additional marines to the Asiatic Station it became necessary to use the steamship President Grant , of the Dollar Line. The following aircraft were made available for service with the United States Marine Corps expeditionary force sent to China: 9 fighting planes, 6 observation planes, 5 amphibian planes.
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