Ahoy Shipmates

Welcome to the latest instalment.

What was the background to the decision of sending the Great White Fleet on its cruise?

The grand idea of sending a battle fleet around the world was that of President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt.

We will discuss more about Teddy Roosevelt at a later stage however it is important to be aware at this stage that he was once the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and he bought to the White House strongly developed views about the role and importance of the Navy.

In the period after the 1898 Spanish–American War the United States became part of the mainstream of international powers and gained a status as a world power. It acquired the Philippines and Guam in the Pacific Region and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. A Naval Base was established in Guantanamo bay, Cuba in 1904 to ensure the safety of the Panama Canal being built at that stage.

Teddy Roosevelt wished to demonstrate to his country and the World that the US Navy was capable of operating globally especially in the Pacific. He also had ordered an upgrade and expansion of the US Fleet from 1903 to 1907 and the US Shipyards produced eleven new battleships.

Why was Teddy Roosevelt focusing on the Pacific and what was the perceived threat that was the catalyst for this cruise?

Watch out for the next instalment which will outline more about what that perceived threat was?

Must...resist....googling.....aarrgghhh!

Awesome Sean! Can't wait til next the installment.

Gator

Hi Kenny

LOL I know its real difficult.

I realise its difficult for some people and many will succumb to temptation. Which in practical terms is ok.

My main goal is to stimulate peoples interest and discussion in this fascinating period of history plus in this great modelshipwrights site and "The Chartroom".

I can also tell you its a lot easier and quicker just to stay tuned to my regular but bite sized instalments than trying to wade through the mountain of information a search engine like "google" will produce.

As the instalments go on they will be as succint and as relevant as possible to the topic.

I trust and hope people enjoy my style because as I admitted at the beginning I am not a literary genius.

Hang in there Kenny things are starting to really build for 16 December and the 99th anniversary of the launch of that magnificent adventure which become "The Great White Fleet".

Regards

Sean

Thanks Sean, good read, mate. . .waiting for the NEXT installment!
~G.

Thanks Sean, keep em coming.

One thing also about Teddy Roosevelt, he was a pretty fair naval historian. I've read his book about the naval war of 1812 and it's very readable and interesting. I recommend it to anybody who is interested in that period.

Hi Rodger

Yes Teddy Roosevelt whilst at Columbia Law School in 1882 researched and wrote his first major book "The Naval War of 1812".

I understand that it is considered by many as the only comprehensive history on that war.

I will be doing a mini profile on Teddy shortly very interesting character and I may hunt down this book after your recommendation.

Regards

Sean