The American Pacific squadron according to the Dutch newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 23 December 1907

The newspaper Standard reported that the American Navy Department decided to form around May of the next year a so-called North American squadron for the Pacific consisting of the 4^th cruiser squadron joined by another 6 cruisers of the County-class. Their home naval base was to be Esquimalt in Western America.(1)

Minister Taft (2) said in an interview that there were none anti American feelings within Japan and Japan wasn’t however interested in the cruising of the American squadron in the Pacific which was just considered as being manoeuvres. The Admiralty later stated that the Standard was not well informed.

Notes

1. The region Esquimalt is part of the Canadian province British Colombia and since 1887 was Esquimalt Harbor the home base of the British Pacific Fleet until 1905. Five years later became Esquimalt the Pacific base of the Royal Canadian Navy.

2. William Howard Taft (Cincinnati 15 September 1857-Washington 8 March 1930), president of the United States 1909-1913. He was at the time of the interview secretary of war (1 February 1904-30 June 1908).