811.3347/42
The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador ( Howard )
Excellency: I have the honor, at the request of the Secretary of the Navy, to bring to your attention the plans which are now proposed for a cruise of a portion of the American Fleet to Australia and New Zealand during the coming summer.
It is at present contemplated that Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, and Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand, will be visited. The units will consist of a cruiser, the Fleet Flagship; a Division of light cruisers; two destroyer squadrons; three battleship divisions, and approximately eleven auxiliary vessels. The present plan contemplates that the Fleet Flagship, a Division of three battleships, a Division of four light cruisers, and two squadrons of destroyers with a light cruiser as flagship, will arrive at Melbourne on July 20 and will remain at that port until August 3, on which date these vessels will proceed to Wellington, arriving there August 8 and departing August 22.
The major portion of the battle fleet, consisting of a battleship, Flagship of the Commander in Chief of the battle fleet, and two additional [Page 282] battleship divisions comprising six battleships, will arrive at Sydney July 18, departing August 3rd. It will arrive at Auckland August 7, and will remain until August 24.
The disposition of the auxiliary vessels of the Fleet will be determined by the current needs existing at that time, and certain of these vessels will visit each of the four ports in question.
If the Commander in Chief of the Fleet finds it feasible within the time limit and with regard to overhauling, provisioning, and fueling, he may be able to detail vessels to visit Adelaide, Hobart, Brisbane, Dunedin and Christchurch.
In view of the large number of ships concerned, the Secretary of the Navy states that he would be pleased to receive any comment that the appropriate Australian and New Zealand authorities may desire to make in this connection in order that such modifications in the schedule as may appear desirable and practicable may be made in ample time.
Accept [etc.]