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President Roosevelt replies he will let the case stand as Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry suggests. In a postscript Roosevelt asks if any needed ships repairs can be handled at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-07
President Roosevelt reluctantly concludes that the only course of action is the one Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry outlines in his previous letter. Had the officials listened to the younger officers, Roosevelt feels the Utah and Florida would be more formidable. He regards “it as a mistake not to consult at length the best of the younger officers.” Captain Cameron McRae Winslow submitted a letter on the necessity of greater armor protection, which Roosevelt hopes Newberry will consider.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-28
President Roosevelt wants to do all he can for Raymond C. Ewry and requests a full report.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-27
President Roosevelt commends Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry for his work and thanks him for the information concerning the Higginson matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-22
Before he makes a judgment, President Roosevelt requests Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry have the Newport Conference submit their recommendations and plans regarding the battleships Utah, Florida, North Dakota, and Delaware.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-15
Rudolph Forster instructs Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry to send a telegram on behalf of President Roosevelt to the prime minister and governor of New Zealand via Admiral Charles S. Sperry, expressing the “sincere regard” of the American people for the people of New Zealand.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-13
President Roosevelt discusses the considerations for and against the promotion of Lieutenant Walker with Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry. Roosevelt concludes that Walker is professionally qualified for promotion, if he gets his drinking under control. In a postscript, Roosevelt asks Newberry to bring a report on the recently concluded Newport Naval Conference and outlines his thoughts on the construction of the battleships Florida and Utah.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-10
President Roosevelt congratulates Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry and the Navy team for winning the national shooting contest at Camp Perry.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-31
President Roosevelt asks Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry to refer to the telegram regarding coal sent by Acting Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver and to report back on how much of a delay would be caused by loading coal for Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-31
President Roosevelt informs Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry that Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou does not require the Buffalo to help the Revenue Cutter Fleet protect the Seal Islands. He directs Newberry to send a copy of the telegram to Cortelyou to forward to the Cutter Fleet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-17
President Roosevelt instructs Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry to ensure there is enough coal for the Great White Fleet’s trip, and says the Bureau of Equipment is “on trial in this matter.” He likes the idea of “having one first-class man. . .represent all the newspapers.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-17
President Roosevelt informs Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry that the USS Dolphin is sufficient to send to Gloucester.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-14
President Roosevelt believes Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry’s decision is correct and advises him to ignore everyone except for the Navy Department’s experts regarding the construction of lake boats or Holland-type boats.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-14
President Roosevelt will send the Dolphin or a similar vessel to Gloucester, Massachusetts, on August 15, considering Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry’s conversation with Meyer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-13
Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry’s letter helped President Roosevelt better understand the situation. Roosevelt believes the best itinerary for the Great White Fleet to follow is through the Straits of Magellan and returning through the Suez Canal, but he seeks advice from the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, Admiral Willard H. Brownson. Roosevelt also believes several reporters should accompany the fleet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-10
President Roosevelt directs Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry to return the memorandum to the General Board of the Navy, saying he approves all of it except for the point about dividing the fleet. Naval history and the recent Russo-Japanese War illustrate the dangers of splitting forces to protect multiple strategic points. Roosevelt wants the Atlantic Fleet to remain a singular unit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-06
President Roosevelt asks Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry if gunboats can be sent to the seal islands near Alaska to prevent poaching there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-01
President Roosevelt instructs Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry to send the USS Buffalo to watch for seal poachers in the Bering Sea. The Buffalo should also investigate regarding coaling stations when not performing her duties around the seal islands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-01
President Roosevelt returns two reports to Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry and approves of Newberry’s actions in the improvement of training future officers in the military and naval academies. In a postscript, Roosevelt notes that Maine Senator Eugene Hale is adding to the tensions between the United States and Japan by his actions, and asks Newberry for his alternate plans for the fleet as soon as possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-30
President Roosevelt believes the arguments of Admiral H. N. Manney against sending the naval fleet to the Pacific are absurd. If the arguments were true in a time of peace, they could more readily be applied in the event of war, in which case the United States should resign itself to giving up the Philippines, Hawaii, and Alaska, as well as Puerto Rico and the Panama Canal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-24