| On 16 December 1907, the United States Battle Fleet began a journey
that would conclude by circumnavigating the globe. While navies today travel
throughout the world as part of their standard mission, such a feat had
never been attempted in 1907. |
| Perhaps brashness on the part of the United States might have been
attributed to its recent debut on the world stage as victor in the
Spanish-American War, or perhaps, as his detractors claimed, President Theodore
"Teddy" Roosevelt just wanted to demonstrate "Big Stick" diplomacy. |
| Regardless of purpose, the cruise of the Great White Fleet truly ushered
in the "American Century." |
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