In many respects a new naval force came of age during the world cruise of the Great White Fleet. Not only did the ships and men pass a 14-month test and gain new-found efficiency, but America also gained confidence in their capabilities.
While the spectacle of the Great White Fleet's epic globe-circling journey captured the world's imagination, there was substance behind the show. The voyage initially appeared to be an exercise in "Big Stick" diplomacy directed at Japan, but it actually eased the way for a rapprochement with that country and allowed for the continued concentration of the American battleship fleet in the Atlantic.
