As the Panama Canal was not yet complete , the fleet had to pass through the Straits of Magellan . The scope of such an operation was unprecedented in U.S. history , as ships had to sail from all points of the compass to rendezvous points and proceed according to a carefully orchestrated , well-conceived plan . It involved almost the entire operational capability of the U.S. Navy . Unlike the formidable obstacles that had faced the Russian fleet on its voyage from the Baltic to the Pacific , which eventually led to its destruction by the Japanese in 1905 , the U.S. effort benefited from a peaceful environment which aided the coordination of ship movements . In port after port , citizens in the thousands turned out to see and greet the fleet . In 1908 , the Great White Fleet visited Monterey , California , from 1 – 4 May . The nearby Hotel Del Monte in Del Monte , California , hosted a grand ball for the officers of the fleet . In Australia , the arrival of the Great White Fleet on 20 August 1908 was used to encourage support for the forming of Australia 's own navy . In Sicily , the sailors helped in recovery operations after the 1908 Messina earthquake
1908 Messina earthquake
1908 Messina earthquake
Great White Fleet