The Washington times., 1913-08-04
GOVERNMENT PLANS
NEW FIGHTING FORCE
Experiments at Philadelphia
Navy Yard Seek to Perfect
"Advanced Base Work."

= The Navy Department is watching
with interest the experiments. being
conducted at the League Island navy
yard In Philadelphia, where Uncle
Sam is perfecting a new fighting force
known, as the advanced base work,
having as its ,keynotes speed and ef-
fectiveness. II forms a portable war
kit. and removes, to a great. extent the
necessity Of maintaining costly per-
manent army and navy bases over the
world. a. -
For. with the new force. Uncle Sam
carries his own army base at. the head
Of his advancing army, and his fees
are accompanied by a forcesoffrrfen and
equipment that can set up . a .coaling
station and protect,a ifarberswtttin time
that can be measured BY "a; few hours
at the utmost. & ~ = ~
The men who make up this new force
are being trained under Col George
Barnett, in charge Of the marines at
the navy yard Next winter the entire
force OF. marines and the equipment of
the advanced base corps will be
transferred temporarily to the West
Indies for maneuveEs.- -.
A town on ofleSof Unole Sans own
islands VIII be Captured" and fortified
by the force: An advanced naval base
will be set up, and equipped. 1t will be
Uncle Sans first real etryout of his new
fgnthg machine and training for the
marines who man 1t.
->''' Navy Yard Gets Benefit.
Phe trial is new In the United States.
Germany is the only other nation where
this branch OF naval warfare has been
developed.
The Philadelphia navy yard shares in
the benefits which will result from its
organization in the United States. II
means more marines at the navy gard
as soon as the efficiency OF the 'ad-
vanced base force" is assured. And the
new force Is proving its efficiency every
day.
So thoroughly trained are the marines
10 the new work that down at League
Island they can land company in an
enemy's territory and have a wireless
Staten set up and sending messages
within three minutes and ten seconds.
Another company can set up a five-ton
harbor defense gun, build a platform for
the gun, and raise II into position with
in an hour and half. A battery of
these guns can protect the advanced
base" from any known attacking force.
While these squads arc busy on land
another company can plant the herbor
Of the base with mines and protect the
submarine terrors with. a powerful
searchlight. set up and ready for ac-
ton within one minute after il has
been landed.
Marines Proving Speed
The marines are proving this speed
in the tests on the League Island
parade ground. Next winter they will
have a chance to prove the same eff
cheney In their sham attack on West
Indian territory.
1t requires no knowledge, of the in
tricate workings Of warfare and de-
Tense to understand the Importance
of the new WORK ana its Possibilities.
A naval advanced base is a har-
bori or rendezvous for warshfps on
the coast OF the enemy. 1t serves as
temporary navy yard, where bat
tleships can rscoal and undergo re-
pairs under protection of heavy guns
which ha We been mounted on shore.
When a harbor has been selected
because of its strategic importance,
officers and men are sent ashore to
make q military survey of the point
and harbor. Basing his conclusions
on reports and maps furnished by
these men,. the commanding officer
determines the position for guns,
searchlights. submarine mines, maga-
zines, and observation stations.