Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-03-24
NAVAL. PROGRAM
FOR THIS YEAR
ID - n Il l:2 49, ~,
EXTENSIVE j ' ONE ON !:
General Board Is Bent Upon
Complete Reorganization Of
49, the Fleet. @1**4
HURRYING WORK ON VESSELS
Strongest. Fleet Ever Seen Under
4 stars and Stripes Now at Guam
Misunderstanding Of Rents
and Creating OF New Fight.
, .-. ing Machines Going On
~ az Nsver Before.
1v VICTOR ELLIOTT.

International News Service Correspondent.
Washington. D. C.-Shortly after the
heir to the Austro-Hungarian crown
was assassinated the British battle
feet was assembled on Portland for a
spectacular review. This pageant
over, the ships did not dispense by
units and divisions as might have been
expected. The feet mysteriously
stayed as an integer. 1t was ready to
be flung full force upon the Germans
when the war broke. ~ -
r There is curious parallel between
Winston Churchilrs management OF
the Grand feet last summer and the
program now laid out for the American
feet. 1t is unsafe to draw too many
conclusions from this parallel. But
the fact that our battle feet now drill
ing of Guantanamo is to stay; together
we'll into the summer is interesting
and perhaps q trifie reassuring. H..
Guantanamo Maneuvers.
The Guantanamo maneuvers and tar
get practice have brought together the
strongest fleet ever seen. under the
Stars and Stripes. The experience Of
hcers and men are getting there is
quickly wearing away the rust which
the Mexican troubles and other causes
had let collect. After the Guantana-
mo working out the feet will re-
turn north for continued practice.
These further exercises will take
place with >Narragansett bay as the
base. The feet leaves Cuba in May
From Narragansett bay the feet will
assemble in New York. Here q most
extensive war game may be played.
The plans are not fully matured, but
It is proposed that the fleet divide, one
part attacking the great metropolis
and the other taking up the defense.
Then the fleet sails for Hampton
Roads. where a review ordered by con-
gress will be held in. June. The. feet
will probably proceed to the Panama
canal for the celebration. Thence it
may 60 to San Francisco. a2s -'.
gs@.s Unparalleled Naval Activity. '..fs
Not alone in feet concentration will
the next few months be notable. The
repairing of rents in the navy and the
creating of new fighting machines Is
going ahead as never before. The Eu-
ropean war has thrown the limelight
on the navy and also, as Robert Lam
sing, counsellor of the state depart.
ment, said in speech at New York
recently, this lis a time for serious
thought, a time for anxiety" W.,
The general board, consisting Of Adj
miral George Dewey. and Rear Ad-
mirals c. J. Badger, Bradley A. Fiske
and Alfred Reynolds, is bent upon
complete reorganization of the fleet. v
It is expected the superdreadnaught
Oklahoma and Nevada will be added to
the fleet this month. This will make
the first line consist Of eight dread
naaghts and four superdreadnaughts.
The divisions of the battlefield will
be: rearranged SO as to distribute the
power to the best advantage. ;ls
The Present Fleet.
The feet now consists of four battle
ship divisions, a cruiser squadron, de-
stroyer and submarine fotillas, col
liers. supply and hospital ships, mine
layers and smaller auxiliaries. OF the
four battleship divisions the first two
are composed of first line ships, or
dreadnaughts (the sailor does not use
the term "dreadnaughts"). Indeed the
second division has one second line
ship, the Kansas. But the addition of
the Oklahoma and Nevada will make
three divisions OF four dreadnaughts