The Dermott news., 1915-03-18
General Board Is Bent Upon
Complete Reorganization OF
the Fleet.
HURRYlNG WORK ON VESSELS
Strongest Fleet Ever Seen Under
Stars and Stripes Now at Guam
tanamo-Repairing OF Rents
and Creating Of New Fight
ing Machines Going On
as Never Before.
By VICTOR ELLIOTT.

International News Service Correspondent.
Washington. y e shortly after the
heir 10 the AustroIlungarlan crown
was assassinated the british battle
feet vas assembled eff Portland Ter
spectacular review Tins pageant
over. the ships lid not dispense by
units AID divisions as might have been
expected The fect u4ysteriously
stayed As an !nteKar. 1t Ms ready 10
be flung tuu force upon the Germans
when the war broke
There Is curious parallel between
Winston churchill $ mauasemeut Of
the Grand nect Last summer and the
program now laid oHt for The American
fleet II is unsafe 10 draw too many
conclusions from this parallel But
tho fact that our battle fleet now drill
ing of Guantanamo Is 10 stay together
We'll into the summer - interesting
and perhaps 4 tride rcassuring
Guantanamo ManeuVers.
The Guantanamo maueuyers and tar
get practice have brought together the
strongest fleet ever seen under the
stars and Stripes. The experience Of
ticers and men are getting there is
quickly wearing away the rust which
the Mexican troubles and other causes
had let collect After the Guautana-
mo working out the feet will re-
turn north for continued practice.
These further exercises Will take
place with Narragausett bay as the
base. The fleet leaves cuba in May.
From Narragansett bay the fleet will
assemble in New York. Here a most
extensive war game may he played.
The plans are not fully mdtured, but
it is proposed that the neet divide, one
part attacking the great metropolis
and the other taking mp the defense.
Then the fleet sails for Hampton
Roads. where review ordered by con
gress will be held in June. The neet
Will probably proceed To The Panama
canal for the celebration. Thence 1t
may go To san Francisco.
Unparalleled Naval Activity.
Not alone in fleet concentration viii
the next few months be notable, The
repairing OF rents in the navy and the
creating OF new lighting machines is
going ahead as never before The Eu-
ropean war has thrown the tmelight
on the navy and also, as Robert Ian
sing, counsellor OF the state depart
ment. said in speech at New York
recently. this is 4 time for serious
thought u time for anxiety.
The general board. consisting OF Ad-
miral George Dewey. and Rear Nd
mirals c J. Badger. Bradley 4 F1ske
and Alfred Reynolds. is bent upon a
complete RECONCILIATION OF the neet.
Ii is expected the superdreaduaughts
Oklahoma and Nevada viii be added to
the feet this month This Will make
tho first line consist OF eight dread
naughts and four superdreaduaughts
The divisions OF the battlefield viii
be rearranged SO "a 10 distribute the
power to the best advantage
The Present Fleet
The fleet now consists OF four battle.
ship divisions. a cruiser squadron. de-
stroyer and submarine Gotllas. col,
Tiers, supply and hospital ships mine
layers and smaller auxiLaries OF the
four battleship divisions the first two
are composed of first line ships. or
dreadnauehts Cthe 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