Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-03-18
NAVAL PROGRAM
FOR THIS YEAR
EXTENSIVE ONE
General Board Is Bent Upon
Complete Reorganization of
the Fleet.
HURRYlNG WORK ON VESSELS
Strongest Fleet Ever Seen Under
Stars and Stripes Now at Guar
tanamo-Repairing of Rents
and Creating of New Fight
ing Machines Going On
as Never Before.
BY VICTOR ELLIOTT.

International News Service Correspondent.
Washington, D. C.-Shortly after the
heir to the Austro-Hungarian crown
was assassinated the British battle
fleet was assembled off Portland for
over, the ships did not dispense by
units and divisions as might have been
expected. The fleet mysteriously
stayed as an integer. 1t was ready to
be flung full force upon the Germans
when the war broke.
There is a curious parallel between
Winston Churchilrs management of
the Grand fleet last summer and the
program now laid out for the American
fleet. 1t is unsafe to draw too many
conclusions from this parallel. But
the fact that our battle fleet now drill
ing off Guantanamo is to stay together
well into the summer is interesting
and perhaps a trifle reassuring.
Guantanamo Maneuvers.
The Guantanamo maneuyers and tar
get practice have brought together the
strongest fleet ever seen under the
Stars and Stripes. The experience Of
fcers 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 fleet will re-
turn north for continued practice.
These further exercises will take
place with Narragansett bay as the
base. The fleet leaves Cuba in May.
From Narragarsett bay the feet will
assemble in New York. Here a 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 fleet
will probably proceed to the Panama
canal for the celebration. Thence it
may go to San Francisco.
Unparalleled Naval Activity.
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 hmelight
on the navy and also, as Robert Ian
sing, counsellor of the state depart
ment, said in a speech at New York
recently, this is a time for serious
thought, a time for anxiety
The general board, consisting Of Adj
miral George Dewey, and Rear Al
mirals c. ]. Badger, Bradley A. Fiske
and Alfred Reynolds. is bent upon a
complete reorganization of the fleet.
1t is expected the superdreadnaughts
| Oklahoma and Nevada will be added to
the feet this month. This will make
/ the first line consist of eight dread
naughts and four superdreadnaughts.
! The divisions of the battlefield will
/ be rearranged so as to distribute the
/ power to the best advantage.
The Present Fleet.
The fleet now consists of four battle
| snip divisions, a cruiser squadron, de-
sJroyer and submarine flotillas, 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