The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-24
lin Battle PRACTICE
An EMMY" FLEET TO ATTACK
u.s.. BARBER In MbY
FLEET TO LEAVE CUBA

kkEE u kAlk - VVDAA
Admiral to Command Huge Naval
Force In Manoeuvers off New York
Daniels Says Navy is Ready, Ell.
fcient and Prepared for War.
Plans have been completed by the
navy department for the mobilization
of the entire Atlantic feet, the de-
stroyer and submarine fotillas, and
the naval aviation corps of Newport
on May IS. Newport will be the base
of operations, which will involve the
| working out of a naval problem OH
which the war college at Newport has
been busy for weeks, and which will
cover the coast from Nantucket to
Montauk Point, the approach to Long
Island Sound.
The game as mapped out is the
| most pretentious ever undertaken by
the navy. In addition to the super
dreadnoughts, dreadnoughts, pre-
| dreadnoughts, armored cruisers, de-
stroyers and submarines, 1t is under
stood a fleet of fishing craft will be
pressed into service to carry out the
mine-sweeping part Of the program.
New Nork City will be the objective
sought by the sQuadrons which Will
play the part of the enemy.
The feet, which for the first time
| is commanded by an officer with the
rank Of admiral, is engaged IN target
and feet exercises Off Guantanamo,
! Cuba. These exercises, which have
been IN progress for more than
month, will terminate, 80 far as
| Cuban waters are concerned, on Aprii
8, when the entire fleet drills on the
way.
The feet Is scheduled to reach
Tangeir Bay, in Chesapeake Bay, on
April 9. After two days the entire
organization will put to sea again,
and from April II to May will have
target practice off the Capes OF Vir.
ginia. -,
The morning Of May 8 the feet will
head for New York. 1t is due in the
North River the following morning,
| there to remain at anchor while the
| officers and men enjoy shore leave
until May II, the day before the big
naval game is to begin. The assem-
! blage of the great feet will give New
York it's first opportunity to see the
mighty organization since Admiral
Fletcher became coIrmander-in-chief
and it will be the first time a four.
starred pennant, the flag OF the cd
miral, ever had been seen on super
dreadnought in these wHters.
The war game will last from May
is to May 80, and on June the Vari-
Gus ships will proceed to their homo
yards for docking and necessary re-
pairs before starting on the long voy.
age to San Diego, San Francisco, and
Seattle via the Panama canal. The
feet will assemble in Hampton Road!
On June 21, and is scheduled to sal
for the canal on June 25.
"Neyer before in the history OF ou'
navy" reads statement issued from
the navy department few days ago
"has such powerful feet been as
sembled for active service as thai
based at Guantanamo, Cuba, the past
two months under Admiral Fletcher
The vessels comprising this fleet ars
ready for any service, and are accom-
panied by repair ships, supply ships
and fuel ships carrying coal, Oil and
supplies for an extended period"
In addition to the exercises on
Guantanamo the reserve toredo no
tilla and the submarines have beer
and are still engaged in war exercises
off Pensacola, Fla. Altogether eighty
three warships Of all classes are now
at practice in Southern watc-S.
| Recently Secretary Daniels made
short address at luncheon given IL
his honor after the launching Of the
new dreadnought Pennsylvania.
| There never was time salc
Secretary Daniels, when tie nav!
was so powerful, so ready. so efficient
a snow. Nor has there been a yeal
when the fleet has given 80 mucf
time to target practice, manoeuvers
war games and practices as the pres
ent year. Skill, modern adaptation
new tactics, are being carried out
aisht and day. The motto OF ths
navy Of to-day is training. training
and more training; practice and more
prictice.' Nothing else keeps ships
and men fit. To-day they are fit anc
ready"
/ Secretary Daniels reviewed tht
| progress of building battleships anc
said the launching Of the PeInsyl
vania was one Of the many concrete
proofs Of the strength, effectiveness
and steady development Of the nav,
of 1915. He praised congress fol
providing recently for an increase II
the navy, saying it showed its Wis
dom Of the value Of submarines wher
it authorized a big increase Of that
craft.
"No nations" he said, has placed
such substantial faith in the deadly
power Of this under-sea craft. With
in a comparatively short time. When
our mighty fleet lies IN Hampton
Roads, ready to traverse the ocean
it will be accompanied by submarines
which can make twenty knots and
send hurting through the water Tor
pedoes capable of sinking the laVia'
THAN ships any nation can construct
The Sixty-third Congress had the wis,
dom to see that the backbone OF any
naval fighting machine is the great
ship able to keep the ocean when II
is stormed-tossed."
Secretary Daniels said he had been
directed by President Wilson to say
for the president that he was proud
Of the new Pennsylvania, but hoped
it never would be called on in war to
demonstrate it's prowess.
"But though up to fght;n' if acc.
essary there never was time when
it was so important for orr country
to set the warning world aa example
of peace. May we not hope tina; the
day is not far distant when the ma
tions at war will solicit our good Of
fees in leading the way to honorable
peace"
The secretary said that the co:'ntry
was fortunate in that the malt!e o!
patience of peace Of the martEred
Lincoln had fallen upon the shoulders
of President Wilson to guide the ship
of state in the present period OF peril