Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1918-11-28
PACIFIC MAY SOON
HAVE HALF FLEET
PATROLL|NC WATERS
Sims To Be Admiral Talk
OF Utilizing All Navies
For World Police Force
"Details Are Lacking

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27-With the |
passing of German sea power, the I'M /
polling strategic reason for keeping the
main strength of the American navy
massed in the Atlantic ocean no longer
exists. Naval officers here anticipate,
therefore, that the fleet will be divided
when the war emergency has passed,
and substantially one-half of the main
fighting strength of the navy will go
into a recognized Pacific fleet.
Secretary Daniels indicated today that
a general e-arrangement of the fight
ing ships was to be expected. He gave
no indication of what is under consid-
Grafton, however, his statement having
been brought out by questions, when
he announced that Vice Admiral Sims,
commanding American naval forces in
European waters, would be nominated
to the rank of admiral when Admiral
Knight, commanding the Asiatic fleet,
retires next month. Rear Admiral
Gleaves, commanding the conveying
forces will be named by President VIII
son for the vacant vice admirars post
thus created. No change in assign
ments will accompany the promotions
which will be made for merit.
Reinstate European Squadrons
There are Indications about that de-
partment that plans are already afoot
4 for reviving the old European squad
rons With the increased responsible
ties of the United States to Europe, due
4 to the war and the expanding merchant
marine. it is regarded as probable that
a definite naval force will be MAIN
tanned in European waters hereafter,
and it is possible that steps may be
! taken toward establishing limited base
/ facilities for the upkeep of the force.
/ The navy now has a station at the
| Azores and officers believe an arrange
ment with the Portuguese government
under which the station will be con-
/ tinuod, for some time, at least, is to
! be expected.
In discussing the future of the fleet.
officers realize that the creation of a
league Of nations may produce new
considerations As the United States is
/ sponsor for the proposal for a world
league, it is assumed that a concrete
plan of action has been mapped out for
President Wilson by his military ad-
visers. This would include the pro-
posal of an organization under which
/ the combined fleets would operate TO
police the world
World Police Force
The most practical way of arranging
1 for an international police force of the
/ seas, many officers believe, is to so
provide that the locality of the dis
I turbance to be quelled govern the com
position of any international fleet to
/ be sent to the scene. That, also, would
obviate any difficulty as to selecting
the officer i'm command.
Should the trouble arise in section
of the world where British interests
were dominant, it was suggested the
major portion of the naval forces to be
assembled would be British and the
I commander British, with squadrons of
the other naval powers attached, TO
show unity of purpose. Where Ameri-
can interests We're chiefly involved the
main fleet and commander would be
/ American.
This suggestion arose from the feel
ing among some officers that the idea
of an international fleet, under a su-
preme commander, and kept constant
/ ly modified for operations in any thea
ter, is not practical 1t was admitted
however that nothing definite was
known as to the plans which may have
been evolved for carrying into eXecu-
ton the leagues ideas.