The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-04
S eAnlerican Fleet
VIII Be Divided
J sH4 0F THE FIGHTING
FHtENGFI TO GO TO
PACIFIC.
'yiee AeI1nHaI Sims to Be Nom
@ nated for Admiral When
dfuiraI knight Refnes.

s naSsing of the German sea power, tn
& nnpel lEns strategic reason for keep
ling the main strength OF the Ameri
.scan navy massed IN the Atlantic ocea:
no langar exists. Naval officers her
icipate therefore, that the flee
{: be Divided when the war ener
:eeney has passed and substantial
ss6ne-ha1 OF the main lighting strengt]
the navy go into a reorg nized Pa
ss33eihc feet
Secretary Daniels Indicated toda,
general Encouragement of tn
ng. ships was to be expected. II
no anklng OF what is unde
ssjsGnSideration however, his statelnen
aving been brought out soy question
&7sen he announced that Vice Ad
y y #s;Ea5raT Z Sims, commanding America,
sSsiiaaval forces IN European waters
asGn7a be nominated to the rank O
sfsEniEal when admiral Knight, com
Sn4nalng the Asiadc feet retires mex
Sancnff Resr Admiral Gleaves, com
ing the conveying forces, vii
i5gSnamea BIZ President Wilson for the
staean vice adniral's s post thus Great.
no change in assignments vii
aecoInpany the promotions which viii
. De made Tor merit.
There are indications about the de-
Isartment that plans are already a foot
sisor reviring the old European squad
non. With the increased responsiloili-
: lies of the E-nited States in Europe
Que to- the war and the expanding
sproba.ble that a definite naval force
VIII he maintained in European wa
fers hereafter and it is, possible that
steps may be taken toward establish
ing limited base facilities for the up
sk.eep sSf the force The navy now has
al station at the Azores and officers
sEelieye an arrangement with the F,Qr-
tngnese government under which the
station will be continued for some
time. ,lt least IS to be expected.
IN discussing the future of the feet
offIeerss realize that the creation Of a
league aof nation may produce new
.considl dlsratloas. AS the United States
dispenser for the proposal for d world
IeagueS It is assumed that a concrete
plan of acion has been mapped out
FOR President Wilson by his military
advisers. This would include the pro-
posaI 0f an organization under Which
the combined fleets would operate to
police the world
The most practical way OF arrang-
rIs fo,- an international police force
OF the seas, many officers believe, is
tkssso provide that the locality OF the
disturbance to be quelled govern the
composition of any international feet
to be sent to the scene. That also
would obviate any difficulty as to se-
,7eefing tie officer ts command.
s Sh1I.Id the trouble arise In a sec
Hon sof the world where British in
fsrssts were dominant, It was suggest
ed, tht. major portion OF the naval
1orcessto be assembled would be Brit
ish an1 the commander British, with
sqnahons Of the other naval powers
attached to show the unity Of purpose.
Where American interests were chief
ly issy.,lved the main feet and COM
naf6e Wonla be American.
ssE suggestion arose from the
faeaing among some officers that the
xdea of an International feet under a
safpreme commander, and keep con-
stantiy modified for operation in any
.fheater, is not practical. It was ad-
nitted, however that nothing def
.nfte, was known as to the plans which
may have been evolved for carrying
into execution the league idea.