The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-28
FLEET SURRENDER
RELEASES YANKS
FROM SEADUTIES
Questions Of international
Policing Give Rise to SpeCu-
Iation as lust How Allies
Will Arrange World Navy.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 2S.-With the
| passing Of German sea power, the Inn
pelling 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 IA emergency has passed
and substantially one half OF the main
fighting strength Of the navy go into a
re-organized Pacific fleet.
Secretary Daniels indicated today
that a general Encouragement OF the
fighting ships was to be expected. tie
gave no inkling Of what is under con-
| sideration. however, his statement nav
ing been brought out by questions when
he announced that Nlce-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 Y month. Rear Admiral
Gleaves, commanding the conveying
forces, will be named by President VIII
son for the vacant vice-admirals post,
thus created No change in assign
ments viii accompany the promotions
which will be made for merit.
Plans Launched.
There are indications about the de
partment that plans are already aIoot
4 for r~eviving the old European squad
ron. With the increased Responsible
ties Of the United states in Europe
due TO the war and the expanding
probable that a definite naval force
will be maintained in European waters
hereafter and II Is possible that steps
may be taken toward establishing lin
tied base facilities for the upkeep OF
the force. The navy now has a sta
ton at the Azores and officers believe
an arrangement with the Portuguese
government under which the station
viii be continued 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, 1t is assumed that a concrete
plan of action has been mapped out for
President Wilson by his military ad-
vlsers. This would include the pro-
posal Of a plan under which the COM
bined fleets would operate to police
the world.
The most practical way Of arrang-
ing for an International police force
of the seas, many officers believe, Is
to SO provide that the locality of the
disturbance to be quoted govern the
composition of amy international fleet
to be sent to the scene. That, also
would obvlate any difficulty as TO Sc
lectlng the officer to m
Should the trouble arise In n 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
commander British with %squadrons of
the other naval powers attached to
show the unity of purpose. Where
American interests were chiefly In
volved, 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 SUI
preme commander, and kept constantly
modified for operations in any theater,
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 league idea.