Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-01-02
To DIVIDE NAVY
INTO TWO FLEETS
DANIEL s SCHEME
Secretary Announces That the.
Station of One Is To Be I'M
the Atlantic and the Other in
the Pacific.
IHr aoss,no JOURNAL SPECIAL IsAsrp wiRsI


Washington, Jan. by next sum-
mer the navy will be equally divided
into two great fleets to be known
formally as the Atlantic and Pacific
fleets. Secretary Daniels described
e the program today to the house naval
committee, explaining that approval
of it by Admiral Benson, chief of OPP
erations, was received last night from
Europe.
1T is the prime air, of course, to
keep the navy fit" declared Mr.. Dam
iels, and the only way to keep it on
its toes is to have competitor between
fleets. We will, in effect, have a
war between the Atlantic and Pacific
fleets, which will so stimulate the
keenness that it will make the men
feel they are in actual war.
A report showing the strength OF
the japanese navy was submitted by
the. secretary to fill out the reports of
the comparative strength of the
navies of the six other large powers
which he gave Monday. 1t shows Ia
battleships and four building or pro-
jected: seven battle cruisers; ten
cruisers, sixteen light cruisers, and
seven more building or projected; five
Grmored coast defense vessels: &C
destroyers and % building or pro-
jected: IS first class torpedo boats;
eight second class torpedo boats: 81 6
submarines and 81 building and pro-
jected, and two airships and sixty
miscellaneous vessels.
Large submarine bases are TO be
maintained by the navy during peace
times at New London, Conn; Sar
Diego, Calf. and Key West, Fla
N.,.,. I'll. 4.I- 1
that these bases will afford ampl,
protection TO the great ports from
enemy attacks,
Explaining the purpose of dividing
the fleet, Mr.. Daniels said:
after every war there is ten
dency for the navy to retrograde. w,
need the stimulus of competition anC
few weeks ago | developed tn,
plan for fleet division and sent to Ad
miral Benson. 1t was returned las
night with his enthusiastic endorse
ment.
At the head of each fleet will H.
one of the very best admirals, an ad
miral who can stay long enough t.
stir up ambition. / have directed tn
bureau of navigation TO have officer
remain on their ships two years"
The secretary announced that h
anu Aunllfal benson expected to ViSi
the Pacific coast next summer II
said that navy improvements shout
not be determined until the next ses
sion of congress after the department
has had opportunity to recommen
extension work.
The yards at the Panama canal i
Hawaii and at Mare Island and Puge
Sound. he said, can care amply for a
the ships in the new Pacific flee
During maneuVerS both fleets will b
on one coast.
Aviation expenditures should b
limited to experiment, work on ma
chine aud equipment, the secretar
declared in recommending an appro
priation Of s35.000,O00 for thi
branch. The proposed constructio
of many additional coastal air de
Tense stations has been abandoned.
Increase in the permanent enliSte
strength of the marine corps fror
1900 TO 1929 men was recommend
ed. The temporary force now in
cludes $4,000 men. The marine corn
must be kept to a place that is ne
large, Mr., Daniels said. 1T would h
the worst possible thing to make tn
marines another army.