Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-01
BIG ]. S. FLEETS
TO PLY PACIFIC
AND ATLANTIC
Mr.. Daniels Outlines New
Navy Plans to House
Committee.
TO MEET IN BATTLE
PRACTICE EACH YEAR
Aims Through Friendly Rivalry to
Keep Both Men and Ships Fit.
Gives Aviation Program.

The present United States Navy i.
to be divided $3.50 between fleets foi
the Atlantic and the Pacific by next
summer. These fleets will be brought
together in actual sea warfare practice
once or twice year alternately on the
Atlantic and Pacific. An admiral win
be placed in charge of each feet, care
fully selected, so that there will bs
plenty of opportunity for his ambition
to develop the fleet under his com.
mand. Officers are to be kept on the
several ships for longer periods, NOT
less than two years, in order that they
may feel that they are part of that
ship.
Aims to Keep Navy Fit
These plans to keep the Navy fit, to
arouse the ambition and rivalry of the
officers and personnel and to keep Ut
interest of the entire Navy establish.
ment were outlined to the House naval
affairs committee today by Secretary
Daniels.
He said that the Navy Department
officials believe that this is the big.
gest thing that can possibly be done
to strengthen the power of the United
States Navy.
As regards naval aviation Secretary
Daniels said that Pensacola Fla, and
San Diego, Cal, are to be maintained
and strengthened as the two prime pal
stations. Other existing stations win
be continued. but proposed new ones
have been stricken from the estimates
Secretary Daniels said that he is op.
posed to putting more appropriations
to aviation ground work. Whatever is
spent, he said, should go into expert.
mentS and developments, so that the
best incentive and technical brains OF
the country may be engaged in i'm.
proving aviation.
No Extensive Building Needed.
To carry out the naval program for
a big feet on the Pacific will require
no extensive building or enlargement
Of navy yards or dry docks. the Sec
retary said. The dry docks and shops
on the Panama canal are Adequate for
all naval fleets in that locality. The
big permanent dry dock at Hunters
Point, for which the Navy has con.
tracted and which will be ready in a
few months. can take any size ship
he said.
Secretary Daniels, accompanied by
Admiral Benson, proposes to visit the
Pacific coast as soon as possible per-
sonally to inspect all of the places on
which the Helm board has made re-
port.
The members of the naval affairs
committee encouraged Secretary Dam
iels in this program, especially Rep
resentative Butler of Pennsylvania,
who will be chairman of this commit.
tee in the next Congress.
Promotion on Merit Advocated.
Promotion of naval officers on
merit was advocated by Secretary
Daniels during the hearing yester-
day. He recommended an amendment
that would withdraw all application
of seniority in making promotions,
and also suggested that officers in
each grade be permitted to select men
for promotion to successive grades
instead of continuing the present sys-
tenn of having all selections made by
single board.
Increased pay for the men of the
Navy also was recommended by. Mr..
Daniels, who asked the committee to
write into the new naval bill a pro-
vision making permanent the war.
time pay increases of from $6 to SIS
for enlisted men. This would mako
the pay range from $40 to $51 a
month The Secretary also asked
that one months pay be given Navy
men as a gratuity when they are dis
charged from the service.