Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-29

pend in great part upon the outcome
of the European situation. But that
will not alter the need Of an Army
organization that will be efficient II
the Army is large the organization to
control it must be organized on scien-
tifc lines to keep it up to standard.
If the Army is small, the organization
must be even more perfect and active,
so that in an emergency the Army
may expand without the disruption
which followed the attempt to in
crease many times the war organiza
ton of 1917.
Ky
Secretary Daniels has announced the
intention Of the department hereafter to
maintain two
q. S. Navy in Future fleets-one in
to Have Two Fleets. and one IN
Pacific. The general plan is to divide
the naval forces to be placed on ac-
tive duty about equally; each to be
operated separately. Nevertheless the
two will be brought together by cut
ting through the Panama Canal for
joint maneuvers. The plans, if car
ried out, will place in each fleet Officers
of such ages in their respective grades
that for the most part they will re-
main in the same fleet for almost a
officers and men will have time to de-
velop their personnel organizations
without interruption; it means to a
moral certainty the birth Of healthy
spirit of rivalry between the two
fleets. When the west joins the east
at Guantanamo. for instance, for ma
neuvers and big-gun competitions. 1t
"a fl
will be at its best Without some such
incentive. after the relaxation from
war efforts, the tone of the Navy will
fall as sure as there are little apples.
In the annual maneuvers before the
war 1t was customary for the Allan
tic fleet to make grand demonstra-
ton against an enemy which usually
consisted of a few old naval vessels
endowed for the time with imaginary
speed and phenomenal but imaginary
batteries and equally effective torpe-
does. Now the Atlantic fleet will find
in the Pacific an opponent quite wor-
thy of her metal. 1t is true that each
feet will be short of swift scout
cruisers, and neither will for some
time to come have a fast wing Of bat
tie cruisers. Each, however. can have
big destroyer fiotilla and the de-
stroyers will have speed enough to
serve as imaginary battle and scout
cruisers until the time comes when
the Navy will have the real thing.
The establishment of fleet in the
Pacific entails the developing of the
navy yards and bases on the western
coast: for these vessels will need re-
pairs, and it is not good economy to
send them at the present prices Of
overhaul. But in this connection an
other thing is necessary-the creation
of several strong advance naval bases
Guam. east of the Philippines, and al
most in line with Hawaii, is in charge
of the Navy, but 1t Is almost without
heavy defense works and would
promptly fall before the attack Of q
strong naval force. But it's strategic
position is such that no fleet would
the United States without having first
disposed Of the little island. II it were
given real strength as a naval base.
1t would cost an enormous sum to
convert this land into a Helgoland
or a Gibraltar: but II it were strong
enough to cause even a short delay IT
might mean the reinforcement of the
western fleet from the Atlantic in
time to shift the supremacy from an
attacking fleet to the defenders.
There Is another little posse ssion Of
the government in the Pacific, way up
in the northern part, the tip end Of
the Aleutian Islands on the Bering
sea. which. if strongly fortified. would
be OF strategic value in the defense
of Alaska in case any power should
break away from the seductive charm
Of the league Of nations and make a
raid on that land of romance and
wealth.
The western coast, destined to be
great. has renewed interest in mari
time affairs. The shipbuilding inter-
ests are vast: it Is the point Of de-
parture for the commerce of the
orient. AS an integral part Of the
United States the government cannot
overlook any means that will fully
protect it from raid or attack, even
though it would be impossible for an
enemy to enter and hold the territory.
The adoption by the Senate Of an
amendment carrying with it an
appropria-
For Maintenance ton SUIT
Of Frankfort Arsenal. n . 20
operation the frankfort arsenal for the
manufacture of cartridges for small
arms supported a proposition Of interest
at once to the Army and to labor.
II appears from the hearings that the
ordnance department has on hand
/. ZOO, 000. 900 rounds Of such ammunition;
and. as it does not deteriorate rapidly.
it is unnecessary to continue its manu-
facture for immediate use Of the Army
Therefore, to some Of the senators, 1t
seemed unwise to appropriate more than
enough to keep the factory in order.
But the fact was made to appear that
this institution 10 one Of the oldest in
America: that community Of small
arms ammunition matters has grown