The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-02
TWO GIANT FLEETS
IS DANIELS PLAN
One in Atlantic, Other in Pa
cific. Working in Rivalry
and Competition.
EQUAL SIZE, STRENGTH.
Secretary of Navy Would Keep
Proposed Biggest Navy in
World Keyed Up to
Fighting Pitch.
EQUAL SIZE, STRENGTH.

washingson. Jan. Tive great
z t.sssxs az cuuaa aknc and nkrymktll. I
one In the Atlantic and the Other
in the Pacific, working In con-
slant rivalry and competitAon. II
the plan Of Secretary Daniels 70
keep hts proposed biggest navy In
the world keyed up To AZhttnG
. pitch. The SECRETARY unfoaded
hts plan before the house naval
affairs committee today.
The two aeet plan will be put into
operation during the coming summer
One OF the most competent admirals
in the navy will he put in command
OF the Atlantic feet and the ofncer
personnel will be maintained with AZ
few changes as possible for the two
years The secretary believes this
policy will develop in the new major
force the same interest which in the
pas. has made the Atlantic feet the
pride of America.
ELABORATE WAR MANEUVERS.
Elaborate war maneuvers will be
staged frequently, il is said. The two
fleets will meet in battlesbips which
will approach AS close to real hos
tiiities as possible with firing actual
shells
All marines shortly will be removed
from navy yards the secretary said
and concentrated in the stations at
Paris Island. s. c.. San Diego, Calf,
and Quantico, Va
Increase Of the navy enlisted per-
sonnet to e5o,0oo a. recommended by
Mr.. Daniels yesterday. will add sss.-
900, 600 to the pre-var payroll. he
said today.
Another matter urged by the score
tary was q law to permit the-opsning
OF naval radio stationS to commercial
business. He said PostnsAster-Gen-
eral Burleson yesterday called upon
him to use the wireless whenever pos
sible. in order to relieve the heavy
strain on the cables.
STRENGTH OF JAP NAVY.
Figures on the strength Of the Jap
anese navy. which were lacking Mon
day. when Secretary Daniels gave the
house naval affairs committee com :.
parative tables Of the other principal
powers were put into the record to-
day They show the japanese navy
10 be about equal to that of France
and consfderab bly, behind the United
States. The figures follow:
!. Battleships. Is: Battle ships build
ing and projected, =; battle cruisers.
Z; cruisers. 10; light, cruisers ] &;
Hight cruisers building and projected,
Z: armor coast defence vessels. s.
Secretary Daniels. Admiral Henson
and other ofIiciAls Of the department
will 30 to the Pacific coast next sum
mer to make a study Of naval sta
tion1 and contemplated pro5ecta.
The departments aviation progpem
calls for the maintenance OF two
principal bases, n Pensacola. Fla.
and San Diego. Calf. The existing
stations in Massachusetts, on Long
Island and at Hampton Roads and
several coastal stations will be con-
tinued. Endorsements will be made
only at PersAcolA and San Diego. Mr..
Daniels said. Enough money from
previous appropriations remains to
the development 1t San
Diego.
The secretary submitted to the
an amendment to the
naval bill increasing the permanent
enlisted strength Of the marine corps
from 17,lo0 70 35.1tT cxciusive Of
wounded men and those otherwise