The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-08-20
Atlantic and Pacific Fleets to Be
Combined in Great Sea
Spectacle.
ADMIRAL WILSON IN COMMAND
Not intended to Concentrate All Of
Nations War Strength and Only
Vessels Regularly In Commission
Will Participate.

WashingtOn.-The greatest concen-
tration Of sea power in the history
Of the American navy will result from
the junction Of the reorganized Allan
tic and Pacific fleets Off the Pacific
coast next January under plans now
being prepared by naval officers.
The great naval spectacle probably
will be staged in the vicinity Of the
Gulf Of Panama
Officials Of the navy department say
the proposed mobilization will in no
sense result in grand" maneuvers. No
effort will be made to concentrate all
Of the nations naval strength and only
ships regularly in commission with
trained crews will participate. The
exercises and drills will be simple and
mainly of a competitive nature. includ-
Ing unofficial athletic competitions be-
tween representatives Of the two fleets
and Of individual ships.
Admiral Wilson Senior Officer.
Admiral Henry B. Wilson, command
er-in-chief Of the Atlantic fleet. will
be senior officer of the combined force
with Admiral Hugh Rodman, chief OF
the Pacific fleet, second in command
The maneuvers will be unique in
many respects, chiefly in that they will
afford the first actual mobilization OF
the bulk of the new American navy
Before the war the forces were always
more or less scattered and shortage
~ covorol typoc ~ x,occoIS Nm r<{ c,,l 10 ~ -
| Of destroyers, submarines, light cruis
| ers, aerial forces and fleet auxiliaries
| made 1t impossible to concentrate q
| well rounded out fleet, although the
major portion of the battleship force
met each winter at Guantanamo, Cuba
for target practice and drills
During the war the shortage in mos
types Of small vessels, notably destroy
ers and submarines, was overcome. bu
the entire fleet was never modified
due to the use of practically all ligh
craft in the war zone. the detail O.
cruisers to escort duty and the fac
that considerable portion Of the bat
tleship force was on duty abroad mucl
Of the time
viii Set New Mark.
The january maneuvers will set {
new mark in American naval progress
For the first time in the history Of tn,
new navy the battleship fleet will b.
supported by reasonably ADEQUATE
number of destroyers and other ligh
craft. Submarines will be available
in abundance. together with suficien
naval aircraft for all tactical purpose
and fully rounded out fleet Of aux
Hilary vessels. The total number Q
vessels to participate will depend o.
the progress of recruiting, as man
ships are in reserve now for lack 0
crews, but 1t Is probable that Admire
Wilson will command at least 800 yes
sells of all types.
The most modern Of dreadnaught
to participate in the maneuvers Wi
be the great Tennessee. The last wor
In naval construction, this great f1oat
Ing fortress displaces $4,000 tons, cal
ries IL 14-inch guns and is propelle
by electric turbines. The Tennessee
Is attached to the Atlantic fleet.
sister ship, the California. probabl
will not be completed In time to joi
Admiral Rodman's forces before tn
maneuvers.
A comparison Of the ships availabl
for next winters maneuvers with tn
naval strength available for a simlla
concentration ten years ago afford
some striking contrasts. January
1910. the latest battleship in the nav
was the New Hampshire, authorized b
congress in 1904. and completed |
1908. A comparison Of the New Ham,
shire and the Tennessee follows:
New Hampshire-Length, $50 feet
orsadtA. % feet: draft, n feet; d.