The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-09-03
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
on6 short
of several types of vessels, particularly
of destroyers, submarines. light cruls-
ers, aerial forces and fleet auxiliaries
made it impossible to concentrate O
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, bn
| the entire fleet was never mohilized
due to the use of practically all lgh
craft In the war zone, the detail o.
cruisers to escort duty and the rae
that a considerable portion of the bat
tleship force was on duty abroad muci
of the time.
| Will Set New Mark.
The january maneuyers will set 9
new mark In American naval progress
For the first time in the history OF I'M
new navy the battleship fleet Will %
supported by reasonably adequa''
number of destroyers and other ign
craft. Submarines will be avallaoi'
In abundance, together with sufllcieh
naval aircraft for all tactical purpose
and a fully rounded out fleet OF aux
| iliarv vessels. The total number
vessels TO participate will depend OF
the progress of recruiting. as man.
ships are In reserve now for lack
| crews. but it is probable that Admlra
Wilson will command at least ooo Nes
sells Of all types.
The most modern OF dreadnauehl
to participate in the maneuvers VII
be the great Tennessee. The iast "or'
In naval construction. this great hoa'
Ing fortress dlsplaces $1,000 tons car
ries 10 14inch guns and Is propeiie'
nv electric turbines. The Iehhesse
Is attached to the Atlantic heet.
| sister shin the California. probaoi
will not be completed in time 10 jon
Admiral Rodman's forces before III
maneuvers.
A comparison of the ships ava,la 2,
for next winters maneuyers Win u
naval strength available for siIhi'a
concentration ten years ago aforn
some striking contrasts. January
1910, the latest battleship In the nav
was the New Hampshire, authorized o.
congress in 1904, and completed
| 1905. A comparison of the New hani
shire and the Tennessee follows:
New Hampshire-Length, 40 ie..
,readtb 7s feet; draft, q feet; Oh