Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 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.

Washngton.-The greatest concen
ration of sea power in the history
Of the American navy will result from
the junction of the reOrganlzed 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 viii participate. The
exercises and drills will be simple and
mainly Of competitive nature. includ-
Ing unofficial athletic competitions be
tween representatives of the two fleets
and of individual ships.
Admiral Wilson Senior Officer
Admiral Henry Il. Wilson, command
erin-chief Of the Atlantic fleet. will
he senior officer Of the combined force.
with Admiral Hugh Rodman, chief Of
the Pacific fleet, second in command
The maneuyers 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 a shortage
Of several types Of vessels, particularly
Of destroyers, submarines, light cruiS-
ers, aerial forces and fleet auXllaries.
made 1t impossible to concentrate
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 most
types Of small vessels notably destroy
ers and submarines, was overcome. but
the entire fleet WIS never modified,
due to the use of practically all light
craft in the war zone. the detail Of
to escort duty and the fact
that considerable portion of the bat
tleshlp force was on duty abroad much
Of the time.
viii Set New Mark.
rTbo Iaun,,or, ,,ornuy,ra ,,iII COZ N
new mark in American naval progress.
For the first time in the history of the
new navy the battleship fleet will be
by reasonably adequate
number of destroyers and other light
raft. Submarines will he available
n abundance, together with sufficient
naval aircraft for all tactical purposes
md fully rounded out fleet OF aux
liary vessels. The total number of
;eSes to participate will depends on
he progress of recruiting, as many
,hlIS are in reserve now for lack of
'rews, but II is probable that Admiral |
Wilson will command at least 300 YES
'cls Of all types
The most modern Of dreadnaughts .
o participate in the maneuyers will T
,e the great Tennessee The last word .
n naval construction, this great float .
ng fortress displaces $4,000 tons, car. /
les II 1i.inch guns and Is propelled ,
" electric turbines. The Tennessee |
$ attached to the Atlantic feet, A
lister ship, the California, probably
viii not be completed in time to join ,
ADMIRAL Rodman's forces before the
naneuvers
A comparison of the ships available
or next winters maneuyers with the
avail strength available for a similar
ten years ago affords
ONE striking contrasts. January /,
go the latest battleship In the navy
ras the New Hampshire, authorized by
mgress In 1904, and completed In
90S. A comparison Of the New Hamp-
hire and the Tennessee follows:
New Hampshire-Length. 450 feet;
readth, 70 feet; draft q feet; dis