The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-07-27

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WASHINGTON. July 27.-Tho
greatest concentration Of sea power
In the history OF the American navy
viii result from the junction OF the
-re-organized Atlantic and Pacific
fleets on che Pacific coast next jan
uary under plans now being prepared
by naval operations. The great laval
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 whl 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 sim
pie and mainly of u competitive ma
iure, including unofficial athletic
competitions between representatives
OF the I'VE fleets and OF individual
ships. The main object OF the mobil-
ization will be to give officers and
men an opportunity TO compare notes
and meet for a few weeks OF good
natured rivalry.
Wilson In Command.
Admiral Henry b. Wilson, COM
mnnder.in-chief of the Atlantic fleet.
win he senior officer of the combined
/ force, with Admiral Hugh Rodman,
chief Of tho Pacific fleet, second In
command.
The will be unique in
many respects, chiefly In that they
will afford the first actual mobiliza-
ton OF the bulk OF the new Amer
lean navy. Before the war the forces
were always more or less scattered
and a shortage OF several types OF
vessels. particularly Of d~es;royers.
submarines. Fight cruisers. aerial
forces and fleet auxiliaries mad Il
impossible TO concentrate "A well
rounded out fleet although the major
portion Of M battleship force met
zach winter at Guantanamo, Cuba,
for target practice and drills.
During the war the shortage In
most types of small vessels. notably
destroycrs and submarines, was over
come. but the entire fleet was never
mobfized. due 10 the use OF practical
~ all light craft In the war zone, the
detail OF cruisers 10 escort duty and
df the battleship force was on duty
abroad much OF the time.
The January will SCI n
new mark In American nav pro-
gress. Flo the first lime in the history
of the new nav the h%attleship fleet
will be supported by a reasonably
adequate number OF d~estroyers and
other light craft. Submarines Will be
available In abundance, together with
sufficient naval aircraft for all tact,
zeal purposes and n fully ounde
nut fleet OF auxiliary vessels. Tho
total number OF vessels To participate
viii depend on the progress OF re
cruiting. as many ships are In reserv'
q FOR lack OF crews, but IL II
probable that Admiral Wilson viii
command NJ least SOC vessels OF al
types.
DreadnouRhts In Iine.
The most modern OF dreadnoughti
10 participate In the manuevers vii
be tho great Tennessee. The las
word In naval construction. this grea
floating fortress displaces $4,000 tons
carries ~ fourteen inch guns and y
propelled by electric turbines. I'll
Tennessee h attached 10 the Aflunti'
fleet. A sii.er ship, the California
probably will not be completed u
time to join Admiral Rodman'a fore
before the maneuyers.
A comparison OF the ships avail
able for next winters maneuver
with the naval strength available 70
n similar concentration ten years ng'
Affords some striking contrasts. Jan
nary I, 1910. the latest battleship II
the navy was the New Hampshire
authorized by congress in 1904, con
%struc,ion starred in 1905 and com
pleted In 1905. A comparison OF tn
New Hampshire and the Tennessee
follows:
New Hampshire: Length $50 feet
breadth 20 feet; draft 81 feet; dis
placement 17.7OO tons; speed Al
knots; main battery Z twelve incl
guns and 8 eight inch; secondar
/. battery ~ three inch: four submerH
cd torpedo tubes. nine inch armoI
Propelled by triple expansion nteaf
engines developing $1,000 horsepoU
, err; crew 1850 Including Martinez
: Tennessee: 1910. Length 500 4ed'
breadth ~ feet: draft 81 feet. dis
3 placement 82.3eo tons; sepeed icon
trect) q knots; pain battery 4