Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-11-25
MASS FULL US.
NAVAL STRENGTH
Sea Power to be Concentrated in
Pacific in 1921.
MAAEUvERS TO Be UNIQUE

"iH"IOsII1O ~ u OUt4Ul
Next January viii See the Greatest
AssembIage Of Warships In American
hlstory-AdmiraI Henry 3. Wilson
to Be in Command Of Cobinod
Force-First Actual Mobilization Of
Bulk of the New American Navy
New Mark in Naval Progress.
The greatest concentration of sea
power In the history of the American
navy will result from the junction OF
the reOrganiZed Atlantic and Pacific
fleets off the Pacific coast next Janu-
airy under plans now being prepared
FOR naval operations. according to the
Portland Oregonian. The great naval
spectacle probably will be staged In
the vicinity of the Gulf of Panama.
Officials of the navy department say
that the proposed mobilization will In
no sense result in grand" maneuverss
No effort will he 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 competitive ma
ture, including unofficial athletic COM
petitions between representatives Of
the two fleets and Of individual ships.
Admiral Henry b. Wilson. commun-
der-in-chief Of the Atlantic feet. will
he senior officer of the combined force,
with Admiral Hugh Rodman, chief Of
the Pacific fleet. second in command.
Maneuvers to he Unique.
The maneuvers will be unique In
many respects, chiefly In that they will
afford the frst actual mobilization Of
the hulk of the new American navy.
Before the war the forces were always
more or less scattered and shortage
OF several types of vessels particularly
OF destroyers, submarines. light cruis-
ers. aerial forces and feet auxiliaries
made. 1t impossible to concentrate
we'll roundabout feet 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 de.
stroyers and submarines. was over
come, hut the entire feet was never
mobiliZed, due to the use of practically
all light craft In the war zone. me de-
tail of cruisers to escort duty and the
fact that considerable portion Of the
battleship force was ON duty abroad
much of the time.
The January mnneuverS will set
new mark for American naval progress.
For the first time In the history of the
new navy the battleship feet will be
supported by reasonably adequate
number of destHoyers and other light
craft. Submarines will be available in
abundance. together with sufficient
naval aircraft for all tactical purposes
and fully rounded out fleet of aux
Hilary vessels. The total number of
vessels to participate will depend on
the progress of recruiting as many
ships are in reserve now for lack Of
crews, but it is probable that Admiral
Wilson win command at least 300
vessels of all types.
Tennessee Most Modern.
The most modern of dreadnaughts to
participate In the maneuvers will he
the great Tennessee-the last word in
naval construct
A comparison of the ships available
for next winters maneuvers with the
naval strength available for similar
concentration ten years ago AFFORDS
some striking contrasts. January l.
1910. the latest battlesh'p In the navy
was the New Hampshire, authorized
by congress In 1904. construction start
ed in 1908 and completed In 1908. A
comparison Of the New Hampshire and
the Tennessee follows:
New Hamrshire-Leneth 45O feet:
breadth 70 feet. draft y feet, displace.
ment 17,7OO tons. speed IS knots. main
battery four lo-Inch guns and eight g.
inch. secondary battery twelve 3-inch.
four submerged tornchO tubes: nine
inch armOr Propelled ny triple eX-
pansiOn steam engines developing
$4,000 horsepower: crew. 1850. inclnd-
ing marines.
Tennessee 1921 Length 600 feet.
breadth 81 feet. draft 81 feet. displace-
ment $4,000 tons, speed (contracD p
knots. main battery twelve l4-inch
guns. secondary battery fourteen >
inch guns two submerged torpedo
tubes propelled by electric turbines de-
veloping % 300 horsepower; crew 1900
men, including marines.
Eighteen single caliher gun ships
classed rs dreadnaughts will he avail
able FOR the January maneuverS that
were not completed In 1910. They have
combined displacement Of 445.NN
tons and a combined gun power Of l12
14-inch guns so lbs. 3:f 5-Inch and %
3-inch.
A comparison OF total hattleship
forces available In 1920 with 1910
shows thar this year there are 10
dreadnaughts and ~ predreadnaughts
excluding the Oregon class. against %
predreaduauyhts In 1910. including the
oregon class Most of the battleships
listed asa avniinhle In 1910 are now
considered obsolete.
Armies Man Is Expert AirpIane Pilot.
A railroad accident deprived Loxia
III Af hot