The Washington times., 1921-06-19
AND
men WILL
De M|ASSED
IN PACIFIC
Admiral Eberle to Command Re-
enforced Western Fleet et--Jones
Assigned to Atlantic.
BY HARRY L. ROGERS.
~ AAnSA Ls RO0EHAc.
Interna tisnai News Service.


Secretary of the Navy DENLY yes
terday made two announcements
which have been awaited with keen
interest almost since the day he as
suned office on March 4 last.
The first announcement WAS
complete It stated that Rear Ad-
miral Edward w. Eberle has bocn
selected to command the Pacific
fleet, and that Vice Admiral Hilary
P. Jones has been chosen fora SIM
liar position with the Atlantic fleet.
The second ouf1cennent was In
complete, but none the less interest
ing. 1t said the Secretary would
make public today, or on Monday at
the latest, statement Of the navy's
new policy with regard to the re-
distributicn of the American naval
forces. sS
Admiral Robert Z. coontx. chief of
operations, admitted that ali the ar
rangements for the redistribution of
the heet had been made. but he de-
cltned to-make the assignments public
before Monday He also announced
that at the Same time 3 new real ad
mirals, 36 captains and 81 command
ers will be created.
REPORTS DECLARED INACCURATE
Shortly after the Harding Admsnis-
tration cnmee into power, reports
began to be circulated to the afrcst
that the Atlantic and Pacific 6ests
were to be consolidated In the Pacific.
The inference from these reports wss
that the entire naval force ON the
east coast was to he moved 10 the
Pacific and permanently based there
These stories were never officially de-
MED. though high officials let Il bs
known that they were Inaccurate. In
many details. ,Itswas freely admitted.
both at the White House and at the
Navy Department. that the whsls
question OF naval policy was being
given earnest attention. ~ .
The forthcoming statement BY Sec-
retary DENLY is expected effectualiv
to silence all rumors that the At
lantic II to be denuded Of lighting
craft and the costly shore establish
ments along that coast abandoned "
is known. however. that the General
Board. the navy's court OF last appeal
in maritime strategy, has dehnifcly
recommended the creation of Q single
grand feet" to be comprised of The
newest and most powerful craft Of
every type necessary to form q we'll
balanced fighting unit.
To form this gigantic war machine.
which when complete would be the
most powerful afloat. the biggest and
most modern dreadnoughts and
superdreadnoughts Of the present
Atlantic and Paci6c fleets would be
assembled as the backbone" of tbs
new superf1eet. To this nucleus
would be added the necessary quota
of cruisers. destroyers, submarines.
mine-layers, colliers, repair ships and
airpianes. and when the giant bat
tieships and battle-cruisers now under
construction are completed. they too
would take their places in the in-
vincible armada, AS the newer ships
were added. some OF the Older types
would probably be detached and sent
to Join the secondary fleets.
JAPAN NOT INVOLVED.
The General Boards recommends
tions. which are understood to have
been adopted without very material
change, provided that this grand fleet
should be based in the Pacific at least
a greater part OF the time, and II is
expected that Secretary Denby's an
nouncement viii be TO that Nect.
The vessels which remain In the
Atlantic will no doubt msneuver in
fleet formation also and they VIII in
clude some very respectable craft, II
Is stated, while In total tonnage the
Atlantic organization will probably
compare favorabiyN with that on the
west coast
Administration, officials and naval
officers alike deprecste any suggcs-
tion that the new distribution OF our
naval forces would constitute a rcs-
ture toward Japan. The new policy.
" IS stated on high authority, would
be based upon sound naval strategy as
cur experts sec A. and upon the con-
vietion that the future commercial
and economic interests of America hs
10 the south and west
Many high ranking officers of the
Navy have long believed that SOUND
NJ lncltca loH q l.