The Washington herald., 1921-10-03
Stron gest Part of Sea
Power Now Protects
Pacific Waters.
SEVEN SQUADRONS
ON ACTIVE DUTY
Equipment at San Diego
Includes Dozen Scout
Planes.
BY ROBERT J. BENDER

ny ROBERT j, BENDER
The United States navy is estab-
fishing one-haf its total air force
on the Pacific Coast Thus, with
half the great American fighting
craft already assembled in Pacific
waters. so per cent-and the most
modern and strongest so per cent
of this nations naval strength will
be facing the potential trouble zone
of the Far East
For many years world statesmen
have contended that country's naval
force constituted its greatest pOliti-
cal influence on international affairs.
In recent months these statesmen
have agreed, too, that the only
source of sufficient friction TO en-
body thoughts of possible conflict
lay In the Pacific. 1t was held by
American authorities, therefore. as
not necessarily significant, but
merely practicable. to shift half the
American fleet into Pacific waters.
Best Ships on West Coast.
With the recent arrival of the
dreadnauRht Pennsylvania. and the
dispatch OF two mine-layers. which
permitted two cruisers that had
been doing mine-laying duty. to
return to their regular positions.
this phase of the fleet reorganiza-
tion has been virtually completed.
The Pacific now rolls under the ma
tion's greatest lighting craft. all Of
the oil burners-the most modern
vessels in the fieet-being located
OF the west coast.
For similar reasons II was
deemed advisable to place half the
navy's air strength on the west
coast also. While this program
was agreed upon at the same time
Of the feet division. II has been only
within recent weeks that the shifts
in the air force have been unusually
noteworthy.
Capt. Rutler Heads Air Fleet.
Scores of niers have been moved
from east coast stations TO the
Pacific air forces during the last
two months. Among these have
been some of the country's most
notable hyipE officers. Capt. Henry
B. Butler has been designated as
air force commander Of the Pacific
fleet. succeeding Capt. Henry Mus
tin. who comes to Washington as
assistant chief of the Bureau of
Aviation Comdr. Patrick Bellinger
has just been ordered to the Pacific
Coast as executive officer on the
L. s. S. Aroostook, tender of the
Pacific air force. He succeeds
Comdr. Towers. Both of these air
officers won fame as commanders
of NC flying boats, which made the
historic trans-Atlantic flight.
$50 Omcers on Duty.
Some indication of the complete
ness and rapidity with which the
Pacific air force has been built up
within recent months may be shown
by the fact that there are now about
$50 officers and over $50 enlisted
men on aviation duty along the
West Coast Some OF the officers
are at flying stations or on the
AroOstook. but a great majority are
actually on flying duty.
The Pacific fleet air force is now
made UP of seven air squadrOns
each being divided into seaplane pa
troll forces, combat forces and spot
ting forces
There is little general realization
of the air equipment under the
navy's control. In active service
with the Pacific fleet alone there
are more than a dozen F-5 scout
| planes, over a score of pursuit.
planes Oand planes) either now in
service or en- route to join the fleet
an da dozen more in reserve; fifteen
peHaviland operating and spottins
planes. with half as many more in
reserve. and a dozen bombing planes
| CMartin bombers and Re- seaplanesI
with an equal number in reserve.
Large Reserve of seaplanes.
Ashore at the San Diego air sta.
tion there are now about fifteen sea
planes several blimps and numerous
| kite balloons in active service. with
a reserve of nearly 100 seaplane;
undergoing repairs, etc.
There is a ighterthan-air hangar
on North Island that will house two
navy blimps. and this station Is
being equipped as a Pacific Coasr
base in the same way that Hampton
Roads has been equipped as an At
lantIc Coast air base.
Reduction of the air forces on the
East Coast to effect the transfers &c
the West Coast are being accompa.
MED by material diminution of the
outlays 1T East Coast stations.
(Copyrirht Is2I0