Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-05
j. S. ASSEMBLING
MIGHTY FLEET FOR
MANEUVERS AT SEA
Greatest American Navy
in History Ready
for Cruise.
ATLANTIC SHIPS GATHERING
OFF THE VIRGINIA CAPES
Will Meet Pacific Flotilla at
Canal Zone jan
uary 81.
TO OPERATE AS ONE FORCE
Admiral Wilson to Command Gil
gantic Flotilia, with Pcnnsyl-
rania as Flagship.
ATLANTIC SHIPS GATHERING
OFF THE VIRGINIA CAPES
TO OPERATE AS ONE FORCE
Admiral Wilson to Command Gil
gantic Flotilia, with Pcnnsyl-
vania rs Flagship.
by JOHN GLEIsSNEU.

NNWr StuH
-WASHiNGTON. Jan. 1T G
mirhtest fee; ever assembled under
the American Tag is preparing for
extensive mancuvcrs TO work out tho
problems with which it would be con-
hontcd in event OF war.
ships OF the Atlantic Fleet are az
ssmblins Off the Virginia capes. while
those o. the Pacific fleet Will rea-
devious at sea of California The
VIII effect juncturc at the Canal
Zone January 81. and unite az II
single force in exercises At sea a
cruise down the west coast OF South
America IL provided in the itinerary
The mancuvcrs are considered i'm
portan; because they will be the frs,
since the policy OF maintaining sep.
ara,e forces In the Atlantic and Pa
cihc vas adopted They will put into
practice the theoretical junc:ure
which would be necessary In an crner-
Fency. the use OF tn. canal in de-
tense, and permit s;udy o. the prob
lens arising from operation OF tho
combined commands ~ one great
force.
The dcfcns. o. the Pacific is con-
sidered as important as tina, of the
Atlantic by naval strateBis,s. and tho
presence OF the single feet In western
waters will provide conditions sinilar r
TO those which would exist II that
coast We're TO he defended
VIII shoot ut Targets.
Target practice. simulated attacks,
torpedo attack and defenHe. and other
!'elcmen,s of sea lighting are to receive
attention.
Admiral Wilson will he in command
with the Pennsylvania as nagsh
He Will have the batt!eships Utah,
Florida. Delaware. North Dakota. Ari-
zona, Oklahoma and Nevada from the
Atlantic Fleet. and the ba;tlcships
Wyoming (nagship). Arkansas.
Texas. Sew Mexico. New York. Mis-
sissippi and Idaho from the Pacific
Fleet.
The new and powerful Tennessee
may join nt Panama. In addition
there VIII be eighteen dcstroycrs
from each feet. twenty-five supply
ships OF various sorts. and mine
layers and sweepers. Submarines
will not be present on the cruise.
The air forces OF both fleets will
participate. Fourteen OF the great
the Pacific Coast, and nine down the
the fleets at Balboa. and to take part
in the training exercises
Air Forces Ready.
II Is the first time schedules have
been laid down for the air forces ex-
ac,ly like those employed every year
for battleships. cruisers and sub
marines.
The exercises will include study
and application by information gain
cd during the war. The new per-
sonnel OF the navy. made necessary
by its great expansion in war time
and the subsequent release OF volun-
teers will acquire practical train
ing.
Aside from this. the political sig
nifcance of the demonstration should
be noted. II comes at time when
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee is giving consideration to pos
sibie universal armament Limitation
and, while the State Department, is
negotiating with Japan over affairs
in the Pacific. The mancuvers. of
course, are an annual affair. but their
magnitude is certain to attract atten
tion in other countries which main
tain powerful naval establishment.
Pacific Fleet Large.
The Pacific Fleet alone Is now
stronger than the force which went
around the world during the admin
istration OF President Roosevelt. The
combined forces constitute the great
est fleet ever assembled, except the
British grand fleet in war time.
Next summer foreign cruises are
projected for both fleets. Itineraries
for which are now being prepared
The Atlantic Fleet Is expected to visit
ports on the east coast OF South
America, going from there TO Cane
Town. and possibly other African
ports The Pacific Fleet. 1t is pro.
posed. shall visit tho South Sea
Islands and Australia and New Zen.
land.