Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-05-05

the protection OF each coast. and in that
,vay tho protection of our nation AS
whole.
The protection of either ono OF our
long seacoasts not only depends upon
the ships themselves, but IL also very
materially depends upon the establish
mont. size and location of naval bases
and navy yards, which must exist Tor
the maintenance Of the fleet In the war
as well as i'm peace and ft is evident that
such bases will only be properly dovel-
opcd when they ar G used by n large
force of ships during times of peace.
Mahnn Principle Not Violated.
There can be no question that as a
general principle the policy enunciated
by Mahan is sound, viz. That the dvi-
sion of a naval force weakens the
strength of the entire force. as IL enables
an enemy to attack one Of the parts of
the force SO divided. Tho result of the
division of the English navy in the revo-
Iutionary war and of the Russian navy
I'm the Russo-Japancse war illustrate
this principle is only violated when Il
force is divided and so widely separated
| that the two or more parts OF the force
can not support each other. For in
stance. the two Russian fleets. one I'm
| the Baltic sea and the other i'm the China
| sea. during the so-Japanese war
were so widely separated that they
! could not support each other. or one go
| to the assistance of the other. before the
/ enemy could attack.
/ In the new organization of the Amcri-
can navy, as pointed out above, these
| two fleets. the Atlantic and the Pacific
| are not 50 widely separated AS to be un-
| able to support each other. They are. IN
! fact So situated at all times that one
can come to immediate assistance of tn,
other in ease of impending danger ot
an attack from any enemy's nova
| force.
II therefore is clear that strageticallN
the new organization does not offent
| against the principle enunciated by Ma
han who foresaw that the Pacific woul'
bc the center of naval concentration
Can Combine Easily.
The other question of naval activities
is whether the two fleet organization
would materially interfere with the tao
tics of the combined fleet should tn
two fleets be- brought together 10 operat
as ono force
In both tho Atlantic and the Pacih
fleets We have an equal number Of divi
classes. so that should the two fleet
come together. either in the Atlantic @
the Pacific ocean. both of them can com
binc Immediately into one tactical fleet
making a homogeneous whole withnu
thc slightest difficulty Instead of two o
three divisions. there would be som
twenty odd divisions. Instead of fou
divisions of hatilcshius. thor" would b
eight divisions This combination of tw
nscts In one has boon entirely foreseei
and will hc carried out in exercises wit
th.. two nccts combined into one.
The division OF the two fleets hca
certain serial numbers, 50 that who
thcv c5mc together each divisio
has its assigned place IN the t1t
tic formation orders have bo"n give
/ definitely designating which ono of tn
ncc, commanders would =" u suprom
command az tho different units Of cac
noet. and they know IN advance Of jun,
ttIrc exactly what The position Of thci
division of ships would ho In the battl
formation ui The combined f"ct
Need Of Competition.