The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-11
NAVY TO ENGAGE
 IN B|G MANE UvE ERS
Most Spectacular Of Peace Time Engagements To Be
 Staged Next Year

LOS ANGELES, Nov. S.-(By Asso- ciated Press.)-The greatest and most spectacular peace time naval engage ments ever fought" will be staged early next year off Panama and in the Caribbean sea, according to naval plans announced here. Practically the whole effective marine fighting force of the United States will be represented in the three months of maneuvers designed to test revolu- tionary developments in strategy and implements of naval warfare since the close of the World war;
 Plans for this vast war game have been in preparation for weeks in conferences here and at other points on the Pacific coast. These confer ences. under direction of Admiral Robert E, Coontz, commander-in- chief of the United States fleet, were marked by the gathering and con- sultation of the largest number of commanding executive officers of naval establishment units that has occurred since the war.
 Major problems In the complete scheme of a war enter into the plans for the winter maneuvers. These embrace attack upon land defenses, with army units participating-tha Is, a naval fight against an army defending a fortified coast; defen- sive and offensive actions by army and Naval units against naval units along the coast; defensive and offen- sive actions at sea between naval sea and air units.
 There will be aerial battles, under sea battles, destroyer. fast cruiser and dreadnaught engagements, as well as landing battles. in which a complete force of marines will be iu- e. lery, engineer. aviation and signal corps branches of that arm of the naval establishment.
 New scouting cruisers. fastest naval vessels afloat, and the 16-inch gun dreadnaughts, will participate among the 150 naval craft that will make up the units in these war games.
 The Pacific fleet, known as the United States battle fleet, will leave this coast about January {. This en- braces the battleship divisions, the destroyer squadrons, submarine dl- visions, aircraft divisions and fleet base force. Joint exercises with the army when approaching the Panama side of the canal are planned. after tactical exercises between units of the naval force while steaming off the Mexican and Central American coast.
 These units will probably remain at Panama for two or three days. re- fill with fuel, transit the canal and head for Culebra. This force Is under command of Admiral s. s. Robison.
 The Atlantic forces, known as the scouting fleet, will leave the east coast at the same time the Pacific units leave here, and upon reaching Panama will engage in a combined war game with the Pacific units. The fcfe hot in, divisions. destroyer squadrons, air squadrons. train forces and control force and Is under command of Vice Admiral N A. McCul1y.
 Admiral Robert II. Coontz will be in active command of the winter ma neuvers.
 After the naval engagements work cd out by the combined fleet the warcraft will proceed together for series of combined tactical exer- cises using Culebra as a base from which to operate. In tLese exercises will be utilized some new effective developments in strategy.
 Among the more important fea- lures of the maneuvers will be the part played by radio. not only for communication, but in location of the enemy. Vast strides have been made in the development of the radio telegraph, radio telephone and radio directional facilities of the naval es tablishment. This being the nerve center of the units when in operation, its development Is Of deep interest. A very important part of the com and directional work, and of particular value in the spotting and direction of fire Is the operation of naval aircraft using radio tele- phone and telegraph. Of equal i'm portance Is the development in the fleet defensive apparatus for protec- tion against the air, and these im- provements will feature the ma neuvers.
 During the latter part of February there will be a recreational period extending into March, when vessels of the Pacific units probably will visit ports on the eastern coast of the United States and Atlantic units will visit the West Indies and gulf ports.
 The fighting craft will reassemble at Culebra in March and conduct tactical exercises until April IA, when the major war problems of the com bined units have been worked out and the forces disperse, returning to their bases for the summer programs. The battle fleet and base force will reach Panama about April 19. and ar rive at San Pedro about May 5.
 Some thirty-five thousand officers and men will participate in the ma neuvers, and during the recreational period the athletic championships of the navy will be determined.