The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-01-03
NAVY TO STAGE
BIG MANEUVERS
Combined Fleets to Meet at
Panama for Training in
Strategical Problems.

Los Angeles. Cal.-Detaiis of plan
Of operation for 1924, comprising what
was described as ''the greatest scope
of activity By the American navy since
the World war;" were revealed aboard
the flagship Seattle by Admiral Robert
g. Coontz commander-in-chief Of the
United States feet now at San Pedro.
ghe plan centeTs around a Carib-
bean cruise on which more than 13O
varships Of the combined fleets based
on Yasquez sound, Porto Rico, will be
engaged for more than three months IN
a comprehensive program Of strategy
cal problems, tactical exercises ana
battle maneuvers.
The United States battle feet, In
command of Admiral Samuel S. Robin
son. will leave San Pedro January !
next for the first rendezvous at Pan
ANA. It will be accompanied by the
feet base force under Rear-Admiral
John v. Chase, both forces reaching
Balboa January 10, after carrying OUT
two battle programs on the way.
To Attack Canal Defenses.
Destroyers, submarines and air
craft viii accompany the fleet on the
s.0O0-mile voyage to the Panama ca
nal, operating directly with the dread
naughts.
The scouting fleet operating in the
Atlantic, in command Of Vice-Admiral
n. A. McCully, viii leave Hampton
Roads for the canal January 4. The
east coast dreadnaughts, destroyers
and submarines will be accompanied
by the control force under Rear-Ad-
miral Montgomery NJ. Taylor. This
feet is due to reach Colon January IA.
The first big strategical problem OF
the cruise win be staged at Panama.
The scouting fleet and control force,
assembled at the eastern entrance to
the canal, will defend it against the
Onslaught" Of the great armada OF
dreadnaughts, aircraft, destreyers and
submarines sweeping in from the
Pacific.
~LIberty Cruise" Planned
The entire United States feet viii
then assemble off the Colon break
water and there win follow weeks OF
fueling, machinery overhauling and
liberty for the $4,000 men.
The combined fleets, under the d.
rect command Of Admiral Coontz, will
leave Colon January % for Yasquez
sound, arriving about January %
Then will follow another strategical
problem, battle conferences, more fuel
ing and inspection Of machinery.
Tactical exercises, with the fleets
engaged under what will approximate
battle conditions, will take place be-
tween February II and March 3.
On the latter date the feet Will
start on a two weeks '1iberty cruise
visiting every port in the West Indies
and along the gulf and South Atlantic
states This will be the first time In
four years that the dreadnaughts of
the battle feet will be in Atlantic
waters.
Tactical exercises and maneuvers
will be resumed March IL and con-
tlnue into April Early in that month
also, athletes of the navy, 12,000 in
number, 1t is stated, will hold their
annual all-feet competitions.
Battle to Be Staged.
On April IA the combined forces will
stand out from Culebra bay, breaking
up into two "hostile" forces for bat
tie maneuvers to continue throughout
the run to Colon.
Upon completion of the problem the
scouting fleet and control forces will
proceed to Guantanamo, Cuba, arriv-
ing April 81.
The battle fleet and the base force
will reach the Panama canal April 10,
and leave Balboa for the homeward
voyage up the west coast April %. The
east coast forces VIII leave Guantana-
mo May / for Hampton Roads and
New York. The Pacific forces will re-
turn to san Pedro May 5, the same
date those in the Atlantic reach their
bases. Several new and powerful yes
sells win be added to the forces on
the west coast, it is announced.
The battle fleet will engage in gun
merry practice on the drill grounds off
San Pedro until late in June, when 1t
win visit San Francisco and the Puget
sound.
IN NEW ENGLAND.