The Winslow mail., 1925-04-10

Back of the Pacific maneuvers
which begin on April Is, when
practically the entire United States
Navy sails from San Francisco to
test the defenses of Hawaii, is the
determination of President Cool
idge and the secretaries of war and
the navy to make the army, navy
and air force a co-ordinated unit.
A special correspondent Of The
Winslow Mail will be aboard one OF
the flagships, and will send inter-
esting letters for The Nails read
ers each week, telling of the world s
greatest peacetime mobilization of
naval warfare equipment.
Convinced that the country has
an adequate navy, an efficient
army, and the beginning of a
strong air service, the defense
chiefs in Washington are attempt
ing to solve even the more difficult
problem of perfect cooperation be-
tween the services in unified ac-
ton. A high official said recently:
ut is unfortunately an historical
fact that the majority of such ex-
petitions sent out by all the prin-
cipal military powers have failed,
due in many cases to lack of under
standing of each others needs by
the army and navy forces engaged
therein. In any program Of train
ing our national defense forces
practice in joint operations involv-
ing both the army and navy is
therefore necessity"
Although the first and second
joint defense exercises held at Pan
anna in the winter of 1929 and
1924 taught many lessons of CO.
operation, the Hawaiian maneuverS
are to be on larger scale, farther
from the home base, and for the
first will rely on airplanes as a
major part of the defensive and
attacking units.
Aircraft will be employed for pa
troll, reconnaissance and artillery
adjustment for attack on subma-
rines and surface ships when oper-
ated from shore, and on gun posi-
tions, ammunition dumps, radio sta
tions, dry docks and industrial es-
Establishments, when operating from
ships op airplane carriers.
Gin spite of certain deficiencies
with respect to air strength in the
navy, the maneuversS will see a
greater concentration of naval air.
craft of modern design with the
fleet than has ever been possible
before" according to Rear Admiral
William A. Moffett, chief of the
bureau of aeronautics of the navy.
more than 200 planes, including
the defending air forces of the
islands, will be involved, and the
fleet will have 100 naval planes of
all types operating from the surface
ships"
Other problems on which impor
tant data are to be obtained are:
1. Control of fire at long range
of ships against shore Notifications.
2. Methods for covering the land
ing of an expeditionary force
against strong opposition.
3. Methods of landing such a
force, including artillery, machine
guns, tanks, supply trains, ambu-
lances, signal outfits and supplies
to maintain the force on land
The attack from the sea as out
lined will be met by the coast de-
lenses of Oahu, the main island of
the group and seat of Honolulu, and
by $4,000 troops augmented by
national guard forces. Practically
all calibres of guns and mortars
will comprise the defense, includ-
ing 12-inch railway mortars, 1856
millimeter guns, 3-inch antiaircraft
guns and 240-millimeter howitzers.
After the fleet leaves the Golden
Gate on April Is the blue" forces
will be ordered to attack the
"black" forces. The test will be
carried out under rigid rules, as