The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-29
PEACE OF CIVILIZED WORLD LINKED TO CHINA CRISIS
U, S. WARSHIPS
ARE RUSHED TO
CHINA'S COAST
Nearest Naval Aircraft Are
in Manila, Three Days
Distant.

By United Press
WASHINGTON. Jan. 29.-Ad-
miral M. M. Taylor, commander-in-
chief of the Asiatic fleet, today ad-
vised the navy department that
three of the four destroyers he had
ordered to depart from Manila
would proceed at once to Shanghai.
The fourth will take a position
at Wuhu.
Taylor said the four ships left
at a. M, Manila time, today. AT
full speed of twenty-eight knots it
would take them about forty hours
to reach Shanghai.
Earlier reports had indicated the
destroyerS would join the Yangtze
river patrol and operate along the
river about $50 miles from Shang-
hal.
Upon arrival of the three addi-
tional destroyers from Manila, the
United States will have five de-
stroyers, each carrying an ordinary
force of lis men, at Shanghai, and
five more within easy sailing dis
lance.
At Shanghai are the destroyers
Truxton and Borie, each with six
officers and lis men.
Another addition to the forces
guarding Chinese waters was made
Thursday when the destroyer Nc
Cormick reached Hongkong with
crew of 121. All destroyers in the
Asiatic fleet carry the same arma-
ment.
Taylor Fleet Commander
Rear Admiral Montgomery MeigS
Taylor, who won the distinguished
service medal for his services as
commanding officer of the battle
ship Florida during the World war,
directs the movements of the fifty
three ships of the Asiatic fleet from
his flagship, the heavy cruiser
Houston at Manila.
Taylor, native of Washington,
was naval academy appointee by
order of President Grover Cleveland
in 1896. During the Spanish Amer
lean war he served on board the U.
S. S. Olympia, Admiral Dewey's
flagship.
The admiral has had numerous
details of duty in the Office of naval
operations. He assumed his present
post as commander-in-chi of the
Asiatic fleet in August, 1881.
Aircraft Days Distant
The nearest naval aircraft to
China are at Manila, three days
sailing distance. Admiral Taylor
had four planes on board his flag
ship. In addition, the aircraft tend
er Jason, under Commander E. D.
McWhorter, carries six scouting
planes and six torpedo planes.
The fourth regiment of marines
consisting of f1fty-two officers and
LIB enlisted men under Colonel
r. S. Hooker, a veteran of thirty
two years commission service, is
stationed at Shanghai. Marine
forces in China have no airplanes.
A legion guard of fourteen Off
GERS and 419 marines is maintained
at Peiping.
The remainder of marines in the
ASiatic division are stationed in the
Philippines. Six officers and 266
enlisted men are housed in the bar
racks at Cavite, P. l., and fifty en-
listed men are at Olongapo, P. I.
Admiral Taylor's flagship carries
one marine officer and thirty-five
enlisted men.
Fleet to Hawaii Soon
In event of serious outbreaks in
the Chinese area, this country prob
ably would be forced to dispatch
warShips from San Diego and other
stations on the Pacific coast. The
naval base at Pearl Harbor.
Hawaii, ten days sailing from
Shanghai at high cruising speed,
has force consisting only of sub
marines, mine craft and auxiliary
vessels.
However, during winter maneuv-
ers the entire battle force of the
United States fleet will be in Hawa-
liam waters.
Eight battleships, seven cruisers,
twenty-four destroyers and the air
craft carriers Saratoga and Lexing-
ton will be in the Hawaiian area
during February and the first week
of March.