Evening star., 1933-11-04
FLEET TO RETURN
! TO EAST IN 1884
Roosevelt Decides Move
After Talk With Swanson.
Navy Circles Surprised.

More than $4,000 enlisted men and
nearly 5000 officers of the Navy will
be on the Atlantic coast next Summer,
because Of yesterdays decision by Presi-
dent Roosevelt that the United States
Fleet should come East.
Leaving the San Pedro-San Diego.
Calf, area in the Spring, nearly all the
units of the battle force and the scout
ing force will steam into the Atlantic
for the first time since the Spring OF
1882. After spending the Summer
months scattered along the Atlantic
seaboard, the Fleet will return to Pa
cif7c waters. Former President Hoover
reviewed the warships of the Virginia
Capes, the last time the two great unltS
of the fleet were united in Atlantlc
waters. in I--y, 1880.
Announcement of the move came
from the White House yesterday a1ter,
noon, after President Roosevelt hao
conferred with Secretary OF the navy
Swanson, Assistant Secretary Henry l..
Roosevelt and Admiral William II.
STANDBY, chief of naval operations.
Purposes Outlined.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt gave
this statement to the press az cUa1- 0a-
ference in his ONCE at the navy NC
partment: u,s
IThe President has authorized
cruise of the United States fleet my
the Atlantic In 1884. This Is returning
70 the normal operating policy OF the
feet. in which they make long cruises
in either ocean in order that the per-
sonnel NAV become experienced IN sea
keepinp, tactics, maneuvers and 1urtneT
gain local knowledge of navigation ana
plotting on both coasts. II aiso W. tha
hermit those officers and men OF Ine
f]eet whose families and homes are on
the East Coast to visit them. turtner-
more, it will permit In general tne re
turn of East Coast ships TO 1neir o"Ai
yards for overhaul. r,..oo
In nrevious years the Scouting Force
has been stationed in the Atlantic
since this component of the meet mas
gone to the Paclhc ocSan; ASSr,iral
William v. Pratt, now retired, put ulitH
recently chief of naval operations, de-
ciared that the feet was kept IN tne
Pacific for reasons of economy. II Is
known that the japanese nave eN-
nressed irritation at having Uncle sam
warships concentrated on the west
Coast.
Decision Brings Surprise.
Hiph-rankins naval authorities yes
+erday said it would cost about 81 l,OOO,-
mn to move the feet around to the East
Coast. but that final details are beng
worked out. News Of the bringing OF
the fleet eastward caused considerable
surprise in naval circles, although some
authorities said that the move has been
under consideration for the past couple
of wears. The average naval oftlcer
considered that the fleet was slated 10
remain in the Pacific for an INDEFINITE
When the feet comes East. the war
ships will visit the Narragansett Bay
area in Rhode Island. New York City,
the Hampton Roads, Va, area as Well
as other Atlantic ports and probably
some on the Gulf Coast, authorities
asserted
Remaining on the West Coast will be
some vessels that are undergoing over
rines. representing about 900 officers
and II 900 enlisted men.
The fleet will appear in Atlantic
ports about June. according to present
indications. officials expressed the
hope yesterday that the feet would be
steaming back to the Pacific about
September, SO that the regular schedule
could be carried out.
Should the Public Works Administra-
ton give the Navy additional funds for
carrying out needed repairs aboard war
ships. some of the vessels will be taken
into Atlantic Coast navy yards for re-
conditioning.