The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1934-04-09
AMERICAN FLEET
HOlSTED ANCHORS
Continued from Page ~

NSOHtlHueQ from rage Ii
the usual non-firing phases of past
maneuvers. the performance will
include an actual gas attack in
which three battleships, including
the California, flagship of Adj
miral J. M. Reeves, battle force
commander, will be barraged.
Phosgene bombs will release clouds
of tear gas on the decks of the
battleships to demonstrate the
navy's ability to cope with chemi-
cal warfare.
According to naval estimates, the
shift of fleet PERSONAL will move
a population of approximately
$4,000 principally from the San
Pedro-Long Beach and San Diego
areas to Atlantic ports. Air units
were prepared to leave San Diego
for Norfolk and an overland move
ment Of trucks and air base equip
ment was ready to start a process
sion of motor caravans.
Joining the maneuvers will be
the navy's giant dirigible. the Ma
con, which was scheduled to leave
it's Sunnyvale base today and over
haul the fleet before it reaches the
canal Zone. Three days of man.
euvering with the surface ships are
In store for the airship before it
returns to Sunnyvale.
During the anchor period in
-Culebra area, May 49,
20, the feet personnel will engage
In annual athletic competitions and
small arms practice.
For<Admiral Sells, it will be the
M n
succeeded as the senior ranking
naval officer by Admiral Reeves, an
Annapolis classmate. Upon his ar
rival on the east coast, Reeves will
transfer from the California to the
New Mexico and assume the high
command.
In addition to the fagships
Pennsylvania and California, the
battleship line consists of the West
Virginia, Tennessee, Colorado,
Maryland, Nevada, Texas and New
York. Scouting force cruisers in
clude the Indianapolis, Chicago,
northampton, Salt Lake City, Ches-
ter, Pensacola, Louisville, Houston
and Portland. Battle force cruisers
include the Marblehead, Memphis.
Concord, Omaha, Milwaukee, Gin
cinnati and Detroit. Augmenting
this section of the fleet were 10
tenders. Added to the principal
surface ships were SO destroyers
with three tenders, three aircraft
carriers and the repair ship Me-
duSa.
President Roosevelt is to review
the fleet aboard the new cruiser
indianapolis. With him will be
Secretary of the Navy Swanson,
Admiral William H. Standby, chief
of naval operations, and a host of
other notables.
San Diego, Cal, April 9-(UP)-
The navy started it's newest massed
aerial adventure today when Is
flying boats left North Island on
a projected three-stop flight to
Panama.
Carrying rs officers and men, the
planes left at $50 a. m. (PST) on
the first leg of their flight that is
scheduled to carry them SOS miles
OF La Paz, Mexico, by nightfall.
Commander H. r. Bogusch was
flight leader, commanding squad
rons VP-7 and VP-9 and. three
planes from squadron VIZ. Like
the recent naval flight to Hawaii,
to-day's trip was dismissed by Of
ficers as routine maneuver," CO.
NEEDING with the departure of the
United States fleet for the Atlantic
seaboard.
The start was delayed. nearly an
hour.
Four surface ships were scattered
along the Mexican coast to serve as
patrol boats for the seaplanes. They
included the U. S. s. Wright, flag
ship of Rear Admiral Alfred w
Johnson. commander of aircraft ot
the base force; the minesweeper
Avocet, the Sandpiper and the
Teal. The Wright will serve as
refueling ship when the planes
reach Acapulco, the second pro,
jected overnight stop. A third
overnight stop is scheduled at Co
rinto, $50 miles south of Acapulco
and 90 miles from the terminus oil
the $500 mile hop.
Admiral Johnson is expected tc
board a plane for the last lap Of
the flight.
The planes are slated to return
over the same course sometime
next month. A northbound flight
was made by navy flyers last DC.
tober.