The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-26
[ Cover the World
: BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS

w H. Standby, chief OF naval operations, IN
an exclusive interview with ScrippS-H Howard
newspapers today emphatcally asserted that the
Pacific maneuverS scheduled to begin May are
not in fact and could not with reason be con-
Strued to be, provocative to Japan.
At no time, he said, will any of our ships come
within 1000 miles of the Japanese mainland.
Every phase of the operations will be confined
to the eastern half of the worlds most spacious
ocean, and we'll within a triangle every point OF
which is American SOIL
"There is apparently considerable misunder-
standing concerning the coming fleet problem to
be played in the Pacific" he said.
Annual maneuvers by our fleet have been
held for many years. Since 1922 these maneuv-
ers of the entire fleet have been called Fleet
Problems. Fleet Problem No. l was conducted
in the vicinity of the Canal Zone in February,
1923. Their purposes are:
81 Training of officers and men under service
conditions
90 Tests of the material condition of the
units of the fleet.
go Study of types of vessels needed for our
fleet
e. Familiarization of officers and men with
our strategicaly important locations.
s. Exercise of the fleet a whole
Fifteen fleet problems have been held. The
locations of these problems have been the West
Indies, the Caribbean, the Canal Zone, the west
coast of Central America, the west coast of the
"EOR years the department has desired to hold
L maneuvers in the vicinity of Alaska and the
Aleutian Islands. Naval personnel are not we'll
acquainted with this part of our territory which,
nevertheless is part Of the area which would
have to be defended in time of war.
Alaska and the Aleutian Islands have long
undefended coast line. For the most part it is
cold and full of unknown dangers to the sea-
PoiD and p11rr are
prevalent Naval personnel should be famil-
lar with the physical and weather characteristics
of this part of our country the same as other
parts Of our coast line.
Furthermore, the rapid strides made in avn
alton have added to the necessity for naval per-
sonnet becoming familiar with this area.
I'm order to carry out our fleet problems with
the greatest economy, the locations heretofore
have been in tropical or semi-tropical climes.
This is the first year that we have known far
enough in advance that the Navy would be 10
Gated in an area where a North Pacific, Alaska
or Hawaiian area problem could be conducted
without a large expenditure of funds for fuel.
I'm the early spring of 1884 it determined
that the fleet would be on the West Coast during
the spring of 1885. Problem Is was then sched-
uled for the North Pacific area. International
conditions were considered only to the extent Of
examining them to see that this problem could
give no reasonable grounds for international
alarm or objection
when the necessary appropriations had been
| secured, the Secretary of the Navy announced to
the press on Sept. 49, that: The fleet maneuvers
(for 1880 will be held in the Pacific, in the tri
| angle Enclosed by Alaska, Hawaii and the West
Coast of the United States
Fleet problems are not aimed at any foreign
power. Fleet Problem Is was scheduled far in
advance of the recent conversations in London
regarding naval treaties. The outcome OF those
conversations has neither added to- nor SUBJ
tracted from, the desirability Of holding the
! problem as scheduled.
IT MERE has been no change in international
| relations that would now justify any
marked change in the long scheduled Fleet
Problem 16 Any sudden change in plans at lis
time would create the false impression that We
believe some such change has occurred
"Au naval powers habitually hold fleet exer-
cises in the vicinity of, and sometimes within
sight of, the coasts Of neighboring states. We
have held problems in the immediate vicinity Of
British, Mexican and Central American territory.
In the present problem some of our units will Of
necessity approach the immediate vicinity of Ca
madam territory
For reasons of economy and because Of the
limited time available, the operations have been
restricted 10 the area east Of the 180th meridian
1t will not be held in the Far East or in the
Western Pacific or off the coast Of Japan or at
Japans front door as have been yariously but
| inaccuratey. stated.
In fact the area of operations will be wholly
in the Eastern Pacific and none of our ships will
| approach within 1000 miles of the Japanese
mainland. Under such conditions it is hard to
believe that these naneuvers can be considered
provocative"
| Upward of 200 fighting ships and auxiliaries,
more than $50 airplanes and personnel of
| $4,000 will participate. Maneuvers viii last until
well into June.