The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-04-29
Panama Canals
Defense On West
Side Is Problem

WASHlNGTON, April Is '(uP)
With departure of the United
States fleet from it's California
base last Sunday. for maneuvcrs
off the west coast Of Panama will
mark another important phase of
the navy high commands plan
protection Of this country and its
possessions.
AS usual, the movements of the
fleet after leaving bases are being
kept secret. Only Admiral Joseph
B. Reeves, commander-in-chief of
the fleet and chief umpire Of, the
war games will know the exact
part each vessel is to play in this
years maneuvers,- which are
known to the war plans division
Of the navy as problem II. The
maneuvers will give Reeves his
last opportunity to demonstrate
his ability as master sea strate-
gist. Soon after the games are
over he will turn his command
over to Admiral Arthur j. Hep
burn, recently named ranking sea
officer of the navy.
While the high command Of the
navy has prepared the general
outline of the mancuvers, it will
be up to Reeves to work out the
details Of the problems.
SMALLER AREA MARKED
1t is understood that in gen.
eral the maneuvers will be a test
of the all-around efficiency Of
the nations first line Of defense.
in contrast to the far-flung move
ments of the fleet last year when
it worked out the difficult prob
lem 16 for the defense of the
west coast, the 1886 games will
be held over a comparatively
small area.
Last year the. maneuvers ex-
tended from Panama to Hawaii
and thence to Alaska in the form
of a huge triangle with it's apex
at Hawaii and the adjacent is
lands. Navy air forces played an
important part in the games last
year. n fact, sQuadrons of planes
cruised long distances from the
mai1n fleet, Stimulating actual
wartime conditions when the air
force would be called upon to
provide the fleet with advance in
formation as to the movements
of an enemy.
Although officials of the navy
department decline to comment
on the general plan of the ma
neuvers this year. it is believed
that the waspish pursuit and
huge bombcrs attached to the
fleet will play an important part
in the games. It is a possibility
that aerial defense of the west
entrance Of the Panama Canal
from an attack by fleet of hos
tile planes will be one of the
most important features.
Some unofficial observers be-
lieve- that there is a possibility
that problem II is n continuation
of problem l6, the theory being
that an enemy fore ehas COMPEL
ed the fleet to abandon it's base
in Hawaii and it is making a
stand off the west coast Of the
acnal in an effort tn protect that
passage and the eastern coast of
the United States from an at
tack.
FEW VESSELS MISSING
Virtually the entire fleet is
part cipa ing in the games.
Only a few vessels which have
been detached on special missions,
such as training cruises for reser-
visits OF midshipmcn, will be alb
sent.
After the maneuvers have been
completed, force of 10 cruisers
and six deStroyers will visit west
coast ports of South America. The
purpose of this cruise according
to the navy department, is to fur
Their stimulate friendly relations.
The heavy cruisers Chicago and
Houston, commanded by Rear
Admiral Thomas G.. Hart, and the
cruisers Chester and Salt Lake |
City. commanded by Rear Ad-
miral Henry l.. Brinser. will visit
Valparaiso from May % to June
2nd.