Evening star., 1937-12-15
FLEET MAY RUSH
T0|MPRESS JAPAN
Show of U. S. Strength May
Be Made in Manila or
Even Shanghai.
BY WILLIAM A. MILLEN.

The Roosevelt administration is
considering a naval demonstration
against Japan, it was learned in
Washington today. 1t may take the
form Of advancing the feet maneuvers
in the Pacific, now scheduled for
March and April.
Secretary Swanson and Admiral Will
liam D. Leahy, chief of naval opera
tons. were silent on the subject, for
as yet the Navy officially has no plans
other than the feet maneuvers in the
spring. 1t is known, however, that
the problem has been discussed in
formally among naval officials.
Questioners at the Navy Depart
ment were referred to the State De-
partment and to President Roosevelt.
who muslin the last analysis-decide
on any special naval demonstration
apart from the war games. 1t would
be a drastic step and almost last
resort, short of actual warfare, to i'm
press on the Japanese government that
Uncle Sam means business after the
sinking of his gunboat Panay.
Britain Unlikely to Help Much.
Among the possibilities under con-
sideration are the sending of the feet
to Honolulu. to Manila, or even to
Shanghai, where the United States
Asiatic Fleet, comprising some Al YES
sells, has its headquarters. A joint
naval demonstration by the United
States and Great Britain has been
under discussion for some time, but it
is considered dubious here that the
London government would send its
main fleet away from troubled Europe
at this critical time. Great Britain
might, however, join the United States
in such show of power by adding its
warships now on duty in the Orient.
Admiral Arthur j. Hepburn, COM
mander in chief of the United States
Fleet, left Washington a few days ago
with plans for the new war games in
his pocket, after his recent duty on
a selection board at the Navy De-
partment. Naval authorities empha-
size that the war games, officially
known as Fleet Problem No. 49,"
have been planned for the past six
months. Admiral Hepburn consulted
with Secretary Swanson and Admiral
Leahy and went into details with the
War Plans Division of the Office of
Naval Operations.
The Forthcoming war games call for
the United States Fleet to be split up
into two rival groups-usually des-
ignated the BLACK" and the Blue
with orders to proceed to certain des-
ignated points to test the mettle of
men and ships, under war conditions.
AS now planned, the war games are
to be held from the middle of March
to April "a, in the area bounded by
Alaska, Hawaii and Samoa, which is
considered to be major strategic
defensive area"
Famous World Cruise Recalled,
In past war games by the feet in
the Pacific, especially in the region
of Hawaii, some japanese newspapers
and public figures have found fault
with Uncle Sans battleships ap-
preaching SO near to Nippon. But
the United States Government has as
sured Japan that the war games were
long considered, had no hostile intent
and that the warships would not pass
westward of the 180th meridian. The
forthcoming war games in the Alaska
Hawaii-Samoa area would not pass
westward of this line, officials pointed
out, but the holding of the naaneuvers
in January and February would be
calculated to impress Japan with re.
spect for the American fighting ma
chine and duplicate President Theo-
dore Roosevelt's move, directed at
Japan, when he sent the feet around
the world, starting just 80 years ago
on Thursday.
The dispatching Of the fleet around
the world was the climax of a series
Of irritations.
A0 II. SuIpS IN npTCNr