The times-news., 1938-11-24
Views DIFFER
ONEAST COAST
FLEET STATUS
Atlantic Squadron Will Be
Much Larger Than Or
iginally Planned
By OTTO JANSEN
United Press Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON: Nov. "a. (UP)
Creation of the new Atlantic
squadron, giving the United
States its first unified naval force
in the Atlantic since shortly after
the World war, has resulted i'll
widespread speculation among OBJ
servers here as to the permanence
of the "fleet."
Naval officials contend the new
force was formed purely for "tac-
tical and administrative" pur-
poses, and assert it probably will
be disbanded at the conclusion of
the 1889 naval maneuvers, schcd-
uled to be held on the Atlantic
side beginning late in January
and lasting until about the middle
of March. .
Many observers, however, have
felt the maneuvers simply have
provided the navy with conven-
lent reason for creating the force
without causing too much force.
DECISION CAME WITH CRISIS
1t is not known, of course, ex-
actly when the navy high COM
mand decided to place a squad
ron in the Atlantic but it was re-
garded as particularly significant
by some observers that the an
nouncement was made when the
European situation was highly
unsettled.
The squadron as originally an
nounced consisted of seven de-
stroyers and seven. cruisers. La
ter three cruisers which were or
dered from the west to the east
coast during the height of the Eu-
ropean crisis, presumably to be
available to evacuate American
nationals, were added to the
squadron, although no official
announcement of the move was
made.
Shortly afterward, it wa s
learned the entire training de-
tachment, consisting of about 20
warships and including four bat
tleships, would be consolidated
with the new unit to make a force
on the east coast of around 40
vessels. This includes several new
vessels that have been added from
time to time. Other additions are
contemplated, it is reported.
| NOT DESIGNATED AS FLEET
| Naval officials insist the squad
ron Is IN no sense a fleet. They
point out that of the four battle
ships, two are over age and one
is demilitarized.
Nevertheless, some observers
contend that even if the present
squadron is not particularly
strong unit in itself, it could serve
as basis and contemplated
permanent force in the Atlantic.
A staff organization fol the ex-
panded squadron has been Great
ed. Chief of Staff is Capt. Allan
5. Farquhar, who was assistant to
the chief of naval intelligence.
When announcement Of the
formation of the original, l4-Yes:
sci squadron was made, some
quarters Immediately criticized
the move, contending it was, IN
violation of one of the first rules
of naval strategy-that is, thai
the fleet must not be dlXideo
Navy men countered with the as.
sertion that the, new force haf
not weakened the fleet and tha'
both the, battle force and scout
ing force were intact. The new
squadron, they pointed out, wa
composed principally OF new con
fsISis'G9i LIKE OTHER soUADRoN's rs j.,
/, Although much larger, the AT
lantic squadron is not dissimila1
to United States forces IN othel
waters. =
In the Far East is the Aslatlt
fleet, consisting chiefly oi gun
boats. destroyers and submarines
In the Caribbean the United
States has the special serVlc,
sonadron consisting of a destroy
er and two gunboats. Aitnougl
this unit has certain. specia! du
ties, its principal purpose is t
show the Stars and Etripes IN La'
in America.
Another small force, designate e,
officially as squadron 4o.
, Temporary, is stationed III u, "a
Mediterranean where it was sen