Evening star., 1939-09-09
u. 5. Navy al Peak
OF Strength Except
In Manpower
That to Be Remedied;
Atlantic Coast Petrol
Already in Effect

President Roosevelt's declaration
of a limited national emergency
found the Navy today at an apparent
peak of strength, except for a lack
of manpower.
Remedying of that deficiency was
started with the Presidents order
directing that personnel be ex-
panded by % 900, to total of l45 900
"as rapidly as possible
As Mr.. Roosevelt proclaimed an
emergency to enforce neutrality,
the Navy already was patrolling the
Atlantic Coast with utmost secrecy.
A blanket mo information" order
masked the movement of the Navy
and Coast Guard patrol boats, Off
cials said. Secrecy was essential,
they explained. if the patrol was to
detect warcraft in United States
waters.
So Ships for Coast Duty.
Aside from World War-type de-
stroyers now to be recommissioned,
the Navy has So vessels for East
Coast duty, though some are sub
marines, usefulness of which is
limited because they might be mis-
taken for foreign raiders.
Second in tonnage only to the
British, the Navy had 348 ships in
commission during the past year
plus l01 vessels under construction
and decommissioned destroyers
awaiting only reconditioning.
In contrast, this country had only
1877 vessels built and building in
1914, when its tonnage ranked below
that of both Britain and Germany.
Recreated in the midst of last
Springs European crisis for the first
time since 1892, the Atlantic
Squadron includes three battleships,
an aircraft carrier four heavy cruis-
ers, 10 destroyers and IA sub
marines.
10 Ships Guard Canal.
There also are 10 craft guarding
the Panama Canal and indications
are more will be added promptly.
On the West Coast the main bat
tie force of 150-odd ships is being
Kept alert and in trim, while the
Atlantic Fleet of 40, recently placed
under command of Admiral Thomas
G. Hart, continues to stand by for
the protection of American inter-
ests in the Far Easts long troubled
waters.
In addition. European squadron
OF three ships maintains a watch
started during the Spanish civil
war.
For air combat, there are 1000
planes, with plans for a total of
5000 within five years. Five air.
craft carriers are in opera ton and
two more are building.
Also under construction is a whole
new network of naval bases, made
possible by congressional approval
of s65 100000 outlay.
Maintaining communications with
the scattered fleets and bases are
the mlllion-d receiving station
at Cheltenham, Md, put into use
this year, the sending station at
Annapolis and 36 radio traffic
stations.
Reserve Inquiries Pour in.
Navy officials said today they were
being flooded" with inquiries from
individuals who wanted to enlist or
be commissioned in the naval re-
serve
The department said applications
for commissions must be made ini-
TALLY to the commandants of the
various naval districts, who are
required to make the preliminary
investigations of applicants. Com
manding officers of the various Naval
Reserve organizations are RESPONSE
bic for enistments.
Applicants in the Washington area
should apply to the commandant of
the Washington Navy Yard. This
area embraces the District of Co.
lumbia, Prince Georges, Mont
gomery and Charles Counties in
Maryland, and Arlington, Fairfax
Stafford, King George and Prince
William Counties in Virginia, as
we'll as the City of Alexandria.
The War Department also dis
closed today that it is receiving
proffers of service from approx
mately 100 men daily. many of them
being World War officers and SOL
diers.