Evening star., 1939-01-06
u. 5. Navy Masses
For War in Pirate i.
Realm Of Caribbean
White Fleet to Strike
Back in Effort to
Effect Coastal Base
BY ALEXANDER r. GEORGE,
Associated Press Stan Writer.

= Associated freSS stan writer.
: The United States Navy is secretly
smassing for war" in the Caribbean
Sea, once the haunt of pirates and
now key to the defense of America
The fleet sailing from West Coast
sharbors is in fighting trim. The
,admirals have chosen up Sides
In February, the white" fleet will
swing out around that arc of islands
on the Caribbean's rim from Cuba
to South America-and then turn
about to attack.
The BLACK" fleet will stand guard
over the region. That's the setting
for the mysterious Problem Xxx of
the United States Navy.
1t Must Be Real.
= It's going to be as near real war
as possible, for if this country ever
faces attack from the Atlantic it's
p 1O-to-1 bet the defense will depend
largely upon control of the West
Indies region.
And while Uncle Sam keeps a
wary eye on Japan'S ambitions in
the Pacific, there may be in these
new maneuverS some indication of
another eye cooked on the rapid
>rise of Germanys sea and air might.
At any rate, Problem Xxx will be
the fleets first war game in the
Atlantic since 1884.
ss Involved in this vital naval prob
lem is:
l. Protection of the Panama
Canal, invaluable short route for
the United States fleets between the
oceans.
2. Prevention of establishment of
a base from which enemies could
strike at the United States or South
America.
3. Easier control of essential sea
lanes between American ports.
=. AS the map shows, the natural
protection of the Caribbean lies in
defending the three major passages
between the islands. Guarding the
,rb0mile WindWard passage between
Cuba and Haiti is the United States
Naval Base at Guantanamo, in
Southeastern Cuba. 1t is not heavily
fortified
There is no naval base at the Mona
passage between Haiti and Puerto
Rico, but there are several good
harbors and potential facilities for
Tair forces there. The big Navy
bombers at the canal could fly the
p33 nautical miles and return with
out refueling.
The marines have an air base on
st. Thomas Island, along the third
major passage, the Anegada, be-
tween The Virgin Islands and the
Lesser Antilles.
The white" invaders, commanded
by Admiral E. C. Kalbfus, will try to
establish a coast base somewhere. y
The defending black navy will be
commanded by Vice Admiral Adol-
phus Andrews.
This war" will involve 140 war
ships, some 600 planes, big air.
plane carriers, scores of darting de-
stroyers, swift, sleek submarines and
cruisers. The personnel will include
about % admirals and vice admirals,
5000 officers, 60 900 enlisted men and
about 1000 marines.
Umpires will score the casualties,
gunnery and strategical successes
and failures. Submarines will go
long distances as undersea scouts.
The air arm, particularly the big
flying boats from West Coast, Nor
folk and Panama, is expected to get
Its toughest workout.
Marines will be in there, too, car
rying out landing and base defense
operations possibly at Puerto Rico.
War Won't Be ALL
Additional activities include ex-
tensive gunnery practice and the
scheduled visit of the fleet to New
York for the Worlds Fair opening
in April.
e. Altogether the West Coast vessels
will be in the Atlantic about five
months Some may be shifted to the
Atlantic Squadron, recently put I'M
der the command of Admiral Claude
C. Bloch. Abut 80 combat ships of
the Pacific Fleet, already moving
into the Atlantic, will remain be-
-hind-some for overhauling.
The mock war will take naval bat
-tleWagons over an area extending
from Cuba southeast to Brazil and
the Equator. Huge patrol bombers
will soar over South American
shores - demonstrating what the
United States can do in the so-called
: united defense" of all the Americas.