Evening star., 1939-05-11
Naval Policy
Change Seen in
Cruiser Shifts
3 Training Bott|eships
And J Destroyers
Left in Atlantic

Belief that a recasting of Ameri-
can naval policy to meet changing
world conditions has been initiated
by the recent surprise orders cur
failing the visit of the United States
Fleet to Atlantic waters has been
strengthened by equally unexpected
orders reorganizing the cruiser divi-
sions of the Battle Force
These orders will rob the Atlantic
Squadron, created last fall, of its
cruiser backbone, transferring the
squadron's five new light cruisers to
the Pacific and leaving only three
training battleships and seven de-
<stroyers in the Atlantic force.
Although the Navy Department
declined to make any comment on
the purpose of the reorganization,
there was evidence that the move is
based upon belief that affairs in
the Atlantic have become less
threatening than at any time since
the Munich pact events which re-
suited in the creation of the Allan
tic Squadron and that the Pacific
again has become the focal point of
defense interest.
Refuse Comment on Meaning.
Naval officers refused to comment
on the suggestion that the strength
ening of the military alliance be-
tween Great Britain and France
has lessened the threat to American
security from the Atlantic at the
expense of security against possible
aggression in the Pacific.
Although the Navy Departments
formal announcement. issued late
yesterday, stated only that "the fol-
lowing organization of Cruisers, Bat
tie Force, will become effective" list
Ing three squadrons and the cruisers
Which will compose them. it was ad-
nitted informally that the order will
result in the transfer to the Pacific
OF the new cruisers now assigned to
the Atlantic Squadron.
The order, to become effective
July l, designated the new 10000
ton cruiser Honolulu, now one of
the Atlantic Squadron, as flagship
>of the commander of cruisers, Bat
tie Force, United States Fleet, and
also as flagship of Cruiser Division
), hitherto only paper squadron"
Kimmel Named Commander.
Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel
OF Henderson, KY, was named COM
mander of cruisers, Battle Force,
comprising the three reorganized
divisions, and also commander of
new Division 8. He was aide to
President Roosevelt when the Presi-
dent was Assistant Secretary of the
Navy and later returned to duty
here as commandment the WASH
ington Navy Yard and in the Office
OF naval operations He was budg-
ct officer of the Navy Department
from June IS, 1885. until June II,
1888. Since last July he has been
In command of Cruiser Division 7.
He lists his home address as 1926
Twenty-seventh street NV.
The order transfers Cruiser Diyi-
sion 8 from the Atlantic Squadron
to the Battle Force. The division
Is composed of the 10O0O-ton light
cruisers Philadelphia (fagship)
Brooklyn, Savannah and Nashville
and is commanded by Rear Admiral
Forde A. Todd. The Nashville left
New York yesterday to take Brig.
Gen. George c. Marshall, Army
deputy chief of staff, who has been
designated as successor to Gen.
Malin Craig, chief of staff, on a
courtesy visit to Brazil.
= The paper Division 9 will be
given actual being by assignment of
the 10,000-ton cruisers Honolulu,
Phoenix, Boise and ST. Louis. The
Phoenix is one of the latest cruisers
to join the Fleet and the ST. Louis,
not yet commissioned, will join late
this year following her shakedown
cruise.
Trenton to Relieve Omaha.
The order also assigns to Cruiser
Division 3 the 7,05O-ton cruisers
Concord, flagship; Cincinnati, Mil
> waukee and Omaha. The Omaha,
now in the Mediterranean as flag
ship of the European Squadron
@0-T, will join next fall. The Omaha
will be relieved in the Mediterranean
In June by the cruiser Trenton.
The order effectively wipes out
Cruiser Division 2, now composed
OF the Trenton and the Memphis.
The Memphis has been assigned to
aviation duty with the Fleet.
Admiral Kimmels division, COM
posed of the cruisers San Francisco,
flagship; Quincy and Tuscaloosa,
now is paying courtesy visit to
South America and left Buenos
Aires yesterday for Valparaiso. It
Is due to reach the Canal Zone June
a. Its orders call for if tn nroceed