Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-28
Dive-Bombers
In Sham Fight
AtAndcostid
Navy Exercises Are
Featured by Attack
On Destroyer


Several thousand Washingtonian
received at first hand today SOM
Idea of the power and terror of tn,
Nazi dive-bombers as they watched
Navy planes make a sham assault OF
a destroyer as part of the Navy Da,
exercises at Fairlawn Park, An
acostia
The attack was one of the higl
lights of demonstrations which con-
sisted of flight formation, deep-ses
diving, Coast Guard and Marine
drills. designed to give the American
public glimpse into the working
Of its first line of defense"
The crowd, chilled by the weather
was furnished another thrill by the
demonstration by a Coast Guard
unit from LeWes, Del, of a rescue
by a breeches buoy. The buoy line
was shot over pole in the ground
representing the mast of a disabled
ship, and a Coast Guardsman was
pulled back with the line.
Plane Catapulted From Barge.
A Navy plane was catapulted sew
eral times from barge anchored
In the middle of Anacostia River
A number of light bombers and pur-
suit craft, flying overhead through
out the day, were among the other
aircraft on exhibition.
A number of dives were made by
men attached to the Navy Yard
Diving School from the tender
Crilley anchored close to the park
shore. The divers went down in
30 feet of water, but did not stay
submerged long, reporting the water
to be very cold
A concert by the band from the
Navy School of Music, a demonstra-
ton by the Chemical Warfare De-
Tense Department of the Navy,
demonstration of Marine Corps in
fantry weapons, and parades by
marines and sailors were also fea-
tured during the day.
Yard Closed to Visitors.
The commandant of the Washing
ton Navy Yard, Rear Admiral George
Pettengill, was scheduled to arrive
at the park later in the afternoon.
The Navy Yard itself was closed to
visitors because of recent regulations
which are concerned with national
defense and secrecy as to the work.
ings of various naval units.
Admiral Stark was joined yester-
day by Frank Knox, Secretary of
the Navy, and Lewis Compton, As
sistant Secretary, in Nation wide
radio addresses which marked the
actual Navy Day.
In general the three agreed that
our fleet is the largest and most
powerful in the world, but that the
time is becoming later than you
think" and an attack by coalition
Of enemies would prove disastrous.
Attacks Held Possible.
TT has become evident to us all
that the United States Navy might
be confronted with problems at sea
beyond the scope of our previous
conceptions, and that we might,
quite possibly, have to face these
problems alone" Admiral Stark said.
II violate no confidence when I tell
you we must consider the possibility
of simultaneous attacks in either or
both oceans.
From a status IN which the Ma
ton felt it was fairly well guarded
by our Navy, it now suddenly realizes
we have become vulnerable be-
cause of the relatively inadequate
size of our fleet against possible
combinations against us"
Secretary Knox termed the Nays |
expansion the greatest ever under
taken by any nation.
1.-THE new American Navy which |
Is being laid down and which will
come into being in the next five |
years will be thoroughly competent |
to meet any possible combination
of enemies that could be brought |
against U.s." he asserted
With the new Navy equipped and
efloat, its offensive power plus our
insular position will provide the best
dominated by brute force"
Plight of Others Pictured.
But he also struck grim note:
Few people in other lands sit be-
side peaceful hearths as you do.
Few enjoy comfort, rest, the assur-
ance of freedom, the right to work
many kneel beside smoking
ruins of their homes, sick with fear.
II say in all humility and graft
tude that we are fortunate. But
our good fortune will vanish if we
fail to be united in national spirit
and ceaseless effort, ready to defend
our democracy against foreign in
fuence or invasion; against the
alien dogs of war that snarl and
fight in numbering packs beyond
the horizons.
1--WE must not ignore the we'll
remembered warning: 1T is later
than you think We cannot pause
In our urgent emergency defense
program"
Reporting on the progress of naval
expansion, Mr.. Compton said the
goal Of two-ocean Navy, for which
Congress authorized an outlay of
$4,000 100000, was well ahead of
schedule.