The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-10-27

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 Navy Day Io4l finds the United States Navy, after three years of war.tlEne expansion, the greatest fighting fleet in the world. Since tho beginning of hostilities in Europe, five years ago, the Navy hes added almost 0S 900 vessels Of all types to the fleet--a total Of over nine mile lion displacement tons. Nearly 90 per cent of the total represents com. hatant ships, 20 per cent auxaliaries and 22 per cent landing craft. AS of the first of September, last, the Navy comprised over five times the tonnage of All types that was on hand when war in Europe started n 1889.
 This great increase In fighting power has neceHsitAted an equally great increase in fighting men to man tho ships of the Navy. Ap- proxinately 1880 men c month have been required Co man the battle" shlps and cruisers alone which have been launched by the NAvys Bureau of Ships December 2, io4i, the day of Pearl HaFboF, and October Of this year. For every person serving in the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard in September, io9o, there are over twOntysfour today, Secretary of the Navy joEnes S'ors rostal reported in . recently issuei strtement.
 Tine authorized Navy strength As of June, last, was 3,000,00o officers and men. By tho end of the present calendar year, the Navy plans on in. crease to s,200, 900 and by June 90. iO46, if-as the Navy expects--the need continues, tho President has authorized c total strength of 5,3ee,. OOo. Recent figures show that of the more than three million men in the Nevy, 320,22S are residents of New York State, B4,0O2 from Connecticut and i2o,b00 from New Jersey. New Yerk and Connecticut are wholly, and New Jersey partially, in the Thlrd Naval District.
 The growth of the Wonen's Res serye--the WAVEe-haS been phe' nominal since lt was organized more than tive years ago and on July 90. last, it numbered 07,27i officers and enlisted women. 1t Is anticipated that by the end of this year the total enrolment will reach 100000. The women of the WAVES have been assigned to duty at 500 shore es. tabliShments. Through such asSlgn' nientS, 32,700 enlisted men and 4,O1b officers have been directly released from shore jobs Co fill hillotS ct seA or overseas. 1t is estimated that asl additional 30,O00 men are serving asloat because WAVES have been available to i'll new blllotg created by tho steady expansion of the Navy.
 Tho Navy has grown not only aIi Ships and personnel. but iFl ell enc means of making war-iSl planes, in guns, in the scientific equipment which makes pogslble the fullest and most efficient use of Naval fire. power.
 During the years since war began in Europe. the Navy has accepted Q total of 67,0OO planes, and recently thH rate O. acceptance hns been sevs enty-eight c day. Five years ngo the Navy was accepting twelve planes Q month. During tho nexs twelve months, the Navy has scheds uled for delivery more than S0,O00 aiFplanes, of which @ per cent will Do in the combat class. The person. nel Of Naval Aviation now repre- sents well over one.quarter of tho entire Navy. Its planes ere, as the enemy has discovered to his cost, au1ong tlle most efficient and devas. tating in the world. In scores Of re cent combats, caTFier-based pianee Of the fleet have met and posted landsbased planes, c feat once con- sldered impossible
 Along with tine increase in mum. Der of both ships and planes there hes been c moro than comparable increase in fire power. This is es. pecialiy marked h the newest and largest war vessels, such as the four battleslilps of the Iowa class and ono of the South Dakota class these battleships, incidentally, coni- prise . total Of z1B.O00 tons. The fircpower of such modern vessels, and of older vessels which have been modernised, is restricted inforna. ton in detail, but it is no secret, particularly from JnpaK.ese aiEmegi. that the anti-aircsnfk armament alone of the modern men of var is iEi intensity ard accuracy beyond anything dreamed og even 6 few years ago.
 Xile Magys war kaak. now more than ever primarily the task os win.