NAVAL MANOEUVRES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 167, 29 April 1935, Page 5

NAVAL MANOEUVRES.

AMERICAN FLEET IN PACIFIC. 160 SHIPS, 450 AEROPLANES. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, April. 28.

In the early hours of to-morrow morning 134 ships anchored at jSan Pedro (California) will steam northward. as a preliminary moye to the greatest nayal manoeuvres in American history. The manoeuvres will cover 5,000,000 square miles of the so-called “Pacific triangle,” that is, between California, the Aleutian islands and Hawaii, and will last from next Friday till Friday, May 10. War games, technically called “Fleet Problem -16,” will involve about 160 ships, 450 aeroplanes, carrying 50,000 officers and men.

The forces will be divided into two fleets. One will head westward from San Francisco in the direction of Hawaii, and the other will proceed north wards and, acting under sealed orders, will carry (put extensive defensive and offensive operations. The fact jtbat such large manoeuvres are held in the general direction of Japanese waters has caused many protests by- pacifist groups in America.

NAVAL AND AIR FORCES. HOUSE APPROVES INCREASES. WASHINGTON, April 27. Without taking a vote, the House of Representatives to-day approved of the Administration’s 457,000,000 - dollar Naval Bill, providing for the construction of 24 ships and 555 aeroplanes and for an increase in the personnel of the navy by 11,677 officers and men. Ap amendment to withhold building pending naval treaty negotiations was decisively defeated, as was another amendment to reduce expenditure by 20 per cent.