HANDS ACROSS THE SEA

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 26, 30 July 1924, Page 3

HANDS ACROSS THE SEA

A PACIFIC DEMONSTRATION

AMERICAN WARSHIPS TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND.

The San Franci|co "Examiner" says that America and Australia will join hands across the sea next year, when the American Navy will launch a great war game in the Pacific, states the San Francisco co-respondent of the Sydney "Sun." The manoeuvres are characterised by prominent naval officers as not a demonstration, but merely a test for flaws in the American Pacific organisation. One of the important tasks will be to maintain the integrity of tl.e Panama Canal, and to ensure a continuous oil supply. For these reasons, the fleet will seek an interchange of help and friendly advice with the Merchant Marine. %

The Atlantic scouting fleet will not cruise as far as Australia. This fleet was held at Panama last spring because ot engine weakness. It was rumoured that many of the finest American ships, not necessarily the newest, were found unable to steam faster than 14 knots. The principal battleship division will pass Panama on 17th and 25th February, 1925. The Navy Department will announce a war problem involving these Atlantic vessels against the Pacific I< leet, which will have its' base at San Pedro, California. On 12th April the combined fleets will sail for Hawaii, with instructions for its recapture from the enemy, and for offensive operations after the Hawaii garrison is relieved. All the forces will overhaul Hawaii, and on 3rd May the pursuit of the enemy will begin. Through the Pacific Islands the forces will engage, until 7th June, when part of the Atlantic Fleet's big ships will return to San Diego. On 6th July, the battle fleet will concentrate on Pago Pago, for practice, and for the use of some island as a base, in case the offensive operations were opening against the antagonist. On 10th July, the third battleship division, with destroyers, will start for Auckland, the fourth battleship division tor Wellington, the fifth battleship division for Sydney, and Squadron No. 11 for Melbourne. Later the third battleship division will leave Auckland for Sydney, the fourth division will go from Wellington to Melbourne,' and then all will proceed to Melbourne, after which the ships will return to Sydney. On 25th August the entire battle fleet will concentrate on Auckland, ready to depart for Pago Pago, on the first move homeward. September will be spent at Honolulu, and the fleet will be back at California in October.

One of the principal problems connected with the manoeuvres will be in providing tank ships for the fleet and the maintenance of the oil supplies. The arrangements will be made to cope with difficulties presented by an "enemy," and the task will assume giant proportions. Lines of tank ships will extend from Texas and California to Hawaii and Australia.