U.S. NAVY MANOEUVRES

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 April 1933, Page 12

U.S. NAVY MANOEUVRES

TESTING PACIFIC DEFENCES. ' SAN FRANCISCO, February 20. The great American naval manoeuv- , res in the Pacific have ended. For a week practically the whole of the Pacific and Atlantic fleets have been engaged with the problem of an attack by “an enemy unknown.” Two hundred and twelve ships, 236 aeroplanes, and 39,000 officers and men took part. Development of the idea involved much activity among, the islands of the Pacific, including those for which Japan holds a mandate. The operations concluded with a great spectacular air raid by the “enemy” on the naval bases in Puget Sound, California. Vice-Adml. F. Clark was in command of the “Black” fleet. His object was to capture Hawaii and thence launch a thrust at the mainland. Adml. L. McNamee commanded the defending force. Adml. Mahan was umpire. The “Black” strength lay chiefly in tho air, but apparently the attempt to land in Hawaii failed. Much doubt is expressed that the enemy’s air raiders, protected only by cruisers, were sufficiently strong to demolish San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sad Pedro. It is questioned, moreover, whether aeroplane-carriers, even presuming the capture of Hawaii as a base, could steam 2100 miles and successfully tackle a strong battle force defending California. Naval and military men, in commenting on the manoeuvres, find reasons, however, for strengthening the American forces on land and sea, and for improving the bases in the Pacific. _____