AT JAPAN’S HEELS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 5

AT JAPAN’S HEELS.

- r CRUISE BY AMERICANS., ’ NEW ZEALAND TO BE VISITED. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT; WASHINGTON, Oct. ' 10. Navy Department officials have finally approved the plans for the American Fleet’s manoeuA r res and cruise to Australia. ... It is piwided that only one battleship (the Wyoming) Avilf be detached from the Atlantic scouting force. The other five capital ships in the'Atlantic, namely, the ■ NeAv York, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, and Utah, Avill remain in the home yards, in anticipation of funds being obtained from Congress to permit tlie needed repairs. The following small Atlantic fleet of vessels will. hoAvever, be transferred for the Pacific voyage, namely, a division of new light cruisers, including the Richmond, Milwaukee, Cincinati, Trenton, Detroit, and Raleigh, Avith two destroyer squadrons, headed by the flagship Concord, five mine-layers, and three submarine squadrons with attending trains. These vessels will join the Pacific fleet, and the combined forces AA’ill sail on July 1 for for Australian Avaters. The tentative itinerary is as folloAvs: Battleship division three will arrive at Auckland on July 6 and leave on July 20. It will arrive at Sydney on August 3 and leave on August 20 for Pago Pago, arriving at Honolulu on September 10 and San Pedro on September 28, Battleship division four will approximately do the..same, except that it will also visit Wellington and Melbourne. Battleship division five will do the same as three, also visiting Wellington. A suggestion that the Fleet mighi be sent on .through the Suez Canal, and thus to the Atlantic, Avas rejected by the General Navy Board, on the ground of both strategy and economy. It must also be mentioned that the final approval of the cruise must Avait till after the Presidential election, and will probably depend on Congressional approval of the fuel outlay.