GETTING READY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 October 1924, Page 5

GETTING READY

FOR PACIFIC STRUGGLE. AFTER JAPAN—AMERICA. NAVAL MANOEUVRES. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. (Received Oct. 20, 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 19. ' The Naval Hoard of Strategy - to-day revealed the purposes of the situation in regard to tne manoeuvres off Hawaii and the Australian cruise, which will comprise strategic study, involving both the land and sea forces, which are designed to furnish the basis of adequate national defence during the next decade. The heads of. the, army and navy have already spent three years enquiring into this question. The world war presented new phases, entirely upsetting earlier conclusions'. The problem now envisaged is a theoretical attempt by an enemy force to seize the' Ha- • waii group as a first step in its eastern advance, and the possibility of ejecting such a force before its position could be consolidated is the keynote of the problem. The battle fleet will play the attacking role, the defence of the islands being left to the army, the garrison, the national guard and the reserve. _ The fear that the moral effect of the Washington Conference might be nullified if the proposed war games off Hawaii were staged immediately after the agreement was reached delayed these • manoeuvres for several years. The Hawaiian problem is considered only one of three phases, all whereof assume an .attack directed against the Panama Canal with the purpose of isolating some portion of the American 1 naval forces. The manoeuvres of 1923 m the mid-Pacific resulted in recommendations for strengthened cruiser forces for the fleet and air fortes to prevent a possible surprise attack on the Canal. The recent manoeuvres off the Caribbean coast indicated that the VVeet Indies offered another strong attacking spot. Commenting on the Australasian cruise, naval officials agree that the performance of the fleet upon such an extended voyage under forced eonditions after arduous service off Hawaii will be particularly indicative of its strength or weakness.