AMERICAN NAVAL TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18763, 17 July 1924, Page 9

AMERICAN NAVAL TOUR.

NEXT YEAR'S MANOEUVRES

AUCKLAND TO BE VISITED. SAN FRANCISCO. July 9. The San Francisco Examiner says that America and Australia will join hands across the sea next yc-ar, when' the American Navy will launch a great war game in the Pacific. 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 the 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 of engine weakness. It was rumoured that many of the finest American ships, though not necessarily the newest, were found 'suable to steam faster than 14 knots. The principal battleship divisions will pass Panama on February 17 and 25. The Navy Department will announce a war problem involving these Atlantic vessels against the Pacific Fleet, which will have its base at San Pedro,' California. On April 12 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 May 3 the pursuit of the enemywill begin. Through the Pacific Islands the forces will engage, until June -7, when part of the Atlantic Fleet's big ships will return to San Diego. On July 6 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 July 10 the third battleship division, with destroyers, will start for Auckland, the fourth battleship division for 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 August 25" 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.