UNITED STATES FLEET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18940, 11 February 1925, Page 9

UNITED STATES FLEET.

MANOEUVRES AND CRUISE. VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND.. CONGRESS PROVIDES FUNDS. By Telegraph-—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 8.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. WASHINGTON, Feb. 0. The Secretary for the Navy, Mr. D. I 1 • Wilbur, in an interview, expressed satisfaction with the Congressional approval of the Naval Appropriations Bill, which provides funds fop tho Hawaiian manoeuvres of tho fleet and its Australian and New Zealand cruise. This measure, Mr. Wilbur said, was placed in the hands of the President, Mr. Coolidge, to-day, and lus signature was expected shortly. The Navy Department in the meantimo was continuing all the preparations, especially for the Australian and New Zealand cruise. Ho explained, however, that all the plans were still tentative, because the beginning of the cruise was still far off. Then the movement of so large a force and personnel demanded flexibility of preparations, but he intimated that while the cruise was eventually certain, he was not yet ready to make a formal announcement because of tho need for making provision for possiblv radical changes. Such changes might bo made, and the present arrangements were of such a nature that they could bo effected if necessary. Mr. Wilbur said that he had invited a group of Congressmen to accompany the fleet on its Hawaiian manoeuvres, and, if possible, also to accompany the vessels on tho Australian cruise. This would bo in conformity with the suggestion made by the Australian Trade Commissioner, Mr. J. M. Elder. The main object of this Congressional tour, however, was to givo the various members of the important Naval Affairs and Appropriations Committees of both Houses some actual naval experience in order ■ to acquaint them with the fleet s cruising powers, and its special needs. The apparent conflict between Mr. Wilbur's announced itinerary of the fleet at Australian ports and Mr. Eborle's testimony before the Appropriations Committees recently, by wlfich it became uncertain as to whether any battleships would visit Melbourne, was explained as follows: Mr. Eberle did not wish specifically to touch upon this question because some changes were contemplated in the itinerary originally announced by Mr. W ilbur, but it was emphasised to-day that several battleships would visit Melbourne.