WAR STRENGTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23860, 10 January 1941, Page 7

WAR STRENGTH

AMERICAN NAVY PRESIDENT'S ORDER FLEET REORGANISATION WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 President Roosevelt has ordered all warship? to be manned at wartime strength. He has also ordered a "wholesale shake-up" of the naval high command, and has authorised an increase in the active enlisted strength from 192,000 to 232,000. The President's orders were announced hy the Minister of the Xavy, Colonel Frank Knox, who simultaneously stated that lie did not believe the United States could detach any more destroyers from the fleet without seriously impairing its efficiency. He emphasised that this was one opinion which had determined the Government's policy. Under the reorganisation plan there will be three fleets —the Pacific Fleet, the Asiatic Fleet and the Atlantic Fleet —each under a commander-in-chief. Colonel Knox said: "The organisation represents an arrangement which fits the facts. We have gradually been enlarging our Atlantic Fleet, and it has assumed a dignity warranting its establishment as a separate fleet." No change in the size of this fleet was at present contem pi a ted.

The Atlantic Fleet will be under the command of Hoar-Admiral Ernest J. King, the present commander of the Atlantic Patrol Force. The Asiatic Fleet remains under the command of Admiral Thomas C. Hart. The Pacific Fleet has been placed under Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, who also becomes Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet, succeeding Admiral Richardson, who has been ordered to report to Colonel Knox "for an undisclosed duty." The new Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet, Admiral Kimmel, was formerly commander of cruisers, battle force," a post he took over in 19:59 from Admiral Stark, when the latter was appointed Chief of Naval Operations. AIDING DEMOCRACIES "PROVOCATIVE" SPEECH ALLEGATIONS IN BERLIN BERLIN, Jan. S informed quarters in Berlin said that inspired German press comment would describe President "Roosevelt's message to Congress, in which he placed American resources firmly behind the democracies, ns "provocative and marked by an arrogance that could hardly he exceeded." They said that Mr. Roosevelt's "complete ignorance of understanding of the present great processes in the historical development of Kuropo makes him and the United States people the enemies of Germany, Italy, Russia and Japan." They added that, future events would indicate that "110 matter how much war material the United States sends to Britain it will not make any difference to the German people's attitude and will." It was recalled that the old Nazi Party watchword in the period before J9,33 was: "Comrade, don't let yourself bo provoked." SIR CYRIL NEWALL LONDON, Jan. 9 The Governor-General-designate of New Zealand, Air Chief Marshal Sir Cyril Newall, yesterday visited the Victoria League Club in London, which is now used by the service. Since war began, beds have been found there for 65,000 men.