WESTERN UNION FLEETS ARE TO EXERCISE

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 May 1949, Page 8

WESTERN UNION FLEETS ARE TO EXERCISE

LONDON, May 24 —Plans for combined naval exercises by fleets of the Western Union coun- | tries, betwee? June 30 and July 8, I I have been compeleted and await only ■ I formal approval of all the participat- , ■ ing countries. j At least 50 ships of all sizes, from aircraft carriers to light coastal forces, from fleets of Britain, France, the Netherlands and Belgium are likely to spend three full days together at sea, carrying out some straightforward manoeuvres to test their capacity for co-ordination. Land based aircraft ore also expected to take part. Many thousands of men will be involved in the first peacetime naval manoeuvres ever held between West- ! ern European countries. | From the results of exercises bigger I 1 plans may be considered for demon- I | strating the Western Union’s defence I resources. With Admiral Sir Rhoder- | ick McGrigor, commander in chief of I the British Home Fleet, supervising the combined exercises, most of the I I initiative in the plannng of them has I 1 come from the British Admiralty, j j which will contribute the largest j force, headed by Admiral McGrigor’s 23,000-ton aircraft carrier flagship, ' Implacable. France, maintaining the j next largest navy in Europe, will have lhe second largest representative force. Ships of the French, the | Netherlands and Belgian navies will I

be in British waters for the combined I exercises, but they are not expected | to remain on extended visits.. -