U.S.A. FLEET.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1924, Page 3

U.S.A. FLEET.

COMING TO NEW ZEALAND. IUHTRALIAN AND N.Z. GABLE AHSOCIAxIOS WASHINGTON. Oct. 10. Navy Department officials have finally approved of plans lor the American Fleet manoeuvres and the cruise to Australia. II is provided that only one battleship, the Wyoming, will he detached from tin* Atlantic Scouting Force, 'flic* other five capital ships in the Atlantic, namely, the New link, Texas, Arkansas, Florida and Utah will remain in tin* home yards in antieiprttion of funds being obtained Irons Congress to permit, needed repairs. 'fhe following small Atlantic fleet vessels, will, however, he transferred for the Pacific voyage, namelv. a division of new, light cruisers, including the Richmond, Milwaukee. ( incinatti. Trenton, Detroit and Raleigh; also two dest rover squadrons, headed by tin flagship. Concord ; live mine layers and three submarine squadrons, with their attending trains. These vessels will join the Pacilic Fleet, and the combined forces will sail on Ist. July for Australasian waters. The tentative itinerary is as follows: P.attleship Division Three will arrive at Auckland on the oth. July. I* l -”; and leave there on July 9l)th. It " 9 return to San Pedro on Scot. 99tb. Battleship Division Four’s itinerary is approximately the same, except that O will also visit Wellington and Melbourne. . . Battleship Division Five will have the same itinerary as Division Ihree. also visiting Wellington. V suggestion has been made that t|, t . Fleet”might he sent on through the Suez Canal «ml thus to the Atlantic. This'was rejected hv the General Navy Board on the ground both of stiategy and economy. .. , It must also he mentioned that hu. approval of the cruise must wait til after the Presidential Election, and will probably depend upon Congressional approval of the fuel outlay.

CORRECTED ITINERARY . NEW YORK. Oct. ID. Correction.--- Battleship Division Three leaves Auck and on Ju > • •mil arrives at Sydney on An'.. *>' ll * Thev leave Sydney on August 90th for Pagopago. arriving at Horn.lulu <»' ‘t. 10th. and at San Pedro on Get. --O'.