UNITED STATES NAVY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 20, 25 January 1915, Page 8

UNITED STATES NAVY.

The United States navy makes a line showing in peace times, anyway, |io matter what its shortcomings might he in war (remarks the Otago Daily Times' New York correspondent). The mobilisation of the Atlantic fleet off Gantanamo, Cuba, this month, for several weeks of target practice and manoeuvre exercises should he well worth seeing. This is tlie most powerful fleet ever commanded by an American naval officer, ft consists of 103 ships, representing ;i money value of .'SOO million dollars. The exercises will he the first ever hold in which, guns of the new 14-inch calibre will play a part. There are 10 of these guns or; the flagship New York, and 10 more on the Texas. They .lire projectiles weighing 14001bs each, and it costs the Government 770 dollars every time one of them is discharged. Of guns of the 12-ineh type there are 124 in the fleet, and they are placed so that they can be fired in a single broadside. Such a broadside would weight 105,4001 b, and the 14-inch guns would bring this t > 133,4001 b. The ships are commanded by six rear admirals, 25 captains, more than 1000 officers of lesser rank, and 2.">,000 enlisted men