REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS NAVY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS, Washington, D. C., July 1, 1924. ORGANIZATION OF UNITED STATES NAVAL FORCES The forces afloat continued to operate under the existing organization providing for a United States Fleet, Asiatic Fleet, Special Service Squadron, and United States Naval Forces in Europe. As hitherto, the United States Fleet consisted of the Battle Fleet, Scouting Fleet, Control Force, and Fleet Base Force. OPERATING PLAN The operating force plan of seagoing forces for the fiscal year 1924 was based on an enlisted personnel strength of 80,000 men and 6,000 apprentices. The following vessels were maintained in commission during the fiscal year: 18 battleships, first line. 1 aircraft carrier, second line. 3 submarines, second line. 81 submarines, first line. 5 patrol vessels, converted yachts. 6 auxiliaries, destroyer tenders. 7 auxiliaries, submarine tenders. 1 auxiliary, aircraft tender. 3 auxiliaries, store ships. 9 auxiliaries, oilers. 2 auxiliaries, ammunition ships. 7 auxiliaries, cargo ships. 3 auxiliaries, transports. 2 auxiliaries, hospital ships. 8 auxiliaries, fleet tugs. 23 auxiliaries, mine sweepers. The various small craft assigned to the naval districts remained practically the same as for the preceding year. On April 1 the New York and Texas were transferred from the Battle Fleet to the Scouting Fleet. The light cruisers, first line, with the exception of the Omaha and Concord, were organized into two divisions of four ships and were assigned to the Scouting Fleet under the command of Rear Admiral T. P. Magruder, United States Navy. The Omaha was assigned to duty as the flagship of destroyer squadrons, Battle Fleet. The Concord was assigned to duty as flagship of destroyer squadrons, Scouting Fleet. The Nokomis was assigned to duty under the Hydrographic Office for survey duty in West Indian waters. The Niagara was commissioned for duty under the Hydrographic Office for survey duty in Central American waters. 26870-NAVY 1924- 6 EMPLOYMENT OF FORCES THE UNITED STATES FLEET MANEUVERS Admiral S. S. Robison relieved Admiral E. W. Eberle as commander in chief, Battle Fleet, June 30, 1923, and on August 5, 1923, Admiral R. E. Coontz relieved Admiral H. P. Jones as commander in chief, United States Fleet. The gunnery practices were fired and engineering runs were made by all vessels available. During the winter a comprehensive program of fleet maneuvers was carried out. The Battle Fleet proceeded from the west coast to the Canal Zone early in January, joining the Scouting Fleet from the east coast. While in the vicinity of the Canal Zone the combined fleet participated in joint Army and Navy Problem No. 2, designed to test the defenses and the transit facilities of the Canal Zone. From the Canal Zone the combined fleet proceeded to the winter base at Culebra, West Indies. The planes of the aircraft squadrons, Scouting Fleet, proceeded from Hampton Roads to Culebra, arriving at about the same time as the combined fleet. The planes of the aircraft squadrons, Battle Fleet, were embarked on the battleships of the Battle Fleet, on the Jason and Aroostook, and made the trip from San Diego to the Viequez area on board the vessels concerned. On February 27 the fleet dispersed to various ports for liberty. After a visit of approximately one week in the various ports assigned, the vessels of the United States Fleet returned to Culebra and operated from that base or from Guantanamo for the rest of the winter. Early in April the Battle Fleet proceeded from Culebra to the west coast and early in May the Scouting Fleet returned to home yards. During the course of the winter maneuvers the operations of the Scouting Fleet were much curtailed on account of the boilers of the battleships Florida, Utah, Wyoming, and Arkansas. The Wyoming and Arkansas were directed to return to their home yards in February in order that necessary repairs could be made to permit them to take the midshipman's practice cruise. The Florida and Utah remained at Guantanamo Bay from the end of February until the 1st of May. Due to the lack of fleet submarines to operate as tactical units with the fleet, the "S" class submarines were assigned for this purpose. It was realized that they could not meet the full need of fleet submarines, but the advantages gained in this employment have offset the stress to which the personnel and material were subjected. These submarines were designed for independent operations and are effective for such purposes within their fuel radius. They are not satisfactory as fleet submarines and should be relieved from such duty as soon as suitable types are available. Long radius, cruising submarines, and submarines with mine laying characteristics are urgently required for that work. ASIATIC FLEET ACTIVITIES The Asiatic Fleet carried out the usual drills and exercises in addition to participating in several incidents of international impor tance. Admiral Thos. Washington relieved Admiral E. A. Anderson as commander in chief, Asiatic Fleet, on October 11, 1923. China. The political turmoil in China was such as to frequently require the presence of United States naval vessels in order to protect American lives and property where outbreaks occurred. The Navy Department received urgent appeals from the American Chambers of Commerce in China and from the United States Chamber of Commerce for protection of American trade in China. Appeals came also from American shipping for protection of Americans traveling on American vessels in China and from the church in China for more adequate police protection for American missionaries who were in the most troubled and dangerous sections. To meet these demands and to replace the old gunboats on Chinese rivers with a type suitable for navigating the shallow rivers and swift currents, the Navy Department asked the Sixty-eighth Congress for funds for the construction of six river gunboats. In the meantime, to augment the old gunboats doing duty on Chinese rivers, the mine sweepers Penguin and Pigeon were placed in commission on October 13, 1923, at Pearl Harbor and proceeded to the Asiatic station for duty in the lower parts of the rivers, their draft being too great for duty in the upper reaches of the rivers. The Quiros, an old gunboat no longer serviceable on the rivers, was placed out of commission. In December, 1923, Sun Yat Sen, President of the Republic of South China, threatened to seize the customs in Canton, hitherto under international control. In concert with other forces, the United States sent six destroyers to Canton. The firm stand and cooperation shown by the various naval forces compelled Sun Yat Sen to recede from his threat to use force and the customs continued to be administered as formerly. Expressions of thanks and gratitude were received from American commercial interests and from the resident bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in China for the work done by the vessels of the Yangtze River patrol in protecting American lives, property, and business. Japanese earthquake.-On August 30 and 31, 1923, violent earthquakes destroyed a large part of the cities of Tokyo and Yokohama as well as many small towns in the vicinity. The loss of life was very great, and more than a million people were temporarily without food and shelter and in danger of perishing from disease. The commander in chief of the Asiatic Fleet, Admiral E. A. Anderson, upon learning of the disaster, proceeded immediately in the Huron to Yokohama and dispatched all available vessels of his command at high speed to that port after filling with medical stores, food, building materials, sleeping mats, lime, etc. The Asiatic Fleet expended about three-quarters of a million dollars from naval funds for emergency Japanese relief. These emergency supplies and the services of the fleet were greatly appreciated, as they were supplied in the early stages of the relief when most necessary to avert suffering and before the more extensive Red Cross relief was available. The relief given by the fleet included not only relief to Japanese and Americans but to other foreign refugees; furnished facilities for evacuation from the earthquake zone; reestablished the American consulate in a camp on shore; gave refuge to people aboard ship until they could be transported elsewhere; transported American and foreign business men to and from Kobe and Yokohama; buried the American dead; opened safes and secured papers for business firms; repaired machinery of ships, enabling them to leave Yokohama; and furnished water for all American ships touching at Yokohama and for Americans on shore. The United States Shipping Board directed all its vessels in waters adjacent to Japan to report to the commander in chief Asiatic Fleet for relief purposes. The United States Steel Corporation directed its ships Steel Traveler, Steel Navigator, and Selma. City to render all practicable assistance and placed their vessels at the disposal of the commander in chief Asiatic Fleet. The American ambassador to Japan was designated as the chairman of the American Red Cross. Admiral Anderson was his senior assistant. Reports from all sources indicate that the action of the United States Asiatic Fleet was responsible for the saving of thousands of lives and for the protection of valuable property. The following is quoted from a dispatch received on September 17, 1923, from Ambassador Woods: It will gratify the American people to know that the prompt action of Ad miral Anderson has had much to do with this (that is, recovery of people from shock of earthquake disaster). American Navy's assistance thoroughly appreciated by the men in the street as well as by the Japanese Government. I wish to emphasize in this critical emergency the first assistance from the outside world since the catastrophe was brought by our Asiatic Fleet. The Navy Department placed several cargo ships at the disposal of the American Red Cross for transportation of Red Cross supplies from the United States to Japan. Philippines. In January, 1924, a Philippine fanatical organization known as the "Colorum" rebelled against the authority of the Governor General of the Philippines. The Governor General accepted the offer of assistance of the commander in chief Asiatic Fleet. The Sacramento landed a force of marines and constabulary with machine guns at Socorro, their stronghold, drove the insurrectionists from the town, and order was restored. Around-the-world air flight.-The Asiatic Fleet cooperated with the Army around-the-world flight by maintaining the station ships at the scheduled stops in the Kurile Islands and by transporting supplies and provisions to the aviators; furnishing radio chain and guarding the various flights from Yokohama, Japan, to Calcutta, India. The merchant ship Canopus was obtained from the Shipping Board and converted into a submarine tender during the year. FORCES IN EUROPE During the fiscal year the forces in Europe were reduced by two destroyers, leaving the Pittsburgh and six destroyers, under the command of Vice Admiral Philip Andrews, commander United States naval forces, Europe. Vessels in European waters continued to act in cooperation with the State Department, principally in Turkish waters under the direct control of Rear Admiral Mark Bristol, United States high commis |