Ocean els to Be Merged Into One Patrol Force Will Be Periodically Expanded Washington, Oct. 3 it announced yesterday that 125 naval B in the Atlantic Ocean were being merged into a new force which m—be periodically expanded. The objective post and training." avy Department said, will be to "increase
"new patrol force will include units of the Atlantic and. various naval war plane forces, the Navy Depart-ut said. The new fleet will be under the com-James O.
Richardson, commander-in-chief IS. Fleet, and will be under the direct command of Rear-'Ellis, commander-in-chief of the Atlantic squadron.
The Navy's announcement was <|made soon after the Secretary of Navy, Col. Frank Knox, disclosed that he had summoned. Admiral Richardson to Washington for a conference next week on the "somewhat troubled" situation in the Orient, 4 Questions on Bases Col Knox said that "nothing specific" had prompted him, to summon Admiral Richardson to Washington, Commenting on reports that the the} United States might send warships @P-|to Australia and New Zealand, Col. Knox said that he had heard such plans discussed unofüeially and that he thought it was "not a bad idea." He emphasized, however, that nothing official had yet been decided.
Col, Knox said he had "no knowledge" of reported plans for joint use of the powerful Singapore Naval base by the United States and British navies.
Likewise, he said there were no plang pending for the removal of the 1,500 United States Marines from Shanghai. He also denied that there were any plans yet in official form for strengthening the U.S. Asiatic Fleet or the Yangtze Patrol.
Asked if he was satisfied with the number of American bases in the Pacific after he had said the Navy should "not let any grass grow under its Jeet," Col, Knox replied: "Im not/satisfed with anything because I want everything to be better. Of course the base situation in the Pacific could be improved."—United Press.
Experts to See Base Sites Kidnapped f the stated was no change Miami, Oct. 3.
An eleven man board of U.S. Army and Navy officers left here yesterday for the Bahamas and other Atlantic and Caribbean points to Inspect the sites for new American air and naval bases on British posses-slons in the Western Hemisphere.
Rear Admiral J. W. Greenslade and Major-General J. L. Devers are expected to confer with the Duke of Windsor when the board of experts reaches Nassai, The Army and Navy board sailed den. ihe points the board aboard the cruiser St.
board will return to Washing-Jamaica, Trinidad, St, Lucia and Antigua.
ton on October 25.—United Press.
Defence Plans Speeded
nected of the only mii Incident yesterday
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