Shake-Up

Last week the U. S. Navy shook itself violently, prepared to settle down Feb. 1 under a new seagoing command, a new organization. The shakeup, announced by Secretary Frank Knox, was not particularly notable in its dimensions. But to most naval officers it was of extreme interest, for if war comes, this is likely to be the new command and this the new organization under which the Navy will fight.

To many a landlubber it has long seemed odd that, with a war going on in Europe, the Atlantic is policed only by a U. S. Naval Squadron, incongruously called the Atlantic Patrol Force. After Feb. 1 that Patrol Force will be the Atlantic Fleet. Its present commander, frosty-eyed Rear Admiral Ernest Joseph King (who is also a naval aviator) will take his orders direct from Chief of Naval Operations Harold Raynsford Stark in Washington. King can logically expect soon to get four-star rank.

The Atlantic Fleet will have 125 vessels, led by three old battleships (New York, Arkansas and Texas), will get more strength, Frank Knox said, as new warships are put into commission. How many or what types, he would not say. The Navy has decided that the less said about movement and assignment of men-of-war the better.

For the Pacific Fleet, Secretary Knox had a new Commander in Chief U. S. Fleet, No. 1 seagoing job of the U. S. Navy, to announce. Upped from command of cruisers of the Battle Force to the highest seagoing job in the Navy was Rear Admiral Husband Edward Kimmel, jumped over 46 admirals to fly the four-star flag of CINCUS at the main of the flagship Pennsylvania. As CINCUS, 58-year-old "Hubby" Kimmel will be in charge of operations of his own fleet, of training in all three, will command two or more of the fleets if they are concentrated in one operation. Relieved from command will be the present CINCUS, tall, square-chinned James Otto Richardson. When new CINCUS Kimmel takes over, 62-year-old Jo Richardson will head for Washington for a new assignment.

Across the Pacific from Pearl Harbor, where the Pacific Fleet is based, the U. S.'s third fleet, the Asiatic, last week kept a wary eye cocked on Japan and the combustible China coast. But the shake-up did not shake it much. Still flying his flag on the flagship Augusta was 63-year-old Admiral Thomas Charles Hart, whom fellow Annapolis cadets called "Dad" (because he had a baby face). Wise in the ways of the Orient, Tommy Hart has only five months to go to retirement, has done too good a job to be pulled out before his time is up.

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