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diff --git a/18676-h/18676-h.htm b/18676-h/18676-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8fb7cbb --- /dev/null +++ b/18676-h/18676-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9964 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Our Navy in the War, by Lawrence Perry</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + pre {font-size: 75%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Our Navy in the War, by Lawrence Perry</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Our Navy in the War</p> +<p>Author: Lawrence Perry</p> +<p>Release Date: June 24, 2006 [eBook #18676]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR NAVY IN THE WAR***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Thomas Amrhein, David King,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net/)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> +<h2>AMERICA IN THE WAR</h2> + + +<h1>OUR NAVY IN THE WAR</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>LAWRENCE PERRY</h2> + + +<h4>ILLUSTRATED</h4> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + + +<h4>NEW YORK</h4> +<h4>CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS</h4> +<h4>1919<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span></h4> + +<h3>COPYRIGHT, 1918, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS</h3> + +<h3>Published October, 1918</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"> +<a name="illus-steaming" id="illus-steaming"></a> +<a href="images/steaming.png"> +<img src="images/steaming-th.png" width="350" height="207" alt="Atlantic Fleet Steaming" title=""/></a> +<span class="caption"><i>From a photograph by C.R. Eagle.</i> +<b>Atlantic Fleet steaming in line of bearing.</b></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p>THIS BOOK +IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE +HON. JOSEPHUS DANIELS</p> + +<p>A NEWSPAPER MAN WHO BROUGHT TO HIS TASK AS SECRETARY OF THE +NAVY THOSE GREAT QUALITIES OF MIND AND CHARACTER WHICH FITTED +HIM TO MEET WITH SUCH SIGNAL SUCCESS THE IMMENSE PROBLEMS +WHICH THE WAR IMPOSED UPON HIS OFFICE. TO HIS FAR-SEEING VISION, +HIS BREADTH OF VIEW, HIS FREEDOM FROM ALL BIAS, HIS JUDGMENT OF +MEN AND OF AFFAIRS, AND TO THE STERN COURAGE OF HIS CONVICTIONS +ARE DUE TO-DAY THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE HIGH TRADITIONS OF THE +UNITED STATES NAVY OF WHICH AMERICANS HAVE EVER BEEN PROUD.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + +<p><a href="#FOREWORD">FOREWORD</a></p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>First Experience of Our Navy with the German U-Boat—Arrival +of Captain Hans Rose and the U-53 at +Newport—Experiences of the German Sailors in +an American Port—Destruction of Merchantman +by U-53 off Nantucket—Our Destroyers to the +Rescue—Scenes in Newport—German Rejoicing—The +Navy Prepares for War</p></div> + + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Our Navy Arms American Merchant Vessels—Death +of our First Bluejacket on Service in the War +Zone—Vice-Admiral Sims—We Take Over Patrol of +Waters of Western Hemisphere—The Naval Advisory +Board of Inventions—Work of this Body—Our +Battleships the Largest in the World—Widespread Operations</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>First Hostile Contact Between the Navy and the +Germans—Armed Guards on Merchant Vessels—"Campana" +First to Sail—Daniels Refuses Offer of +Money Awards to Men Who Sink Submarines—"Mongolia" +Shows Germany How the Yankee Sailorman +Bites—Fight of the "Silvershell"—Heroism of +Gunners on Merchant Ships—Sinking of the +"Antilles"—Experiences of Voyagers</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span></p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Destroyers on Guard—Preparations of Flotilla to +Cross the Ocean—Meeting the "Adriatic"—-Flotilla +Arrives in Queenstown—Reception by British +Commander and Populace—"We are Ready Now, +Sir"—Arrival of the Famous Captain Evans on the +American Flag-Ship—Our Navy a Warm-Weather +Navy—Loss of the "Vacuum"</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>British and American Destroyers Operating Hand in +Hand—Arrival of Naval Collier "Jupiter"—Successful +Trip of Transports Bearing United States +Soldiers Convoyed by Naval Vessels—Attack on +Transports Warded Off by Destroyers—Secretary +Baker Thanks Secretary Daniels—Visit to our +Destroyer Base—Attitude of Officers Toward Men—Genesis +of the Submarine—The Confederate +Submarine "Hunley"</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>On a German Submarine—Fight with a Destroyer—Periscope +Hit—Record of the Submarine in this +War—Dawning Failure of the Undersea Boat—Figures +Issued by the British Admiralty—Proof +of Decline—Our Navy's Part in this Achievement</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>How the Submarine is being Fought—Destroyers the +Great Menace—But Nets, Too, Have Played Their +Part—Many Other Devices—German Officers Tell +of Experience on a Submarine Caught in a Net—Chasers +Play Their Part—The Depth-Bomb—Trawler +Tricks—A Camouflaged Schooner Which Turned Out +To Be a Tartar—Airplanes—German Submarine +Men in Playful Mood</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Perils and Triumphs of Submarine-Hunting—The Loss +of our First War-Ship, The Converted Gunboat "Alcedo"—Bravery +of Crew—"Cassin" Struck by Torpedo, +But Remains in the Fight—Loss of the "Jacob +Jones"—Sinking of the "San Diego"—Destroyers +"Nicholson" and "Fanning" Capture a Submarine, +Which Sinks—Crew of Germans Brought Into Port—The +Policy of Silence in Regard to Submarine-Sinkings</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Our Battleship Fleet—Great Workshop of War—Preparations +for Foreign Service—On a Battleship +During a Submarine Attack—The Wireless +That Went Wrong—The Torpedo That Missed—Attack +on Submarine Bases of Doubtful Expediency—When +the German Fleet Comes Out—Establishment +of Station in the Azores</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Great Atlantic Ferry Company, Incorporated, +But Unlimited—Feat of the Navy in Repairing the +Steamships Belonging to German Lines Which Were +Interned at Beginning of War in 1914—Welding +and Patching—Triumph of Our Navy With the +"Vaterland"—Her Condition—Knots Added to Her +Speed—Damage to Motive Power and How It Was +Remedied—Famous German Liners Brought Under +Our Flag</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Camouflage—American System of Low Visibility and +the British Dazzle System—Americans Worked Out +Principles of Color in Light and Color in Pigment—British +Sought Merely to Confuse the Eye—British +System Applied to Some of Our Transports</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Naval Flying Corps—What The Navy Department +Has Accomplished And Is Accomplishing in the Way +of Air-Fighting—Experience of a Naval Ensign +Adrift in the English Channel—Seaplanes and +Flying Boats—Schools of Instruction—Instances +of Heroism</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Organization Of The Naval Reserve Classes—Taking +Over of Yachts For Naval Service—Work Among +The Reserves Stationed at Various Naval Centres—Walter +Camp's Achievement</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The United States Marine Corps—First Military +Branch Of The National Service To Be Sanctioned +By Congress—Leaving For The War—Service Of +The Marines in Various Parts of the Globe—Details +of Expansion of Corps—Their Present Service +All Over The World</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Scope Of The Navy's Work In Various Particulars—Food—Fuel—Naval +Consulting Board—Projectile +Factory—Expenditures—Increase Of Personnel</p></div> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The beginning of the end—Reports in London that +submarines were withdrawing to their bases to +head a battle movement on the part of the German +Fleet—How the plan was foiled—The surrender +of the German Fleet to the combined British and +American Squadrons—Departure of the American +Squadron—What might have happened had the +German vessels come out to fight</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Lessons of the War—The Submarine Not Really a +Submarine—French Term for Undersea Fighter—The +Success of the Convoy Against Submersibles—U-Boats +Not Successful Against Surface Fighters—Their +Shortcomings—What the Submarine Needs to +be a Vital Factor in Sea Power—Their Showing +Against Convoyed Craft—Record of Our Navy in +Convoying and Protecting Convoys</p></div> + +<p><a href="#SECRETARY_DANIELS_REPORT">Secretary Daniels's Report</a></p> + +<p><a href="#MARINE_CORPS"><b>THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MARINE CORPS</b></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ILLUSTRATIONS" id="ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + +<p><a href="#illus-steaming">Atlantic Fleet steaming in line of bearing</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-portraits">Portraits of Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, +Rear-Admiral Leigh C. Palmer, Vice-Admiral William +S. Sims, Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Rear-Admiral Albert +Gleaves, Admiral William S. Benson</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-convoy">Position of ships in a convoy</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-full-speed">A U.S. submarine at full speed on the surface of the water</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-submarine-chaser">A submarine-chaser</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-destroyer">A torpedo-destroyer</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-repair">Repairing a damaged cylinder of a German ship for federal service</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-station">Scene at an aviation station somewhere in America, showing +fifteen seaplanes on beach departing and arriving</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-inspection">Captain's inspection at Naval Training Station, Newport, R.I.</a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus-marines">American Marines who took part in the Marne offensive +on parade in Paris, July 4, 1918</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>OUR NAVY IN THE WAR</h2> + + + + +<h2><a name="FOREWORD" id="FOREWORD">FOREWORD</a></h2> + + +<p>Gently rolling and heaving on the surge +of a summer sea lay a mighty fleet of +war-vessels. There were the capital ships of +the Atlantic Fleet, grim dreadnoughts with +their superimposed turrets, their bristling +broadsides, their basket-masts—veritable islands of +steel. There were colliers, hospital-ships, +destroyers, patrol-vessels—in all, a tremendous +demonstration of our sea power. Launches +were dashing hither and thither across the restless +blue waters, signal-flags were flashing from +mast and stay and the wind, catching the sepia +reek from many a funnel, whipped it across a +league of sea.</p> + +<p>On the deck of the largest battleship were +gathered the officers of the fleet not only, but +nearly every officer on active duty in home +waters. All eyes were turned shoreward and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +presently as a sharp succession of shots rang +out a sleek, narrow craft with gracefully turned +bow came out from the horizon and advanced +swiftly toward the flag-ship. It was the President's +yacht, the <i>Mayflower</i>, with the President +of the United States on board. As the yacht +swung to a launch was dropped overside, the +gangway lowered and Woodrow Wilson stepped +down to the little craft, bobbing on the waves. +There was no salute, no pomp, no official +circumstance, nor anything in the way of +ceremony. The President did not want that.</p> + +<p>What he did want was to meet the officers +of our navy and give them a heart-to-heart +talk. He did just that. At the time it was +early summer in 1917. In the preceding April +a declaration that Germany had been waging +war upon the United States had been made in +Congress; war resolutions had been passed +and signed by the President. This on April 6. +On April 7 the Navy Department had put into +effect plans that had already been formulated. +Much had been done when the President boarded +the flag-ship of the Atlantic Fleet that early +summer afternoon. Some of our destroyers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +were already at work in foreign waters, but +the bulk of our fighting force was at home, +preparing for conflict. And it was this time that +the President chose to meet those upon whom +the nation relied to check the submarine and +to protect our shores against the evil devices +of the enemy.</p> + +<p>"He went," wrote a narrator of this historic +function, "directly to the business in hand. +And the business in hand was telling the officers +of the navy of the United States that the +submarine had to be beaten and that they had +to do it. He talked—well, it must still remain +a secret, but if you have ever heard a football +coach talk to his team between the halves; if +you ever heard a captain tell his men what he +expected of them as they stripped for action; +if you ever knew what the fighting spirit of +Woodrow Wilson really is when it is on fire—then +you can visualize the whole scene. He +wanted not merely as good a record from our +navy as other navies had, he wanted a better +record. He wanted action, not merely from +the gold-braided admirals, but from the ensigns, +too; and he wanted every mind turned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +to the solution of the submarine question, and +regardless of rank and distinction he wanted +all to work and fight for the common object—victory.</p> + +<p>"Somebody suggested to the President later +that the speech be published. He declined. +Most of it wasn't said to be published. It was +a direct talk from the Commander-in-chief of +the navy to his men. It was inspiration itself. +The officers cheered and went away across the +seas. And there they have been in action ever +since, giving an account of themselves that has +already won the admiration of their allies and +the involuntary respect of their foes."</p> + +<p>It was under such auspices as these that the +United States Navy went forth to war. No +one ever doubted the spirit of our fighters of +the sea. Through all the years, from the time +when John Paul Jones bearded enemy ships +in their own waters, when <i>Old Ironsides</i> belched +forth her well-directed broadsides in many a +victorious encounter; when Decatur showed +the pirates of Tripoli that they had a new power +with which to deal; when Farragut damned +the torpedoes in Mobile Bay, and Dewey did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +likewise in Manila Bay; when Sampson and +Schley triumphed at Santiago, and Hobson +accepted the seemingly fatal chance under the +guns of Morro Castle—through all the years, +I say, and through all that they have brought +in the way of armed strife, the nation never +for one moment has ever doubted the United +States Navy.</p> + +<p>And neither did Woodrow Wilson doubt. +He knew his men. But he wanted to look them +all in the eye and tell them that he knew their +mettle, knew what they could do, and held +no thought of their failure. Every fighting +man fights the better for an incident of this +sort.</p> + +<p>Week by week since that time there has come +to us from out the grim North Sea, from the +Mediterranean and the broad Atlantic abundant +testimony, many a story of individual +and collective heroism, of ships that have waged +gallant fights, of Americans who have lived +gallantly, who have died gloriously—and above +all there has come to us the gratifying record +of reduced submarine losses, as to which there +is abundant testimony—notably from the great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +maritime and naval power of the world—Great +Britain—that our navy has played a vital part +in the diminution of the undersea terror.</p> + +<p>Less than a year after President Wilson +boarded the flag-ship of the Atlantic Fleet our +navy had more than 150 naval vessels—battleships, +cruisers, submarines and tenders, gunboats, +coast-guard cutters, converted yachts, +tugs, and numerous vessels of other types for +special purposes—in European waters. Serving +on these vessels were nearly 40,000 men, +more than half the strength of our navy before +we entered the war—and this number did not +include the personnel of troop-ships, supply-vessels, +armed guards for merchantmen, signal-men, +wireless operators and the like, who go +into the war zone on recurrent trips.</p> + +<p>Submarines have been fought and sunk or +captured—how many, a wise naval policy bids +absolute silence. Our antisubmarine activities +now cover in war areas alone over 1,000,000 +square miles of sea. In a six-months period +one detachment of destroyers steamed over +1,000,000 of miles in the war zone, attacked +81 submarines, escorted 717 single vessels, participated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +in 86 convoys, and spent one hundred +and fifty days at sea.</p> + +<p>There have been mistakes, of course; there +have been delays which have tried the patience +not only of the country, but of the Navy +Department. But they were inevitable under the +high pressure of affairs as they suddenly set +in when we went to war. But in looking back +over the year and a half of conflict, considering +the hundreds of thousands of soldiers that our +navy has conducted in safety across the infested +Atlantic, and the feats which our fighters +have performed in action, in stormy seas, +in rescue work and in the long, weary grind +of daily routine, no American has cause for +aught but pride in the work our navy has +done.</p> + +<p>There has been more than a sixfold increase +in naval man power and about a fourfold increase +in the number of ships in service. When +present plans have been carried out—and all +projects are proceeding swiftly—the United +States will probably rank second to Britain +among naval Powers of the world. Training +facilities have increased on a stupendous scale;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +we have now various specialized schools for +seamen and officers; our industrial yards have +grown beyond dreams and the production of +ordnance and munitions proceeds on a vast +scale, while in other directions things have been +accomplished by the Navy Department which +will not be known until the war is over and +the records are open for all to read.</p> + +<p>But in the meantime history has been making +and facts have been marked which give every +American pride. Praise from the source of all +things maritime is praise indeed, and what +greater commendation—better than anything +that might be spoken or written—could be +desired than the action of Admiral Sir David +Beatty, commander-in-chief of the Grand Fleet, +who, receiving a report not so many months +ago that the German High Seas Fleet was out, +awarded the post of honor in the consolidated +fleet of British and American war-vessels which +went forth to meet the Germans to a division +of American battleships. This chivalrous +compliment on the part of the British commander +was no doubt designed as a signal act of courtesy, +but more, it was born of the confidence of a man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +who has seen our navy, who had had the most +complete opportunities for studying it and, as +a consequence, knew what it could do.</p> + +<p>There is nothing of chauvinism in the statement +that, so far as the submarine is concerned, +our navy has played a most helpful part in +diminishing its ravages, that our fighting ships +have aided very materially in the marked +reduction in sinkings of merchantmen as compared +to the number destroyed in the corresponding +period before we entered the war, +and in the no less notable increase in the number +of submarines captured or sunk. These facts +have not only been made clear by official Navy +Department statements, but have been attested +to by many British and French Admiralty +and Government authorities and naval +commanders.</p> + +<p>"You doubtless know," wrote Admiral Sims +to the Secretary of the Navy some time ago, +"that all of the Allies here with whom I am +associated are very much impressed by the +efforts now being made by the United States +Navy Department to oppose the submarine +and protect merchant shipping. I am very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +glad to report that our forces are more than +coming up to expectations."</p> + +<p>Admiral Sims was modest. Let us quote +the message sent by Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, +commander-in-chief of the British naval forces +on the Irish coast, on the anniversary of the +arrival of our first destroyer flotilla at +Queenstown:</p> + +<p>"On the anniversary of the arrival of the +first United States men-of-war at Queenstown +I wish to express my deep gratitude to the +United States officers and ratings for the skill, +energy, and unfailing good nature which they +all have consistently shown and which qualities +have so materially assisted in the war by +enabling ships of the Allied Powers to cross +the ocean in comparative freedom. To command +you is an honor, to work with you is a +pleasure, to know you is to know the best traits +of the Anglo-Saxon race."</p> + +<p>And to Secretary Daniels, Sir Eric Geddes, +first lord of the British Admiralty, wrote in +part:</p> + +<p>"As you know, we all of us here have great +admiration for your officers and men and for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +the splendid help they are giving in European +waters. Further, we find Admiral Sims invaluable +in counsel and in co-operation."</p> + +<p>American naval aid has been of the greatest +help to the British Fleet, wrote Archibald +Hurd, the naval expert, in the <i>Daily Telegraph</i>, +London.</p> + +<p>"When the war is over," he said, "the nation +will form some conception of the extent +of the debt which we owe the American Navy +for the manner in which it has co-operated, +not only in connection with the convoy system, +but in fighting the submarines. If the naval +position is improving to-day, as it is, it is due +to the fact that the British and American fleets +are working in closest accord, supported by +an immense body of skilled workers on both +sides of the Atlantic, who are turning out +destroyers and other crafts for dealing with the +submarines as well as mines and bombs. The +Germans can have a battle whenever they want +it. The strength of the Grand Fleet has been +well maintained. Some of the finest battleships +of the United States Navy are now associated +with it. They are not only splendid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +fighting-ships, but they are well officered and +manned."</p> + +<p>Here is what Lord Reading, the British Ambassador +to the United States said in the course +of an address at the Yale 1918 Commencement:</p> + +<p>"Let me say to you on behalf of the British +people what a debt of gratitude we owe to your +navy for its co-operation with us. There is +no finer spectacle to be seen at present than +that complete and cordial co-operation which +is existing between your fleet and ours. They +work as one. I always think to myself and +hope that the co-operation of our fleets, of our +navies, is the harbinger of what is to come in +the future when the war is over, of that which +will still continue then. Magnificent is their +work, and I glory always in the thought that +an American admiral has taken charge of the +British Fleet and the British policy, and that +when the plans are formed for an attack that +American admiral is given the place of honor +in our fleet, because we feel that it is his due +at this moment."</p> + +<p>And finally, there is the testimony of Admiral<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, first sea lord of +the British, concerning our effective aid, +testimony, by the way, which enlightens us to some +extent upon British and American methods of +co-operation.</p> + +<p>"On the broad lines of strategic policy," he +said, "complete unanimity exists. Admiral +Benson and Admiral Mayo have both visited +us and studied our naval plans. No officers +could have exhibited keener appreciation of +the naval situation. I find it difficult to +express the gratitude of the British service to +these officers and to Admiral Sims for the support +they have given us. I am not exaggerating, +or camouflaging, to borrow a word of the +moment. Our relations could not be more +cordial. The day-to-day procedure is of the +simplest. Every morning I hold conference +with the principal officers of the naval staff, +and Admiral Sims is present as the representative +of the United States Fleet, joining freely +in the discussion of the various subjects which +arise. I need not add that I keenly appreciate +his help. At sea the same spirit of cordial +co-operation exists—extremely cordial. I should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +like to say we have, fortunately, a common +language and common traditions, which have +done much to assist us in working together.</p> + +<p>"The American officers and men are first-rate. +It is impossible to pay too high a tribute +to the manner in which they settled down to +this job of submarine hunting, and to the +intelligence, resource, and courage which they +have exhibited. They came on the scene at +the opportune moment. Our men had been +in the mill for many weary months. Possibly +the American people, so far removed from the +main theatre of the war, can hardly appreciate +what it meant when these American officers +and men crossed the Atlantic. They have been +splendid, simply splendid. I have seen a number +of the destroyers and conversed with a large +number of officers. I also have had many reports +and am not speaking of the aid the United +States has rendered without full knowledge.</p> + +<p>"Not only are the vessels well constructed +and the officers and men thoroughly competent, +but the organization is admirable. It was no +slight matter for so many ships to come 3,000 +miles across the Atlantic to fight in European<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +waters. The decision raised several complicated +problems in connection with supplies, but those +problems have been surmounted with success. +There has never been anything like it before +in the history of naval warfare, and the development +of the steam-engine has rendered such +co-operation more difficult than ever before, +because the modern man-of-war is dependent +on a constant stream of supplies of fuel, stores, +food, and other things, and is need of frequent +repairs."</p> + +<p>In addition to doing signally effective work +in hunting down the submarine, and in protecting +ocean commerce, our war-ships have +relieved England and France of the necessity +of looking out for raiders and submarines in +South Atlantic waters: we have sent to the +Grand Fleet, among other craft, a squadron +of dreadnoughts and superdreadnoughts whose +aggregate gun-power will tell whenever the +German sea-fighters decide to risk battle in the +North Sea; war-ships are convoying transports +laden with thousands of men—more than a million +and a half fighting men will be on French +and English soil before these words are read—escorting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +ocean liners and convoying merchant +vessels, while in divers other ways the navy of +this country is playing its dominant part in +the fight against German ruthlessness.</p> + +<p>When the Emergency Fleet Corporation announced +its programme of building ships the +Navy Department at once began its preparations +for providing armed guards for these +vessels as soon as they were commissioned for +transatlantic service. Thousands of men were +placed in training for this purpose and detailed +instructions were prepared and issued to the +Shipping Board and to all ship-building companies +to enable them to prepare their vessels +while building with gun-emplacements, armed-guard +quarters, and the like, so that when the +vessels were completed there would be as little +delay as possible in furnishing them. In all +details relating to the protection of these merchant +vessels the navy has played a most vital +part and not least of the laurels accruing to +this department of the government war service +for work in the present struggle have been +those won by naval gun crews on cargo-laden +ships.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<p>The administrative work in connecting many +vessels of this class is a not inconsiderable +of itself. The romance of the armed merchantmen +affords material for many a vivid page, +and when in its proper place in this volume it +is set forth somewhat in detail the reader will +grasp—if he has not already done so through +perusal of the daily press—the fact that all the +glory of naval service in this war has not resided +within the turrets of the dreadnought +nor on the deck of destroyer or patrol-vessel.</p> + +<p>The navy organized and has operated the +large transport service required to take our +soldiers overseas. At this writing not a single +transport has been lost on the way to France, +and but three have been sunk returning. Transports +bound for France have been attacked by +submarines time and again, and, in fact, our +first transport convoy was unsuccessfully assailed, +as has been the case with other convoys +throughout the past twelve months. In +the case of the <i>Tuscania</i>, sunk by a torpedo +while eastbound with American soldiers, that +vessel was under British convoy, a fact which +implies no discredit upon the British Navy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +since it is beyond the powers of human ingenuity +so to protect the ocean lanes as to warrant +assurance that a vessel, however well convoyed, +shall be totally immune from the lurking submarine. +Again, it should be remembered, that +the British have taken about sixty per cent of +our expeditionary forces across the ocean.</p> + +<p>In the line of expanding ship-building facilities +the Navy Department has in the past year +carried on vigorously a stupendous policy of +increased shipyard capacity, which upon completion +will see this country able to have in +course of construction on the ways at one time +sixteen war-vessels of which seven will be battleships.</p> + +<p>In January, 1917, three months before we +went to war, the Navy Department's facilities +for ship-building were: Boston, one auxiliary +vessel; New York, one battleship; Philadelphia, +one auxiliary; Norfolk, one destroyer; +Charleston, one gunboat; Mare Island, one +battleship and one destroyer. At the present +time the Brooklyn Navy Yard has a way for +the building of dreadnoughts, and one for the +building of battleships. At Philadelphia two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +ways are being built for large battleships and +battle-cruisers. Norfolk, in addition to her +one way for destroyers, will soon have a way +for battleships. Charleston will have five +ways for destroyers. The navy-yard at Puget +Sound will soon have a way for one battleship.</p> + +<p>The building plans include not only the construction +of ways, but also machine, electrical, +structural, forge, and pattern shops in addition +to foundries, storehouses, railroad-tracks, +and power-plants. This increase in building +capacity will enable the government through +enhanced repair facilities to handle all repair +and building work for the fleet as well as such +for the new merchant marine. Three naval +docks which will be capable of handling the +largest ships in the world are approaching +completion while private companies are building +similar docks under encouragement of the +government in the shape of annual guarantees +of dockage.</p> + +<p>An idea of what has been accomplished with +respect to ship-building is gained through the +statement of Secretary Daniels, June 2, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +his department had established a new world's +record for rapid ship construction by the launching +of the torpedo-boat destroyer <i>Ward</i>, at +the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, seventeen +and a half days after the keel was laid. +The previous record was established shortly +before that date at Camden, New Jersey, where +the freighter <i>Tuckahoe</i> was launched +twenty-seven days and three hours after the laying +of the keel.</p> + +<p>In 1898, twenty years ago, the first sixteen +destroyers were authorized for the United States +Navy. These were less than half the size of +our present destroyers, and yet their average +time from the laying of the keels to launching +was almost exactly two years. During the ten +years prior to our entrance into the present +war Congress authorized an average of five or +six destroyers a year. The records show that +in the construction of these the average time +on the ways was almost exactly eleven months, +the total time of construction being about two +years.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<a name="illus-portraits" id="illus-portraits"></a> +<a href="images/portraits.png"> +<img src="images/portraits-th.png" width="300" height="393" alt="Portraits" title=""/></a> +<span class="caption">Rear-Admiral Leigh C. Palmer, Vice-Admiral William S. Sims, +Josephus Daniels, Secretary Of The Navy, Admiral Henry T. Mayo, +Admiral William S. Benson, Rear-Admiral Albert Gleaves.</span></div> + +<p>The average time on the ways of the numerous +destroyers launched in 1917-18, is but little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +over five months, this being somewhat less +than half the average time under peace +conditions. As many as 400 men were employed in +work on the <i>Ward</i>, and in preparing to establish +the record as much structural work as possible +was prepared in advance, ready for erection +and assembling before the keel was laid. +While this achievement will no doubt remain +unmatched for some time, it will none the less +stand significant as marking a condition that +is general in naval construction throughout +the country, this applying to battleships and +other craft as well as to destroyers.</p> + +<p>In short, under the constructive leadership +of Josephus Daniels, the navy is doing its enormous +bit in a convincing manner. It took the +personnel of the navy—that is, the commissioned +personnel—a long time to discover the real +character and personality of Mr. Daniels. It +is not too much to say that many of them were +hostile to his administration. But the war +proved him for what he was. With administrative +capacity of his own, sound judgment, +and a clear brain, he was big enough to know +that there were many things that had better<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +be left to the highly trained technicians under +his command.</p> + +<p>And so in large measure he delegated many +actual tasks of administration to the most +competent officers in the navy, officers selected +for special tasks without fear or favor. Mr. +Daniels will receive, as he is now receiving, +credit for their work; but he in turn is earnest +in his desire so to speak and act, that this credit +will be duly and properly shared by those entitled +thereto. He has disregarded seniority +and other departmental, not to say political +factors, in choosing the right men to head the +various bureaus of the Navy Department and +the various units of the fleet.</p> + +<p>He has favored the young officer, and to-day +it is not too much to say that youth holds the +power in the navy; but, on the other hand, he +has been quick to recognize and to employ in +high places the qualities that reside in officers +who with years of experience, combine enduring +zest and broad points of view,</p> + +<p>In all, Secretary Daniels exemplifies the spirit +of the American Navy—and the spirit of our +navy is altogether consonant with our national<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +tradition—to get into the fight and keep fighting. +He has been the sponsor for a naval increase +which sees our active roster increased +from 56,000 men in April, 1917, to more than +400,000 at the present time, and our fighting +ships increased, as already pointed out, fourfold.</p> + +<p>And while our vessels and our fighting men +are playing their part on the high seas the counsel +of our trained technical experts is eagerly +sought and constantly employed by the admiralties +of the Allied nations. When the naval +history of this war is given to the world in freest +detail we shall know just how much our officers +have had to do with the strategy of operations +adopted by all the Entente navies. It is not +violating either ethics or confidence, however, +to say that our influence in this respect has +been very potent and that the names of Admiral +William S. Benson, chief of operations, +Vice-Admiral William S. Sims, Admiral Henry +T. Mayo, and Rear-Admiral Albert Gleaves +are already names that are to be reckoned with +abroad as at home.</p> + +<p>As for incidents reflecting gloriously upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +the morale of our officers and men, the navy +has already its growing share. There is the +destroyer <i>Cassin</i> struck by a torpedo and +seriously crippled, but refusing to return to port +as long as there appeared to be a chance of +engaging the submarine that had attacked her. +There is Lieutenant Clarence C. Thomas, commander +of the gun crew on the oil-ship <i>Vacuum</i>. +When the ship was sunk he cheered his freezing +men tossing on an icy sea in an open boat far +from land, until he at length perished, his last +words those of encouragement. There is Lieutenant +S.F. Kalk, who swam from raft to raft +encouraging and directing the survivors of the +destroyer <i>Jacob Jones</i> after a torpedo had sent +that vessel to the bottom. There are those +two gunners on the transport <i>Antilles</i> who stood +serving their gun until the ship sank and carried +them down. There is the freighter <i>Silver-Shell</i> +whose gun crew fought and sank the submarine +that attacked the ship, and the gun crews of +the <i>Moreni</i>, the <i>Campana</i>, and the +<i>J.L. Luckenback</i>—indomitable +heroes all. There is Osmond +Kelly Ingram, who saved the <i>Cassin</i> and lost +his life. There is the glorious page contributed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +to our naval annals, by the officers and crew +of the <i>San Diego</i>. History indeed is in the +making—history that Americans are proud to +read.</p> + +<p>In all that has been written in this foreword +the design has been merely to sketch, to outline +some of the larger achievements of the +United States Navy in this war. In chapters +to come our navy's course from peace into war +will be followed as closely as the restrictions of +a wise censorship will permit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">First Experience of Our Navy with the German U-Boat—Arrival +of Captain Hans Rose and the U-53 at +Newport—Experiences of the German Sailors in +an American Port—Destruction of Merchantman +by U-53 off Nantucket—Our Destroyers to the +Rescue—Scenes in Newport—German Rejoicing—The +Navy Prepares for War</p> + + +<p>How many of us who love the sea and have +followed it to greater or less extent in the +way of business or pleasure have in the past +echoed those famous lines of Rudyard Kipling:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>"'Good-bye Romance!' the skipper said.</p> +<p>He vanished with the coal we burn."</p> +</div></div> + +<p>And how often since the setting in of the +grim years beginning with August of 1914 have +we had occasion to appreciate the fact that of +all the romance of the past ages the like to that +which has been spread upon the pages of history +in the past four years was never written +nor imagined. Week after week there has come +to us from out the veil of the maritime spaces +incidents dramatic, mysterious, romantic, tragic, +hideous.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>Great transatlantic greyhounds whose names +evoke so many memories of holiday jaunts +across the great ocean slip out of port and are +seen no more of men. Vessels arrive at the ports +of the seven seas with tales of wanton murder, +of hairbreadth escapes. Boat crews drift for +days at the mercy of the seas and are finally +rescued or perish man by man. The square-rigged +ship once more rears its towering masts +and yards above the funnels of merchant shipping; +schooners brave the deep seas which +never before dared leave the coastwise zones; +and the sands of the West Indies have been +robbed of abandoned hulks to the end that the +diminishing craft of the seas be replaced. And +with all there are stories of gallantry, of sea +rescues, of moving incidents wherein there is +nothing but good to tell of the human animal. +Would that it were all so. But it is not. The +ruthlessness of the German rears itself like a +sordid shadow against the background of Anglo-Saxon +and Latin gallantry and heroism—a diminishing +shadow, thank God, and thank, also, +the navy of Great Britain and of the United +States.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<p>For more than two years and a half of sea +tragedy the men of our navy played the part +of lookers-on. Closely following the sequence +of events with the interest of men of science, +there was a variety of opinion as to the +desirability of our playing a part in the epic +struggle on the salt water. There were officers +who considered that we were well out of it; +there were more who felt that our part in the +struggle which the Allied nations were waging +should be borne without delay. But whatever +existed in the way of opinion there was no lack +of unanimity in the minute study which our +commissioned officers gave to the problems in +naval warfare and related interests which were +constantly arising in European waters.</p> + +<p>It was not, however, until October of 1916 +that the American Navy came into very close +relationship with the submarine activities of +the German Admiralty. The morning of +October 7 of that year was one of those days +for which Newport is famous—a tangy breeze +sweeping over the gorse-clad cliffs and dunes +that mark the environment of Bateman's Point +the old yellow light-ship which keeps watch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +and ward over the Brenton reefs rising and +falling on a cobalt sea. From out of the +seaward mists there came shortly before ten +o'clock a low-lying craft which was instantly +picked out by the men of the light-ship as a +submarine, an American submarine. There is +a station for them in Newport Harbor, and +submersible boats of our navy are to be found +there at all times.</p> + +<p>But as the men watched they picked up on +the staff at the stern of the incoming craft the +Royal German ensign. A German submarine! +Be assured that enough interest in German +craft of the sort had been aroused in the two +years and eight months of war to insure the +visitor that welcome which is born of intense +interest. The submarine, the U-53, held over +toward Beaver Tail and then swung into the +narrow harbor entrance, finally coming to +anchor off Goat Island. The commander, Captain +Hans Rose, went ashore in a skiff and paid +an official visit first to Rear-Admiral Austin +M. Knight, commander of the Newport Naval +District, and then to Rear-Admiral Albert +Gleaves, chief of our destroyer flotilla.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>Subsequent testimony of that German commander +was that the American naval officers +appeared somewhat embarrassed at the visit, +suggesting men who were confronted by a situation +which they were not certain how to handle. +The statement of the German officer had a +humorous sound and may have been humorously +intended. In any event. Admiral Knight and +Admiral Gleaves were very polite, and in due +course paid the Germans the courtesy of a +return visit, And while the submarine lay in +the harbor the crew came ashore and were +treated to beer by the American sailors, while +crowds of curious were admitted aboard the +submersible and shown about with the most +open courtesy.</p> + +<p>Captain Rose said he had come to deliver +a letter to Count von Bernstorff, the German +Ambassador, but such a mission seemed so +trivial that rumor as to the real intentions of +the craft was rife throughout the entire country. +There were suspicions that she had put +in for fuel, or ammunition, or supplies. But +nothing to justify these thoughts occurred. The +U-53 hung around through the daylight hours,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +and at sunset, with a farewell salute, put to sea.</p> + +<p>Did our naval officers think this was the last +of her? Possibly, but probably not. They +knew enough of the Germans to realize, or to +suspect, that their minds held little thought +those days of social amenities and that such +calls as were made upon neutrals contained +motives which, while hidden, were none the less +definite.</p> + +<p>The night brought forth nothing, however, +and the Navy Department was beginning to +feel that perhaps after all the U-53 was well +on her way to Germany, when early the following +morning there came to the radio-station +at Newport an indignant message from Captain +Smith of the Hawaiian-American liner +<i>Kansan</i>. He asked to know why he had been +stopped and questioned by a German submarine +which had halted him in the vicinity of the +Nantucket light-ship at 5.30 o'clock that morning. +He added that after he had convinced the +submarine commander as to the nationality of +his ship, he was permitted to proceed.</p> + +<p>This looked like business, and Newport became +certain of this when shortly after noon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +came a radio containing advices as to the sinking +of the steamship <i>West Point</i> off Nantucket. +Then at intervals up to midnight came other +messages telling of the sinking of other vessels +until the victims of the undersea craft numbered +four British, a Dutch, and a Scandinavian +vessel, one of them, the Halifax liner <i>Stephana</i>, +a passenger-vessel, with Americans on board. +Reports of vessels torpedoed, of open boats +containing survivors afloat on the sea, followed +one another swiftly until not only Newport +but the entire country was aroused.</p> + +<p>Admiral Knight and Admiral Gleaves, who +had been keeping the Navy Department at +Washington in touch with every phase of the +situation, beginning with the arrival of the U-53 +the preceding day, lost no time in sending +destroyers forth to the rescue, while already +there was the cheering word that the destroyer +<i>Batch</i> was on the scene and engaged in rescue +work.</p> + +<p>The departure of the destroyers was a spectacle +that brought thousands of men, women, +and children of Newport to the points of vantage +along the shore or to small craft of all sorts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +in which they kept as close to the destroyers, +preparing for their seaward flight, as they could. +It was Sunday, a day when crowds were at +leisure, but it was also a day when many of +the officers and crew of the flotilla were on +shore-leave. They were summoned from all points, +however, and within a short time after the first +call for help had been received the <i>Jarvis</i>, with +Lieutenant L. P. Davis in command, was speeding +to sea at the rate ordered by Admiral +Gleaves, thirty-one knots an hour.</p> + +<p>Inside half an hour the other destroyers shot +out to sea at the same speed as the <i>Jarvis</i> while +the spectators cheered them, and such as were +in small boats followed until the speeding craft +had disappeared. There was the <i>Drayton</i>—Lieutenant +Bagley, who later was to know the +venom of the German submarine—the <i>Ericson</i>, +Lieutenant-Commander W. S. Miller; the +<i>O'Brien</i>, Lieutenant-Commander C. E. Courtney; +the <i>Benham</i>, Lieutenant-Commander J. B. Gay; +the <i>Cassin</i>, Lieutenant-Commander +Vernon; the <i>McCall</i>, Lieutenant Stewart; the +<i>Porter</i>, Lieutenant-Commander W. K. Wortman; +the <i>Fanning</i>, Lieutenant Austin; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +<i>Paulding</i>, Lieutenant Douglas Howard; the +<i>Winslow</i>, Lieutenant-Commander Nichols; the +<i>Alwyn</i>, Lieutenant-Commander John C. Fremont; +the <i>Cushing</i>, Lieutenant Kettinger; the +<i>Cummings</i>, Lieutenant-Commander G. F. Neal; +the <i>Conyngham</i>, Lieutenant-Commander A. W. +Johnson, and the-mother ship, <i>Melville</i>, Commander +H. B. Price.</p> + +<p>Soon after the destroyers had passed into +the Atlantic there came a wireless message +saying that twenty of the crew of the British +steamship <i>Strathdean</i> had been taken on board +the Nantucket light-ship. Admiral Gleaves +directed the movement of his destroyers from +the radio-room on the flag-ship. He figured +that the run was about a hundred miles. There +was a heavy sea running and a strong southwest +wind. There was a mist on the ocean. +It was explained by the naval authorities that +the destroyers were sent out purely on a mission +of rescue, and nothing was said as to any +instructions regarding the enforcement of +international law. None the less it was assumed, +and may now be assumed, that something was +said to the destroyer commanders with regard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +to the three-mile limit. But as to that we know +no more to-day than at the time.</p> + +<p>Suffice to say that the destroyers arrived in +time not only to wander about the ocean seeking +survivors in the light of a beautiful hunter's +moon, but in time to witness the torpedoing +of at least two merchantmen; the submarine +commander, it is said, advising our war-ship +commanders to move to certain locations so +as not to be hit by his shells and torpedoes.</p> + +<p>Eventually the destroyer flotilla returned +with their loads of survivors and with complete +details of the operations of the U-53 and, +according to belief, of another submarine not +designated. It appeared that the Germans +were scrupulous in observing our neutrality, +that their operations were conducted without +the three-mile limit, and that opportunities +were given crews and passengers to leave the +doomed ships. There was nothing our destroyer +commanders could do. Even the most +hot-headed commander must have felt the +steel withes of neutral obligation which held +him inactive while the submarine plied its deadly +work. There was, of course, nothing else to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +do—except to carry on the humanitarian work +of rescuing victims of the U boat or boats, as +the case might have been.</p> + +<p>Later, it was given to many of the craft which +set forth that October afternoon to engage in +their service to humanity, to cross the seas +and to meet the submarine where it lurked in +the Irish Sea, the North Sea, the English +Channel, and the Mediterranean. One of them, +the <i>Cassin</i> was later to be struck—but not +sunk—by a torpedo off the coast of England, +while the <i>Fanning</i>, in company with the <i>Nicholson</i>, +had full opportunity of paying off the score +which most naval officers felt had been incurred +when the U-53 and her alleged companion invaded +American waters and sullied them with +the foul deeds that had so long stained the clean +seas of Europe.</p> + +<p>German diplomats were enthusiastic over +the exploits of their craft. "The U-53 and +other German submarines, if there are others," +said a member of the German Embassy at Washington, +"is engaged in doing to the commerce +of the Allies just what the British tried to do to +the <i>Deutschland</i> when she left America. (The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +submarine <i>Deutschland</i>, engaged in commercial +enterprise, had visited the United States some +time previously.) It is a plain case of what is +sometimes known as commerce-raiding. It is +being done by submarines, that is all. Warfare, +such as that which has been conducted +in the Mediterranean, has been brought across +the Atlantic. It should be easy to destroy more +of the overseas commerce of the Allies, which +is principally with America, near where it +originates."</p> + +<p>Here was a veiled threat—not so veiled +either—which was no doubt marked in Washington. +President Wilson received the news of the sinkings +in silence, but plainly government authorities +were worried over the situation. New +problems were erected and the future was filled +with possibilities of a multifarious nature.</p> + +<p>Thus, within twenty-four hours it was +demonstrated that the war was not 3,000 miles +away from us, but close to our shores. The +implied threat that it would be a simple matter +for submarines to cross the Atlantic and deal +with us as they were dealing with France and +England and other Entente nations—not to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +say harmless neutrals such as Holland and +Scandinavia—was not lost upon the citizens of +this country. But, as usual, German judgment +in the matter of psychology was astray. The +threat had no effect in the way of <i>Schrecklichkeit</i>, +but rather it steeled us to a future which +began to appear inevitable. And deep under +the surface affairs began to move in the Navy +Department.</p> + +<p>No doubt, too, the conviction began to grow +upon the government that the policy of dealing +fairly by Germany was not appreciated, +and that when the exigencies of the war situation +seemed to require it, our ships would be +sent to the bottom as cheerfully as those of +other neutrals such as Holland, Norway, and +Sweden, as well as other countries who unfortunately +were not in the position to guard their +neutrality with some show of dignity that we +were in.</p> + +<p>Subsequent events proved how true this +feeling was. For not six months later the German +policy of sea aggression had brought us to +the point where it was not possible for us to +remain out of the conflict against the pirate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +nation. It was in the following April that we +went to war, and our first act was to send forth +a destroyer flotilla to engage the U-boat in its +hunting-ground, Among that flotilla, as said, +were many of the craft which had rescued +survivors of the Nantucket affair. They were +ready and their officers were ready, nay, eager. +They swept across a stormy Atlantic like unleashed +hounds, and when the British commander +received them at Queenstown, and +asked the American commanders when they +would be ready to take their places with the +British destroyers, the answer came quickly:</p> + +<p>"We are ready now."</p> + +<p>And they were—allowing for the cleaning of +a few hulls and the effecting of minor repairs +to one or two of the vessels. Other destroyers +remained here, of course, while a fringe of +submarine-chasers and swift, armed yachts +converted into government patrol-vessels were +guarding our coast the day after the President +signed the war resolution. But more than a +year and a half was to elapse before our waters +were again to know the submarine menace. +Just why the Germans waited may not be known.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +Probably they had all they could attend to in +foreign waters. In any event it was not until +June, 1918, that a coastwise schooner captain +was both surprised and indignant when a shot +from a craft which he took to be an American +submarine went across his bows. It was not +an American submarine; it was a German submersible +and that schooner was sent to the +bottom, followed by other wind-jammers and +the Porto Rico liner <i>Carolina</i>.</p> + +<p>Thus, what in the original instance was a +test journey in the interests of German submarine +activity—the visit of the U-53 in October, +1916—as well as a threat to this country +bore its fruit in the development of that test +trip, and in the fulfilment of that threat. At +this writing the coastwise marauder, or marauders, +are still off our shores, and clouds of +navy craft are seeking to destroy them. We +are far better equipped for such service than +we were when Captain Hans Rose came here +in his submarine, and it is divulging no secret +information to say that this and further invasions +of our home waters will be dealt with +bravely and rigorously without the necessity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +of subtracting from the number of war-vessels +that are engaged with Allied fighters in maintaining +commerce upon the waters of Europe.</p> + +<p>But this is getting a bit further ahead than +I intended to go at this juncture. The primary +point is that with the visit of Captain Hans Rose +in his undersea boat, with her depredations off +our coast, the Navy Department, saying nothing +to outsiders, came to accept the idea of war +as something more than a possible contingency.</p> + +<p>Debates in Congress were characterized by +an increasing pointedness, and stories of sea +murders increased rather than diminished. And +not infrequently there were Americans on board +those ships. At length came the sinking of +American merchantmen and the final decision +by our government to place armed guards on +all merchant vessels carrying our flag. It was +then that the Navy Department was called +upon to take the first open steps against the +German sea menace—steps rife with grim possibilities, +since it operated to bring our seamen +gunners into actual conflict with the German +naval forces. There could be little doubt, therefore, +that war would follow in inevitable course.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">Our Navy Arms American Merchant Vessels—Death +of our First Bluejacket on Service in the War +Zone—Vice-Admiral Sims—We Take Over Patrol of +Waters of Western Hemisphere—The Naval Advisory +Board of Inventions—Work of this Body—Our +Battleships the Largest in the World—Widespread Operations</p> + + +<p>Announcement was made on March +12, 1917, that American merchantmen +would be armed for protection against submarine +attacks, and hundreds of guns of proper +calibers were required for the purpose. These +were taken from the vessels of the fleet and, +of course, had to be replaced as soon as possible. +Work was expeditiously carried forward, and +hardly had the order for armed guards been +issued than the American freighter <i>Campana</i> +was sent to Europe well-laden with cargo and +prepared to make matters interesting for any +submarine that saw fit to attack by the then +prevailing method of shell-fire. Other vessels +soon followed, and the country witnessed the +anomalous condition of the navy in war service<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +in the European war zone before war was declared.</p> + +<p>The navy, in fact, had its first death in service +before we went to war, when on April 1, +John Espolucci, of Washington, D.C., one of +the armed guard of the steamship <i>Aztec</i>, was +killed in the course of events attending the +destruction of that vessel by a submarine. By +this time active hostilities had seemed inevitable +and before the sinking of the <i>Aztec</i> the Navy +Department had sent Admiral William S. Sims +abroad to get in touch with the British and +French Admiralties for the purpose of discussing +the most effective participation of our +war-ships in the conflict. Later, when war +was actually declared, Sims was promoted to +vice-admiral, and made commander of the +United States naval forces operating in European +waters.</p> + +<p>No better man for this post could have been +selected. A graduate of the Naval Academy +in the class of 1880, his career in the navy had +been one sequence of brilliant achievement. +As naval attaché at Paris and Petrograd, in +the course of his distinguished service he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +ample opportunities for the study of European +naval conditions, and later he was intrusted +with the important duty of developing gunnery +practice and marksmanship in our battle-fleet. +The immense value of his work in this +respect is an open book. His instincts were +wholly scientific, and with neither fear nor +favor he carried forward our record for marksmanship +until it was second to that of no navy +in the world. The one mark upon his record +is an indiscreet speech made in London, before +the European War occurred, in which he +stated that blood was thicker than water, and +that at the necessary moment the navies of +the United States and of Great Britain would +be found joined in brotherly co-operation. England +liked that speech a lot, but Germany did +not, and Washington was rather embarrassed. +Beginning, however, with April of 1917, that +speech delivered several years previously was +recalled as perfectly proper, pat, and apropos. +There can be no doubt that his constructive +advice, suggestion, and criticism were of enormous +benefit to the British and the French, +and by the same token exceedingly harmful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +to the murderous submarine campaign of Germany, +As evidence of the regard in which the +admiralty of Great Britain held this American +officer, witness the fact that upon one occasion +when the British commander-in-chief of naval +operations on the Irish coast was compelled +to leave his command for a period, Admiral +Sims was nominated by the admiralty to serve +as chief of the combined forces until the British +commander returned.</p> + +<p>But this mission of Admiral Sims, and the +eventual despatch of submarine flotillas to the +war zone, were but two phases of the enormous +problem which confronted the Navy Department +upon the outbreak of hostilities. There +was first of all the task of organizing and operating +the large transport system required to carry +our share of troops overseas for foreign service. +Within a month after the President had announced +that troops would be sent to Europe +the first contingent had been organized, and all +its units were safely landed in France before the +4th of July. These included a force of marines +under Colonel (now Brigadier-General) Charles +A. Doyen, which is serving in the army under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +Major-General Pershing. Since that time a +constant stream of troops and supplies has +poured across the Atlantic under naval control +and supervision, the presiding officer in +charge of transport being Rear-Admiral Albert +Gleaves.</p> + +<p>Then, again, the United States took over +control of most of the patrol of the western +Atlantic. Our thousands of miles of coast had +to be guarded against enemy attack and protected +against German raiders. A squadron +under command of Admiral William B. Caperton +was sent to South America and received +with the utmost enthusiasm at Rio de Janeiro, +at Montevideo and Buenos Aires, which cities +were visited on invitation from the governments +of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. After +Brazil's entrance into the war the Brazilian +Navy co-operated with our vessels in the patrol +of South American waters.</p> + +<p>The taking over of some 800 craft of various +kinds, and their conversion into types needed, +provided the navy with the large number of +vessels required for transports, patrol service, +submarine-chasers, mine-sweepers, mine-layers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +tugs, and other auxiliaries. The repair of the +109 German ships whose machinery had been +damaged by their crews—details of which will +be treated in a subsequent chapter—added +more than 700,000 tons to our available naval +and merchant tonnage, and provided for the +navy a number of huge transports which have +been in service for nearly a year. Hundreds +of submarine-chasers have now been built, and +a number of destroyers and other craft completed +and placed in service. The first merchant +ship to be armed was the oil-tanker <i>Campana</i>; +guns manned by navy men were on board when +she sailed for Europe, March 12, 1917. The +big American passenger-liners <i>St. Paul</i> and +<i>New York</i> were armed on March 16 of that +year, and the Red Star liner <i>Kroonland</i> and +the <i>Mongolia</i> on March 19. And continuously +up to the present writing merchant ships as +they have become available have been armed +and provided with navy gun crews. Since the +arming of the <i>Campana</i> more than 1,300 vessels +have been furnished with batteries, ammunition, +spare parts, and auxiliaries.</p> + +<p>But of equal importance, greater importance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +history may decree it, was Secretary Daniels's +action in 1915 of appointing the Naval Advisory +Board of Inventions. That was looking +ahead with a vengeance. The idea was to make +available the latent inventive genius of the +country to improve the navy. The plan adopted +by Secretary Daniels for selecting this extraordinary +board included a request to the eleven +great engineering and scientific societies of the +country to select by popular election two +members to represent their society on the board. +Results were immediately gratifying. Nominations +were forthcoming at once, and in September +of 1915 the board, which came popularly to be +known as the Inventions Board, met in Washington +for organization. Thomas A. Edison +was selected by the Secretary of the Navy as +chairman of the board, and the other members +were elected as follows:</p> + +<p>From the American Chemical Society: W. R. +Whitney, director of Research Laboratory, General +Electric Company, where he has been the +moving spirit in the perfection of metallic +electric-lamp filaments and the development of +wrought tungsten. L. H. Baekeland, founder<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +of the Nepera Chemical Company and inventor +of photographic paper.</p> + +<p>From the American Institute of Electrical +Engineers: Frank Julian Sprague, consulting +engineer for Sprague, Otis, and General Electric +Companies and concerned in the establishment +of the first electrical trolley systems in this +country. B. G. Lamme, chief engineer of the +Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company +and a prolific inventor.</p> + +<p>From the American Mathematical Society: +Robert Simpson Woodward, president of the +Carnegie Institution and an authority on +astronomy, geography, and mathematical physics. +Arthur Gordon Webster, professor of physics at +Clark University and an authority on sound, +its production and measurement.</p> + +<p>From the American Society of Civil Engineers: +Andrew Murray Hunt, consulting engineer, +experienced in the development of hydro-electric, +steam, and gas plants. Alfred Craven, +chief engineer of Public Service Commission, +New York, and formerly division engineer in +charge of construction work on Croton aqueduct +and reservoirs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + +<p>From the American Aeronautical Society: +Mathew Bacon Sellers, director of Technical +Board of the American Aeronautical Society +and the first to determine dynamic wind-pressure +on arched surfaces by means of "wind +funnel." Hudson Maxim, ordnance and explosive +expert, maker of the first smokeless +powder adopted by the United States Government.</p> + +<p>The Inventors' Guild: Peter Cooper Hewitt, +inventor of electric lamp, appliances to enable +direct-current apparatus to be used with +alternating-current circuits, and devices for +telephones and aircraft. Thomas Robbins, +president of Robbins Conveying Belt Company and +inventor of many devices for conveying coal +and ore.</p> + +<p>From American Society of Automobile Engineers: +Andrew L. Riker, vice-president of +Locomobile Company, electrical and mechanical +engineer and inventor of many automobile +devices. Howard E. Coffin, vice-president of +Hudson Motor Car Company and active in +the development of internal-combustion engines.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>From the American Institute of Mining Engineers: +William Laurence Saunders, chairman +of the Board of Directors of the Ingersoll-Rand +Company and inventor of many devices for +subaqueous and rock drilling. Benjamin Bowditch +Thayer, president of the Anaconda Copper +Mining Company and an authority on explosives.</p> + +<p>From the American Electro Chemical Society: +Joseph William Richards, professor of +Electro-Chemistry at Lehigh and author of +numerous works on electrometallurgy. Lawrence +Addicks, consulting engineer for Phelps, +Dodge and Company and authority on the +metallurgy of copper.</p> + +<p>American Society of Mechanical Engineers: +William Leroy Emmet, engineer with the General +Electric Company. He designed and perfected +the development of the Curtis Turbine +and was the first serious promoter of electric +propulsion for ships. Spencer Miller, inventor +of ship-coaling apparatus and the breeches-buoy +device used in rescues from shipwrecks.</p> + +<p>From the American Society of Aeronautic +Engineers: Henry Alexander Wise Wood, engineer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +and manufacturer of printing-machinery +and student of naval aeronautics. Elmer Ambrose +Sperry, founder of Sperry Electric Company, +designer of electric appliances and gyroscope +stabilizer for ships and airplanes.</p> + +<p>Just what service this board has performed +is in the keeping of the government. But that +it has been a distinguished service we may not +doubt. Seated in their headquarters at Washington, +their minds centred upon the various +problems of the sea which the war brought +forth, they have unquestionably exerted a constructive +influence no less vital than that played +by the officers and men of the navy on the fighting +front. Only one announcement ever came +from this board, and that was when William +L. Saunders gave forth the statement that a +means of combating the submarine had been +devised. This early in the war. Doubt as to +the strict accuracy of the statement came from +other members of the Inventions Board, and +then the whole matter was hushed. Mr. Saunders +said nothing more and neither did his colleagues.</p> + +<p>But whether emanating from the lucubrations<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +of Mr. Edison's board, or wherever +devised, we know that the American Navy has +applied many inventions to the work of combating +the under-sea pirate. A type of depth-bomb +was developed and applied. This is one +of the most efficient methods of beating the +submarine that has yet been found. Explosive +charges are fitted with a mechanism designed +to explode the charge at a predetermined depth +below the surface of the sea. The force of the +explosion of a depth charge dropped close to +a submarine is sufficient to disable if not sink +it, and American boats have been fitted with +various interesting means of getting these +bombs into the water.</p> + +<p>Smoke-producing apparatus was developed +to enable a vessel to conceal herself behind a +smoke-screen when attacked by submarines +and thus escape. Several types of screen have +been invented and applied in accordance with +the character of the vessel. After a study of +the various types of mines in existence, there +was produced an American mine believed to +involve all the excellent points of mines of whatever +nationality, while another extraordinary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +invention was the non-ricochet projectile. The +ordinary pointed projectile striking the water +almost horizontally is deflected and ricochets. +A special type of shell which did not glance off +the surface of the ocean was developed early +in 1917 and supplied to all vessels sailing in +the war zone.</p> + +<p>The first year of the war saw also the +development of the seaplane, with the adaption +to this vehicle of the air a nonrecoil gun, which +permits the use of comparatively large calibers, +and of the Lewis gun. This year saw also the +completion of the latest type of naval 16-inch +gun, throwing a projectile weighing 2,100 +pounds. Our newest battleships will mount +them. In this connection it is interesting to note +that broadside weights have tripled in the short +space of twenty years; that the total weight of +steel thrown by a single broadside of the +<i>Pennsylvania</i> to-day is 17,508 pounds, while +the total weight thrown from the broadside +of the <i>Oregon</i> of Spanish-American War fame +was 5,600 pounds.</p> + +<p>The navy also went in vigorously for aviation +and has done exceedingly well. After the expansion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +of private plants had been provided +for, the navy decided to operate a factory of its +own, and a great building 400 by 400 feet was +erected in Philadelphia in 110 days at a cost +of $700,000. Contracts involving approximately +$1,600,000 have been made which will more +than treble the capacity of this plant.</p> + +<p>In addition to work of this sort and services +including scores of specialized activities, such +as medical development, ordnance and munitions +manufacture, building of yards, docks, +and all sorts of accessory facilities, the navy +before the war had been a month under way +had given contracts for the construction of +several hundred submarine-chasers, having a +length of 110 feet and driven by three 220-horse-power +gasoline-engines, to thirty-one private +firms and six navy-yards. All of these +craft are now in service, and have done +splendidly both in meeting stormy seas and +in running down the submarines. While the +British prefer a smaller type of submarine-chaser, +they have no criticism of ours. Many +of these 110-footers, built of wood, crossed the +ocean in weather which did considerable damage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +to larger craft, and yet were practically +unscathed. The French are using many of +them.</p> + +<p>Another larger type of chaser, corresponding +to the destroyer, is the patrol-boat of the <i>Eagle</i> +class built at the plant of Henry Ford in Detroit.</p> + +<p>The most recent battleships laid down by +the navy are the largest ever attempted. The +biggest British battleship of which we have +knowledge displaces 27,500 tons; the largest +German, 28,448 metric tons (28,000 American +tons), while the largest Japanese battleship +displaces 30,600 tons. These may be compared +with our <i>Arizona</i> and <i>Pennsylvania</i>, 31,400 tons; +<i>Idaho</i>, <i>Mississippi</i>, and <i>New Mexico</i>, 32,000 +tons; <i>California</i> and <i>Tennessee</i> 32,300 tons, <i>Colorado</i>, +<i>Washington</i>, <i>Maryland</i>, and <i>West Virginia</i>, +32,600 tons, while six new battleships authorized +early in the present year are designed to be +41,500 tons. Our new battle-cruisers of 35,000 +tons and 35 knots speed will be the swiftest in +the world, having a speed equal to the latest +and fastest destroyers. They will also be the +largest in the world with the exception of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +four British battle-cruisers of the <i>Hood</i> class, +which are 41,200 tons.</p> + +<p>On April 1, 1917, the total number of civilian +employees in the nine principal navy-yards was +29,708. On March 1, 1918, the total number +of employees in the same yards was 58,026. +The total number of mechanics now employed +at all navy yards and stations throughout the +country is more than 66,000.</p> + +<p>The Navy Powder Factory at Indianapolis, +Ind., manufactures powder of the highest grade +for use in the big guns; it employs 1,000 men +and covers a square mile. Additional buildings +and machinery, together with a new generating-plant, +are now being installed. The +torpedo-station at Newport, a large plant where +torpedoes are manufactured, has been greatly +enlarged and its facilities in the way of production +radically increased. Numerous ammunition-plants +throughout the country prepare the +powder charge, load and fuse the shell, handle +high explosives, and ship the ammunition to +vessels in the naval service. Among recent additions +to facilities is an automatic mine-loading +plant of great capacity and new design.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>Schools of various sorts, ranging from those +devoted to the teaching of wireless telegraphy +to cooking, were established in various parts +of the country, and from them a constant grist +of highly specialized men are being sent to the +ships and to stations.</p> + +<p>In these, and in numerous ways not here +mentioned, the Navy Department signalized its +entrance into the war. While many new fields +had to be entered—with sequential results in +way of mistakes and delays—there were more +fields, all important, wherein constructive +preparation before we entered the war were +revealed when the time came to look for practical +results.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">First Hostile Contact Between the Navy and the +Germans—Armed Guards on Merchant Vessels—"Campana" +First to Sail—Daniels Refuses Offer of +Money Awards to Men Who Sink Submarines—"Mongolia" +Shows Germany How the Yankee Sailorman +Bites—Fight of the "Silvershell"—Heroism of +Gunners on Merchant Ships—Sinking of the +"Antilles"—Experiences of Voyagers</p> + + +<p>In the way of direct hostile contact between +the Navy Department and Germany we +find the first steps taken in the placing of armed +naval-guards on American merchantmen. While +this was authorized by the government before +war was declared, it was recognized as a step +that would almost inevitably lead to our taking +our part in the European conflict and the nation, +as a consequence, prepared its mind for +such an outcome of our new sea policy. Germany +had announced her policy of unrestricted +submarine warfare in February, 1917, and on +February 10 of that month two American +steamships, the <i>Orleans</i> and the <i>Rochester</i>, left<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +port for France in defiance of the German warning. +Both vessels were unarmed and both arrived +safely on the other side—the <i>Rochester</i> +was subsequently sunk—but their sailing without +any means of defense against attack aroused +the nation and spurred Congress to action.</p> + +<p>On March 12 the first armed American merchantman, +the <i>Campana</i>, left port with a gun +mounted astern, and a crew of qualified naval +marksmen to man it. In the following October +Secretary Daniels announced that his department +had found guns and crews for every one +of our merchant vessels designated for armament +and that the guards consisted of from sixteen +to thirty-two men under command of commissioned +or chief petty officers of the navy. +When the work of finding guns for vessels was +begun the navy had few pieces that were available. +While there were many fine gunners in +the naval force, there were not a sufficient number +of them to enable the quick arming of merchantmen +without handicapping the war-ships.</p> + +<p>So every battleship in the navy was converted +into a school of fire to train men for the +duty, and the naval ordnance plants entered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +upon the work of turning out guns qualified +for service on merchant craft. There were +guns in stock, as a matter of fact, but the number +was insufficient for the purpose in hand because, +before the submarine developed a new +sort of sea warfare, it was not the policy of the +nations to arm merchant vessels other than +those used as naval auxiliaries. But, as already +said, so expeditiously were affairs carried on +that some six months after the decision to equip +our freighters and passenger-liners with means +of protection we had the sailors and the guns +necessary to meet all demands.</p> + +<p>The following telegraphic correspondence, between +two St. Louis business men and the Secretary +of the Navy, gives a very fair idea of the +spirit in which the citizens of this country accepted +the decision of the government to arm +our merchant marine:</p> + +<p>"St. Louis, Mo., April 11, 1917.</p> + +<p><i>"Hon. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C.</i></p> + +<p>"We will pay $500 to the captain and crew +of the first American merchant ship to destroy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +a hostile submarine after this date. Money +will be paid on award by your office."</p> + +<p>"BENJAMIN GRATZ</p> + +<p>"ANDERSON GRATZ."</p> + +<p>To which Mr. Daniels replied as follows:</p> + +<p>"I thank you for the spirit which prompted +your offer. It is my distinct feeling that money +rewards for such bravery is not in keeping with +the spirit of our day."</p> + +<p>And neither it was. The American naval +men were intent upon duty and their duty was +merely to protect the dignity as well as the +safety of our sea-borne commerce. The mercenary +element was absent and that Mr. Daniels +did well to emphasize this fact was the conviction +of the navy as well as of the entire country; +while, at the same time, as the secretary +said, the spirit underlying the offer was appreciated.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the German Government—which +no doubt had not expected such drastic +action on the part of the United States—was +profoundly disturbed, and it was stated that +crews of American merchantmen who ventured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +to fire upon German submarines before +a state of war existed between the two countries +must expect to meet the fate of the British +merchant captain, Charles Fryatt, who +as will be recalled, was tried and executed in +Germany for attempting to ram the German +submarine 7-33 with his vessel, the Great Eastern +Railway steamship, <i>Brussels</i>, in July of +1916. This warning set forth in the <i>Neueste +Nachrichten</i>, of Munich, is so ingenious that +the reader interested in Teutonic psychology +will no doubt be interested in the perusal +thereof.</p> + +<p>"We assume," the newspaper said, "that +President Wilson realizes the fate to which he +is subjecting his artillerymen. According to +the German prize laws it is unneutral support +of the enemy if a neutral ship takes part in +hostilities. If such a ship opposes the prize-court +then it must be treated as an enemy ship. +The prize rules specify as to the crews of such +ships. If, without being attached to the forces +of the enemy, they take part in hostilities or +make forcible resistance, they may be treated +according to the usages of war. If President<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +Wilson, knowing these provisions of international +law, proceeds to arm American merchantmen +he must assume responsibility for +the eventuality that American seamen will +meet the fate of Captain Fryatt."</p> + +<p>All of which did not appear to frighten our +government one bit. We set ourselves to the +task of equipping our merchant craft with +seamen-gunners and guns, and it was not long—April +25, in fact—before an incident occurred +that brought forth a chuckle from Colonel +Roosevelt, a chuckle accompanied by the +historic remark: "Thank heaven! Americans +have at last begun to hit. We have been altogether +too long at the receiving end of this +war that Germany has been waging upon us."</p> + +<p>This ebullition was occasioned by the report +of the first real American blow of the war when, +late in April, 1917, the crack American freighter +<i>Mongolia</i> showed the German Navy that the +time had arrived when the long, strong arm of +Uncle Sam was reaching out a brawny fist over +the troubled waters of the Atlantic.</p> + +<p>The <i>Mongolia</i> had left an American port +after war had been declared, and she was guarded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +by a 6-inch gun, with a crew of seamen-gunners +under command of Lieutenant Bruce Ware. +Captain Emery Rice commanded the freighter, +and the voyage across the Atlantic had proceeded +without incident until the port of destination, +an English port, lay just twenty-four +hours away. In other words, the <i>Mongolia</i> was +in the war zone. The sea was untroubled, and +the gun crew gathered at their stations and +the lookouts on mast and deck were beginning +to believe that the trip would end as uneventfully +as it had begun. No doubt there was some +disappointment in this thought; for, strange as +it may seem, our armed freighters were rather +inclined to hunt out the submarines than to +dodge them. It has been the frequent testimony +that our armed guards are always spoiling +for fight, not seeking to avoid It.</p> + +<p>At all events, the freighter steamed through +the light mists of the April afternoon—it was +the anniversary of the battle of Lexington—and +Captain Rice, who had been five days in +his clothes, and Lieutenant Ware of the navy +and his nineteen men, serving the two 4-inch +forward guns and the 6-inch stern piece, casting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +their eyes over the vast stretch of water +when at 5.30 o'clock the gruff voice of the first +mate, who had been peering over the dodger +rail of the bridge rumbled over the vessel.</p> + +<p>"Submarine. Two points off the port bow."</p> + +<p>There it was, sure enough, a periscope at +least, practically dead ahead, her position with +relation to the <i>Mongolia</i> being such that the +vessel offered a narrow target, a target hardly +worth the wasting of a valuable torpedo. No, +the submarine was either waiting for a broadside +expanse or else was intent upon a gun-fight.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Ware and his seamen were ready. +In compliance to a sharply spoken order the +three guns were turned upon the periscope. +But quick as the gunners were, the submarine +was quicker, and as the guns were brought to +bear the periscope sank gently out of sight. +Captain Rice almost pulled the engine-room +signal telegraph-lever out by its roots in bringing +the ship to full speed toward the spot where +the periscope had last been seen, his idea of +course, being to ram the lurking craft.</p> + +<p>For two minutes nothing was seen and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +a shout from one of the lookouts heralded the +reappearance of the submersible, this time a +thousand yards to port, the <i>Mongolia</i> offering +to the Germans a fair broadside expanse of hull. +Lieutenant Ware's voice arose and the next +instant the 6-inch piece spoke. That periscope +went into splinters; a direct hit. Watchers +on the freighter saw the shell strike its mark +fairly. A great geyser arose from the sea, and +when it died there were evidences of commotion +beneath the surface. Then gradually foam +and oil spread upon the gentle waves.</p> + +<p>There was no doubt about the hit. Lieutenant +Ware knew before the shell struck that +the aim had been accurate. There was no guess-work +about it. It was a case of pure mathematics. +The whole affair was over in two minutes. +The vessel did not stop to reconnoitre, +but steamed away at full speed, sending ahead +wireless reports of the fight against the undersea +craft. The British naval officers who came +bounding across the waters on their destroyers +were extremely complimentary in their praise, +and when the <i>Mongolia</i> returned to New York +there was a dinner in honor of Lieutenant Ware,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +an expression of the lingering emotions which +had fired the nation when word of the incident +was cabled to this country. Since that fight +the Germans, enraged, seem to have marked +the <i>Mongolia</i>; for in succeeding months she +was set upon repeatedly by the submarine +flotilla, seeking revenge for her temerity in +sending one of their number to the bottom. +But she is still afloat and ready for anything +that comes out of the sea.</p> + +<p>None the less, the government began to feel +that it would be wiser not to mention the names +of ships engaged with submarines, and thus +when the next good fight occurred the name +of the vessel engaged was not given. Aside +from hoping thus to keep a vessel from being +marked it had been the experience of the British +Government that when Germans had identified +captured sailors as having belonged to +vessels that had sunk or damaged submarines +they subjected them to unusual severity. Our +navy wished to avoid this in the case of our +men.</p> + +<p>However, the name of the vessel which engaged +in a fight on May 30, was given out the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +day after the Washington report by the French +Ministry of Marine. It was the <i>Silvershell</i>, +commanded by Captain Tom Charlton with +a gun crew commanded by William J. Clark, +a warrant-officer from the battleship <i>Arkansas</i>. +The battle occurred on May 30, in the Mediterranean +and in addition to strength added by +an efficient gun crew, whose commander, Clark, +had been a turret captain on the <i>Arkansas</i>, the +<i>Silvershell</i> was an extremely fast ship. As a +consequence, when the submarine poked her +nose out of the Mediterranean blue, expecting +easy prey, she found confronting her a man's-size +battle. In all sixty shots were exchanged, +and the submarine not only beaten off, but +sunk with the twenty-first shot fired from the +<i>Silvershell</i>. It was a great fight, and Clark was +recommended for promotion.</p> + +<p>While the government jealously guarded details +of this and subsequent fights, the country +had adequate food for pride in such announcements +from the Navy Department as that of +July 26, when certain gun-crew officers were +cited for promotion and an outline of reasons +therefor set forth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was Andrew Copassaki, chief boatswain's +mate, for instance, who was transferred +from the battleship <i>Arkansas</i> to take charge of +the gun crew of the steamship <i>Moreni</i>. He +commanded this crew when the <i>Moreni</i> was +sunk by a German submarine on the morning +of June 12. This gun crew put up a fight on +the deck of that sinking vessel which was so +gallant as to elicit words of praise from the +commander of the attacking submarine. Copassaki, +when the ship was in flames, from shellfire, +rushed through the fire to the forward +gun and continued to serve it against the submarine +until the gun was put completely out +of commission. This gallant hero was born in +Greece, and had been in the navy twenty +years.</p> + +<p>Then there was Harry Waterhouse, a chief +turret captain, transferred from the dreadnought +<i>New York</i> to command the armed +crew of the <i>Petrolite</i> which was sunk by a U-boat +on June 10. The vessel sank so rapidly +after being torpedoed that the guns could not +be used. The navy men, however, under the +command of Waterhouse, assisted in getting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +out the boats and lowering them and getting +the crew to safety, to a man—although the +<i>Petrolite</i> went over on her beam ends in less +than a minute. No member of the armed guard +left the sinking vessel until ordered to do so +by Waterhouse. These are but a few of the +instances of signal gallantry which have filled +the records of our navy since we entered the +war.</p> + +<p>And while our merchant crews were thus at +work the navy was busy sending soldiers to +the other side. Not a mishap had occurred +on the eastbound traffic—and at this writing +none has yet occurred—but on October 17, the +transport <i>Antilles</i>, which had made several safe +journeys with soldiers destined for General +Pershing's expeditionary forces, was torpedoed +and sunk when homeward bound with a loss of +70 lives out of 237 men on board. The transport +was sunk while under the convoy of American +naval patrol-vessels, and she had on board +the usual armed gun crew.</p> + +<p>Not only was the <i>Antilles</i> the first American +Army transport to be lost in the present war, +but she was the first vessel under American<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +convoy to be successfully attacked. She was +well out to sea at the time and the convoy of +protecting vessels was smaller for this reason, +and for the fact that she was westbound, carrying +no troops. The submarine was never seen +and neither was the torpedo. There has been +rumor that the explosion that sank her came +from the inside, but so far as any one knows +this is merely port gossip of such nature as arises +when vessels are lost. Our second transport +to be lost was the <i>President Lincoln</i>, taken over +from the Germans when war was declared. +She, too, was eastbound, well out to sea, and +the loss of life was small. The third was the +<i>Covington</i>, formerly the German liner <i>Cincinnati</i>, +which was torpedoed in the early summer of +this year while on her way to an American port.</p> + +<p>Life on merchantmen, freighters, liners, and +the like, crossing the Atlantic, has been fraught +with peril and with excitement ever since we +went into the war. Even with armed guards +there are of course all sorts of chances of disaster, +chances frequently realized; but, on the +other hand, in a great majority of cases the vessels +of the transatlantic passenger service have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +crossed to and fro, giving their passengers all +the thrills of an exciting situation without subjecting +them to anything more serious.</p> + +<p>Let me quote in part a letter from a Princeton +man, Pleasants Pennington, who was a +passenger on the French transatlantic liner +<i>Rochambeau</i>, on one of its trips late in 1917.</p> + +<p>"What about the submarines? They haven't +put in an appearance yet. We haven't worried +about them because we only got into the war +zone last night; but I may have more to write +about before we get into Bordeaux on Wednesday +or Thursday. There are several people on +board—especially ladies of the idle rich—who +have been much concerned about the safety +of the ship and incidentally their own skins.... +The Frenchmen, the officers of the ship +and especially the captain (his name is Joam) +take a very philosophic view of the situation, +and shrug their shoulders with Gallic fatalism. +If they shall be torpedoed—<i>tant pis!</i> But why +worry?... I had a talk with our captain +the second day out, and he seemed to have +made a pretty thorough study of tactics for +avoiding submarines. He said they did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +go more than 800 miles from land, and that the +best protection is to go fast and keep one's eyes +open. The <i>Rochambeau</i> had two beautiful new +6-inch guns mounted on the stern and a 3-inch +gun in the bow.... As near as I can gather, +our tactics seem to be to keep a lookout ahead +and trust to getting a shot at any submarine +that shows its head before it can launch a torpedo. +I believe torpedoes are not accurate at +over a mile, and the speed of a submarine is +only nine knots while ours is nineteen.... I +think the most distinctive feature of war-time +travel is the fact that the boat must be perfectly +dark at night to an outside observer. +This rule is observed on the entire voyage, and +results in heavy iron shutters being bolted on +all port-holes and windows as soon as dusk falls +so that the entire atmosphere of the cabins, +smoking-room, reading-rooms, etc., becomes +very vile in a surprisingly short time after +dark.... We now sleep on deck and are very +comfortable. The deck is crowded at night +with people of different ages, sexes, and nationalities, +sleeping in the most charming confusion +and proximity."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + +<p>Well, the <i>Rochambeau</i> arrived without untoward +incident as she had done so often before +and has done since. Another letter is that +of a Yale senior, enlisted in the navy and one +of the crew of a transport. "We looked very +formidable as we steamed out of the harbor. +An armored cruiser led the way and on either +side a torpedo destroyer.... We proceed +very cautiously. After sunset all lights go out. +There is no smoking anywhere on board and +not a light even in the stateroom. Then if we +look out we see the other ships of the convoy—we +hug one another closely—just stumbling +through the water like phantom shapes—and +that's the weirdest sight I have ever seen.... +To-day we are having gun practice on board +the transport—trial shots for the subs and the +cruiser experimenting with balloon observers. +Such are our interests.... Last night I had +a wonderful experience. It was delightful—one +of those that tickle my masculine pride. +I was detailed in charge of a watch in the forward +crow's-nest—a basket-like affair on the +very top of the foremast about 150 feet from +the water.... From the nest you get a wonderful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +view—a real bird's-eye view—for the +men walking on the deck appear as pigmies, +and the boats following in our trail look like +dories. Our duty is to watch with powerful +glasses for any traces of periscopes, and we are +connected up with telephones to the gunners +who are always ready for the 'call' and eager +for action. This is only the first of the thrilling +experiences which I expect, or, rather, hope to +have." But that convoy arrived safely, too.</p> + +<p>The convoy, by the way, was largely an American +idea, a departure from the policy of protecting +a single vessel. A group of craft about +to cross, sometimes as many as a score or more, +are sent forth together under adequate protection +of destroyers and cruisers. At night +towing-disks are dropped astern. These are +white and enable the rearward vessels to keep +their distance with relation to those steaming +ahead. The destroyers circle in and about the +convoyed craft, which, in the meantime, are +describing zigzag courses in order that submarines +may not be able to calculate their gun +or torpedo fire with any degree of accuracy.</p> + +<p>The destroyers shoot in front of bows and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +around sterns with impunity, leaving in their +trail a phosphorescent wake. Sometimes in +the case of a fast liner the destroyers, what +with the high speed of the craft they are +protecting and the uncertain course, narrowly +escape disaster. As a matter of fact, one of +them, the American destroyer <i>Chauncey</i>, was lost +in this manner. But she is the only one.</p> + +<p>Here is a letter from a Yale man, a sailor, +which contains rather a tragic story, the loss +of the transport <i>Tuscania</i> under British convoy:</p> + +<p>"I could see a lighthouse here and there on +the Irish and Scotch shores, and though I knew +there were plenty of ships about not one was +to be seen. (It was night, of course). All at +once I saw a dull flare and a moment after a +heavy boom. Then about half a mile away +the <i>Tuscania</i> stood out in the glare of all the +lights suddenly turned on. I could see her +painted funnels and the sides clear and distinct +against the dark. Another boom and the lights +and the ship herself vanished. The next instant +lights and rockets began to go up, red +and white, and from their position I knew they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +must be from the <i>Tuscania</i> and that she was +falling out of the convoy. Then came a crash +of guns and a heavier shock that told of depth-bombs +and the blaze of a destroyer's search-lights—gone +again in an instant—and then +absolute silence."</p> + +<p>The sinking of the <i>Antilles</i> was +followed—October 25, 1917—by an announcement that +thereafter bluejackets would man and naval +officers command all transports. Up to that +time, while there had been naval guards on the +transports, the crews and officers of ships had +been civilians. It was believed that highly +disciplined naval men would be more effective +than the constantly shifting crews of civilians. +So it has proved.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">Destroyers on Guard—Preparations of Flotilla to +Cross the Ocean—Meeting the "Adriatic"—-Flotilla +Arrives in Queenstown—Reception by British +Commander and Populace—"We are Ready Now, +Sir"—Arrival of the Famous Captain Evans on the +American Flag-Ship—Our Navy a Warm-Weather +Navy—Loss of the "Vacuum"</p> + + +<p>When we entered the war the Navy Department +had one definite idea concerning +its duty with regard to the submarine. +It was felt that it was more necessary to deal +drastically with this situation than to meet it +merely by building a large fleet of cargo-carrying +vessels in the hope that a sufficient number of +them would escape the U-boats to insure the +carrying of adequate food and supplies to France +and the British Isles. The view was taken that, +while the ship-building programme was being +carried out—there was of course no idea of not +furthering the policy embodied in the plea of +the British statesman for ships, ships and yet +more ships—means should be taken of driving +the submarine from the seas.</p> + +<p>We held the attitude that the nation which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +had given to the world a weapon so formidable +as the undersea fighter had within it the ability +to devise a means of combating it successfully. +And, as a matter of fact, long before we went +into the conflict the Navy Department had +not ignored consideration of ways and means +in this respect. As a consequence, when the +British and French War Commissions arrived +in this country they found our naval officers +bristling with ideas, some of them apparently +so feasible that the British naval representatives +were both pleased and astonished.</p> + +<p>We do not know all that passed between the +Americans and the British with regard to the +submarine, but this we do know: that the British +went back to England with a greater respect +for our powers of constructive thought +than they had when they reached this country. +Among some of the early suggestions was +the sowing of contact mines in waters through +which the submarines would be obliged to pass +in leaving and entering their bases. Then there +was the scheme of protecting vessels in groups, +and other excellent ideas which were soon put +into effect.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>Immediately after the signing of the war +resolution by President Wilson the Navy Department +proceeded to put various plans into +execution. At 9.30 o'clock one warm April +night commanders of various destroyers in +service along the coast received orders to proceed +at daylight to the home navy-yards and +fit out with all despatch for distant service. +None of the officers knew what was ahead, not +definitely, that is; but all knew that the future +held action of vital sort and with all steam the +venomous gray destroyers were soon darting +up and down the coast toward their various +navy-yards, at Boston, New York, and elsewhere.</p> + +<p>Arriving here, the vessels went at once into +dry dock while a force of men who were in waiting +proceeded to clean and paint the hulls, while +stores and provisions to last three months were +assembled. In a few days the flotilla set forth. +No commander knew where he was going. Instructions +were to proceed to a point fifty miles +east of Cape Cod, and there to open sealed instructions. +One may imagine the thoughts of +the officers and crews of the sea-fighters—which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +above all other craft had signally demonstrated +the fact that they and they alone were qualified +to bring the fear of God, as the navy saying +is, to the Germans—as they ploughed through +the seas to the point where orders might be +opened and the way ahead made clear.</p> + +<p>"And when," said a destroyer commander, +speaking of that trip, "I got to the designated +point at midnight, I opened my orders and +found that we were to make for Queenstown. +You may be sure I breathed a fervent cheer, +for I had been itching for a crack at the sub +ever since certain events off Nantucket the +preceding fall."</p> + +<p>The flotilla took ten days in making the +journey, the time thus consumed being due to +a southeast gale which accompanied the boats +for the first seven days of the journey. There +were various incidents, but nothing of the dramatic +save the picking up and escorting of the +big British liner <i>Adriatic</i>, and later the meeting +300 miles off the Irish coast of the brave little +British destroyer <i>Mary Rose</i>, which had been +sent out to meet the Americans. The <i>Mary +Rose</i>, by the way, was sunk three months later<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +by a German raider. The commander of the +<i>Mary Rose</i> assured the Americans that they +would be welcome and that their co-operation +would be highly appreciated.</p> + +<p>One may fancy so. Things were looking +exceedingly black about that time. In the +previous three weeks submarines had sunk +152 British merchant vessels, and patrol-vessels +each day were bringing in survivors of the various +victims. It was a situation which could +not go on if the British cause were not to be +very seriously injured. The question of supplies, +food, munitions, and the like, for which +both France and England were relying upon the +United States to furnish, was looming vitally. +This country had the things to send, all cargoes, +of all sorts. But to send them to the war zone +and then have them lost was a heart-breaking +situation for every one concerned.</p> + +<p>One thus is able to imagine the emotions +with which the British at Queenstown received +our flotilla when it came in from the sea on +the morning of May 13. Motion pictures of +this eventful arrival have been shown in this +country, with the result that we who were not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +there have an impression of a crowded waterfront, +of American flags flying everywhere, of +the American commander leaving his vessel +and going ashore to call upon the British commander +Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly and the Honorable +Wesley Frost, the American Consul at +Queenstown. The destroyers had steamed into +the harbor in a long line and with great precision +came to a stop at the designated moorings. +All this, as said, we have seen on the film, +as we have seen the British and American officers +going through the motions of formal felicitation. +What was said, however, came to us +through another medium. Admiral Bayly, after +the formal ceremony of greeting was ended, said +with British directness:</p> + +<p>"When will you be ready for business?"</p> + +<p>The reply was prompt:</p> + +<p>"We can start at once, sir."</p> + +<p>Admiral Bayly did not attempt to conceal +his surprise, but he made no comment until +after he had completed a tour of the various +American craft. Then he turned to the American +commander:</p> + +<p>"You were right about being prepared."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," returned the American; "we made +preparations in the course of the trip over. That +is why we are ready."</p> + +<p>"Very good," smiled the British commander. +"You are a fine body of men and your boats +look just as fit." As a matter of fact, while all +equipment was found to be in excellent condition +and the men ready and eager to go out +after submarines, it was deemed best to send +one or two of the craft to dry dock to have their +hulls inspected and, if necessary, shorn of all +barnacles or other marine growth that might +have become attached to the plating on the +journey across.</p> + +<p>In the meantime had occurred a very pretty +incident which is now one of the stock stories +in the ward-rooms of British and American +sea-fighters in European waters. It seems that +not long before the destroyers were due to arrive +Captain Edward R. G. R. Evans, C.B., +who was second in command of the Scott Antarctic +Expedition, came up the Thames on board +his battered destroyer, the <i>Broke</i>. Now, the +<i>Broke</i> on the night of April 20, off Dover, had +been engaged in an action which stands as one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +of the glorious achievements at arms in the +annals of sea-fighting. The <i>Broke</i> that night +was attacked by six German destroyers and, +after a battle characterized by bulwark rasping +against bulwark, by boarding-parties, hand-to-hand +fighting, and all the elements that make +the pages of Mayne Reid thrilling, defeated +the six destroyers and proceeded to port with +flags flying.</p> + +<p>With all this in mind the admiralty decided +to pay the Americans the distinguished compliment +of attaching Captain Evans to the +American flag-ship as a sort of liaison officer. +So when the American flotilla was reported, +the British hero set forth and in good time +boarded the flag-ship of the flotilla. He was +accompanied by a young aide, and both were +received with all courtesy by the American +commander. But the British aide could see +that the American had not associated his visitor +with the man whose laurels were still fresh not +only as an explorer but as a fighter.</p> + +<p>There was talk of quarters for Captain +Evans, and the American commander seemed +doubtful just where to put his guest. Finally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +he sent the British officer below with a lieutenant +to see what could be done. When the +two had disappeared Evans's aide turned to +the American commander.</p> + +<p>"I don't think," he said, flushing rather diffidently, +"that you quite grasped just who you +have on board," and then with great distinctness +he added: "He is R. G. R. Evans. +He—"</p> + +<p>There came an exclamation from the American, +and stepping forward he seized the young +officer by the shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say that he is Evans of +the <i>Broke</i>?" he cried.</p> + +<p>As the Briton nodded and was about to speak, +the American leaped from his side, made the +companion-ladder, and fairly tumbled below, +Approaching Captain Evans, he said:</p> + +<p>"Captain Evans, my apologies; I didn't quite +place you at first. I merely wish to tell you +now not to worry about quarters. I say this +because you are going to have my bunk—and +I—I am going to sleep on the floor."</p> + +<p>And here is a little incident which occurred +when the destroyers picked up and escorted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +the <i>Adriatic</i> of the White Star Line. As may +be imagined, the Americans on board were delighted +to see a destroyer with an American +flag darting about the great vessel like a porpoise, +while the British appreciated to the full +the significance of the occasion—so much so +that the following message was formulated and +wirelessed to the destroyer:</p> + +<p>"British passengers on board a steamship +bound for a British port under the protection of +an American torpedo-boat destroyer send their +hearty greetings to her commander and her officers +and crew and desire to express their keen +appreciation of this practical co-operation between +the government and people of the United +States and the British Empire who are now +fighting together for the freedom of the seas."</p> + +<p>One may imagine with what emotions the +officers and men of the American war-ship, +bound for duty in enemy seas and at the very +outset having a great greyhound intrusted to +their care, received this glowing despatch.</p> + +<p>There were many functions attending the +arrival of the Americans at Queenstown, aside +from those already set forth. Many of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +seamen were granted shore-leave and were +immediately captured by the townspeople, who +took them to their homes and entertained most +lavishly. They were the first American naval +men that the Queenstowners had seen at close +quarters in years, and the bluejackets were +bombarded with questions.</p> + +<p>And while the jackies were thus being treated +the American officers made a memorable visit +to Cork. They journeyed up the River Lee in +an admiral's barge accompanied by Captain +Evans. At the Cork custom-house they were +met by distinguished military officers, by the +lord-lieutenant of the county, and by the lord +mayor of Cork. It was a most memorable +occasion, and when they returned they found +the British and American seamen on such good +terms that the two bodies had already tried +each other out in friendly fisticuffs, the net +results being common respect one for the other.</p> + +<p>Announcement of the arrival of the American +vessels was made by the British Admiralty, +the American Navy Department, with a modest +reticence which ever since has been characteristic, +saying nothing until the time came to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +confirm the admiralty's statement. In doing +this Secretary Daniels announced that as a +matter of fact an American flotilla of destroyers +had arrived at an English port on May 4, and +the vessels thereof engaged in the work of submarine +hunting in both the Atlantic and in +co-operation with the French in the Mediterranean. +About the same time it was stated +that a body of naval aviators, the first American +fighting-men to serve from the shore, had +been landed in England.</p> + +<p>Soon after this announcement came another +from Washington, giving an interchange of +wireless amenities between Vice-Admiral Sir +David Beatty, commander of the British Grand +Fleet, to Rear-Admiral Henry T. Mayo, commanding +the United States Atlantic Fleet:</p> + +<p>"The Grand Fleet rejoices that the Atlantic +Fleet will share in preserving the liberties of the +world and maintaining the chivalry of the sea."</p> + +<p>And Admiral Mayo's reply:</p> + +<p>"The United States Atlantic Fleet appreciates +the message from the British Fleet, and +welcomes opportunities for work with the +British Fleet for the freedom of the seas."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + +<p>In confirming the British announcement of +the arrival of the flotilla at Queenstown, Secretary +Daniels said:</p> + +<p>"It has been the purpose of the United States +Navy to give the largest measure of assistance +to other countries at war with Germany that +is consistent with the full and complete protection +of our own coast and territorial waters."</p> + +<p>Within a week after the arrival of our flotilla +at Queenstown, the vessels thereof ranging the +seas side by side with the British, submarine +losses showed a marked reduction, and it was +even more marked the second week of our co-operation. +It was also stated that more submarines +had been sunk in the week of May +12 than in the previous month.</p> + +<p>In preparing for co-operation with the +British destroyers, the American officers received +lectures on the subject of effective submarine +fighting, while depth-bombs and appliances +for releasing them were supplied to +the American boats, and all surplus gear and +appurtenances of various sorts were taken from +the American vessels and stored ashore.</p> + +<p>It was noted as a curious fact that the United<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +States Navy had really been a warm-weather +navy. The ships were sent south in winter +for drills and target practice, usually in Guantanamo +Bay; in the spring they engaged in +manoeuvres off the Virginia Capes, and in +summer went to Newport, Provincetown, and +other New England points. Again, life in a +destroyer on the wintry Atlantic was not the +most comfortable life in the world. There were +cold fogs, icy winds and fearful storms in the +war zone, and the thin steel hulls of the destroyers +offered little in the way of creature +comforts. This fact perhaps gave color to the +report from Queenstown that our men were +prepared in every respect save that of clothing, +a statement that was indignantly refuted by the +Navy Department, and a list of the garments +furnished the sailors was submitted. It was +an adequate list and quite effectually silenced +further rumors on that score. As a matter of +fact, no complaint ever came from the jackies +themselves. They had sea-boots, pea-jackets, +short, heavy double-breasted overcoats, knitted +watch-caps, heavy woollen socks, jerseys, extra +jackets of lambskin wool, oil-skins, and navy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +uniform suits—a complete outfit surely. In +the meantime the young women, elderly women, +too, of the country were busily engaged in knitting +helmets, sweaters, mittens, and the like. +Some of the girls, more romantic than others, +inserted their names and addresses in the articles +they sent to the sailors. Here is a little +<i>jeu d'esprit</i> that one girl received from a sailor +of Admiral Sims's command:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p>"Some sox; some fit!</p> +<p>I used one for a helmet.</p> +<p>And one for a mitt.</p> +<p>I hope I shall meet you</p> +<p>When I've done my bit.</p> +<p>But who in the devil</p> +<p>Taught you to knit?"</p> +</div></div> + +<p>The reader may be sure that other, many +other, more appreciative messages were sent +to the devoted young women of the country, +and that in many cases interesting correspondence +was opened.</p> + +<p>On May 25, 1917, Admiral Sims cabled to +Secretary Daniels that Berlin knew of American +plans for sending our destroyers to Europe +four days before the vessels arrived at Queenstown, +and that twelve mines had been placed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +across the entrance to the harbor the day before +the destroyer flotilla reached their destination. +The activity of British mine-sweepers prevented +whatever might have occurred. This gave +rise to considerable discussion in this country +as to German spies here, and as an instance of +their work in keeping in touch with naval affairs +the following story was told in naval circles: +When the oil-ship <i>Vacuum</i>, with Lieutenant +Thomas and a naval gun crew on board, sailed +from this country, the captain had instructions +where to pick up British destroyers at a +certain point off the Irish coast. The <i>Vacuum</i> +arrived at the designated spot, and before the +war-ships arrived a submarine appeared out of +the water.</p> + +<p>"I see," said the German commander, appearing +out of the conning-tower, "that you +kept your appointment."</p> + +<p>And then the <i>Vacuum</i> was sent to the bottom. +Later, under the convoy system, submarines +began to be very wary in the matter of triumphant +conversations with officers of merchantmen. +In fact, this appears to have been the +last interchange of the sort.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + +<p>Working with the British, the American destroyers +patrolled the seas six days at a stretch, +each craft being assigned to a certain area, as +far out as three hundred miles off shore. Returning +to port, the destroyers would lie at their +moorings two and three days. Later the time +in port was reduced. But it depended upon +conditions. The orders to the Americans were: +first, destroy submarines; second, escort and +convoy merchant ships; third, save lives. And +in all three respects the Americans from the +very outset have so conducted themselves and +their craft as to earn the highest encomiums +from the Entente admiralties.</p> + +<p>The Americans entered very heartily into +their work, and developed ideas of their own, +some of which the British were very glad to +adopt. Between the men of the two navies +there has been the best sort of feeling.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">British and American Destroyers Operating Hand in +Hand—Arrival of Naval Collier "Jupiter"—Successful +Trip of Transports Bearing United States +Soldiers Convoyed by Naval Vessels—Attack on +Transports Warded Off by Destroyers—Secretary +Baker Thanks Secretary Daniels—Visit to our +Destroyer Base—Attitude of Officers Toward Men—Genesis +of the Submarine—The Confederate +Submarine "Hunley"</p> + + +<p>A correspondent who visited the +British base on the Irish coast a month +after the arrival of the Americans, found the +two fleets operating hand in hand and doing +effective work. With the boats out four and +five, and then in port coaling and loading supplies +two and three days, the seamen were getting +practically half a day shore-leave every +week. The seamen endured the routine grind +of patrol and convoy work, accepting it as the +price to be paid for the occasional fights with +submarines.</p> + +<p>An assignment to convoy a liner from home +is regarded as a choice morsel, and the boats +that get the job are looked upon as favored<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +craft. The transatlantic passengers invariably +make a fuss over the Americans, and the interchange +of amenities gives our sailors concrete +evidence of how their work is regarded in this +country.</p> + +<p>On June 6, 1917, Secretary Daniels, with +warrantable pride, announced the arrival in a +French port of the naval collier <i>Jupiter</i>, with +10,500 tons of wheat and other supplies. The +<i>Jupiter</i> is nearly as large as a battleship, and +stands out of the water like a church. Nevertheless, +the collier, completely armed and well +able to take care of herself, made the trip without +convoy. She was the first electrically propelled +vessel of large size ever built, and her +performance was so good that it led to the adoption +of the electric drive for all our new battleships +and cruisers.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, with our destroyers working +valiantly in the fight against the submarines, +Admiral Sims, their commander, had made +himself indispensable to the British Admiralty, +whose high regard was manifested on June 19, +when, as already noted, he was appointed to +take charge of operations of the Allied naval<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +forces in Irish waters while the British commander-in-chief +was absent for a short period. +Washington had given wide powers to Admiral +Sims to the end that he might be in a position +to meet any emergency that might arise. While +much of his time was spent in Paris and London, +his home was at the Irish base, a fine old mansion +300 feet above the town, with beautiful +lawns and gardens, having been turned over to +him.</p> + +<p>In June of 1917, June 4, it was announced in +Washington that an American squadron had +arrived in South American waters in accordance +with the plan of relieving British and +French cruisers of patrol duty in waters of the +western hemisphere, merely one more instance +of the scope of the plans which the Navy Department +had formulated when we entered the +war.</p> + +<p>On June 25 came word that the first American +convoy (transports with American troops), under +direction of Rear-Admiral Albert M. Gleaves, +commander of our convoy system, had arrived +safely at a port in France. On July 3 the last +units of ships with supplies and horses reached<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +its destination. The expedition was divided +into contingents, each contingent including +troop-ships and an escort of sea-fighters. An +ocean rendezvous with American destroyers operating +in European waters was arranged, and +carried out in minutest detail.</p> + +<p>The convoy did not cross the seas without incident. +In the newspapers of July 4 the country +was electrified by a statement issued by the +Creel bureau of a rather thrilling combat between +war-ships attached to the convoy and +German submarines, in which the U-boat was +badly worsted. Details were given, and all in +all the whole affair as presented was calculated +to give the utmost unction to American pride. +Next day, however, came a despatch from +the American flotilla base in British waters +which set forth that the story of the attack as +published in the United States was inaccurate. +There was no submarine attack, said the report, +and no submarine was seen. One destroyer did +drop a depth-bomb, but this was merely by way +of precaution. Quite a stir followed, and it +was not until Secretary Daniels some time +later published facts as set forth in a cipher<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +message from Admiral Gleaves that the country +realized that, while the original account was +somewhat overdrawn, there was substantial +ground for the belief that several transports +had had narrow escapes. To a correspondent +who was on one of the transports we are +indebted for the following narrative of the +attack:</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<a name="illus-convoy" id="illus-convoy"></a> +<a href="images/convoy.png"> +<img src="images/convoy-th.png" width="500" height="326" alt="Position of ships in a convoy" title=""/></a> +<span class="caption">Position of ships in a convoy.</span></div> + +<p>"It was past midnight. The flotilla was +sweeping through a calm sea miles from the +point of debarkation, and tense nerves were beginning +to relax. The sky was cloudy and the +moon obscured, but the phosphorescence of +water common in these latitudes at this season +marked the prow and wake of the advancing +ships with lines of smoky flame. It was this, +perhaps, that saved us from disaster—this and +the keenness of American eyes, and the straightness +of American shooting. From the high-flung +superstructure of a big ship one of the +eager lookouts noted an unwonted line of shining +foam on the port bow. In a second he realized +that here at last was the reality of peril. +It could be nothing else than the periscope of a +submarine. The Germans were not less swift<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +in action. Almost at the moment that the +alarm was given a gleaming line of bubbles, +scarcely twenty feet from the bow of one of the +transports wherein thousands were sleeping, announced +the torpedo with its fatal burden of +explosive. Then 'hell broke loose.' Firing every +gun available, the big ship swung on a +wide circle out of line to the left. A smaller +war-ship slipped into the place of the big fighter, +driving shells into the sea. Whether any landed +or not may not be said. The Germans fired +three, if not four, torpedoes. It was God's +mercy that they all went astray among so many +of our ships. The whole business lasted only +a minute and a half. I know, because one of +those Easterners from somewhere up in Maine +coolly timed the mix-up with his stop-watch. +But believe me, it added more than that time +to my life. The second attack occurred next +morning. Every living soul on the transports +had been thrilled by the news of the night's +events, and from early hours the decks were +lined with amateur lookouts. The morning was +fine, and a light breeze rippled up wavelets that +twinkled in the sunlight. Suddenly about 10.30<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +o'clock there came a wild yell from one of the +leading transports. Though the jackies affect +to dispute it, I was assured that it was from a +far-sighted youngster from Arizona, who first +descried and then announced the deadly line +of bubbles. No periscope was visible this time, +and for the first moment those on the bridges of +the destroyers were incredulous. Then the unmistakable +bubble lines clean across the bows +put the certainty of danger beyond question. +Once again fortune favored us. The submarine +was in front instead of in the deadliest position +on the flank toward the rear. Perhaps the +U-boat commander was rattled by the magnitude +of his opportunity. Perhaps one of his +excited pirates let go too soon. Anyway, it is +agreed by experts that he would have been far +more dangerous had he waited unseen until +part of the flotilla at least had passed beyond +him.</p> + +<p>"Dearly did the Germans pay for their error. +Like a striking rattlesnake, one of our destroyers +darted between a couple of transports. +Her nose was so deep in the sea as to be almost +buried, while a great wave at the stern threw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +a shower of spray on the soldiers massed at the +transport's bow. That destroyer ran right +along the line of bubbles like a hound following +a trail, and when it came to the spot where the +commander estimated the submarine must be +lurking, he released a depth-bomb. A column +of smoke and foam rose fifty feet in the air, +and the destroyer herself rose half out of the +water under the shock of the explosion. It is +said that in the midst of the column of water +were seen fragments of steel and wood, and oil +also was reported on the water. This meant +that at least one submarine had paid the supreme +price for the spread of kultur on the high +seas."</p> + +<p>As in all thrilling incidents of the sort, there +was a note of comedy. It was supplied by a +negro roustabout on one of the large transports. +This darky throughout the trip had been very +fearful of submarines, and when the actual moment +of danger came he acted upon a predetermined +course, and shinned up the mainmast +as though Old Nick himself were at his +heels. When the excitement was over an officer +called up to him:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hello, up there; come down. It's all over."</p> + +<p>"Me come down," came the voice from on +high. "Mistah officah, I ain't nevah gwine to +come down; no suh. De place fo man is on de +dry land, yas suh. Ocean wa'nt nevah made +for man; de ocean's fo fishes, dat's all. I'm +gwine to stay up heah until I see de land. Den +I'se gwine to jump."</p> + +<p>History fails to record how long he remained +in his retreat. Probably until he became hungry.</p> + +<p>This, then, appears to be what happened to +our first convoy. That there was an attack +upon the convoy by submarines in force, as set +forth in the original statement from Washington, +now seems altogether unlikely, and whether our +destroyers sunk one or more of the undersea +assailants is a matter of opinion. It does, however, +seem likely that the one waging the second +attack was accounted for.</p> + +<p>The War Department was not slow to recognize +the effectiveness with which our navy had +transported the first oversea expedition to France +as the following message from Secretary of +War Newton D. Baker to Secretary Daniels +will show.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"War Department,</p> + +<p>"Washington, July 3.</p> + +<p>"Word has just come to the War Department +that the last ships conveying Gen. Pershing's +expeditionary force arrived safely to-day. As +you know, the Navy Department assumed the +responsibility for the safety of these ships on +the sea and through the danger zone. The +ships themselves and their convoys were in the +hands of the navy, and now that they have arrived +and carried without the loss of a man our +soldiers who are first to represent America in +the battle for Democracy, I beg leave to tender +to you, to the admiral, and to the navy the +hearty thanks of the War Department and of +the army. This splendid achievement is an +auspicious beginning, and it has been characterized +throughout by the most cordial and effective +co-operation between the two military +services.</p> + +<p>"Cordially yours,</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">"NEWTON D. BAKER."</span></p> + +<p>In the meantime Americans living in England +had organized to do everything in their power<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +to make the lives of the seamen of the destroyer +fleet comfortable. Plans were at once formulated +and work begun on a club, the United +States Naval Men's Club at the American base. +This club, which is now completed, contains +dormitories, shower-baths, a canteen, and a billiard +room with two pool-tables. There is an +auditorium for moving-picture shows and other +entertainments, reading-rooms, and in fact everything +that would tend to make the men +feel at home and divert their leisure hours.</p> + +<p>A correspondent for the Associated Press, who +visited the club when it was completed, has testified +to its great attractiveness, and from his +pen also has come the most effective description +of our destroyers as they return to their base +from duty in the North Sea. One destroyer +which he inspected had had the good fortune +to be able to bring back the crews of two +torpedoed merchantmen. The mariners were +picked up on the fourth day out, and had the +unique experience of joining in a lookout for +their undoers before the destroyer returned to its +base. Despite her battles with heavy seas and +high winds, the destroyer was as fit as any of her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +sister craft lying at anchor near by. Her brass-work +glistened in the sunshine, and her decks +were as clean as a good housewife's kitchen. +The crew, a majority of them mere boys, were +going about their work with every manifestation +of contentment.</p> + +<p>"They are," observed the commander, "the +most alert sailors in the world." The destroyer +carried five 4-inch guns, the type most used +on destroyers. Ten feet behind the guns were +cases of shells, each shell weighing sixty pounds. +When firing upon a submarine the shells are +passed by hand to the gunners—no small task +when the sea is heavy. At the gun the gunner +is equipped with a head-gear, like that worn +by telephone girls, through which he receives +sighting directions from the officer on the bridge. +Speaking-tubes also convey messages from the +bridge to the gunners.</p> + +<p>These "voice-tubes," as they are called, run +to all the guns, but take the most circuitous +routes, running way below deck in order that +damage by shell-fire to the upper part of the +vessel might not affect communication from the +bridge to the gunners. On different parts of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +the deck were three canvas-covered boxes, each +containing six loaded rifles, eighteen in all. +These were for use against boarding-parties.</p> + +<p>The vessel also contained numerous torpedo-tubes, +always loaded. The destroyer registered +about a thousand tons, and carried a crew of +ninety-five men, who were reported as "a great +happy family." The commanding officer said +that there was surprisingly little homesickness +among the men, many of whom had never before +been so far from their native land.</p> + +<p>"We invite questions and suggestions from +our men," said one of the officers to the correspondent. +"We want them to feel that no one +is ever too old to learn."</p> + +<p>The seamen sleep on berths suspended from +the steel walls of the destroyers, berths which, +when not in use, can be closed very much after +the manner of a folding bed. When "submarined" +crews are rescued the sailors willingly +give up their comfortable berths and do +everything else in their power to make the +shipwrecked mariners comfortable. The men +receive their mail from home uncensored. It +arrives about every ten days in bags sealed in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +the United States. Their own letters, however, +are censored, not only by an officer aboard +ship, but by a British censor. However, there +has been little or no complaint by the men on +the ground of being unable to say what they +wish to their loved ones.</p> + +<p>"The men," wrote an officer recently, "look +upon submarine-hunting as a great game. The +only time they are discontented is when a situation +which looks like an approaching fight resolves +itself into nothing. The seas of the war +zone are, of course, filled with all sorts of flotsam +and jetsam, and very often that which appears +to be a periscope is nothing of the sort. +But when a real one comes—then the men accept +it as a reward."</p> + +<p>In view of all that has been said thus far and +remains to be said concerning the submarine, +it might be well to digress for a moment and +devote the remainder of this chapter to a consideration +of the undersea fighter, its genesis, +what it now is, and what it has accomplished. +We all know that the submarine was given to +the world by an American inventor—that is to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +say, the submarine in very much the form that +we know it to-day, the effective, practical submarine. +The writer recalls witnessing experiments +more than twenty years ago on the +Holland submarine—the first modern submarine +type—and he recalls how closely it was +guarded in the early days of 1898, when it lay +at Elizabethport and the Spanish war-ship +<i>Viscaya</i>, Captain Eulate, lay in our harbor. +This was a month or so after the destruction of +the battleship <i>Maine</i> in Havana Harbor, and +threats against the Spanish had led, among +other precautions, to an armed guard about +the <i>Holland</i> lest some excitable person take her +out and do damage to the <i>Viscaya</i>. There was +no real danger, of course, that this would happen; +it merely tends to show the state of public +mind.</p> + +<p>Well, in any event, the <i>Holland</i>, and improved +undersea craft subsequently developed, converted +the seemingly impossible into the actual. +To an Englishman, William Bourne, a seaman-gunner +must be credited the first concrete +exposition of the possibilities of an undersea +fighter. His book, "Inventions or Devices,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +published in 1578, contains a comprehensive +description of the essential characteristics of +the undersea boat as they are applied to-day. +From the days of the sixteenth century on +down through the years to the present time, +submarine construction and navigation have +passed through various stages of development. +Captain Thomas A. Kearney, U.S.N., in an +interesting monograph published through the +United States Naval Institute at Annapolis, +says that of the early American inventors, +particular mention should be made of the work +of David Bushnell and Robert Fulton, both of +whom have been termed the "father of the +submarine." Bushnell's boat, completed in +1775-6, was much in advance of anything in its +class at the time. The boat, which was, of +course, water-tight, was sufficiently commodious +to contain the operator and a sufficient amount +of air to support him for thirty minutes. Water +was admitted into a tank for the purpose of +descending and two brass force-pumps ejected +the water when the operator wished to rise. +Propulsion was by an oar astern, working as +the propeller of a vessel works to-day. Practically<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +Bushnell in one attempt to destroy a +British war-ship in the Hudson River was able +to get under the British frigate <i>Eagle</i> without +detection, but was unable to attach the mine +which the boat carried.</p> + +<p>Fulton's inventive genius directed toward a +submarine took tangible shape in 1800 when +the French Government built the <i>Nautilus</i> +in accordance with his plans. Both France +and the United States carried on experimental +work with Fulton's designs, under his personal +supervision, but there is no record of any marked +achievement.</p> + +<p>The first submarine within the memory of +men living to-day, the first practical, albeit +crude, undersea boat, was the <i>H. L. Hunley</i>, +built at Mobile, Ala., under the auspices of +the Confederate Navy and brought from that +port to Charleston on flat cars for the purpose +of trying to break the blockade of that port by +Federal war-ships. The <i>Hunley</i> was about forty +feet long, six in diameter, and shaped like a +cigar. Its motive power came from seven +men turning cranks attached to the propeller-shaft. +When working their hardest these men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +could drive the boat at a speed of about four +miles an hour.</p> + +<p>Several attempts to use the <i>Hunley</i> were unsuccessful, +each time it sank, drowning its +crew of from eight to ten men. These experiments, +which were carried on in shallow water +at Charleston, mark one of the bright pages in +our seafaring annals, as crew after crew went +into the boat facing practically certain death to +the end that the craft might be made effective. +Each time the vessel sank she was raised, the +dead crew taken out, and a new experiment +with a new crew made. In all thirty-three +men were sacrificed before it was finally decided +that the boat could make her way out to the +blockading line. It was on the night of February +17, 1864, that the <i>Hunley</i> set out on her last +journey. The vessel submerged, reached the +side of the United States steamship <i>Housatonic</i>, +and successfully exploded a mine against the +hull of the Federal war-ship, sending her to +the bottom.</p> + +<p>But in the explosion the submersible herself +was sunk and all on board were lost. The +commander of the expedition was Lieutenant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +George E. Dixon, of Alabama, who with his +crew well appreciated their danger. It is supposed +that the <i>Hunley</i> was drawn down in the +suction of the sinking war-ship; she could not +arise from the vortex, and that was the last +of her and of her brave crew. The North was +tremendously excited over the incident and the +South elated, but no other ship was attacked +from beneath the water in the course of the +war.</p> + +<p>Holland's boat, built in 1877, was the first +to use a gas-engine as a propulsive medium, +but it was not until the final adoption of the +gas-engine for surface work, followed later by +the internal-combustion gasoline-engine and +the use of electric storage-battery for subsurface +work, as well as the invention of the periscope +and various other devices, that the submarine +was developed to a present state of +effectiveness, which sees it crossing the Atlantic +from Germany, operating off our shores and +returning to Germany without being obliged to +put into port; which, also, sees it capable of +navigating under water at a speed of from seven +to nine knots, with torpedoes ready for use in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +the tubes and guns of effective caliber mounted +on deck. It has, indeed, been asserted that +the airplane and the submarine have relegated +the battleship to the limbo of desuetude: but +as to that the continued control of the seas by +Great Britain with her immense battle-fleet, +supplemented by our tremendous engines of +war, certainly argues for no such theory. What +the future may bring forth in the way of submarines, +armored and of great size, no man +may say. But at present the submarine, while +tremendously effective, has not done away with +the battleship as a mighty element in the theory +of sea power.</p> + +<p>As to life on a submersible, let us construct +from material which has come to us from various +sources in the past three years a little story +which will give a better knowledge of the workings +of the German undersea boat than many +pages of technical description would do. An +undertaking of the sort will be the more valuable +because we of the Allies are inclined to +consider the submarine problem only in relation +to our side of the case, whereas the fact is that +the submarine operates under great difficulties<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +and dangers, and in an ever-increasing degree +leaves port never to be heard from again. We +may, then, begin the following chapter with a +scene in Kiel, Zeebrugge, or any German submarine +base.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">On a German Submarine—Fight with a Destroyer—Periscope +Hit—Record of the Submarine in this +War—Dawning Failure of the Undersea Boat—Figures +Issued by the British Admiralty—Proof +of Decline—Our Navy's Part in this Achievement</p> + + +<p>A first lieutenant with acting rank of +commander takes the order in the gray +dawn of a February day. The hulk of an old +corvette with the Iron Cross of 1870 on her +stubby foremast is his quarters in port, and +on the corvette's deck he is presently saluted +by his first engineer and the officer of the watch. +On the pier the crew of the U-47-½ await him. +At their feet the narrow gray submarine lies +alongside, straining a little at her cables.</p> + +<p>"Well, we've got our orders at last," begins +the commander, addressing his crew of thirty, +and the crew look solemn. For this is the +U-47-½'s first experience of active service. She +has done nothing save trial trips hitherto and +has just been overhauled for her first fighting +cruise. Her commander snaps out a number of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +orders. Provisions are to be taken "up to the +neck." Fresh water is to be put aboard, and +engine-room supplies to be supplemented.</p> + +<p>A mere plank is the gangway to the little +vessel. As the commander, followed by his +officers, comes aboard, a sailor hands to each +of the officers a ball of cotton waste, the one +article aboard a submarine which never leaves +an officer's hands. For of all oily, grimy, +greasy places the inside of the submarine is +supreme. The steel walls, the doors, the companion-ladders +all sweat oil, and the hands must +be wiped dry at every touch. Through a narrow +hole aft the commander descends by a +straight iron ladder into a misty region whose +only light comes from electric glow-lamps. +The air reeks with the smell of oil. Here is the +engine-room and, stifling as the atmosphere is +with the hatches up, it is as nothing compared +to what the men have to breathe when everything +is hermetically sealed.</p> + +<p>Here are slung hammocks, where men of one +engine-watch sleep while their comrades move +about the humming, purring apartment, bumping +the sleepers with their heads and elbows.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +But little things like that do not make for +wakefulness on a submarine. The apartment +or vault is about ten feet long; standing in the +middle, a man by stretching out his arms may +easily have his fingers in contact with the steel +walls on either side. Overhead is a network +of wires, while all about there is a maze of +levers, throttles, wheels, and various mechanical +appliances that are the dismay of all but +the mind specially trained in submarine operation.</p> + +<p>The commander very minutely inspects everything; +a flaw will mean a long sleep on the +bottom, thirty men dead. Everything is tested. +Then, satisfied, the commander creeps through +a hole into the central control-station, where +the chief engineer is at his post. The engineer +is an extraordinary individual; the life of the +boat and its effectiveness are in his care. There +must be lightning repairs when anything goes +wrong on an undersea craft, and in all respects +the chief's touch must be that of a magician.</p> + +<p>Exchanging a word or two with the chief +engineer, the commander continues his way to +the torpedo-chamber where the deadly "silverfish,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +as the Germans have named the hideous +projectiles, lie. Perhaps he may stroke their +gleaming backs lovingly; one may not account +for the loves of a submarine commander. The +second-in-command, in charge of the armament, +joins him in the torpedo-room and receives +final instructions regarding the torpedo and the +stowing of other explosives. Forward is another +narrow steel chamber, and next to it is a place +like a cupboard where the cook has just room +to stand in front of his doll-house galley-stove. +It is an electric cooker, of course. Housewives +who operate kitchenettes in Manhattan will +appreciate the amount of room which the cook +has. And, by the way, this being a German +submarine, the oily odors, the smell of grease, +and the like are complicated by an all-pervading +smell of cabbage and coffee. Two little +cabins, the size of a clothes-chest, accommodate +the deck and engine-rooms officers—two in +each. Then there is a little box-cabin for the +commander.</p> + +<p>As the sun rises higher the commander goes +into his cabin and soon after emerges on deck. +His coat and trousers are of black leather lined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +with wool, a protection against oil, cold, and +wet weather. The crew are at their stations.</p> + +<p>"Machines clear," comes a voice from the +control-station.</p> + +<p>"Clear ship," comes the order from the +bridge, followed by "Cast off."</p> + +<p>The cables hiss through the water and slap +on the landing-stage; the sound of purring +fills the submarine which glides slowly into +open water. Into the bay comes another +U-boat. Stories of her feat in sinking a steamship +loaded with mutton for England has +preceded her. There has been loss of life connected +with that sinking, but this makes no +difference to the Teutonic mind, and the officer +of the U-47-½ shouts his congratulations.</p> + +<p>Now the submarine is out in the open sea, +the waves are heavy and the vessel rolls uncomfortably. +The craft, it may be remarked, +is not the craft for a pleasant sea-voyage. The +two officers hanging onto the rails turn their +eyes seaward. The weather increases in severity. +The officers are lashed to the bridge. +There they must stay; while the boat plies the +surface the bridge must not be left by the commander<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +and his assistant. Sometimes they remain +thus on duty two and three days. Food +is carried to them and they eat it as they stand.</p> + +<p>It may be that the commander is trying to +balance a plate of heavy German soup in his +hand as a cry comes from a lookout.</p> + +<p>"Smoke on the horizon, off the port bow, sir."</p> + +<p>The commander withdraws from his food, +shouts an order and an electric alarm sounds +inside the hull. The ship buzzes with activity. +The guns on deck are hastily housed. Bridge +appurtenances are housed also, and sailors dive +down through the deck-holes. The commander +follows. Water begins to gurgle into the ballast-tanks +while the crew seal every opening. +Down goes the U-47-½ until only her periscope +shows, a periscope painted sea-green and white—camouflaged. +The eyes of the watch-officer +are glued to the periscope.</p> + +<p>"She is a Dutchman, sir," he says at length. +The commander steps to the periscope and +takes a look. The Dutchman has no wireless +and is bound for some continental port. It is +not wise to sink every Dutch boat one meets—although +German submarines have sunk a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +sufficient number of them, in all conscience. +At all events, the steamship goes in peace and +the submarine comes to the surface. The +commander is glad, because electric power +must be used when the vessel is moving under +water and there must be no waste of this essential +element.</p> + +<p>So the submarine proceeds on her way, +wallowing and tumbling through the heavy +graybacks of the North Sea. At length after +fifty-four hours the necessity of sleep becomes +apparent. The ballast-tanks are filled and the +craft slowly descends to the sandy bottom of +the sea. It is desirable that the crew go to +sleep as quickly as possible, because when men +are asleep they use less of the priceless supply +of oxygen which is consumed when the boat +is under water. However, the commander allows +the men from half an hour to an hour for +music and singing. The phonograph is turned +on and there on the bottom of the North Sea the +latest songs of Berlin are ground out while the +crew sit about, perhaps joining in the choruses—they +sang more in the early days of the war +than they do to-day—while the officers sit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +around their mess-table and indulge in a few +social words before they retire.</p> + +<p>In the morning water from the tanks is expelled +and the boat rises to greet a smiling +sea. Also to greet a grim destroyer. The +war-ship sees her as she comes up from a distance +of perhaps a mile away. All steam is +crowded on while the leaden-gray fighter—the +one craft that the submarine fears—makes +for her prey. Sharp orders ring through the +U-boat. The tanks are again filled, and while +the commander storms and ejaculates, everything +is made tight and the vessel sinks beneath +the surface. The electric-motors are started +and the submarine proceeds under water in a +direction previously determined, reckoned in +relation to the course of the approaching +destroyer.</p> + +<p>Presently comes a dull explosion. The destroyer +arriving over the spot where the undersea +boat was last seen, has dropped a depth-bomb, +which has exploded under the surface +at a predetermined depth. The submarine +commander grins. The bomb was too far +away to do damage, although the craft has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +trembled under the shock. There comes another +shock, this time not so palpable. Eventually +all is quiet.</p> + +<p>For an hour the submarine proceeds blindly +under water, and then cautiously her periscope +is thrust above the surface. Nothing in sight. +Orders sound through the vessel and she rises +to the surface. She could have remained below, +running under full headway, for six hours +before coming to the surface. So the day goes +on. Toward nightfall smoke again is seen on +the horizon. It proves to be a large freighter +ladened, apparently, with cattle. Two destroyers +are frisking about her, crossing her +bow, cutting around her stern. The steamship +herself is zigzagging, rendering accurate +calculations as to her course uncertain.</p> + +<p>By this time, of course, the submarine has +submerged. The watch-officer and the commander +stand by the periscope, watching the +approaching craft. The periscope may not be +left up too long; the watchers on the destroyers +and on the deck of the vessel, which is armed, +are likely to spy it at any time. So the periscope +is alternately run down and run up. The submarine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +has moved so that the steamship will +pass her so as to present a broadside. Up +comes the periscope for one last look. The +observer sees a puff of smoke from the deck of +a destroyer and a quick splash of water obscures +the view momentarily.</p> + +<p>"They have seen us and are firing."</p> + +<p>But the steamship is now within a mile, +within fairly accurate torpedo range. An order +rolls into the torpedo-room and the crew prepare +for firing. In the meantime a shower of +shells explode about the periscope. There comes +a sudden vagueness on the glass into which the +observer has been gazing.</p> + +<p>"The periscope has been hit."</p> + +<p>Thoughts of launching the torpedo vanish. +Safety first is now the dominant emotion. +Additional water flows into the tanks and the +craft begins to settle. But as she does so there +is a sudden flood of water into the control-room; +a hoarse cry goes up from the crew. +The officers draw their revolvers. Evidently +the injured periscope has caused a leak. Before +anything can be done there is a tremendous +grinding, rending explosion; the thin steel walls<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +contract under the force of the released energy. +Above them the destroyer crew gazing eagerly +at the geyser-like volume of water arising from +the sea descry pieces of metal, dark objects of +all sorts. The sea quiets and up from the depths +arise clouds of oil, spreading slowly over the +waves. The U-47-½ has joined many a nobler +craft upon the wastes of subaqueous depths.</p> + +<p>But not always has the outcome of a submarine +attack been so fortunate for us. There +have been thousands of instances—many more +of them in the past than at present, fortunately—where +the U-boat returned to her base with a +murderous story to tell. While it is certain +that when the totals for the present year are +compiled an engaging tale of reduced submarine +effectiveness will be told; yet—as the British +Government has announced—any effort to minimize +what the submarine has done would work +chiefly toward the slowing up of our ship-building +and other activities designed to combat +directly and indirectly the lethal activities of +the submarine. And from a naval standpoint +it is also essential that the effectiveness of the +undersea craft be fully understood.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was on January 31, 1917, that the German +Government suddenly cast aside its peace overtures +and astonished the world by presenting +to the United States Government a note to the +effect that from February 1 sea traffic would be +stopped with every available weapon and without +further notice in certain specified zones. +The decree applied to both enemy and neutral +vessels, although the United States was to be +permitted to sail one steamship a week in each +direction, using Falmouth as the port of arrival +and departure. On February 3 President Wilson +appeared before Congress and announced +that he had severed diplomatic relations with +Germany on the ground that the imperial government +had deliberately withdrawn its solemn +assurances in regard to its method of conducting +warfare against merchant vessels. Two months +later, April 6, as already noted, Congress declared +that a state of war with Germany existed.</p> + +<p>The German people were led to believe that +an aggregate of 1,000,000 tons of shipping +would be destroyed each month and that the +wastage would bring England to her knees in +six months and lead to peace. The six months<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +went by, but the promises of the German +Government were not fulfilled. Instead the +submarine war brought the United States into +the struggle and this, in the words of Philipp +Scheidemann, leader of the German majority Socialists, +has been "the most noticeable result."</p> + +<p>None the less, the submarine, used ruthlessly, +without restrictions, proved itself to be an unrivalled +weapon of destruction, difficult to combat +by reason of its ability to stalk and surprise its +quarry, while remaining to all intents and purposes +invisible. It has taken heavy toll of +ships and men, and has caused privation among +the peoples of the Entente nations; it is still +unconquered, but month by month of the +present year its destructiveness has been impaired +until now there may be little doubt +that the number of submarines destroyed every +month exceeds the number of new submarines +built, while the production of ship tonnage in +England and the United States greatly outweighs +the losses. In other words, the submarine, +as an element in the settling of the war +in a manner favorable to Germany, has steadily +lost influence, and, while it is not now a negligible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +factor, it is, at least, a minor one and growing +more so.</p> + +<p>Secret figures of the British Admiralty on submarine +losses and world ship-building issued in +March, 1918, show that from the outbreak of war, +in August, 1914, to the end of 1917, the loss +was 11,827,080 tons. Adding the losses up to +April of the present year—when the submarine +sinkings began to show a markedly decreased +ratio—and we get a total of 13,252,692 tons. +The world's tonnage construction in the four +years 1914-17 was 6,809,080 tons. The new +construction in England and the United States +for the first quarter of 1918 was 687,221 tons, +giving a total from the beginning of the war to +April 1 of 1918, 7,750,000 tons built outside of +the Central Powers since the beginning of the +war, with a final deficit of about 5,500,000 tons. +Of this deficit the year 1917 alone accounted +for 3,716,000 tons.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"> +<a name="illus-full-speed" id="illus-full-speed"></a> +<a href="images/full-speed.png"> +<img src="images/full-speed-th.png" width="350" height="211" alt="A U.S. Submarine at full speed" title=""/></a> +<span class="caption"><i>From a photograph copyright by Enrique Midler</i>. +A U. S. submarine at full speed on the surface of the water.</span></div> + +<p>From the last quarter of 1917, however, the +margin between construction and loss has been +narrowing steadily. In the first quarter of +1918 the construction in Great Britain and +America alone was over 687,000 tons and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +losses for the whole world were 1,123,510 tons. +Here is a deficit for three months—the first +three months of the present year—of 436,000 +tons, or an annual average of 1,750,000 tons, +which is a deficit one-half less than that of the +black year of 1917. When figures at the end +of the present year are revealed we may find +that we have reckoned too little upon the ship-building +activity of both England and the +United States, in which event the deficit may +prove to be even less. But in any event the +dry figures as set forth are worth perusal inasmuch +as they point not only to the deadly +effectiveness of the submarine in the first year +of unrestricted activity, but show how valiantly +the Allied sea power has dealt with a seemingly +hopeless situation in the present year.</p> + +<p>In the House of Commons not long ago a +definite statement that the trend of the submarine +war was favorable to the Allies was +made. The one specific item given was that +from January 1 to April 30, 1917, the number +of unsuccessful attacks upon British steamships +was 172, a weekly average of 10. Last +year in the ten weeks from the end of February<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +to the end of April there were 175 unsuccessful +attacks, or a weekly average of 18. This statement +was not exactly illuminating. For of itself +a decline in the weekly number of unsuccessful +attacks would imply an increase in the +effectiveness of the U-boat—which we know is +not so. What the House of Commons statement +really meant, of course, was that the number of +<i>successful</i> attacks had been declining as well as +the number of unsuccessful attacks—or, in other +words, that the German sea effort as a whole +was declining. The U-boats are not hitting +out as freely as they did a year ago. This +argues that there are fewer of them than there +were in 1917. For actual tonnage losses we +have the word of the French Minister of Marine +that the sinkings for April, 1918, were 268,000 +tons, whereas in April of the previous year they +were 800,000 tons, an appalling total.</p> + +<p>"The most conclusive evidence we have seen +of the failure of the enemy's submarine campaign +is the huge American army now in France, +and the hundreds of thousands of tons of stores +brought across the Atlantic," said James Wilson, +chairman of the American labor delegation, +upon his return to England last May from a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +visit to France and to the American army. +"Less than twelve months have passed since +General Pershing arrived in France with 50 +men. The developments that have taken place +since seem little short of miraculous."</p> + +<p>Georges Leygues, Minister of Marine of +France, in testifying before the Chamber of +Deputies in May said that in November of 1917 +losses through the submarine fell below 400,000 +tons, and since has diminished continuously. +He said that the number of submarines destroyed +had increased progressively since January +of the present year in such proportion that +the effectiveness of enemy squadrons cannot be +maintained at the minimum required by the +German Government. The number of U-boats +destroyed in January, February, and March +was far greater in each month than the number +constructed in those months. In February +and April the number of submarines destroyed +was three less than the total destroyed in the +previous three months. These results, the minister +declared, were due to the methodical character +of the war against submarines, to the +close co-ordination of the Allied navies; to the +intrepidity and spirit animating the officers and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +crews of the naval and aerial squadrons, to the +intensification of the use of old methods and to +the employment of new ones.</p> + +<p>We may lay to ourselves the unction that +the reduced effectiveness of the submarine +coincided with the entrance of our naval forces +into the war. This is taking nothing from +the French, British, and Italian navies; as a +matter of truth, it would be gross injustice +to ignore the fact that the large share of the +great task has been handled through the immense +resources of the British. But the co-ordinated +effort which began with the arrival +of our vessels on the other side, the utter freedom +with which Secretary Daniels placed our +resources at the service of the British was inspiring +in its moral influences throughout the +Entente nations, while practically there may be +no doubt that our craft have played their fair +share in the activities that have seen the steady +decline of deadliness on the part of the U-boat. +We may now consider the methods which our +navy in collaboration with Allied sea power have +employed in this combat for the freedom of the +seas.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">How the Submarine is being Fought—Destroyers the +Great Menace—But Nets, Too, Have Played Their +Part—Many Other Devices—German Officers Tell +of Experience on a Submarine Caught in a Net—Chasers +Play Their Part—The Depth-Bomb—Trawler +Tricks—A Camouflaged Schooner Which Turned Out +To Be a Tartar—Airplanes—German Submarine +Men in Playful Mood</p> + + +<p>When the submarines first began their +attacks upon British war-ships and merchant +vessels the admiralty was faced by a +state of affairs which had been dealt with more +or less in the abstract, the only practical lessons +at hand being those of the Russo-Japanese +War, which conflict, as a matter of fact, left +rather an unbalanced showing so far as the +undersea boat and the surface craft were concerned; +in other words, the submersible had +by all odds the advantage.</p> + +<p>But England tackled the problem with bulldog +energy, utilizing to that end not only her +immense destroyer fleet, but a myriad of high-speed +wooden boats, many of which were built +in this country. They were called submarine-chasers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +and while the destroyer and the seaplane, +as one of the most effective weapons +against the submarine, came to the fore, the +chaser is employed in large numbers by England, +France, and the United States.</p> + +<p>The great usefulness of the destroyer lay not +only in patrolling the seas in search of the +U-boats, but of serving in convoys, protecting +passenger and freight vessels, and in rescuing +crews of vessels that had been sunk. There may +be other methods of reducing Germany's sum +total of submarines which are equally—if not +more—effective than the destroyer; but, if so, +we have not been made aware of that fact. +Certain it is, however, that aside from the destroyer, +steel nets, fake fishing and merchant +sailing vessels, seaplanes and chasers have +played their important part in the fight, while +such a minor expedient as blinding the eye of +the periscope by oil spread on the waters has +not been without avail.</p> + +<p>The United States Navy appears to have +figured chiefly through its destroyer fleet. It +has been stated that half the number of sailors +who were in the navy when we entered the war<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +were sent to European waters. The system of +training them involves a number of training-bases +in Europe constantly filling up from American +drafts. Each new destroyer that steams +to Europe from our shores in due course sends +back some of her men to form a nucleus for the +crew of another new destroyer turning up in +American waters. Their places are taken by +drafts from the training-bases in Europe. The +destroyer referred to as turning up in this country +makes up her complement from the battleships +and other naval units here. The training-bases +in this country are established at Newport, +Chicago, San Francisco, and Pelham Bay, N.Y. +Here the men have many months' instruction. +As their training approaches completion they are +sent where needed, and thus the work of creating +an immense army of trained seamen qualified +for any sort of a task proceeds with mechanical +precision.</p> + +<p>Submarine hunting is very popular with our +young jackies, and great is their satisfaction +when some submarine falls victim to their vigilance, +their courage, and their unerring eyes.</p> + +<p>"But," said a young sea officer not long ago,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +"the submarine is a difficult bird to catch. He +holds the advantage over the surface craft. +He always sees you first. Even when he is on +the surface he is nearly awash, and when submerged +only his periscope appears above the +water. The submarine is not after animals of +our breed—destroyers—and when he can he +avoids them. We may go several weeks without +putting an eye upon a single U-boat. When +we do there is action, I can tell you. We start +for him at full speed, opening up with all our +guns in the hope of getting in a shot before he +is able to submerge. But you may believe he +doesn't take long to get below the surface. +Anyway, the sub doesn't mind gun-fire much. +They are afraid of depth charges—bombs which +are regulated so that they will explode at any +depth we wish. They contain two or three +hundred pounds of high explosive, and all +patrol vessels and destroyers carry them on +deck and astern. When we see a submarine +submerge we try to find his wake. Finding it, +we run over it and drop a bomb. The explosion +can be felt under water for a distance of several +miles, but we have to get within ninety feet of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +the hull to damage it. This damage may or +may not cause the undersea boat to sink. Inside +of ninety feet, though, there isn't much +doubt about the sinking.</p> + +<p>"Patrol duty is a grind. The sea where we +work is filled with wreckage for a distance of +300 miles off shore, and you can take almost +any floating object for a periscope. Yes, we +shoot at everything; ours is not a business in +which to take chances. Convoy work is more +interesting and more exciting than the round of +patrol. The advantage of the convoy over the +picking up and escorting of a merchantman by +a patrol-boat is that in the convoy from six to +ten destroyers can protect from ten to thirty +merchantmen, while under the patrol system +one destroyer watches one merchant craft. +Convoy trips take our destroyers away from +their base from six to eight days, and they are +all trying days, especially so in dirty weather. +On convoy duty no officer, and no man, has his +clothes off from start to finish. Too many +things may happen to warrant any sort of unpreparedness. +Constant readiness is the watch-word.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + +<p>"At night difficulty and danger increase, +chiefly because of the increased danger of collision. +Collisions sometimes occur—what with +the absence of lights, the zigzag course of the +ships of the convoy, and the speed with which +we travel. But as a rule the accidents are of +the scraping variety, and all thus is usually well. +The convoy is purely a defensive measure. The +patrol is the offensive; in this the destroyers +and other craft go out and look for the U-boats, +the idea being to hound them out of the seas."</p> + +<p>Then there are netting operations in which +our sailors have played some part. The netting +most often used is made of stout galvanized wire +with a 15-foot mesh. This is cut into lengths +of 170 feet, with a depth of 45 feet. On top of +this great net are lashed immense blocks of +wood for buoys. Two oil-burning destroyers +take the netting, and hanging it between them +as deep down in the water as it will go, are +ready to seine the 'silverfish.' The range of +a submarine's periscope is little over a mile in +any sort of sea. Vessels that are belching clouds +of smoke may be picked up at distances of from +three to five miles, but no more. In other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +words, watchful eyes gazing through binoculars +may see a periscope as far as that periscope +sees. The destroyers, bearing their net between +them, then pick up a distant periscope. They +chart the submarine's direction (this may be +told by the direction in which the periscope is +cutting the water) and calculate her speed. +Then they steam to a point directly ahead of the +submarine, and the lashings are cut away from +the net. While it thus floats in the submarine's +path the destroyers speed away out of eye-shot. +In a large majority of cases it is claimed +the submarine runs into that net, or one like it. +Results are a probable disarrangement of her +machinery and her balance upset. She may +be thrown over on her back. If she comes up +she goes down again for good and all with a +hole shot in her hull; if not, it is just as well, a +shell has been saved.</p> + +<p>Submarines occasionally escape by changing +their course after the nets have been set; but +there appears to have been no instance of the +destroyers themselves having been picked up +by the periscope. This because they set pretty +nearly as low as a submarine, and with their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +oil-burning propulsion give forth no telltale +cloud of smoke. Other nets are hung from +hollow glass balls, which the periscope cannot +pick up against the sea water. These nets are +set in profusion in the English Channel, the +North Sea, or wherever submarines lurk, and +they are tended just as the North River shad +fishermen tend their nets. When a destroyer, +making the rounds, sees that a glass ball has +disappeared, there is more than presumptive +evidence that something very valuable has been +netted.</p> + +<p>Naval Lieutenant Weddingen, of the German +submarine U-17, has related the following experience +with the British net system. The +U-17 had left her base early in the morning and +had passed into the North Sea, the boat being +under water with periscope awash. "I looked +through the periscope," said Weddingen, "and +could see a red buoy behind my boat. When, +ten minutes later, I looked I saw the buoy again, +still at the same distance behind us. I steered +to the right and then to the left, but the buoy +kept on following us. I descended deeply into +the water, but still saw the buoy floating on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +the surface above us. At last I discovered that +we had caught the chain of the buoy and that +we were dragging it along with us.</p> + +<p>"At the same time, also, I saw through the +periscope that a strange small steamer was +steering a course directly behind us and the +buoy. At this time my sounding apparatus indicated +that a screw steamer was in the vicinity. +Observation revealed that five enemy torpedo-boats +were approaching from the north. I increased +the speed of the boat in the expectation +of being able to attack one of them. The five +torpedo-boats arranged themselves in a circle. +I sank still deeper and got ready for eventualities.</p> + +<p>"At this juncture my boat began to roll in a +most incomprehensible manner. We began to +rise and sink alternately. The steering-gear apparently +was out of order. Soon afterward I +discovered that we had encountered a wire +netting and were hopelessly entangled in it. +We had, in fact, got into the net of one of the +hunters surrounding us.</p> + +<p>"For an hour and a half the netting carried +us with it, and although I made every effort to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +get clear of it, it seemed impossible. There was +nothing to do but increase the weight in the +submarine as much as possible so that I might +try to break the netting. Fortunately, when we +had started I had pumped in from five to six +tons of water, filling all the tanks. I increased +the weight of the boat to the utmost, and suddenly +we felt a shock and were clear of the netting. +I then descended as deeply in the water +as I could, the manometer showing thirty metres. +We remained under water for eighteen hours. +When I wanted to ascertain where we were I +noticed that my compass was out of order. For +a time I steered by the green color of the water, +but at last I had to get rid of the ballast in order +to rise. I then discovered that the manometer +continued to register the same depth, and was +also out of order.</p> + +<p>"I had, therefore, to be very careful not to +rise too high and thus attract the attention of +the torpedo-boats. Slowly the periscope rose +above the surface, and I could see the enemy +in front of me, and toward the left the east coast +of England. I tried to turn to starboard, but +the rudder did not work. In consequence, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +had to sink again to the bottom of the sea, +where I remained for six hours, at the end of +which time I had succeeded in putting the compass +in order, and also in repairing the steering-gear. +But upon rising this time, we were detected +by a torpedo-boat, which made straight +for us, forcing me to descend again." (This apparently +was before depth-bombs came into use.) +"I remained submerged for two hours, then +turned slowly outward, and at a distance of some +fifty metres from the leading enemy craft, +passed toward the open sea. At 9 o'clock in the +evening we were able to rise and proceed in +safety."</p> + +<p>Here is a human document, is it not? It is +the experience of the tarpon at the undersea +end of the line, or, in human terms, the hidden +drama of man against man, drama of the sort +made possible by the ingenuity of this modern +age.</p> + +<p>Submarine-chasers are shallow craft, capable +of a speed of thirty-five miles an hour or more, +mounting guns fore and aft. Some of our +chasers measure more than 200 feet over all +(<i>Eagle</i> class), while others measure 110 feet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +The British, as already said, like the 80-footer, +although using all sizes. Well, in any event, +the chaser cruises about looking for surface +waves. Now, the surface wave is the path +marked by a submarine on the surface of the +water. Even when she is fifty feet below the +surface she leaves this palpable pathway up +above. And few submarines travel at a depth +of sixty feet. Then besides this track there are +air-bubbles and spots of oil, all confirming the +presence beneath the water of the U-boat.</p> + +<p>So thereafter the chaser simply follows that +surface wave until the submarine comes to the +surface, as she must do sooner or later to get +her bearings and look about for prey. When +she does come up—she goes down for good. +The hunt of the chaser has been aided in the +past year or so by the depth-bomb, which did +not exist in the first two and a half years of war. +Equipped with this, she need not necessarily +follow a surface wave all day; she simply drops +the bomb down through this wave; at least she +does under certain conditions.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<a name="illus-submarine-chaser" id="illus-submarine-chaser"></a> +<a href="images/submarine-chaser.png"> +<img src="images/submarine-chaser-th.png" width="300" height="217" alt="A Submarine-Chaser" title=""/></a> +<span class="caption"><i>From a photograph by Brown Brothers</i>. +A submarine-chaser.</span></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<a name="illus-destroyer" id="illus-destroyer"></a> +<a href="images/destroyer.png"> +<img src="images/destroyer-th.png" width="300" height="219" alt="A Torpedo-Destroyer" title=""/></a> +<span class="caption"><i>From a photograph by Brown Brothers</i>. +A torpedo-destroyer.</span></div> + +<p>This depth-bomb, by the way, is a wonderful +invention, and with its perfection began the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +great decrease in submarine losses. The bomb +is cylindrical and has in the top a well in which +is fitted a small propeller. As the water comes +in contact with the propeller the sinking motion +causes it to revolve. As it revolves it screws +down a detonator which comes in contact with +the charge at ten, fifteen, twenty, or forty or +more feet as designated by the hand of an indicator +on the bomb. The hand of this indicator +is, of course, set by the officer before the bomb +is released either from a gun or from tracks along +the deck.</p> + +<p>Then there have been a number of tricks; +some of them Yankee tricks, some of them the +creatures of the equally fruitful British tar. +One day in the North Sea a British patrol-vessel +came across a trawler. It resembled the ordinary +British trawler, but there were points of +difference, points that interested the inquisitive—and +suspicious—commander of the war-vessel. +Chiefly there were a lot of stores upon her deck. +She flew the Norwegian flag, and her skipper +said he was neutral. But the British commander +decided to take a chance. He arrested +the crew, placed them in irons, and manned the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +trawler with a crew of French and English navy +men.</p> + +<p>The trawler hovered about in the same locality +for three days, and then one morning, lo +and behold, a periscope popped up close alongside. +Seeing the waters clear of enemy ships, +the U-boat came to the surface and frisked +blithely up to the trawler. She was greeted by a +shower of machine-gun bullets, and surrendered +without ado. There was really nothing else for +the surprised skipper to do. For when he had +last seen that trawler she was the parent ship +of the submarine flotilla operating in that vicinity. +In all, before the week was over, that +trawler had captured six submarines without +the loss of a life, and no one injured.</p> + +<p>Thereafter the parent-ship trawler was seized +whenever the British could capture one, and the +same expedient was tried. But after a time the +Germans became wary of approaching parent-ships +until they were convinced that their +parenthood was more real than assumed.</p> + +<p>Then one day after the Americans arrived a +three-masted schooner was commandeered. +They put a deck-load of lumber on her; at least<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +it was an apparent deck-load. It was really a +mask for a broadside of 3-pounder guns, different +sections of the deck-load swinging open to +admit of free play of the guns, as levers were +pulled.</p> + +<p>The schooner, commanded by a Maine +skipper and his crew, was turned loose in the +North Sea. Astern towed a dingy; from the +taffrail flew the American flag. Before long out +popped a submarine. Aha! A lumber-laden +vessel—American! The German commander, +grinning broadly, stepped into a gig with a +bombing crew; torpedoes were not wasted on +sailing-vessels.</p> + +<p>"Get into your dingy," he cried, motioning +toward the craft dangling astern.</p> + +<p>The Maine skipper, in his red underclothes, +besought, and then cursed—while the German +grinned the more broadly. Finally, however, +the irate—sic—skipper and his crew of five +clambered into their dingy as ordered by the +commander of the submarine. And then! No +sooner had the schooner crew cleared the wind-jammer +than the deck-load of lumber resolved +itself into a series of doors, and out of each door<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +protruded a gun. It was the last of that submarine, +of course. The schooner got five submarines +before another submarine happened to +witness the destruction of a companion craft.</p> + +<p>Next day when the schooner approached a +submarine the undersea boat let drive with a +torpedo, and the joyous days of that particular +wind-jammer were at an end. But thereafter +the Germans seldom tried to bomb a sailing craft.</p> + +<p>Airplanes have played their important part +in the work of our navy in combating the submarine. +Seaplanes are sent on patrol from +regular bases or from the deck of a parent-vessel, +a steamship of large size. Flying at a height of +10,000 feet, an airplane operator can see the +shadow of a submarine proceeding beneath the +surface. Thus viewing his prey, the aviator +descends and drops a depth-bomb into the +water. Our airmen have already won great +commendation from the British Admiralty and +aerial commanders. Whatever may have been +the delays in airplane production in this country, +the American Navy has not been at fault, +and Secretary Daniels's young men went into +British seaplanes when American planes were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +not at hand. From British Admiralty sources +have come many tales of the skill and courage +of the American aviators. There was one recent +instance noted of an American pilot scouting +for submarines who spotted a periscope. +He dropped a bomb a few feet astern and a few +feet ahead of that periscope, both bombs falling +perfectly in line with the objective. He +circled and then dropped a bomb in the centre +of a disturbance in the water. Up came oil in +great quantities.</p> + +<p>Another American pilot managed the rare +feat of dropping a bomb precisely upon the +centre of the deck of a submarine, and had the +unhappy experience of seeing it fail to explode—as +recently happened in the submarine fight +off Cape Cod, near Chatham.</p> + +<p>In hunting for the submarines the American +destroyers have patrolled an area as wide as +that bounded roughly by the great V formed by +New York, Detroit, and Knoxville, Tenn. And +while patrolling they have become skilled in the +use of the depth charges, in establishing smoke +screens so as to hide vessels of a convoy from +the periscope eye, and in marksmanship. One<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +gun crew not long ago saw the spar of a sunken +ship which they at first took to be a periscope. +They shattered that spar at a distance of 2,000 +yards—more than a mile.</p> + +<p>Filled with the enthusiasm of each new encounter +with the enemy, the Americans have not +been slow to build upon their experience, devising +more effective methods against the next +affray. For example, two officers working on +designs for new destroyers have introduced +many new ideas gained from their experiences +in submarine-hunting. Suggestions relating to +improved gun-fire and the like are always arising +from the men of the fleet, and often they are +accepted and applied.</p> + +<p>A new appliance—I don't know by whom invented—is +an improved microphone, by which +the revolutions of a propeller are not only heard, +but the direction also is indicated, while the +force of the under-water sound-waves are translated +on an indicator in terms of proximity. +The great drawback to this is that the submarines +are also equipped with microphones +of the sort—or at least are said to be.</p> + +<p>It is usually a grim business on both sides;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +but occasionally a bit of humor comes out of +the seas. A case in point was the message received +almost every night by an American destroyer +in European waters. The radiogram +said:</p> + +<p>"My position is —— degrees north, and —— +degrees west. Come and get me; I am waiting +for you."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">"HANS ROSE."</span></p> + +<p>Now Hans Rose was the name of the German +submarine commander who visited Newport, +October, 1917, as we have already narrated. +Twice the destroyer proceeded swiftly to the +location, but never did Hans Rose keep his +appointment. If he had the American sailors +would not have given Captain Rose's crew beer +upon that occasion, as they did when Rose and +his U-boat dropped into Newport harbor.</p> + +<p>Then there is a submarine commander known +throughout the American flotilla as "Kelly." +He commands a mine-laying submarine, which +pays frequent visits to the district patrolled by +the American destroyers. When he has finished +his task of distributing his mines where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +they will do the most harm, he generally devotes +a few minutes to a prank of some sort. +Sometimes, it is a note flying from a buoy, +scribbled in schoolboy English, and addressed +to his American enemy. On other occasions +Kelly and his men leave the submarine and +saunter along a desolate stretch of Irish shore-line, +always leaving behind them a placard or +other memento of their visit.</p> + +<p>But the most hazardous exploit, according to +gossip of American forecastles, was a visit which +Kelly made to Dublin, remaining, it is said, +for two days at one of the principal hotels, and +later rejoining his boat somewhere on the west +coast.</p> + +<p>His latest feat was to visit an Irish village and +plant the German flag on a rise of land above +the town. One may imagine how the Irish +fisherfolk, who have suffered from mines, +treated this flag and how ardently they wished +that flag were the body of Kelly.</p> + +<p>But Kelly and his less humorously inclined +commanders have been having a diminishing +stock of enjoyment at the expense of the Allied +navies in the past year. Senator Swanson,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +acting chairman of the Naval Committee in +Congress, said on June 6, after a conference +with Secretary Daniels and his assistants, that +the naval forces of the Entente Powers had destroyed +60 per cent of all German submarines +constructed, and that they had cut the shipping +losses in half. Lloyd George in his great speech +last July, said that 150 submarines had been +sunk since war began and of this number 75 +were sunk in the past 12 months. Truly an +extraordinary showing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Perils and Triumphs of Submarine-Hunting—The Loss +of our First War-Ship, The Converted Gunboat "Alcedo"—Bravery +of Crew—"Cassin" Struck by Torpedo, +But Remains in the Fight—Loss of the "Jacob +Jones"—Sinking of the "San Diego"—Destroyers +"Nicholson" and "Fanning" Capture a Submarine, +Which Sinks—Crew of Germans Brought Into Port—The +Policy of Silence in Regard to Submarine-Sinkings</p></div> + + +<p>But as in the pursuit of dangerous game +there is always liable to be two angles to +any experience—or say, rather, a reverse angle, +such as the hunted turning hunter—so in the +matter of our fight against the submarine there +are instances—not many, happily—where the +U-boat has been able to deal its deadly blow +first.</p> + +<p>The first of our war-ships to be sunk by a +submarine was the naval patrol gun-boat <i>Alcedo</i>, +which was torpedoed shortly before 2 +o'clock on the morning of November 5, 1917, +almost exactly seven months after we entered +the war. She was formerly G. W. Childs +Drexel's yacht <i>Alcedo</i>, and Anthony J. Drexel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +Paul, an officer in the Naval Reserve, was on +her at the time. The vessel was the flag-ship +of one of the patrol-flotillas, and for months +had performed splendid service in the North +Sea.</p> + +<p>The torpedo that sunk the vessel came without +warning, and so true was the aim that the +war-ship went down in four minutes, carrying +with her one officer and twenty of the crew. +Commander William T. Conn, U.S.N., who +commanded the vessel, in telling later of the +experience, paid a high testimonial to the coolness +and bravery of the crew. Eighty per cent +of the men were reserves, but regulars could +have left no better record of courage and precision.</p> + +<p>"Here," said Commander Conn, "is a story +that indicates the kind of men we have in the +navy. I had a young lad in my crew, a yeoman, +and one day I sent for him and told him +that if we were ever torpedoed he was to save +the muster-roll, so that when it was all over it +would be possible to check up and find who +had been saved. Well, the <i>Alcedo</i> was torpedoed +at 2 o'clock one morning, and in four<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +minutes she disappeared forever. Hours afterward, +when we were waiting to be picked up, I +saw my yeoman, and I said:</p> + +<p>"'Son, where is my muster-roll?'</p> + +<p>"'Here it is,' he replied, as he reached inside +his shirt and pulled it out.... And that +same boy, in the terrible minutes that followed +the loss of our ship, found a broken buoy. He +was holding on to it when he saw one of our +hospital stewards, who was about to give in. +He struggled to the side of the steward and +with one hand held him above the water while +with the other he clung to the buoy. He held +on until both were saved."</p> + +<p>While the <i>Alcedo</i> was the first war-vessel to +be sunk by a submarine, the first war-ship to +be stricken in torpedo attack was the destroyer +<i>Cassin</i>, one of the vessels that raced out of Newport +to rescue the victims of the ravages of the +German U-boat off Nantucket, in October, 1916. +The <i>Cassin</i> was on patrol duty and had sighted +a submarine about four miles away. The destroyer, +in accordance with custom, headed for +the spot, and had about reached it when the +skipper, Commander Walter H. Vernon, sighted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +a torpedo running at high speed near the surface, +and about 400 yards away. The missile +was headed straight for the midship section of +the war-ship. Realizing the situation, the commanding +officer rang for the emergency full +speed ahead on both engines, put the rudder +hard over, and was just clear of the torpedo's +course when it broached on the water, turned +sharply and headed for the stern of the vessel. +Here stood Osmond Kelly Ingram, gunner's +mate, at his gun. He saw that if the torpedo +struck at the stern it would, aside from working +initial damage, cause the explosion of munitions +stored on the after deck.</p> + +<p>Thereupon, knowing that the torpedo was +going to strike about where he stood, he ran to +the pile of munitions and tumbled them into +the sea. The explosion occurred as he was at +work, and he was blown into the ocean and lost. +But he had not died in vain, for the secondary +explosion that he feared was averted by his act +of supreme sacrifice.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, only one engine was disabled by +the explosion, and the destroyer was thus permitted +to remain under way. She zigzagged to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +and fro, hoping to get a chance at her assailant, +and in about an hour the German submarine +commander decided that it was a good time to +come to the surface for a better look at the destroyer. +As the conning-tower came into view +the <i>Cassin's</i> gunners delivered four shots, two +of which fell so close to the U-boat that she +submerged and was not seen again. In the +meantime the crew, with splendid team-work, +set about repairing the damage and attending +to the five men who were wounded, none seriously.</p> + +<p>After a while British war-ships came up and +the <i>Cassin</i> returned to port. Admiral Sims +mentioned Commander Vernon and his officers +in despatches to Secretary Daniels, and more +than a score of the seamen were cited for coolness +and efficiency.</p> + +<p>Our second war-ship definitely known to be +sunk by the German submarines was the destroyer +<i>Jacob Jones</i>, which was struck at 4.12 +o'clock on the afternoon of December 6, last. +The destroyer was on patrol, and nothing was +known of the proximity of the submarine until +the torpedo hit the vessel. The <i>Jacob Jones</i>,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +which was commanded by Lieutenant-Commander +David Worth Bagley, a brother-in-law +of Secretary Daniels and brother of Ensign +Worth Bagley, who was killed on the torpedo-boat +<i>Winslow</i> in the fight at Cardenas in the +Spanish-American War, went down in seventeen +minutes after she was struck. Gunner +Harry R. Hood was killed by the explosion, but +the remainder of the company got safely overside +in rafts and boats. The submarine appeared +after the sinking and took one of the +survivors aboard as a prisoner. Lieutenant-Commander +Bagley, with five others, landed in +a small boat on the Scilly Islands while other +survivors reached shore in various ways. The +<i>Jacob Jones</i> was regarded by superstitious navy +men as something of a Jonah, she having figured +in one or two incidents involving German +spies while in this country.</p> + +<p>The first and to date the only American war-ship +lost in American waters as a result of submarine +attack was the armored cruiser <i>San +Diego</i>—formerly the <i>California</i>—which was +sunk by a mine off Point o' Woods on the +Long Island coast on the morning of July 19,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +1918. Facts associated with the disaster, involving +the loss of some fifty lives, are illuminated +with the light of supreme heroism, gallantry, +and utter devotion. In no single instance +was there failure on the part of officers or crew +to meet the unexpected test in a manner quite +in accordance with the most glorious annals +of the United States Navy.</p> + +<p>Point will perhaps be given to this if we picture +Captain Harley H. Christie pushing his +way about the welter of wreckage in a barrel, +reorganizing some 800 of his men, who were +floating about on every conceivable sort of +object, into the disciplined unit that they had +comprised before they were ordered overside +to take their chances in the ocean. Or again, +taking the enlisted-man aspect of the situation, +there was the full-throated query of a husky +seaman, clinging to a hatch as the <i>San Diego</i> +disappeared:</p> + +<p>"Where's the captain?"</p> + +<p>Then a chorus of voices from the water:</p> + +<p>"There he is! See his old bald head! God +bless it! Three cheers for the skip!"</p> + +<p>There they all were, some 800 men, survivors<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +of a company numbering thirteen-odd hundred, +in the water, out of sight of land, not a ship in +sight—and twelve life-boats among them, cheering, +singing, exchanging badinage and words of +good hope.</p> + +<p>The <i>San Diego</i>, which was one of the crack +shooting-ships of the navy, and had made seven +round trips to France in convoy work without +ever having seen a submarine, was on her +way from the Portsmouth, N.H., navy-yard, +where she had been completely overhauled in +dry-dock and coaled, to New York, where +her crew were to have had short liberty, preliminary +to another voyage to France. She +carried a heavy deck-load of lumber which she +was to take to France for the Marine Corps. +She had in her bunkers some 3,000 tons of coal.</p> + +<p>On the morning of July 19, the cruiser, shortly +after 11 o'clock, had reached a point about +seven miles southeast of Point o' Woods. The +sun was shining brilliantly, but the coast-line +was veiled in a heavy haze. There was a fair +ground-swell running, but no sea. The <i>San +Diego</i> was ploughing along at a fifteen-knot clip, +not pursuing the zigzag course which it is customary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +for vessels to follow in enemy-infested +waters.</p> + +<p>No submarine warning had been issued, and, +as the vessel was only seven miles offshore, +there may be no doubt that the officers of the +war-ship did not consider the trip as any more +hazardous than the hundreds of journeys she +had made along our coast from port to port. +The crew were engaged in the usual routine, +with the added labor of getting the vessel ship-shape +after the grimy operation of coaling at +Portsmouth. The explosion came without +warning at 11.15 o'clock. It was extremely +heavy, accompanied by a rending and grinding +of metal and by the explosion of the after-powder +magazine, which destroyed the quarter-deck +and sent the mainmast, with wireless attached, +crashing overboard. The torpedo, or +whatever it was, wrecked the engine-room, +demolished the boilers, and put the electric +dynamos out of order.</p> + +<p>The thunderous explosion was followed immediately +by the insistent whine of bugles and +the clanging of alarm-bells, calling the crew to +battle-stations. And the crew went quietly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +without the slightest disorder. Down in the +bunkers, four decks below, was an officer, with +a party of seamen, setting things to rights after +the coaling. As the explosion occurred and +the vessel heeled, these men, as though instinctively, +formed into a line, and then without +excitement or hurry climbed the four upright +steel ladders to the deck, the officer, of course, +following last of all.</p> + +<p>On deck the 6-inch starboard and port batteries +were blazing away, not only at objects +that might turn out to be periscopes or submarines, +but in order to call assistance; for +the wireless was out of commission, and there +was not a sail or a hull in sight.</p> + +<p>After a few minutes, the bugles sounded the +order "Prepare to abandon ship." This applied +to every one but the gun crews, who had +to remain at their stations for at least five minutes +after the process of abandonment was put +into operation. The post of one of the gun-crew +officers was in the fighting-top of the +basket-mast forward, his duty being that of +spotter of his crew. As he hurried along the +deck to his station the crew lined up along the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +port rail with life-preservers and were jumping +into the sea as ordered.</p> + +<p>There were comrades who had been killed +or maimed by the shifting deck-load of lumber; +there were comrades who, in jumping into the +sea, had struck their heads against the steel +hull, breaking their necks, and yet there the +rest stood in line, waiting for the orders that +would send them overboard.</p> + +<p>"Isn't this a crime," laughed one of the seamen, +"just after I had got on my liberty blues +and was all set for the high spots in New +York!"</p> + +<p>"Gripes! My cigarettes are all wet! Who's +got a dry one?"</p> + +<p>"Look out there, kid; be careful you don't +get your feet wet."</p> + +<p>Twelve life-boats were overside, set adrift +in the usual manner to be filled after the men +were in the water. Then, of course, the sea +was littered with lumber and all sorts of debris +which would keep a man afloat.</p> + +<p>While the abandonment of the ship was +under way, the officer who had been in the +bunkers, and whose station was in the fighting-top,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +hurried upward to his post. The port +guns were still being served, but their muzzles +were inclining ever downward toward the water. +In his battle-station this officer directed the +firing of the port guns until their muzzles dipped +beneath the surface of the sea. There were +three officers with him in the fighting-top and +three seamen. Below they saw the perfect +order which obtained, the men stepping into +the sea in ranks, laughing and cheering.</p> + +<p>Presently this officer sent one of the seamen +down the mast to get life-belts for the group of +men in the spotting-station. By the time he +returned the bugles were ordering the total +abandonment of the vessel.</p> + +<p>So the little group made their way, not to +the deck, which was now straight up and down, +but to the starboard side of the hull, upon which +they could walk, the vessel then being practically +on her beam ends. Trapped at their +stations on the port side were members of the +6-inch port battery. One of them was seen +by a comrade just before rising waters shut +him from view. The sinking man nodded and +waved his hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good-by, Al," he said.</p> + +<p>As the officer who had been in the fighting-top +jumped clear into the sea, the vessel began +to go down, now by the head. Slowly the stern +rose, and as it did so, he says, the propellers +came into view, and perched on one of the blades +was a devil-may-care American seaman, waving +his hat and shouting.</p> + +<p>The vessel, the officer says, disappeared at +11.30 o'clock, fifteen minutes after the explosion +occurred. There was some suction as the +<i>San Diego</i> disappeared, but not enough, according +to the calculation of the survivors with +whom I talked, to draw men to their death.</p> + +<p>In the course of another hour, Captain Christie +had collected as many of his officers as he +could, and the work of apportioning the survivors +to the twelve boats and to pieces of flotsam +was carried on with naval precision. One +man, clinging to a grating, called out that he +had cramps. A comrade in one of the boats +thereupon said the sailor could have his place. +He leaped into the sea and the man with cramps +was assisted into the boat.</p> + +<p>While this was going on a seaplane from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +Bay Shore station passed over the heads of +the men in the water. The seamen did not +think they had been seen, but they had been, +and the aviator, flying to Point o' Woods, landed +and used the coast-guard telephone to apprise +the Fire Island coast-guards of the disaster. +From this station word was sent broadcast +by wireless. In the meantime, Captain Christie +had picked two crews of the strongest seamen +and had them placed in No. 1 and No. 2 life-boats. +These men were ordered to row south-west +to Fire Island and summon assistance.</p> + +<p>In one boat thirteen men were placed; in +the other fourteen. As the captain got the +boat-crews arranged, his barrel began to get +waterlogged and became rather precarious as +a support; whereupon a floating seaman pushed +his way through the water with a ladder.</p> + +<p>"Here, sir," he said, "try this."</p> + +<p>Thus it was that Captain Christie transferred +to a new flag-ship.</p> + +<p>The boat-crews left the scene of the disaster +at 12.35, and they rowed in fifteen-minute relays +from that hour until quarter past three. +Before they had gone four miles merchant ships<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +were rushing to the spot, as set forth in the +wireless warning. These merchantmen got all +of the men afloat in the water—or a vast majority +of them—and took them to the naval +station at Hoboken.</p> + +<p>At the time of the disaster and for twenty-four +hours thereafter there was some doubt +whether or not the <i>San Diego</i> had been lost +through contact with a mine, or was struck +by a torpedo launched from a submarine. Submarine +activities off Cape Cod the following +Sunday, however, gave proof that the undersea +boats had made their second hostile visit +to our shores.</p> + +<p>But later belief was that the cruiser was +sunk by a mine planted by the submarine. +One of our most illustrious exploits, indeed, occurred +hardly a fortnight before the loss of the +<i>Jones</i>, when two destroyers, the <i>Nicholson</i> and +<i>Fanning</i>, steamed into their base with flags flying +and German prisoners on their decks.</p> + +<p>It was a clear November afternoon, and the +destroyer <i>Fanning</i> was following her appointed +route through the waters of the North Sea. +Off to starboard the destroyer <i>Nicholson</i> was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +plunging on her way, throwing clouds of black +smoke across the horizon. Near by was a merchant +vessel, and the destroyers were engaged +in taking her through the dangerous waters to +safety. The air was so clear that minutest +objects on the horizon were easily picked up by +the questing binoculars of the men on watch. +Suddenly came a cry from one of the forward +lookouts:</p> + +<p>"Periscope, two points off the starboard +bow!"</p> + +<p>The call sounded from stem to stern, and +instantly the alarm to general quarters was +sounded while the helm was thrown hard over. +The signalman bent over his flag-locker and, +in compliance with the order of the commander, +bent flags onto the halyards, giving the location +of the submarine to the <i>Nicholson</i>, while heliograph +flashes from the bridge summoned her +to joint attack. The waters were smooth, with +a long swell, and the lookout had seen a scant +eighteen inches of periscope, which had vanished +immediately it fell under his vision. Undoubtedly +the observer at the other end of the +submarine's periscope had seen the <i>Fanning</i> at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +about the same time the presence of the undersea +craft was detected. It had appeared about +400 yards from the destroyer's course.</p> + +<p>In less time than it takes to tell, the <i>Fanning</i>, +with throttles suddenly opened, plunged into +the waters where the periscope had last been +seen. And at the proper moment the commander, +standing tensely on the bridge, released +a depth-bomb from its fixed place. The explosive, +300 pounds in weight, sank with a +gentle splash into the rolling wake of the destroyer +and, at the depth as regulated before +the bomb was released, it exploded with a terrific +report.</p> + +<p>Up from the ocean rose a towering column of +water. It hung in the air for a moment like a +geyser, and then gradually fell back to the level +of the sea. A score of voices proclaimed the +appearance of oil floating upon the water. Oil +is sometimes released by a submarine to throw +an attacking destroyer off the scent; but this +time there were bubbles, too. That was quite +significant. Then while the <i>Fanning</i> circled the +spot wherein the explosion had occurred, the +<i>Nicholson</i> stormed up, cut across the supposed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +lurking-place of the submarine, and released one +of her depth charges. She, too, circled about +the mass of boiling, oil-laden water.</p> + +<p>For several minutes the two destroyers +wheeled in and out like hawks awaiting their +prey, and then suddenly there was a cry as a +disturbance was noted almost directly between +the two craft. The rush of water grew in volume +until, as the men of the destroyers watched +with all the ardor of fishermen landing trout, +the U-boat came to the surface like a dead +whale.</p> + +<p>But the Americans were cautious. While +stricken the undersea craft might show fight. +So with guns and torpedo-tubes trained upon +the submarine, they waited. But there was no +fight in that boat. The depth charges had +done their work thoroughly. While the visible +portion of the hull appeared to have been uninjured, +it was perfectly clear that the vessel +was not under perfect control. Her ballast-tanks +were damaged, which accounted for a +bad list.</p> + +<p>The explosions of the depth-bombs had hurled +her to the bottom, where she retained sufficient<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +buoyancy to catapult to the surface. As the +conning-tower came into sight the <i>Nicholson</i> +fired three shots from her stern gun. The U-boat +then seemed to right herself, making fair speed +ahead. The <i>Fanning</i> headed in toward her, +firing from the bow gun. After the third shot +the crew of the German vessel came up on deck, +their hands upraised.</p> + +<p>While approaching the craft both the destroyers +kept their guns trained for instant use, +but, as it turned out, precautions were unnecessary. +Lines were thrown aboard the submersible +and were made fast; but the U-boat, either +stricken mortally or scuttled by her crew, began +to settle. Lines were hastily cast off, and the +boat sought her long rest upon the bottom of a +sea to which no doubt she had sent many harmless +vessels.</p> + +<p>The crew of the U-boat, all of whom had life-preservers +about their waists, leaped into the +water and swam to the <i>Fanning</i>; most of them +were exhausted when they reached the destroyer's +side. As the submarine sank, five or +six men were caught in the wireless gear and +carried below the surface before they disentangled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +themselves. Ten of the men were so +weak that it was necessary to pass lines under +their arms to haul them aboard. One man was +in such a state that he could not even hold the +line that was thrown to him.</p> + +<p>Chief Pharmacist's Mate Elzer Howell and +Coxswain Francis G. Connor thereupon jumped +overboard and made a line fast to the German. +But he died a few minutes after he was hauled +aboard.</p> + +<p>Once aboard, the prisoners were regaled with +hot coffee and sandwiches, and so little did they +mind the change to a new environment that, +according to official Navy Department report, +they began to sing. They were fitted with +warm clothes supplied by the American sailors, +and in other ways made to feel that, pirates +though they were, and murderers as well, the +American seafaring man knew how to be +magnanimous.</p> + +<p>The submarine bore no number nor other distinguishing +marks, but her life-belts were marked +on one side "Kaiser," and on the other "Gott." +The <i>Fanning</i> steamed to port at high speed, and +at the base transferred the prisoners under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +guard, who as they left the destroyer gave three +lusty hochs for the <i>Fanning's</i> men. Then the +<i>Fanning</i> put out to sea a few miles, and after +the young American commander had read the +burial service, the body of the German seaman +who had died was committed to the depths. +The commander of the <i>Fanning</i> was Lieutenant +A. S. Carpender, a Jerseyman, who in his +report gave particular praise to Lieutenant Walter +Henry, officer of the deck, and to Coxswain +Loomis, who first sighted the submarine.</p> + +<p>This was by no means the first time a submarine +had been sunk by an American destroyer, +but in accordance with the British policy, the +Americans had withheld all information of the +sort. However, this was such a good story, and +the capture of prisoners so unusual, that by +agreement between the Navy Department and +the British Admiralty, the salient details of +this encounter were given to the public.</p> + +<p>The idea of secrecy was devised by the British +at the very outset, the purpose being to make +the waging of submarine warfare doubly objectionable +to the men of the German Navy. It is +bad enough to be lost in a naval engagement, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +at least the names of the ships involved and the +valor of the crews, both friend and enemy, are +noted. But under the British system, a submarine +leaves port, and if she is sunk by a patrol-vessel +or other war-ship, that fact is never made +known. The Germans know simply that still +another submarine has entered the great void.</p> + +<p>It adds a sinister element to an occupation +sufficiently sinister in all its details. There +may be no doubt that the policy of silence has +had its effect upon the German morale. That +crews have mutinied on the high seas is undoubted, +while we know of several mutinies +involving hundreds of men that have occurred +in German ports—all because of objections to +submarine service. It is even said that submarine +service is now one of the penalties for +sailors who have offended against the German +naval regulations, and there are stories of submarines +decked with flowers as they leave port, +a symbol, of course, of men who go out not +expecting to return—all for the glory of the +man known throughout the American Navy +as "Kaiser Bill."</p> + +<p>It is thus unlikely that such success as might—or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +may—attend the efforts of our coast-patrol +vessels to dispose of the submarines which come +here will not be published unless the highly colored +complexion of facts warrants it. One may +imagine that service in a submarine so far from +home is not alluring, and still less so when submarines +sent to the waters of this hemisphere +are heard from nevermore.</p> + +<p>Just how unpopular the service has been +may be adduced from chance remarks of +German submarine prisoners who come to this +country from time to time. The men of the +U-boat sunk by the <i>Fanning</i> made no effort to +conceal their satisfaction at their change of +quarters, while Germans in other cases have +told their British captors that they were glad +they had been taken.</p> + +<p>There is the story of the storekeeper of the +German submarine which sunk several vessels +off our coast last June. He said he had formerly +served on a German liner plying between +Hoboken and Hamburg, and his great regret +was that he had not remained in this country +when he had a chance. Life on a submarine, +he said, was a dog's life.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<p>Even under peace conditions this is so. The +men are cramped for room, in the first place. +In a storm the vessel, if on the surface, is thrown +almost end over end, while the movement of +stormy waves affects a boat even thirty feet +below the water-level. Cooking is very often +out of the question, and the men must live on +canned viands. They have not even the excitement +of witnessing such encounters as the +vessel may have. Three men only, the operating +officers, look through the periscope; the others +have their stations and their various duties +to perform. If a vessel is sunk they know it +through information conveyed by their officers. +There was a story current in Washington before +we entered the war, of a sailor, a German sailor +who had had nearly a year of steady service on +a submarine. He was a faithful man, and as +he was about to go ashore on a long leave, his +commanding officer asked what he could do +for him.</p> + +<p>"Only one thing," was the reply. "Let me +have one look through the periscope."</p> + +<p>In the past year the Allies have been employing +their own submarines in the war against the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +German undersea peril. This has been made +possible by the perfection of the listening device +before referred to by which the presence of a +submarine and other details may be made +known. But it is a dangerous business at best, +and not largely employed, if only for the reason +that patrol-vessels are not always likely to distinguish +between friend and foe. We have +in mind the tragic instance of the American +cruiser which fired upon a submarine in the +Mediterranean, killing two men, only to find +that the vessel was an Italian undersea boat. +Of course our deepest regrets were immediately +forthcoming, and were accepted by the Italian +Government in like spirit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">Our Battleship Fleet—Great Workshop of War—Preparations +for Foreign Service—On a Battleship +During a Submarine Attack—The Wireless +That Went Wrong—The Torpedo That Missed—Attack +on Submarine Bases of Doubtful Expediency—When +the German Fleet Comes Out—Establishment +of Station in the Azores</p> + + +<p>When the German fleet of battleships and +battle-cruisers sallies forth into the North +Sea for a final fight against the British Grand +Fleet, they will find American dreadnoughts and +superdreadnoughts ready and eager to lend the +material weight of their assistance to the Allied +cause. A substantial number of our capital +ships, under command of Rear-Admiral Hugh +Rodman, are with the Grand Fleet, and have +been for some months. Both in Washington +and in London a German sea offensive on a +grand scale has long been regarded as a possibility, +and the admiralty authorities at the +Entente capitals are anxious for the supreme +test, and confident concerning its outcome. +We have already noted Admiral Beatty's action<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +in assigning American battleships to the place +of honor in the line of sea-fighters which went +forth to meet a reported German attack some +time ago. It was a false report, but the honor +done our naval fighters stands.</p> + +<p>The expansion of the United States Navy has +also included an enormous increase in our battleships +and battle-cruisers; definite details are +withheld, but it is not too much to say that we +are thoroughly equipped to assist Great Britain +very vitally in this respect. In the summer of +1917 Secretary Daniels announced that the +Atlantic Fleet—our Grand Fleet—had been reorganized +into two divisions, officially known as +"forces." Battleship Force One had as commander +Vice-Admiral Albert W. Grant, and +Battleship Force Two was commanded by Vice-Admiral +DeWitt Coffman. Admiral Henry T. +Mayo remained as commander-in-chief.</p> + +<p>"There are," said Secretary Daniels in announcing +the new arrangement—July 18, 1917—"as +many battleships in commission as +we ever had before; in fact, every battleship we +have is in commission. The whole purpose of +the new organization is to keep our battleship<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +fleet in as perfect condition as possible, to put +it in the highest state of efficiency and readiness +for action."</p> + +<p>Eventually an appreciable number of our +best fighters were sent to the Grand Fleet—which, +however, is by no means to be understood +as implying that our own coasts are unprotected. +Not at all. The Navy Department has a view-point +which embraces all possible angles, and +nothing in the way of precaution has been +overlooked. At the same time it has been the +theory of Secretary Daniels that the way to +beat the submarine and the German Navy in +general was to go to the base of things, "to the +neck of the bottle," and this as much as anything—more, +in sooth—accounts for the hundreds +of war-ships of various sorts that now +fly our flag in the war zone.</p> + +<p>The orders dividing the fleet into two "forces" +and despatching a representation of our greatest +fighters to the North Sea was preceded by +a period of preparation the like of which this +country—perhaps the world—never saw. The +Atlantic Fleet was, indeed, converted into a +huge workshop of war, turning out its finished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +products—fighting men. A visitor to the fleet, +writing under date of May 14, expressed amazement +at the amount of well-ordered activity +which characterized a day on every one of the +battleships. Here were men being trained for +armed-guard service on merchantmen, groups +of neophytes on the after deck undergoing instruction +on the loading-machines; farther along +a group of qualified gunners were shattering a +target with their 5-inch gun. Other groups +were hidden in the turrets with their long 14 +and 12 inch guns, three or two to a turret. +Signal-flags were whipping the air aloft—classes +in signalling; while from engine-room and fighting-tops +each battleship hummed with the +activities of masters and pupils teaching and +learning every phase of the complicated calling +of the modern navy man.</p> + +<p>And there were days when the great fleet +put to sea for target practice and for battle +manoeuvres, the turrets and broadsides belching +forth their tons upon tons of steel and the observers +aloft sending down their messages of +commendation for shots well aimed. It is the +statement of those in a position to know that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +never were jackies so quick to learn as those +of our war-time personnel. Whether the fact +of war is an incentive or whether American +boys are adapted, through a life of competitive +sport, quickly to grasp the sailorman's trade, the +truth remains that in a very short space the boy +who has never seen a ship develops swiftly into +a bluejacket, rolling, swaggering, but none the +less deft, precise, and indomitable.</p> + +<p>"They come into the navy to fight," said one +of the officers of the fleet, "and they want to +get into the thick of it. We turn out qualified +gun crews in three months—and that is going +some." A large majority of the new men of +the fleet come from farms, especially from the +Middle West. More than 90 per cent of the +seamen are native-born, and on any ship may +be heard the Southern drawl, the picturesque +vernacular of the lower East or West side of +New York City, the twang of New England, the +rising intonation of the Western Pennsylvanian, +and that indescribable vocal cadence that comes +only from west of Chicago.</p> + +<p>Not only gunners were developed, but engineers, +electricians, cooks, bakers—what-not?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +They are still being developed on our home ships, +but in the meantime the fruits of what was +done in the time dating from our entrance into +the war to the present summer are to be noted +chiefly in the North Sea, where our vessels lie +waiting with their sisters of the British Fleet +for the appearance of the German armada.</p> + +<p>Let us transfer ourselves for the time being +from the general to the particular: in other +words, to the deck of a great American dreadnought, +which, together with others of her type, +has been detached from the Atlantic Fleet and +assigned to duty with Admiral Beatty's great +company of battleships and battle-cruisers. +This battleship has entered the war zone, en +route to a certain rendezvous, whence all the +American units will proceed to their ultimate +destination in company.</p> + +<p>It is night. It is a black night. The stars +are viewless and the ocean through which the +great steel hull is rushing, with only a slight +hiss where the sharp cutwater parts the waves, +is merely a part of the same gloom. Aloft and +on deck the battleship is a part of the night. +Below deck all is dark save perchance a thin,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +knife-like ray emanating from a battle-lantern. +The lookouts, straining their eyes into the +black for long, arduous stretches, are relieved +and half-blind and dizzy they grope along the +deck to their hammocks, stumbling over the +prostrate forms of men sleeping beside the +5-inch guns, exchanging elbow thrusts with those +of the gun crews who are on watch.</p> + +<p>The trip this far has been a constant succession +of drills and instruction in the art of +submarine fighting—all to the tune of general +alarm and torpedo defense bells. And the +while preparations for sighting the enemy have +never been minimized. They involved precautions +not dissimilar to those on board a destroyer +or other patrol-vessel, but were of course +conducted on a vastly greater scale. As suggesting +an outline of measures of watchfulness, +we may regard this battleship as the centre of +a pie, with special watches detailed to cover +their given slice of this pie. These slices are +called water sectors, and each sector, or slice, +extends at a given angle from the course of the +ship out to the horizon. Of course as the vessel +is constantly moving at a rapid rate, the centre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +of the pie shifts, too. In this way every foot +of water within the great circle of the horizon +is under constant supervision night and day by +a small army of lookouts, armed with binoculars +and gun telescopes.</p> + +<p>And so our battleship goes on through the +night. On the bridge all is quiet. Officers +move to and fro with padded footfalls, and the +throb of the great engines is felt rather than +heard. The wind begins to change, and presently +the captain glancing out the door of the +chart-house clucks his chagrin. For the night +has begun to reveal itself, thanks, or rather, no +thanks, to the moon, which has torn away from +a shrouding mass of clouds and sends its rays +down upon the waters of the sea. It had been +a fine night to dodge the lurking submarine, +but now the silver light of the moon, falling +upon the leaden side of the battleship, converts +her into a fine target.</p> + +<p>"Nature is certainly good to the Germans," +chuckles an officer to a companion, taking care +that the captain does not hear.</p> + +<p>"Yes," comes the sententious reply. The +lookouts grow more rigid, for whereas formerly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +they could see nothing, objects on the water are +now pencilled out in luminous relief.</p> + +<p>Deep down below the water there is a listening +"ear"—a submarine telephone device through +which a submarine betrays its presence; any +sound the undersea boat makes, the beating of +the propellers, for instance, is heard by this +ear, and in turn by the ear of the man who +holds the receiver.</p> + +<p>Presently the man who is on detector watch +grows tense. He listens attentively and then +stands immobile for a moment or so. Then he +steps to a telephone and a bell rings in the chart-house +where the captain and his navigating and +watch officers are working out the courses and +positions.</p> + +<p>"I hear a submarine signalling, sir," comes +the voice from the depths to the captain who +stands by the desk with the receiver at his +ear.</p> + +<p>"What signal?" barks the skipper.</p> + +<p>"MQ repeated several times. Sounds as if +one boat was calling another." (The sailor referred +to the practice which submarines have of +sending subaqueous signals to one another,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +signals which are frequently caught by listening +war-ships of the Allies.)</p> + +<p>The captain orders the detector man to miss +nothing, and then a general alarm (to quarters) +is passed through the great vessel by word of +mouth. This is no time for the clanging of +bells and the like. The lookouts are advised as +to the situation.</p> + +<p>"I hope we're not steaming into a nest." +The captain frowns and picks up the telephone. +"Anything more?" he asks.</p> + +<p>"Still getting signals, sir; same as before; +same direction and distance."</p> + +<p>Down to the bridge through a speaking-tube, +running from the top of the forward basket-mast +comes a weird voice.</p> + +<p>"Bright light, port bow, sir. Distance about +4,000 yards." (Pause.) "Light growing dim. +Very dim now."</p> + +<p>From other lookouts come confirmatory words.</p> + +<p>"Dim light; port bow."</p> + +<p>"The light has gone."</p> + +<p>"It's a sub, of course," murmurs an officer. +"No craft but a submarine would carry a night +light on her periscope. She must be signalling."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +A thrill goes through the battleship. In a +minute the big steel fighter may be lying on her +side, stricken; or there may be the opportunity +for a fair fight.</p> + +<p>The captain sends an officer below to the detector +and changes the course of the ship. +Every one awaits developments, tensely.</p> + +<p>The wireless operator enters the chart-house.</p> + +<p>"I can't get your message to the —— (another +battleship), sir. I can't raise her. Been +trying for ten minutes."</p> + +<p>The officer who has been below at the detector +comes up and hears the plight of the wireless +man. He smiles.</p> + +<p>"In exactly five minutes," he says, "you +signal again." The radio man goes to his room +and the officer descends to the detector. In +precisely five minutes he hears the signal which +had bothered the man on detector watch. He +hurries to the bridge with the solution of the incident. +The wireless had become disconnected +and its signals had come in contact with the +detector. So there was no submarine. Everything +serene. The battleship settles down to +her night routine.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> + +<p>The dark wears into dawn, and the early +morning, with the dusk, is the favorite hunting-time +of the submarine, for the reason that then +a periscope, while seeing clearly, is not itself +easily to be discerned. The lookouts, straining +their eyes out over the steely surge, pick up +what appears to be a spar. But no. The +water is rushing on either side of it like a mill +race. A periscope.</p> + +<p>There is a hurry of feet on the bridge. The +navigating officer seizes the engine-room telegraph +and signals full speed ahead. While the +ship groans and lists under the sudden turn at +high speed, the ammunition-hoists drone as they +bring powder and shell up to gun and turret. +From the range-finding and plotting-stations +come orders to the sight-setters, and in an instant +there is a stupendous roar as every gun +on the port side sends forth its steel messenger.</p> + +<p>Again and again comes the broadside, while +the ocean for acres about the periscope boils +with the steel rain. It is much too hot for the +submarine which sinks so that the periscope +is invisible. From the plotting-stations come +orders for a change of range, and on the sea a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +mile or so away rise huge geysers which pause +for a moment, glistening in the light of the new +sun, and then fall in spray to the waves, whence +they were lifted by the hurtling projectiles. The +shells do not ricochet. "Where they hit they +dig," to quote a navy man. This is one of the +inventions of the war, the non-ricochet shell. +One may easily imagine how greatly superior +are the shells that dig to those that strike the +water and then glance. Then comes the cry:</p> + +<p>"Torpedo!"</p> + +<p>All see it, a white streak upon the water, circling +from the outer rim of shell-fire on a wide +arc, so as to allow for the speed of the battleship. +With a hiss the venomous projectile +dashes past the bow, perhaps thirty yards away. +Had not the battleship swung about on a new +course as soon as the vigilant lookout descried +the advancing torpedo, it would have been a +fair hit amidships. As it was, the explosive +went harmlessly on its way through the open +sea. A short cheer from the crew marks the +miss, and the firing increases in intensity. +The battleship so turns that her bow is in the +direction of the submarine, presenting, thus, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +mark which may be hit only through a lucky +shot, since the submarine is a mile away. Accurate +shooting even at a mile is expected of +torpedo-men when the mark is a broadside, +but hitting a "bow-on" object is a different +matter.</p> + +<p>Two more torpedoes zip past, and then over +the seas comes bounding a destroyer, smoke +bellying from her funnels. She is over the +probable hiding-place of the submarine, and a +great explosion and a high column of water tell +those on the battleship that she has released a +depth-bomb. Suddenly a signal flutters to the +stay of the destroyer. The crew of the battleship +cheer. There is no more to fear from that +submarine, for oil is slowly spreading itself over +the surface of the ocean—oil and pieces of +wreckage.</p> + +<p>The dawn establishes itself fully. The battleship +resumes her course toward the appointed +rendezvous.</p> + +<p>Our navy has always held the idea that the +Germans could be routed out from their submarine +bases, has believed that, after all, that is +the one sure way of ridding the seas of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +Kaiser's pirates for good. It may be assumed +that the recent attacks of the British upon Ostend +and Zeebrugge, as a cover to blocking the +canal entrances through sinking old war-ships, +were highly approved by Vice-Admiral Sims. +Secretary Daniels has considered the advisability +of direct methods in dealing with the +German Navy. No doubt the temptation has +been great, if only because of the fact that with +the British and American and French navies +combined, we have a force which could stand +an appreciable amount of destruction and yet +be in a position to cope with the German fleet. +Yet, of course, that is taking chances. And:</p> + +<p>"It is all very well to say 'damn the torpedoes,'" +said Secretary Daniels, in discussing +this point, "but a navy cannot invite annihilation +by going into mined harbors, and ships can +do little or nothing against coast fortifications +equipped with 14-inch guns. Experience at +Gallipoli emphasizes this fact. And yet"—here +the secretary became cryptic—"there is +more than one way to kill a cat. No place is +impregnable. Nothing is impossible."</p> + +<p>The British showed how damage might be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +dealt naval bases supposedly secure under the +guns of fortifications, but something more than +a sally will be necessary to smoke out the German +fleet, or to root out the nests of submarines +along the coast of Belgium. Again, there is the +theory that eventually the Germans will come +out and give battle. There is a psychological +backing for this assumption, for the irksomeness +of being penned up wears and wears until it is +not to be borne. At least this seems to have +been the case in blockades in past wars, notably +the dash of Admiral Cervera's squadron from +Santiago Harbor.</p> + +<p>But when the Germans come it will be no +such forlorn hope as that—at least not according +to the German expectation; what they expect, +however, and what they may get are contingencies +lying wide apart.</p> + +<p>In connection with our far-flung naval policy +the establishment of a naval base on the Azores +Islands was announced last spring. The arrangement +was made with the full consent of +Portugal, and the design was the protection of +the Atlantic trade routes to southern Europe. +Guns have already been landed on the island,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +and fortifications are now in process of construction. +The station, besides being used as a +naval base for American submarines, destroyers, +and other small craft, will serve as an important +homing-station for our airplanes, a number of +which have already been assembled there.</p> + +<p>The establishment of this station greatly +simplifies the task of protecting the great trade +routes, not only to southern Europe and the +Mediterranean, but also returning traffic to +South American and southern Gulf ports in the +United States.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">Great Atlantic Ferry Company, Incorporated, +But Unlimited—Feat of the Navy in Repairing the +Steamships Belonging to German Lines Which Were +Interned at Beginning of War in 1914—Welding +and Patching—Triumph of Our Navy With the +"Vaterland"—Her Condition—Knots Added to Her +Speed—Damage to Motive Power and How It Was +Remedied—Famous German Liners Brought Under +Our Flag</p> + + +<p>In an address delivered not long ago, Admiral +Gleaves, commander-in-chief of the United +States Cruiser and Transport Force, referred +to "The Great Atlantic Ferry Company, Incorporated, +but Unlimited." He referred to +our transport fleet, of course, a fleet which, +under naval supervision and naval operation, +has safely transported more than a million of +our soldiers to France. When the history of +the war finally comes to be written, our success +in the handling of oversea transportation will +not be the least bright among the pages of that +absorbing history.</p> + +<p>When the European nations first went to war +in 1914 I happened to be at the Newport Naval<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +Training Station, and I asked an officer what +would happen if we went into the war.</p> + +<p>"Not much," he said. "We would stand on +our shores and the Germans on theirs and +make faces at each other."</p> + +<p>Events have proved that he was not looking +into the future wisely, not taking into account +the enormous energy and get-things-doneness +of Secretary Daniels and his coadjutors. Not +only did the Navy Department send our destroyer +fleet to the war zone—the Allied officers, +believing co-operation of the sort not feasible, +had neither requested nor expected this—but +performed many other extraordinary feats, +among them the equipping of transports to +carry our men to France, and the conduct of the +service when they were ready.</p> + +<p>We had only a fair number of American steamships +adapted for the purpose, but lying in our +ports were interned German and Austrian vessels +aggregating many hundreds of thousands +of tons. From 1914 until we entered the war +commuters on North River ferry-boats seemed +never weary of gazing at the steamships lying +in the great North German Lloyd and Hamburg-American<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +line piers in Hoboken. There was a +small forest of masts and funnels appearing +above the pier sheds, while many a graceful +stern protruded out beyond the pier lines into +the river.</p> + +<p>Among them was the great <i>Vaterland</i>, the +largest vessel in the world, and the outward and +visible expression of that peaceful maritime +rivalry between Great Britain and the German +Empire, which in the transatlantic lanes as in +the waters of all the seven seas had interested +followers of shipping for so many years. There +was, so far as passenger traffic was concerned, +the rivalry for the blue ribbon of the sea—the +swiftest ocean carrier, a fight that was waged +between Great Britain and Germany from the +placid eighties to the nineties, when the Germans +brought out the <i>Deutschland</i>, and later +the <i>Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse</i>, the <i>Kaiser Wilhelm +II</i>—all champions—whose laurels were to +be snatched away by the <i>Mauretania</i> and the +<i>Lusitania</i>—the two speed queens—when war +ended competition of the sort.</p> + +<p>But the contest in speed had, to an extent, +been superseded by the rivalry of size, a struggle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +begun by the White Star Line when the great +<i>Oceanic</i> slipped past quarantine in the early +1900's, and carried on by that line, by the +Atlantic Transport Line, and by the German +companies with unceasing vigor. Great carrying +capacity and fair speed were the desiderata, +and the studious Germans were quick to see +that it was a far more profitable battle to wage, +since speed meant merely advertising, with a +more or less slight preponderance in the flow of +passenger patronage to the line which owned +the latest crack greyhound, whereas size meant +ability to carry greater cargoes, and thus enhanced +earning capacity.</p> + +<p>So great hulls were the order of the years preceding +1914. There came the new <i>Baltic</i>, the +new <i>Cymric</i>, the new <i>Adriatic</i> of the White Star +Line, and for the Germans there came the +<i>Amerika</i> and other craft of that type. Finally +there was the <i>Titanic</i> and her ill-fated maiden +voyage; the Cunarder <i>Aquitania</i>, and the +<i>Vaterland</i>, and the <i>Imperator</i>, which bore the +German ensign. These facts, presented not +altogether in chronological order, are necessary +to give the reader an idea of the manner in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +which the Americans were taking back seats +in the unceasing fight for commercial maritime +supremacy. It is quite likely, so far back was +our seat, that the Germans held little respect +for our ability, either to man or to fit the immense +number of German vessels in our harbors. +In truth, the events that followed our entrance +into the war showed just how supreme the contempt +of the Germans was for our knowledge +of things nautical.</p> + +<p>We are about to record just how erroneous +that attitude of the Germans was, but wish +first to point out that they had failed to take +into consideration the fact that at Annapolis is +situated a school of the sea that asks nothing +of any similar school in the world, and that +they had also failed to note that, while we had +not gone in heavily for shipping, we have been +rather effective in other lines which in event of +emergency might be brought to bear upon the +problem of correcting such deficiencies as might +exist in our store of modern nautical tradition.</p> + +<p>Well, while the German waged their unrestricted +warfare on the sea, those German vessels +lay at Hoboken and at other ports of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +country, gathering the rust and barnacles of +disuse. Then one day Congress spoke definitely, +and the next morning North River ferry +voyagers saw lying off the German docks a +torpedo-boat destroyer flying the American +flag. Some days later the American flag floated +over the taffrails of the <i>Vaterland</i>, the <i>Kaiser +Wilhelm II</i>, and other Teutonic craft. Their +employment in the way of providing transportation +of our soldiers, of course, was contemplated. +In fact, the accession to our marine of such a +large number of hulls seemed to provide for us +all the necessary means which otherwise we +would have lacked.</p> + +<p>But not so fast. When our officers began to +look over these German craft they found that +they were in a woful condition, not so much +because of disuse as because of direct damage +done to them by the German crews who had +been attached to the ships ever since they were +laid up in 1914. There is evidence in Washington +that the German central authorities +issued an order for the destruction of these +ships which was to be effective on or about +February 1, 1917—simultaneous, in other words.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +with the date set for unrestricted warfare. +There is not the slightest doubt that the purpose +of the order was to cause to be inflicted +damage so serious to vital parts of the machinery +of all German vessels in our ports, that +no ship could be operated within a period of +time ranging from eight months to two years, +if at all.</p> + +<p>But the Germans miscalculated, as already +set forth. We took over the 109 German vessels +in April, and by December 30 of that year, +1917, all damage done to them had been repaired +and were in service, adding more than +500,000 tons gross to our transport and cargo +fleets. In general the destructive work of the +German crews consisted of ruin which they hoped +and believed would necessitate the shipping of +new machinery to substitute for that which was +battered down or damaged by drilling or by dismantlement.</p> + +<p>To have obtained new machinery, as a matter +of fact, would have entailed a mighty long process. +First, new machinery would have had to +be designed, then made, and finally installed. +These would have been all right if time was unlimited.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +But it was not; it was, on the other +hand, extremely limited. The army wished to +send troops abroad, the Allies were pleading for +men, and the only way to get them over in time +to do anything was to do quick repair jobs on +the damaged vessels. But how? Investigation +revealed how thorough the work of the +German seamen—now enjoying themselves in +internment camps—had been. Their destructive +campaign had been under headway for two +months, and they had thus plenty of time in +which to do all sorts of harm, ranging from the +plugging of steam-pipes to the demolition of +boilers by dry firing.</p> + +<p>The Shipping Board experts were the first to +go over the German craft, and as a result of +their survey it was announced that a great deal +of new machinery would have to be provided, +and that a fair estimate of the work of remedying +the damage inflicted would be eighteen +months. But this was too long, altogether so. +The officers of the Navy Bureau of Steam Engineering +took a hand, and finally decided that +it would be possible to clear the ships for service +by Christmas of that year. (As a matter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +of record, the last of the 109 ships was ordered +into service on Thanksgiving Day.)</p> + +<p>To accomplish the purposes they had in mind, +the Navy Department engaged the services of +all available machinery welders and patchers, +many of whom were voluntarily offered by the +great railroad companies. Most of the time that +was required was due not so much to actual repair +work as to the devious and tedious task of +dismantling all machinery from bow to stern +of every ship in order to make certain that every +bit of damage was discovered and repaired. +In this way all chance of overlooking some act +of concealed mutilation was obviated.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<a name="illus-repair" id="illus-repair"></a> +<a href="images/repair.png"> +<img src="images/repair-th.png" width="200" height="294" alt="Repairing a Damaged Cylinder" title=""/></a> +<span class="caption"><i>From a photograph copyright by International Film Service.</i> +Repairing a damaged cylinder of a German ship for federal service.</span></div> + +<p>It would appear that explosives were not +used in the process of demolition by the Germans, +but at the time the engineers could not +be sure of this, and as a consequence as they +worked they were conscious of the danger of +hidden charges which might become operative +when the machinery was put to the test, or +even while the work of dismantling and inspection +was being carried on. There were, however, +discovered, as a result of this rigid investigation +of every mechanical detail, many artful cases<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +of pipe-plugging, of steel nuts and bolts concealed +in delicate mechanical parts, of ground +glass in oil-pipes and bearings, of indicators that +were so adjusted as to give inaccurate readings, +of fire-extinguishers filled with gasoline—in fact, +the manifold deceits which the Germans practised +would make a chapter of themselves.</p> + +<p>Suffice to say, that through painstaking investigation +every trick was discovered and corrected. +On each vessel there was no boiler +that was not threaded through every pipe for +evidence of plugging, no mechanism of any +sort that was not completely dismantled, inspected, +and reassembled. On one ship the +engineers chanced to find a written record of +the damage inflicted. In every other case the +search for evidence of sabotage was blind. +This memorandum in the case of the one ship +was evidently left on board through an oversight, +and written in German, was a veritable +guide-book for our engineers. In order that the +reader may have some idea of the sort of damage +done, the following extracts from that +memorandum of destructiveness is herewith +presented:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Starboard and port high pressure cylinders +with valve chest; upper exhaust outlet flange +broken off. (Cannot be repaired.)"</p> + +<p>"Starboard and port second intermediate +valve chest; steam inlet flange broken off, +(Cannot be repaired.)"</p> + +<p>"First intermediate pressure starboard exhaust +pipes of exhaust line to second intermediate +pressure flange broken off. (Cannot be repaired.)"</p> + +<p>"Starboard and port low pressure exhaust pipe +damaged. (Cannot be repaired.)"</p> + +<p>Naval officers are pleased to recall that every +single one of these supposedly irreparable injuries +was not only repaired, but speedily repaired. +Patching and welding were the answer +to the problem they presented. Both these +valuable methods had never been employed in +marine engineering, although they had been +used by the railroads for some fifteen years. +There are three methods; or, rather, three +methods were employed: electric welding, oxyacetylene +welding, and ordinary mechanical +patching. After repairs were effected tests of +the machinery were first made at the docks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +with the ships lashed to the piers, the propellers +being driven at low speed. Later each vessel +was taken to sea for vigorous trial tests, and +everything was found to be perfectly satisfactory. +Indeed, it has been asserted that several +knots were added to the best speed that the +<i>Vaterland</i>—renamed <i>Leviathan</i>—ever made.</p> + +<p>Of course the crew of the <i>Vaterland</i> had spared +no pains in fixing that great ship so that she +could not be used; even so they had less to do +than the engine forces of other craft, for the +reason that the vessel was in extremely bad repair +as she was. As a consequence, she was +one of the German ships that were least mutilated. +When repairs were completed and it +was time for her trial trip, her commander, a +young American naval officer, was ordered to +test the big craft in every way, to utilize every +pound of steam pressure, and to try her out to +the limit. For, if there was anything wrong +with the vessel, the navy wished to know it +before she fared forth with troops on board.</p> + +<p>The <i>Leviathan</i> stood the test. And to-day +we all know what a great part she has played in +carrying our soldiers to France. She is in fact,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +a far better boat than on her maiden trip, for +our engineers were surprised to find how sloppily +she had been built in certain respects.</p> + +<p>In preparing her for sea the engineers found +it necessary to overhaul, partially redesign and +reconstruct many important parts of the <i>Leviathan's</i> +engines. As in her case, the most serious +typical damage was done by breaking the cylinders, +valve-chests, circulating pumps, steam and +exhaust units in main engines; dry-firing boilers, +and thus melting the tubes and distorting +furnaces, together with easily detectable instances +of a minor character, such as cutting +piston and connecting rods and stays with +hack saws, smashing engine-room telegraph +systems, and removing and destroying parts +which the Germans believed could not be duplicated. +Then there was sabotage well concealed: +rod stays in boilers were broken off, but nuts +were fastened on exposed surfaces for purposes +of deception; threads of bolts were destroyed, +the bolts being replaced with but one or two +threads to hold them, and thus calculated to +give way under pressure. Piles of shavings and +inflammable material with cans of kerosene<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +near suggested the intention to burn the vessels, +intentions thwarted by our watchfulness, while +the absence of explosives has been accounted +for purely on the ground of the risk which the +crews would have run in attempting to purchase +explosive materials in the open market.</p> + +<p>No great amount of damage was done to the +furnishings or ordinary ship's fittings. Destructiveness +was similar in character throughout +all the vessels and involved only important +parts of the propulsive mechanism or other +operating machinery.</p> + +<p>We have spoken of the investigation of the +vessels by Shipping Board engineers. They +were appointed by the board not only to make +a survey, but to superintend repairs. The collector +of the port of New York also named a +board of engineers (railroad engineers) to investigate +the damage done the German ships, +and to recommend repairs through the agency +of welding. The railroad men, after due study, +believed that their art could be applied to as +great advantage on ships as upon locomotives. +The Shipping Board engineers recommended, +on the other hand, the renewal of all badly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +damaged cylinders. The railroad engineers, on +the other hand, set forth their opinion that all +damaged cylinders could be reclaimed and made +as good as new.</p> + +<p>As a result of this difference of opinion, nothing +was done until the larger German craft were +turned over to the Navy Department to be +fitted as transports, in July of 1917. It was +then decided to use welding and patching on +the vessels.</p> + +<p>In no cases were the repairs to the propulsive +machinery delayed beyond the time necessary +to equip these ships as transports. Electric and +acetylene welding is not a complicated art in +the hands of skilled men; for patching a hole, +or filling the cavity of a great crack in a cylinder, +say by electric welding, may be compared to a +similar operation in dental surgery.</p> + +<p>Returning to the <i>Leviathan's</i> faulty German +construction, be it said that the opinion of the +navy engineers who overhauled her, was that +inferior engineering had been practised in her +construction. There are on this craft four +turbine engines ahead, and four astern, on four +shafts. All the head engines were in good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +shape, but all the astern engines were damaged. +But the main part of the damage had resulted +more to faulty operation of the engines than to +malicious damage. Cracks were found in the +casing of the starboard high-pressure backing +turbine, cracks of size so great as to make it +certain that this engine had not been used in +the last run of that vessel on transatlantic service +in 1914. There was discovered on the +<i>Vaterland</i>, or <i>Leviathan</i>, documentary evidence +to prove this, and it also appeared from this +paper that on her last trip to this country the +vessel had not averaged twenty knots. It may +be that the German ship-builders had hurried +too swiftly in their strenuous efforts to produce +a bigger, if not a better, steamship than the +British could turn out.</p> + +<p>Forty-six of the <i>Vaterland's</i> boilers showed +evidence of poor handling. They were not +fitted with the proper sort of internal feed-pipes. +All these defects, defects original with +the steamship, were repaired by the Americans. +In addition, evidences of minor attempts to disable +the <i>Vaterland</i> were found, such, for instance, +as holes bored in sections of suction-pipes, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +holes having been puttied and thus concealed. +Things of the sort afforded ample reason for a +thorough overhaul of the vast mass of machinery +aboard the steamship. But eventually she was +ready for her test and her performance on a trial +trip to southern waters showed how skilful had +been the remedial measures applied.</p> + +<p>Aboard the <i>Leviathan</i> as other big German +liners, such as the <i>Amerika</i>, <i>President Grant</i>, +<i>President Lincoln</i>, (recently sunk by a German +torpedo while bound for this country from +France), the <i>George Washington</i>, and other vessels +fitted as troop and hospital ships, and the +like, naval crews were placed, and naval officers, +of course, in command. They have proved +their mettle, all. They have shown, further, +that when we get ready to take our place, after +the war, among the nations that go in heavily +for things maritime, we shall not be among the +last, either in point of resourcefulness or intrepidity.</p> + +<p>Civilian sailormen who have sailed on vessels +commanded by naval officers have been inclined +to smile over the minutia of navy discipline +and have expressed doubt whether the naval<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +men would find a certain rigidity any more +useful in a given situation than the civilian seamen +would find a looser ordered system. We +can but base judgment on facts, and among the +facts that have come under the writer's observation, +was the difficulty which the German officers +of the <i>Vaterland</i> encountered in taking their +vessel into her dock in the North River. The +very last time they attempted it the great hulk +got crosswise in the current in the middle of the +stream, and caused all sorts of trouble.</p> + +<p>Our naval officers, however, made no difficulty +at all in snapping the steamship into her pier. +She steams up the Hudson on the New York +side, makes a big turn, and lo! she is safely +alongside her pier. Any seafaring man will tell +you that this implies seamanly ability.</p> + +<p>Following is a list of the larger German ships +which were repaired by the navy engineers, +with the names under which they now sail:</p> + +<table summary="Renamed ships"> +<tr><td>FORMER NAME</td><td>PRESENT NAME</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Amerika</i></td><td><i>America</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Andromeda</i></td><td><i>Bath</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Barbarossa</i></td><td><i>Mercury</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Breslau</i></td><td><i>Bridgeport</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Cincinnati</i></td><td><i>Covington</i><a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> (sunk).</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Frieda Lenhardt</i></td><td><i>Astoria</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Friedrich der Grosse</i></td><td><i>Huron</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Geier</i></td><td><i>Schurz</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>George Washington</i></td><td>name retained.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Grosser Kurfurst</i></td><td><i>Aeolus</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Grunewald</i></td><td><i>Gen. G. W. Goethals</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Hamburg</i></td><td><i>Powhattan</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Hermes</i></td><td>name retained.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Hohenfelde</i></td><td><i>Long Beach</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Kiel</i></td><td><i>Camden</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Kaiser Wilhelm I</i></td><td><i>Agamemnon</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Koenig Wilhelm II</i></td><td><i>Madawaska</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Kronprinz Wilhelm</i></td><td><i>Von Steuben</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Kronprezessin Cecelie </i></td><td><i>Mount Vernon</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Liebenfels</i></td><td><i>Houston</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Locksun</i></td><td><i>Gulfport</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Neckar</i></td><td><i>Antigone</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Nicaria</i></td><td><i>Pensacola</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Odenwald</i></td><td><i>Newport News</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>President</i></td><td><i>Kuttery</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>President Grant</i></td><td>name retained.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>President Lincoln</i></td><td>name retained (sunk).</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Prinzess Irene</i></td><td><i>Pocahontas</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Prinz Eitel Friedrich</i></td><td><i>DeKalb</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Rhein</i></td><td><i>Susquehanna</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Rudolph Blumberg</i></td><td><i>Beaufort</i></td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Saxonia</i></td><td><i>Savannah</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Staatsskretar</i></td><td><i>Samoa</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Vaterland</i></td><td><i>Leviathan</i>.</td></tr> +<tr><td><i>Vogensen</i></td><td><i>Quincy</i>.</td></tr> +</table> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +Is not this rather a reflection upon a perfectly good American city?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">Camouflage—American System of Low Visibility and +the British Dazzle System—Americans Worked Out +Principles of Color in Light and Color in Pigment—British +Sought Merely to Confuse the Eye—British +System Applied to Some of Our Transports</p> + + +<p>While our naval vessels, that is to say +war-ships, have adhered to the lead-gray +war paint, the Navy Department has not +declined to follow the lead of the merchant +marine of this country and Great Britain in +applying the art of camouflage to some of its +transports, notably to the <i>Leviathan</i>, which, +painted by an English camoufleur, Wilkinson, +fairly revels in color designed to confuse the +eyes of those who would attack her. A great +deal has been written about land camouflage, but +not so much about the same art as practised on +ships. Originally, the purpose was the same—concealment +and general low visibility—at least +it was so far as the Americans were concerned. +The British, on the other hand, employed camouflage +with a view to distorting objects and fatiguing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +the eye, thus seriously affecting range-finding. +The British system was known as the +"dazzle system," and was opposed to the American +idea of so painting a vessel as to cause it +to merge into its background.</p> + +<p>The American camouflage is based on scientific +principles which embody so much in the +way of chromatic paradox as to warrant setting +forth rather fully, even though at the present +time, for good and sufficient reasons relating to +German methods of locating vessels, the Americans +have more or less abandoned their ideas +of low visibility and taken up with the dazzle +idea.</p> + +<p>A mural painter of New York, William Andrew +Mackay, who had long experimented in +the chemistry of color (he is now a member of +the staff of navy camoufleurs), had applied a +process of low visibility to naval vessels long +before war broke out in Europe. The basis of +his theory of camouflage was that red, green, +and violet, in terms of light, make gray; they +don't in pigment.</p> + +<p>The Mackay scheme of invisibility will be +easily grasped by the reader if we take the example<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +of the rainbow. The phenomenon of the +rainbow, then, teaches us that what we know +to be white light, or daylight, is composed of +rays of various colors. If an object, say the +hull of a vessel at sea, prevents these rays from +coming to the eye, that hull, or other object, is +of course clearly defined, the reason being that +the iron mass shuts out the light-rays behind it. +Mr. Mackay discovered that by applying to the +sides of a ship paint representing the three +light-rays shut out by the vessel's hull—red, +green, and violet—the hull is less visible than +a similar body painted In solid color.</p> + +<p>In a series of experiments made under the +supervision of the Navy Department after we +entered the war an oil-tanker ship was so successfully +painted in imitation of the color-rays +of light that, at three miles, the tanker seemed +to melt into the horizon. The effect was noted +in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. +In the case of various big liners, more than 500 +feet long, no accurate range could be made for +shelling at from three to five miles—the usual +shelling distance—while at eight miles the vessels +melted into the ocean-mists.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the first trials of the system were conducted +at Newport, in 1913, in conjunction with +Lieutenant Kenneth Whiting, of the submarine +flotilla. After a period experiments were continued +at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. In 1915 +Commander J. O. Fisher, U.S.N., painted the +periscope of his submarine—the K-6—with the +colors of the spectrum. Mr. Mackay got in +touch with this officer and explained the work +he had done with Lieutenant Whiting. Fisher, +deeply interested, invited the painter to deliver +a series of lectures to the officers of the submarine +flotilla at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.</p> + +<p>With the aid of a Maxwell disk—a wheel +upon which colored cardboard is placed and +then revolved—he demonstrated the difference +between paint and light, as set forth in a book +on the chemistry of color by the late Ogden N. +Rood, of Columbia. He showed, for example, +that yellow and blue in light make white, while +yellow and blue in pigment make green. The +bird colored blue and yellow will be a dull gray +at a distance of 100 feet, and will blend perfectly +against the dull gray of a tree-trunk at, perhaps, +a less distance. The parrot of red, green, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +violet plumage turns gray at 100 feet or more, +the eye at that distance losing the ability to +separate the three color-sensations.</p> + +<p>It is upon this principle, then, that ships +painted in several varieties of tints and shades +form combinations under different lights that +cause them to waver and melt into the sea and +sky. They <i>seem</i> to melt, to be more explicit, +because the craft so painted is surrounded by +tints and shades that are similar to those employed +in painting the craft.</p> + +<p>Vessels thus painted, as seen at their docks, +present a curious aspect. At their water-lines, +and running upward for perhaps twenty feet, +are green wave-lines, and above, a dappled effect +of red, green, and violet, which involve +not only the upper portions of the hull, but +the life-boats, masts, and funnels.</p> + +<p>This, then, as said, was the American idea as +first applied by Mr. Mackay, and which would +have been greatly amplified had not listening +devices been so perfected as to render it unnecessary +for the Germans to see until their +quarry was so near, say a mile or two, that no +expedient in the way of low visibility would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +serve. It was then that our navy, which had +been following experiments in camouflage, accepted +the dazzle system for some of its transports, +while retaining the leaden war-paint for +other transports and for fighting craft.</p> + +<p>The dazzle system as applied on the <i>Leviathan</i> +and other vessels under jurisdiction of the navy, +has for its idea the disruption of outline and deception +as to the true course a vessel is following. +The writer saw the <i>Leviathan</i> under way +shortly after she was camouflaged, and at a distance +of two miles it was utterly impossible to +tell whether she was coming or going; and the +observer could not tell whether she had three +funnels or six, or only one. It was noted that +as her distance from the observer became greater +the vessel assumed a variety of effects. Once +it seemed as though both bow and stern had +dropped off, and finally the big craft suggested +in the morning haze nothing so much as a cathedral +set in the middle of the bay.</p> + +<p>Effects of this sort are produced by vertical +stripes of black and white at bow and stern, +by long, horizontal lines of black and blue, and +by patches of various hues. One funnel is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +gray, another blue and white, another all blue. +There can be no question that the sum total of +effect offends the eye and dazes the senses. +Submarines have been known to make errors of +eight degrees in delivering torpedoes at dazzle +boats even at close range.</p> + +<p>In addition to camouflage experiments on one +of our great inland lakes, the Navy Department +also investigated other ideas relating to the self-protection +of craft at sea. Among these was a +device by which a vessel zigzags automatically +as she proceeds on her ocean course. The advantage +of such an invention when the war +zone is filled with submarines waiting for a +chance for pot shots at craft is obvious.</p> + +<p>The Navy Department, in short, has neglected +nothing that would tend to enhance the safety +of our ships on the sea, and many valuable +schemes have been applied. But when all is +said and done these defensive elements are and, +it seems, must remain subsidiary to the protection +as applied from without, the protection +of swift destroyers with their depth-bombs, +their great speed, and their ability quickly to +manoeuvre.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">The Naval Flying Corps—What The Navy Department +Has Accomplished And Is Accomplishing in the Way +of Air-Fighting—Experience of a Naval Ensign +Adrift in the English Channel—Seaplanes and +Flying Boats—Schools of Instruction—Instances +of Heroism</p> + + +<p>In writing of aviation in the navy an incident +which befell one of our naval airmen in the +English Channel seems to demand primary +consideration, not alone because of the dramatic +nature of the event, but because it sets +forth clearly the nature of the work upon which +our flying men of the navy entered as soon as +the United States took hostile action against +Germany. Our navy aviators, in fact, were the +first force of American fighters to land upon +European soil after war was declared. Here is +the story as told by Ensign E. A. Stone, United +States Naval Reserve, after he was rescued from +the Channel, where with a companion he had +clung for eighty hours without food and drink +to the under-side of a capsized seaplane pontoon. +"I left our station in a British seaplane as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +pilot, with Sublieutenant Moore of the Royal +Naval Air Service as observer, at 9 o'clock in +the morning. Our duty was to convoy patrols. +When two hours out, having met our ships +coming from the westward, we thought we +sighted a periscope ahead, and turned off in +pursuit. We lost our course. Our engine +dropped dead, and at 11.30 o'clock forced us +to land on the surface of a rough sea. We had +no kite nor radio to call for assistance, so we +released our two carrier-pigeons. We tied a +message with our position and the word 'Sinking' +on each. The first, the blue-barred one, +flew straight off and reached home. But the +other, which was white-checked, lit on our +machine and would not budge until Moore +threw our navigation clock at him, which probably +upset him so that he failed us.</p> + +<p>"Heavy seas smashed our tail-planes, which +kept settling. I saw that they were pulling the +machine down by the rear, turning her over. +We tore the tail-fabric to lessen the impact of +the waves. It wasn't any use. The tail-flat +was smashed and its box filled with water.</p> + +<p>"This increased the downward leverage and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +raised her perpendicularly in the air. At 2.30 +P.M. we capsized. We climbed up the nose and +'over the top' to the under-side of the pontoons. +Our emergency ration had been in the observer's +seat at the back, but we had been so busy trying +to repair the motor and save ourselves from +turning over that we didn't remember this +until too late. When I crawled aft for food +Moore saw that I was only helping the machine +to capsize. He yelled to me to come back and +I did, just in time to save myself from being +carried down with the tail and drowned.</p> + +<p>"From then on for nearly four days, until +picked up by a trawler, we were continually +soaked and lashed by seas, and with nothing to +eat or drink. We had nothing to cling to, and +so to keep from being washed overboard we +got upon the same pontoon and hugged our +arms about each other's bodies for the whole +time. We suffered from thirst. I had a craving +for canned peaches. Twice a drizzle came +on, wetting the pontoon. We turned on our +stomachs and lapped up the moisture, but the +paint came off, with salt, and nauseated us. +Our limbs grew numb. From time to time the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +wreckage from torpedoed ships would pass. +Two full biscuit-tins came close enough to swim +for, but by then in our weakened state we knew +that we would drown if we tried to get them. +We did haul in a third tin and broke it open; it +was filled with tobacco.</p> + +<p>"Every day we saw convoys in the distance +and vainly waved our handkerchiefs. We had +no signal-lights to use at night. Our watches +stopped, and we lost all track of time. We +realized how easy it was for a submarine out +there to escape being spotted. On Sunday +night we spied a masthead light and shouted. +The ship heard and began to circle us. We saw +her port light. Then when the crew were visible +on the deck of the vessel, she suddenly put +out her lights and turned away.</p> + +<p>"'She thinks we are Huns,' said Moore.</p> + +<p>"'I hope she does,' said I. 'Then they'll +send patrol-boats out to get us. 'We couldn't +be worse off if we were Germans.'</p> + +<p>"But no rescue came. The next afternoon a +seaplane came from the east. It was flying +only 800 feet overhead, aiming down the Channel. +It seemed impossible that she could not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +sight us for the air was perfectly clear. She +passed straight above without making any +signal, flew two miles beyond, and then came +back on her course.</p> + +<p>"'Her observer must be sending wireless +about us,' I said.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, that is why we get no recognition,' +said Moore, 'and now she's decided to go back +and report.'</p> + +<p>"But that plane hadn't even seen us. Our +spirits fell. We had been afraid of two things, +being picked up by a neutral and interned, or +captured by an enemy submarine. Now we +even hoped that the enemy—that anything—-would +get us, to end it all.</p> + +<p>"We sighted a trawler about 6 P.M. on Tuesday. +She had been chasing a submarine, and +so did not seem to take us very seriously at first. +We waved at her half an hour before she changed +her course. We were both too weak to stand +up and signal. We could only rise on our +knees. Moore's hands were too swollen to +hold a handkerchief, but I had kept my gloves +on and was able to do so. The trawler moved +warily around us, but finally threw a life-preserver<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +at the end of a line, I yelled that we +were too weak to grasp it. She finally hove +to, lowered a boat, and lifted us aboard. Then +we collapsed.</p> + +<p>"I remember asking for a drink and getting +water. The skipper would let us take only sips, +but he left a bottle alongside me and I drained +it. He gave us biscuits, but we couldn't chew +or swallow them. We felt no pain until our +clothing was ripped off and blood rushed into +our swollen legs and arms. Moore lost six +toes from gangrene in the hospital. My feet +turned black, but decay did not set in."</p> + +<p>When the pigeon released by Stone and Moore +returned to the base every machine from that +seaplane-station, as well as from a station on the +French coast, was sent out to search for the +missing seaplane, while destroyers and patrol-vessels +were notified to be on the lookout. +Which shows, after all, how difficult the job of +detecting such small objects as submarines is. +Stone had enlisted as a seaman, and was trained +in aviation. On December 11, 1917, he was +detached from the air-station at Hampton +Roads and ordered to France for duty, arriving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +there January 21, 1918. In February he was +ordered to report to the commander of the +United States naval forces at London for patrol +duty in England.</p> + +<p>Which shows the way the Navy Department +worked in with the French and British Admiralties, +using either our own planes or those of our +allies.</p> + +<p>When the navy's plans concerning the American +Naval Flying Corps are completed, it will +have an air service of fully 125,000 men, of +which 10,000 will be aviators. There will be +10 ground men for every aviator. Observers, +inspectors and specialists of various sorts will +fill out the total. These seaplanes are of immense +value in the war zones. They leave +bases for regular patrol duty, watching the +ocean carefully, and locating submersibles at a +great height. Once a submarine is thus located +the seaplane descends to the surface and notifies +vessels of the patrol-fleet of the location of +the craft, or in cases when the undersea craft +is on or near the surface, the aviator will drop +bombs upon the vessel. Seaplanes are also +sent from the decks of naval vessels to scout<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +the waters through which a fleet may be travelling, +while large vessels serving as parent-ships +for the smaller seaplanes—from which +they fly and to which they return—ply the infested +waters. The service is a valuable one, +and a thrilling one, and only the best types of +men were selected by the Navy Department to +engage in it.</p> + +<p>In 1917 Congress appropriated $67,733,000 +for aviation for the navy, a sum which permitted +the department to proceed on an extensive +scale. And right here it may be said that the +navy has fared much better than the army in +the progressive development of air service. +Within a year the flying personnel of the navy +had grown to be twenty times greater than it +was when we went to war, and where a year +ago we had one training-school, we now have +forty naval aviation-schools.</p> + +<p>The navy has not only strained every nerve +to turn out aviators and to produce airplanes, +but the development of improved types of planes +has not been overlooked, and we now have +abroad several fine types of seaplane as well +as airplane. The seaplane is merely an airplane<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +with pontoons, It starts from the ground +or from the deck of a vessel.</p> + +<p>Then there is the flying-boat, developed under +naval auspices. This boat takes wing from the +water, and is regarded as the most desirable +form of aircraft for sea purposes. It is a triumphant +instance of our ingenuity, and is +built in two sizes, both effective under the peculiar +conditions which may dictate the use +either of one or the other. The navy has also +developed a catapult arrangement for launching +seaplanes from the decks of war-ships. +This is a moving wooden platform, carrying the +seaplane, which runs along a track over the +ship's deck. The platform drops into the sea, +and the seaplane proceeds on its course through +the air.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<a name="illus-station" id="illus-station"></a> +<a href="images/station.png"> +<img src="images/station-th.png" width="300" height="172" alt="Aviation Station" title=""/></a> +<span class="caption"><i>Copyright by Committee on Public Information</i>. +Scene at an aviation station somewhere in America, showing fifteen +seaplanes on beach departing and arriving.</span></div> + +<p>The progress of the navy was so great in +arranging for the home coast-defense aerial +service that Secretary Daniels agreed to establish +air coast-patrol stations in Europe, and it +was not long before our naval aviators were +rendering signal service both along the French +and the British coasts. There is the understanding +that the United States has already<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +taken the lead in naval aviation, not in quantity, +to be sure, but in quality and efficiency, +as to which the presence of foreign experts +studying our new improvements may be regarded +as confirmatory evidence.</p> + +<p>The Navy Department now has an aircraft +factory of its own at Philadelphia, and there +flying-boats are now being turned out. Also, +five private plants throughout the country are +working on navy aircraft exclusively.</p> + +<p>The Aircraft Board, which succeeded the Aircraft +Production Board, is made up in three +parts: a third from the navy, a third from the +army, and a third civilian. This board is under +the joint direction of the Secretaries of War +and the Navy.</p> + +<p>The naval flying-schools are located at Pensacola, +Fla., Miami, Fla., Hampton Roads, Va., +Bay Shore, L.I., and San Diego, Cal. Some of +the aviators are drawn from the regular naval +forces, but the great majority are of the reserves, +young men from civil life, college men +and the like, who have the physical qualifications +and the nerve to fly and fight above tumultuous +waters.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p> + +<p>The men training in the naval aviation-schools +are enrolled as Second Class Seamen in the +Coast Defense Reserve. Their status is similar +to that of the midshipmen at Annapolis. Surviving +the arduous course of training, they receive +commissions as ensigns; if they do not +survive they are honorably discharged, being +free, of course, to enlist in other branches of +service. The courses last about six months, the +first period of study being in a ground school, +where the cadets study navigation, rigging, +gunnery, and other technical naval subjects. +Thence the pupil goes to a flight-school, where +he learns to pilot a machine. Here, if he comes +through, the young cadet is commissioned as +an ensign. All pilots in the Naval Reserve +Flying Corps hold commissions, but not all of +the pilots in the regular navy are commissioned +officers, a few rating as chief petty officers.</p> + +<p>The men who act as observers—who accompany +the pilots on their trips, taking photographs, +dropping bombs and the like—are not +commissioned. They are selected from men +already in the service, regular seamen, marines, +reserves, or volunteers. Of course, these men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +have their opportunities of becoming pilots. +The United States seaplanes carry extremely +destructive weapons, which will not be described +until after the war. The Germans, +it may be assumed, know something about +them.</p> + +<p>The spirit of our naval pilots, both students +and qualified graduates, is of the highest, and +foreign naval officers have been quick to express +their appreciation of their services. When Ensign +Curtis Read was shot down in February, +1918, while flying over the French coast, his +funeral was attended by many British army +and navy officers, and by representatives of +both branches of the French service. Besides +the company of American sailors there were +squads of French and British seamen, who +marched in honor of the young officer. The +city of Dunkirk presented a beautiful wreath +of flowers.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," wrote Ensign Artemus Gates, +captain-elect of Yale's 1917 football eleven, and +a comrade of Read's in France, to the young +officer's mother, "could be more impressive +than to see a French general, an admiral,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +British staff-officers, and many other officers of +the two nations paying homage."</p> + +<p>The death of Ensign Stephen Potter, who was +killed in a battle with seven German airplanes +in the North Sea on April 25, 1918, followed a +glorious fight which will live in our naval annals. +Potter was the first of our naval pilots to bring +down a German airplane, and indeed may have +been the first American, fighting under the +United States flag, to do this. His triumph was +attained on March 19, 1918. Between that +time and his death he had engaged in several +fights against German airmen, causing them to +flee.</p> + +<p>And in this country our course of training +has been marked by many notable examples of +heroism and devotion, none more so than the +act of Ensign Walker Weed, who, after his plane +had fallen in flames at Cape May, N.J., and +he had got loose from his seat and was safe, +returned to the burning machine and worked +amid the flames until he had rescued a cadet +who was pinned in the wreckage. It cost Weed +his life, and the man he rescued died after +lingering some days; but the act is none the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +less glorious because the gallant young officer +gave his life in vain.</p> + +<p>Related to the aviation service, to the extent +at least that they observe from an aerial post, +are the balloon men of the navy, officers who +go aloft with great gas-bags, which, when not +in use, are carried on the decks of the larger +war-ships engaged in work. From the baskets +of these sausage-shaped balloons the observers, +armed with telescopes and binoculars, the ocean +and the ships of the convoy lying like a map +below, sweep the surface of the water for lurking +submarines and enemy raiders. The balloons +are attached to the war-ships, and are +towed along through the air. Just how effective +this expedient is, is known only to the +Navy Department, but the fact that it is retained +argues for its usefulness.</p> + +<p>Convoyed merchant vessels steam in a wedge +or V-shaped formation. At the apex is a destroyer, +following which is an armored cruiser +of the <i>Colorado</i> or <i>Tennessee</i> type. Astern of +the cruiser is another destroyer, which tows the +captive balloon at the end of a very light but +strong steel wire. This balloon-towing destroyer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +really forms the point of the wedge formation. +Behind it are placed the two diverging lines of +merchant ships, which follow one another, not +bow to stern, but in a sort of echelon position. +Down through the centre of the wedge is a +line of armed trawlers, while armed vessels +steam outside the V. Somewhat astern of the +convoy is another destroyer, which tows another +captive balloon. As a final means of protection, +destroyers fly about on each wing of The convoy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">Organization Of The Naval Reserve Classes—Taking +Over of Yachts For Naval Service—Work Among +The Reserves Stationed at Various Naval Centres—Walter +Camp's Achievement</p> + + +<p>In expanding the navy to meet war conditions, +the regular personnel was increased, +naval militia units of various States were taken +into the service under the classification National +Naval Volunteers, and volunteers were accepted +in the following classes: <i>Fleet Naval Reserve</i>, +made up of those who had received naval training +and had volunteered for four years. <i>Naval +Auxiliary Reserve</i>, made up of seafaring men +who had had experience on merchant ships. +<i>Naval Coast Defense Reserve</i>, made up of citizens +of the United States whose technical and practical +education made them fitted for navy-yard +work, patrol, and the like. <i>Volunteer Naval +Reserve</i>, made up of men who had volunteered, +bringing into service their own boats. And +finally, the <i>Naval Reserve Flying Corps</i>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is from these classes that have come the +men to put our navy on a war footing; for while +the reserve classifications brought thousands +and hundreds of thousands of men into the service, +the permanent enlisted strength was kept +at the specified figure, 87,000, until last June, +when Congress increased the allowance to 131,485. +This action was regarded as one of the +most important taken since the country entered +the war, inasmuch as it gave notice to the +world that the United States in the future intends +to have a fleet that will measure up to her +prominent position in the world's affairs. It +means, too, that the number of commissioned +officers would be increased from 3,700, as at +present arranged, to some 5,500, which will +no doubt mean an opportunity for officers who +are now in war service in the various reserve +organizations.</p> + +<p>When we entered the war, a decision to send +a number of our destroyers to France imposed +upon the Navy Department the necessity of +protecting our own coast from possible submarine +attack. We had retained destroyers +in this country, of course, and our battle and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +cruiser fleet was here; but a large number of +mosquito craft, submarine-chasers, patrol-boats, +and the like were urgently demanded. Several +hundred fine yachts were offered to the Navy +Department under various conditions, and in +the Third (New York) District alone some 350 +pleasure craft adapted for conversion into war-vessels, +were taken over. Some of these were +sent overseas to join the patrol-fleet, more were +kept here. Besides being used for patrol-work, +yachts were wanted for mine-sweepers, harbor +patrol-boats, despatch-boats, mine-layers, and +parent-ships. They were and are manned almost +exclusively by the Naval Reserves, and +operated along the Atlantic coast under the +direction of officers commanding the following +districts: First Naval District, Boston; Second +Naval District, Newport, R.I.; Third Naval +District, New York City; Fourth Naval District, +Philadelphia; Fifth Naval District, Norfolk, +Va.</p> + +<p>Hundreds of sailors, fishermen, seafaring men +generally, and yachtsmen joined the Naval +Coast Defense Reserve, which proved to be an +extremely popular branch of the service with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +college men. Most of the reserves of this class—there +were nearly 40,000 of them—were required +for the coast-patrol fleet, and they had +enlisted for service in home waters. But when +the need for oversea service arose the reserves +made no objection at all to manning transports +and doing duty on patrol, mine-laying, mine-sweeping, +and other craft engaged in duty in +the war zone.</p> + +<p>In the course of taking over yachts by the +Navy Department, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who +has been so efficient and untiring in his capacity +as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, charged that +yachtsmen were not helping the government, +and were holding their craft for high prices. +Probably this was the case in enough instances +to make Mr. Roosevelt impatient, but it would +seem that the large body of yacht-owners did +their best, not only donating their yachts to the +government or selling them at a fair price, but +by themselves enlisting in the service.</p> + +<p>There were yachtsmen who, in addition to +giving their boats, defrayed the cost of maintenance. +Great craft such as G. W. C. Drexel's +<i>Alcedo</i> (already noted as sunk by a torpedo),<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +A. Curtiss James's <i>Aloha</i>, J. C. and A. N. +Brady's <i>Atlantic</i>, A. C. Burrage's <i>Aztec</i>, I. T. +Bush's <i>Christabel</i>, H. A. Loughlin's <i>Corona</i>, +J. P. Morgan's <i>Corsair</i>, Robert T. Graves's +<i>Emeline</i>, E. P. and J. W. Alker's <i>Florence</i>, +Edgar Palmer's <i>Guinevere</i>, George F. Baker, Jr.'s +<i>Wacouta</i>, W. L. Harkness's <i>Cythera</i>, Robert Goelet's +<i>Nahma</i>, J. G. Bennett's <i>Lysistrata</i>, John +Borden's <i>Kanawha</i>, Henry Walter's <i>Narada</i>, +Howard Gould's <i>Niagara</i>, Horace G. Dodge's +<i>Nokomis</i>, Vincent Astor's <i>Noma</i>, Mrs. E. H. +Harriman's <i>Sultana</i>, Morton F. Plant's <i>Vanadis</i>, +P. W. Rouss's <i>Winchester, Aphrodite</i>, the O. H. +Payne estate; F. G. Bourne's <i>Alberta</i>, and Edward +Harkness's <i>Wakiva</i>—these great yachts +among other steam-driven palaces, passed into +the hands of the Navy Department in one way +or another, and have performed valiant service. +Some of them, indeed, have ended their careers +violently in service.</p> + +<p>The government ripped out the costly interiors +and converted these panelled floating abodes of +the wealthy into serviceable fighters, and no +doubt will retain those that survive when the +war is ended. There were instances where the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +owners of yachts and the Navy Department +could not agree on prices to be paid. The naval +authorities finally suggested that the owners +should name one representative, and the Navy +Department another, and terms thus agreed +upon. It was not, however, until the Department +appointed a special board, whose duty was +to secure suitable boats without further delay, +that affairs began to proceed smoothly. The +first move was to have the International Mercantile +Marine Company's shipping experts act +as agents of the special board, and from that +time on there was no further trouble.</p> + +<p>The Mercantile Marine experts not only +brought about the transfer of yachts to the +navy, but superintended alterations above and +below deck, arming, outfitting, coaling, painting, +and provisioning the converted war-ships. +While this was in progress the Navy Department +was having built a fleet of submarine-chasers +of the 110-foot class, which, together +with the yachts taken over, offered abundant +opportunities for oversea service, which the +sailors enrolled in the Coast Defense Division +were not slow to accept after they were requested<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> +to transfer their enrollment from Class 4 to +Class 2, under which classification they were +eligible to be sent abroad. Thus thousands of +young men who had enlisted for coast-patrol +duty, were sent aboard transports, submarine-chasers, +and war-ships generally, for service in +the European war zones.</p> + +<p>And with this constant outflow of trained men +from the various naval training-stations of the +country, the influx of newly enlisted reserves +into these schools gives assurance that the +Navy Department will never be embarrassed +for lack of material wherewith to man its boats. +And there is the likelihood that as our new +merchant vessels are launched and put into +commission, they will be manned by reserves +from the navy training-schools with officers +furnished by the Deck School at Pelham Bay +and the Engineers' School at Hoboken. The +government, of course, is in complete control of +the merchant marine; but in our present condition +many American ships have to be manned +by aliens. It will be surprising if this state of +affairs will not be corrected as swiftly as the +Navy Department is able to do so, and thus we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +may expect to see our young seamen diverted +in ever-increasing numbers to merchant vessels, +the precise degree, of course, to be dependent +upon the needs of the fighting vessels. Young +officers, no doubt, will receive commands, and +in general a thriving mercantile marine will be +in readiness for operation when war ends.</p> + +<p>Our naval training-stations are models of +businesslike precision and well-ordered proficiency. +Herein are taught everything from +bread-baking and cooking to engineering, gunnery, +and other maritime accomplishments. +Long before we had entered the war a determination +had been reached by individuals and +organizations external to the Navy—and Army—Departments, +to bring to the naval stations +as many and as complete comforts and conveniences +of civilization as possible.</p> + +<p>Almost immediately after the American declaration +of war, the purposes of the authors of this +scheme were presented to Congress, and permission +for them to carry out their mission was +given through the formation of the sister commissions, +the Army and the Navy Commissions +on Training Camp Activities.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span></p> + +<p>Although entirely separate in their work—one +dealing entirely with the men in the army, +the other with those in the navy camps—the +same authority on organized humanitarian effort, +Raymond B. Fosdick of New York City, +one of the original group with whom the plan +originated, was chosen chairman of both. Each +commission's work was divided among departments +or subcommissions.</p> + +<p>In the Navy Commission, one group, the +Library Department, supplied the enlisted men +of the navy stations, as far as possible, with +books, another with lectures, another with music, +vocal and instrumental, another with theatrical +entertainments, including moving-pictures, and +another subcommission directed the recreational +sport.</p> + +<p>Mr. Walter Camp, for thirty years the moving +spirit, organizer, adviser, and athletic strategist +of Yale, was chosen chairman of the Athletic +Department, with the title General Commissioner +of Athletics for the United States Navy.</p> + +<p>Taking up his task in midsummer, 1917, +three months after declaration of war by the +United States, Mr. Camp at once brought his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> +ability, experience, and versatility into play in +organizing recreational sport in the navy stations. +By this time every naval district was +fast filling with its quota of enlisted men, and +the plan of the Navy Department to place an +even hundred thousand men in the stations before +the close of the year was well along toward +completion.</p> + +<p>Swept from college, counting-room, professional +office, and factory, often from homes of +luxury and elegance, to the naval stations, where, +in many cases arrangements to house them were +far from complete, the young men of the navy +found themselves surrounded by conditions +to which they pluckily and patiently reconciled +themselves, but which could not do +otherwise than provoke restlessness and discomfort.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<a name="illus-inspection" id="illus-inspection"></a> +<a href="images/inspection.png"> +<img src="images/inspection-th.png" width="300" height="183" alt="Captain's Inspection" title=""/></a> +<span class="caption"><i>From a photograph copyright by International Film Service</i>. +Captain's inspection at Naval Training Station, Newport, R.I.</span></div> + +<p>Under these conditions the work of the Navy +Commission was particularly timely and important, +and that of Mr. Camp was of conspicuous +value through the physical training and +mental stimulus which it provided for patriotic, +yet half homesick young Americans, from whom +not only material comfort and luxury, but entertainment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +of all kinds, including recreational +sport, had been taken.</p> + +<p>Mr. Camp defined the scope of the Athletic +Department of the Commission as follows, in +taking up his duties:</p> + +<p>"Our problem is to provide athletics for the +men in order to duplicate as nearly as possible +the home environment, produce physical fitness +with high vitality, and in this we feel that +we shall have the most generous and whole-souled +co-operation from the Y.M.C.A., the +Knights of Columbus, the War Camp Community +Service, and all the agencies that are +established in and about the camps."</p> + +<p>Launching the movement to "duplicate home +conditions" in recreational sport, Mr. Camp appointed +athletic directors in the largest districts +during the fall, and in every one the programme +of seasonal sport was carried out, comparable +in extent and quality with that which every +enlisted man in the stations would have enjoyed +as participant or spectator in his native city or +town, school or college, had he not entered military +service.</p> + +<p>The athletic directors who were chosen were,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> +in every case, experienced organizers of all-round +sports, and several of them were former +college coaches or star athletes. In the First +District at Boston, George V. Brown, for thirteen +years athletic organizer for the Boston +Athletic Association, was named; in the Second +at Newport, Doctor William T. Bull, the former +Yale football coach and medical examiner; in +the Third, Frank S. Bergin, a former Princeton +football-player; in the Fourth, at League Island, +Franklin T. McCracken, an athletic organizer +of Philadelphia; and at the Cape May Station +Harry T. McGrath, of Philadelphia, an all-round +athlete.</p> + +<p>In the Fifth District, Doctor Charles M. +Wharton, of Philadelphia, a prominent neurologist +and University of Pennsylvania football +coach, took charge late in the fall, resigning in +April, 1918, to become field-secretary of the +Navy Commission on Training Camp Activities, +and being succeeded by Louis A. Young, of +Philadelphia, a former University of Pennsylvania +football-player, captain, and all-round +athlete.</p> + +<p>In the Sixth District, at Charleston, S.C.,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +Walter D. Powell, a former University of Wisconsin +football-player, and later athletic director +at Western Reserve University, was placed in +charge of the programme, and at the Great +Lakes Station, Herman P. Olcott, who had been +football coach at Yale and athletic director at +the University of Kansas, began his work in +October.</p> + +<p>Arthur C. Woodward, formerly interscholastic +athletic organizer in Washington, was placed +in charge of the Puget Sound Station in Bremerton; +and Elmer C. Henderson, athletic director +in Seattle high schools, was appointed to the +Seattle Station.</p> + +<p>David J. Yates, of New York City, an all-round +athlete and athletic supervisor, was appointed +director at Pensacola, combining the +work of athletic organization with the physical +training of the aviators in that station.</p> + +<p>Intensely practical and stimulating as well +as picturesque and almost fascinating programmes +in their attractiveness were carried +out during the fall at the larger stations. The +Newport football eleven, captained by "Cupid" +Black, the former Yale gridiron star, and containing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +such all-American players as Schlachter, +of Syracuse; Hite, of Kentucky; Barrett, of +Cornell; and Gerrish, of Dartmouth; the Boston +team, including in its membership Casey, Enright, +and Murray, of Harvard; the League +Island eleven, captained by Eddie Mahan, the +former Harvard all-round player; and the Great +Lakes team, largely composed of representative +Western gridiron stars, played a series of games +on the fields of the East and the Middle West, +which lifted, temporarily, the curtain which +seemed to have fallen on the college football +heroes when they passed into naval service, and +allowed the sport-loving public of America to +again see them in athletic action.</p> + +<p>During the winter the value of the athletic +department of the Commission on Training-Camp +Activities to the Navy became clearer +as the indoor programmes, which were organized +by Commissioner Camp and his lieutenants, +the athletic directors, were carried out. Boxing, +wrestling, swimming, hockey, basket-ball, +and other athletic instructors were appointed +to develop every kind of indoor sport until +there were no nights when, in the large auditoriums<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +of the navy stations, some programme +of winter sport was not being given for the entertainment +of the thousands of young men in +camp. Mass sports were favored, the general +rule being laid down that the chief value of +every game lay in accordance with its ability +to attract a larger or a smaller number of participants +or spectators.</p> + +<p>Among the sports which were tried, boxing +proved its value as the chief. Attracting crowds +limited only by the size of the auditoriums, the +boxing-bouts which were held, usually semi-weekly +in all the stations, were a most diverting +feature of winter life in camp. One reason +for their popularity can be directly traced to +their enforced use in the physical training of the +stations. Lending themselves ideally to mass +instruction, the boxing exercises were taught to +classes usually numbering between 150 and 200 +persons, and the fact that every marine studied +boxing contributed to the size and the interest +of the crowds that packed the ringsides at the +frequent bouts.</p> + +<p>The teaching of boxing was also emphasized +for its life-saving value in a military sense.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> +The maxim is taught that "every move of the +boxer is a corresponding move by the bayonet-fighter." +Thus, the "jab" corresponds to the +"lunge," and the "counter" to the "parry." +To illustrate this boxing instruction, and to +apply it to bayonet-drill, a set of admirable +moving-pictures was made, such clever pugilists +as Johnnie Kilbane, Bennie Leonard, Kid +McCoy, and Jim Corbett posing for the boxing, +and Captain Donovan, the eminent English +bayonet instructor, for the bayonet films, which +were exhibited for instruction purposes in every +navy station. Boxing tournaments, station +championships, and army-navy championship +bouts were given with crowded houses everywhere.</p> + +<p>Early in the winter Commissioner Camp gave +directions for standardized sets of instruction in +both boxing and wrestling, and as a result, in +every camp in the country the groups of navy +men were taught the same methods of rudimentary +boxing for their value in a military +sense, as well as their value as recreational +sports.</p> + +<p>Soon after the thousands of young men began<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> +gathering in the navy camps, the discovery was +made that not half the number was able to +swim. For men destined for sea life, this was +a vital handicap, and early in the spring of 1918 +a campaign was launched to increase the number +of swimming instructors and the facilities which +were available for the instruction of the young +men both in sea and river, as well as in pools +and tanks, and it was decided to hold station +tournaments, races, and all varieties of swimming +events during the season, in conjunction +with such individual instruction as it was necessary +to give novices in the art of swimming.</p> + +<p>Rowing was developed during the season of +1918 to the extent which was made possible by +the presence of cutters in the different stations. +Wherever possible, crews were coached in the +rudiments of rowing by old oarsmen. Racing +between the cutter crews in whatever station +was ordered for every available date, and sometimes +as many as twenty boats were lined up +abreast, and were shot away for the brushes +between the cutter crews in some of the larger +stations, furnishing a variety of sport comparable +only with the brilliant scenes at the inter-collegiate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +races over the Thames course at New +London, or the Hudson at Poughkeepsie.</p> + +<p>As football reigned supreme in the fall programme +of recreational sport, and boxing in the +winter, baseball furnished the greatest solace +for the men of the navy marooned from city +and college games. Scattered through the stations +were former major and minor league and +college players in abundance, and nines, vying +in their intrinsic strength with major-league +champions, were organized in every station. +Jack Barry in the Boston District, "Toots" +Schultz in the Newport, Phil Choinard in the +Great Lakes, Davy Robertson in the Norfolk, +Jack Hoey in the Charleston, and Paul Strand in +the Seattle Districts, were a few of the stars of +national reputation who headed the teams. +More valuable, however, to the true purpose +of the organization of recreational sports than +the individual stars and the district teams were +the leagues which were formed in the respective +stations, for they kept every naval base engrossed +in a wholesome athletic interest, and furnished +natural relaxation from the exacting drill and +drudgery of every-day routine.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span></p> + +<p>Track athletic stars of college and amateur +athletic organizations were scattered through +every station, and the organization of track +meets was begun as soon as the men of the navy +reached the camps. In October, 1917, before +some 15,000 people, the track men of the Boston +Station took part in games on Boston Common, +a track carnival was held in the Harvard Stadium +a month later, and in every station of the +country track tournaments were held during +the season of 1918.</p> + +<p>For April 19, the anniversary of the battle of +Lexington, a patriotic team relay race was ordered +for every station in the country by Commissioner +Camp. In the First District the +route lay over the historic Marathon course +from Ashland into Boston, and most of the +teams represented either the army cantonment +at Camp Devens or the First Naval District. +In most instances the races were run +from an army to a navy camp, messages being +carried from the commanding officer in one to +the similar officer in the other. Secretary +Daniels of the navy witnessed the First District +event.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p> + +<p>In most cases the races were conducted as a +feature and auxiliary in the Third Liberty Loan +campaign, which was nearing its height, and +proved a valuable factor in promoting the success +of the drive. It is believed that this is the +first national race which was ever held in every +section of the United States at the request of +one individual, and it was appropriate that the +first of a series of such athletic events should +be of a purely patriotic scope and a part of the +national military service.</p> + +<p>Closely related to the work of Commissioner +Camp in the naval stations was his successful +attempt to secure for the aviators the use of +skilful flight surgeons and college trainers to +safeguard the physical condition of the airmen. +At the annual conference of the National Collegiate +Association, which was held in New York +City in December, 1917, Mr. Camp called attention +to the fact that the conditioning of the +aviators was similar to that of college athletes, +and was just as vital; and, inasmuch as the +physical safety of football-players and other +college athletic contestants was successfully +guaranteed by experienced trainers, he recommended +that several of the best be selected from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> +leading American universities to go to the aviation-fields +and take charge of the conditioning +of the fliers. Two months later, recommendation +was made by the aviation department that +from ten to fifteen such trainers be named by +Mr. Camp to go at once to the aviation-stations +and pass judgment on the condition of the fliers +before they were allowed to leave the ground. +An unusually large number of deaths took place +in the United States during practise flights of +the aviators early in the spring of 1918, and in +May the government authorized the appointment +of an adequate number of college trainers +to carry out the work of conditioning the airmen. +Before this time reports of conditions in England +and France established the fact that more +deaths of aviators had been caused by the +flight of the airmen when in poor physical condition +than by any defect in the flying-machine.</p> + +<p>In all, Mr. Camp's work has been adequately +recognized by the Navy Department as of the +greatest benefit, and the constant stream of +testimony from the reserve seamen attached to +the various stations that "there is no place like +the navy," is, in some part due to the activities +of this veteran Yale athlete and his associates.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">The United States Marine Corps—First Military +Branch Of The National Service To Be Sanctioned +By Congress—Leaving For The War—Service Of +The Marines in Various Parts of the Globe—Details +of Expansion of Corps—Their Present Service +All Over The World</p> + + +<p>When orders came for some 2,700 United +States marines to go to France there was +little circumstance, or general fuss and feathers, +at the League Island Navy Yard, in Philadelphia. +The Marine Corps, which is under control +of the Navy Department, was quite used +to such things. Through all the years when +trouble had occurred in our island possessions, +in the West Indies, Central America, or where +not, it was the marines who received orders to +start out and settle things. As a consequence, +orders to go to France were merely in the line +of the customary day's work.</p> + +<p>Thus the only ceremony characterizing the +departure of Colonel Charles A. Doyen and his +men from the navy-yard at Philadelphia, was +a brief speech by Major-General George Barnett,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +commandant of the corps, to the officers of +the field and staff of the overseas outfit, and to +the company officers. No colors were unfurled. +No reporters or press photographers were present. +The regimental bandsmen went to war +with their instruments cased and rifles over +their shoulders. On the navy-yard parade-ground +a sailor baseball nine from one of +the battleships was at practice. The marines +slipped away so quietly that the ball-players +did not know until afterward that they had +missed seeing the departure of 2,700 men bound +for the battle-front.</p> + +<p>At 2.30 o'clock that afternoon the baseball-players +had the parade-ground to themselves, +and no one was in sight on the street in front of +the home of the post commander of marines +but a small boy in rompers, playing with a +fox-terrier. A few seconds later the head of a +column of soldiers of the sea, clad in khaki, and +in heavy marching order, swung into that +brick-paved street. The major-general commandant +and a group of officers from headquarters +took up posts on the turf of the parkway +beside the curb. A sergeant of marines, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> +khaki, came running across the parade-ground, +set up a motion-picture camera, and began to +crank. Another sergeant was snapping "stills" +as the column came to a halt and faced about +toward the group of officers.</p> + +<p>The company officers of the battalion stepped +out in front of Major-General Barnett and +saluted. Then the general spoke for a few minutes +in an every-day, conversational tone. He +told the men that he trusted them, that he knew +they would uphold the honor and high traditions +of the corps when fighting in France +under General Pershing. The officers saluted +and stepped back to their places. The battalion +stood at rigid attention for a moment. Then +with a snap, rifles jumped to shoulders, squads +swung into column formation, and the line +passed swiftly down the street to the gate of +the navy-yard.</p> + +<p>No cheering crowd greeted the marines as +they emerged from the gateway, and only a +few persons saw them board a train of day-coaches +for a near-by port. The sun-browned +fighting men, all veterans of campaigning in +Hayti and Santo Domingo, waved their campaign<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +hats from the windows and the train +moved away.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later another battalion marched +briskly down the same street from the end of a +tree-lined vista, and formed on the parade-ground. +The bluejacket nine was still at +baseball practice, but the marines were at the +far end of the field, too distant to attract particular +attention. A third battalion formed +and stacked arms in front of the barracks. +Presently, without so much as a bugle-note for +warning, the two battalions formed, picked up +their arms, and defiled out of sight, back of a +screen of shade-trees.</p> + +<p>A quarter of an hour later a rumor came to +the bluejacket ball-players that the marines +were boarding ship. The jacky beside the +home plate dropped his bat and ran toward the +street, his team-mates close behind him. They +were too late to catch even a glimpse of the +rear-guard. The marines, just as swiftly and +quietly as if they were on their way to Hayti, +Santo Domingo, Vera Cruz, or Nicaragua, had +departed.</p> + +<p>We all know what they did and what subsequent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +regiments of marines sent to the front +has done. Their fighting in the region of +Torcy in the German drive of last June, when +the Teutonic shock troops got a reverse shock +from the marines, has already become a part +of our brightest fighting tradition. The marines +are fighters, have always been so—but +it took their participation in this war to bring +them prominently before the public.</p> + +<p>"Who and what are the marines?" was the +question frequently asked when the communiques +began to retail their exploits. Ideas +were very hazy concerning them, and indeed, +while we all are by this time quite familiar with +what they can do, there are many of us even +now who do not quite know what they are.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<a name="illus-marines" id="illus-marines"></a> +<a href="images/marines.png"> +<img src="images/marines-th.png" width="300" height="177" alt="American Marines" title=""/></a> +<span class="caption"><i>From a photograph copyright by International Film Service.</i> +American Marines who took part in the Marne offensive on parade in Paris, July 4, 1918.</span></div> + +<p>Be it said, then, that the United States +Marine Corps was authorized by the Continental +Congress on November 10, 1775, and +therefore has the distinction of being the oldest +military branch in the United States service. +The corps served valiantly throughout the Revolutionary +War, and was disbanded at the +close of the war, April 11, 1782. But the corps +was reorganized and permanently established<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> +July 11, 1798. From that day to this, its officers +have been zealous participants in every +expedition and action in which the navy has +engaged, and in many trying campaigns they +have won distinction with their brethren of the +army. Their motto is <i>Semper Fidelis</i>, and ever +have they lived up to it in war and in peace.</p> + +<p>The marines serve both on land and sea. +They are trained, clothed, and equipped very +much as are soldiers of the land forces. In +their preliminary instruction on shore, at navy-yards +and naval-stations, they are instructed +and drilled in the duties of infantry soldiers, +field-artillery men, and as machine-gun companies. +In preparation for their duties as +landing-parties from ships of the navy, for expeditionary +duty, and as defenders of naval +advance bases, they are further trained in the +use of portable search-lights, the wireless telegraph, +the heliograph, and the various other +methods of signalling. They study range-finding; +erection, operation, and maintenance of +telegraph and telephone lines; planting of land +and submarine mines; handling of torpedoes; +erection and demolition of bridges; building of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +roads; knotting and splicing of ropes; handling +of heavy weights; fitting of gun-gear and the +various methods of slinging and transporting +ordnance, and the mounting in suitable shore +positions of guns of 3, 5, and 6 inch caliber.</p> + +<p>In their service on battleships and cruisers, +the marines form a part of the ship's complement +for battle, manning the 6-inch, 5-inch, +3-inch, and 6-pounder guns of the intermediate +and secondary batteries. They are trained and +fully equipped for instant service as landing-parties +for duty on shore.</p> + +<p>Great mobility and facilities for quick action +are required of the marines, and they must be +kept in readiness to move at a moment's notice +and be prepared for service in any climate. +They have seen service in Egypt, Algiers, Tripoli, +Mexico, China, Japan, Korea, Cuba, Porto +Rico, Panama, Nicaragua, Santo Domingo, +Formosa, Sumatra, Hawaii, Samoa, Guam, +Alaska, and the Philippine Islands.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant P. N. O'Bannon, of the Marine +Corps, hoisted the first American flag ever +flown over a fortress of the Old World when +Derne, a Tripolitan stronghold, was taken by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +assault on April 27, 1805. The first regulars +who entered the fortress of Chapultepec, in +Mexico City, when it was taken by storm on +September 13, 1847, were marines, under command +of Major Levi Twigg. Under command +of Robert E. Lee, later commanding the Confederate +Army, marines captured John Brown +at Harper's Ferry, in 1859. A battalion of +marines under Captain John L. Broome, occupied +New Orleans upon its surrender, and +hoisted the American flag on the custom house, +April 29, 1862. A battalion of marines, 646 +officers and men, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel +R. W. Huntington, was the first American +force that landed in Cuba in 1898, when it +established a base for Admiral Sampson's fleet +at Guantanamo, holding their position against +Spanish regulars who were said to number 7,000.</p> + +<p>The United States Marines of the battleship +<i>Oregon</i>, Captain John T. Myers commanding, +were the first American troops to enter Peking +just before the Boxer insurrection broke out +in 1900. Lieutenant-Colonel Neville's marines +were the first ashore at Vera Cruz in April, +1914.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span></p> + +<p>It will thus be seen that the Marine Corps of +the navy is a highly useful organization, and +that it has played a large part in carrying our +flag to the fore in all our wars. Until 1883 officers +in the corps were appointed from civil life. +Beginning with that year, all vacancies were +filled from graduates of the Naval Academy at +Annapolis. This practice continued until 1898, +when the increase in the corps was so rapid +that the Academy could not furnish a sufficient +number of officers. Since then, until 1915, +appointments were made from civil life and by +promotion from the ranks. In 1915 vacancies +again began to be filled from Annapolis, but the +entrance of our country into the war brought +about the award of commissions on a broader +scale. To-day, serving with the marines in +France are a number of young officers who, a +year or two ago, were well-known college athletes, +such men as Eddie Mahan, of Harvard; +Billy Moore, of Princeton; Harry LeGore, of +Yale; Albert Baston, of Minnesota, and many +other gridiron and diamond heroes, who were attracted +to this branch of the service by the opportunities +offered for quick action.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> + +<p>There is a Marine Officers' School at Norfolk, +to which young men appointed second lieutenants +from civil life are sent for two years' +intensive study before being assigned to regular +duty. The course covers general subjects, and +also all military branches, such as engineering, +topography, gunnery, electricity, signalling, torpedo +operation, and the like. In the case of college +men appointed lieutenants for war service, +the majority had just been graduated or were +seniors in their respective institutions; as a consequence, +little time was lost in the study of +general subjects, the idea being to concentrate +upon military subjects. In short, the Plattsburg +idea was put into effect, with what results +may be judged by the words of high praise +which have been said concerning the marine +subalterns in France.</p> + +<p>Since war began the corps has grown from a +total of 13,266 enlisted men and 426 officers to +a present strength of 38,629 enlisted men and +1,389 officers. The increase in enlisted men has +been through voluntary enlistment; in one instance +a college battalion enlisted as a whole. +The personnel represents all classes of the community;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> +college and business men, athletes, +mechanics, laborers, and in one instance a +former Congressman, who, although slightly +over the usual age, attained the rank of second +lieutenant through his devotion to duty and +application.</p> + +<p>The recruit depots at Port Royal, S.C., and +Mare Island, Cal., have proved equal to the +demands made upon them, and here the preliminary +training of the mass of recruits has +been accomplished. No detail of the training +of a soldier has been neglected, and on the +transfer of these new men to the concentration +camp at Quantico, Va., the majority has worn +the insignia of expert rifleman, sharpshooter, or +marksman. Here at Quantico the men have +completed their course of intensive training in +the new organizations formed at that post for +service overseas. Five regiments of infantry, +with their attendant replacement units, have +been organized in addition to a brigade of artillery, +since the creation of this new post, in +June, 1917.</p> + +<p>Besides the brigade of marines in France, it +is necessary to maintain forces of marines in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> +Santo Domingo, Hayti, the Virgin Islands, +Guam, Cuba, China, the Philippines, Porto Rico, +and Honolulu, while there is a small detachment +in London. The fleet of battleships and +cruisers absorbs a goodly percentage of the +present force, while at the same time it has been +necessary to supply men to augment the garrisons +of the navy-yards, naval ammunition +depots, radio-stations, and other posts of the +country.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">Scope Of The Navy's Work In Various Particulars—Food—Fuel—Naval +Consulting Board—Projectile +Factory—Expenditures—Increase Of Personnel</p> + + +<p>In the way of progress in naval construction +or appliance, it is not the opinion of our +naval technicians that the war from its inception +to the present time has developed any +hitherto unknown feature. Guns and ships, to +be sure, have increased in size, and details of +the submarine and airplane have vastly improved +these weapons of offense, but substantially +no weapon hitherto known has been discredited +by use in this war, and even all classes +of war-ships built before the war have withstood +the test of new conditions as to their +usefulness along the lines for which they were +originally designed.</p> + +<p>Germany has not improved the submarine, +except in detail. Undersea craft of that country +which have been recently captured show<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> +little deviation from the original lines of the +submarine as used in the German Navy four +years ago. They are larger—the new ones, +that is—but the principle of their construction +is fundamental, and the development not unnatural.</p> + +<p>Our modern submarine-chasers are merely a +modified form of the torpedo-boat destroyer. +The depth-bomb was known before it was employed +as one of the most effective weapons +against the submarine.</p> + +<p>Naval authorities join in defending the big +battleship which has come into action but +little in the course of the war thus far. There +is to be considered, however, the moral effect +of Great Britain's big fleet, which has maintained +control of the seas for four years. Similarly +our American fleet is regarded as the first +and decisive line of defense on our shores.</p> + +<p>Battleships, it is true, do not figure frequently +in the official communiques, but none the less +they are playing their part. Battleships are +absolutely a necessary and vital element to +every nation at war. They constitute the last +great line of defense, and in this war they have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +succeeded in keeping the seas practically free +of enemy menace save under the water.</p> + +<p>In this final chapter may be included various +details, facts, and figures which are necessary +as giving further point to the enormous scope +of the war activities of the Navy Department. +In 1916, then, the officers and enlisted men of +the regular navy and the Marine Corps totalled +82,738. In March, 1918, the strength of the +naval forces, including regular navy, marines, +naval reserve force, national naval volunteers, +and coast guard, was 349,997, and at this writing +is more than 400,000. The total expenditures +of the navy from the date of its establishment in +1794 to 1916, inclusive, were $3,367,160,591.77, +only about $34,000,000 in excess of the appropriations +real and pending since August 26, +1916. For the specific purposes of new construction +appropriations totalling $295,000,000 have +been made.</p> + +<p>On April 1, 1917, there were building 15 battleships, +6 battle cruisers, 7 scout cruisers, 27 +destroyers, 61 submarines, 2 fuel ships, 1 supply +ship, 1 transport, 1 gunboat, 1 hospital ship, +and 1 ammunition ship. Since that date contracts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +have been placed for 949 vessels, including +100 submarine-chasers for co-belligerent nations. +The Board of Construction and Repair +has also prepared in co-operation with the +Shipping Board, a number of preliminary designs +of simplified merchant vessels, varying in +length from 400 to 800 feet.</p> + +<p>In June of 1917, 180 acres of land were secured +at South Charleston, W. Va., for a projectile +plant, which is now in operation. An armor-plate +factory will be constructed. In one plant +manufacturing steel forgings the output was increased +300 per cent within two months after +government managers were installed.</p> + +<p>The expansion of the naval establishment +has necessitated a great increase in facilities for +the assembling, housing, and distribution of +stores, and these needs have been largely met +at Boston, Philadelphia, and Hampton Roads +by large emergency and permanent constructions.</p> + +<p>In the Commissary Department the effort +has been to see that the naval forces continue +to be what the surgeon-general has stated they +are: the "best fed body of men in the world."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +Sailors are no poison squad, and all efforts to +try upon the officers and seamen of the force +any experimental or test food have been rigorously +suppressed. The high cost of living has +been reflected in the cost of the navy ration, +but the price has been met. There were clothing +shortages during the early weeks of the war, +but prompt and efficient action by the Bureau +of Supplies and Accounts has remedied all this.</p> + +<p>Fuel for the navy has been handled by means +of allotments placed with the principal operators +in coal-producing States, the prices being fixed +by the Fuel Administrator. The navy's stocks +of fuel have been maintained to capacity, and +shipments have been made to the fleet within +the time required in all cases. Fuel oil has been +obtained in similar manner at the prices fixed +by the Federal Trade Commission. The Medical +Department of the navy passed quietly from +a peace to a war footing on April 6, 1917, and +has since continued to give adequate and satisfactory +service. With the completion of a +hospital ship now building, the navy will have +four hospital ships as against one when war +began. Prior to the war there were about 375<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> +medical officers on duty. There are to-day +1,675 medical officers in active service, and 200 +more on reserve. Where 30 dental surgeons +were formerly employed there are now 245. +The number of female nurses has increased +from 160 to 880.</p> + +<p>The President at the outbreak of war directed +the Navy Department to take over such radio-stations +as might be required for naval communications, +all others being closed. Fifty-three +commercial radio-stations were thus taken +into the Naval Communication Service. Because +of duplications, twenty-eight of these stations +were closed. Thousands of small amateur +radio-stations were closed. At present no radio +communication is permitted on United States +territory (not including Alaska), except through +stations operated by the Navy Communication +Department or by the War Department,</p> + +<p>With the need of operators apparent, a school +for preliminary training in radio-telegraphy was +established in each naval district, and when the +need for a central final training-school developed, +Harvard University offered the use of buildings, +laboratories, and dormitories for this purpose.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +The offer was accepted, and now the naval-radio +school at Harvard is one of the largest educational +institutions in the country. There is +another final training-school at Mare Island, +Cal. The navy supplies the operators for the +rapidly increasing number of war vessels, and +has undertaken to supply radio operators for +all merchant vessels in transatlantic service.</p> + +<p>At Harvard and Mare Island the radio students +are put through four months' courses, +which embraces not only radio-telegraphy and +allied subjects, but military training. Some +500,000 men have been undergoing courses at +these two schools alone.</p> + +<p>When war occurred the Coast Guard was +transferred from the Treasury Department to +the Navy Department, and the personnel now +consists of 227 officers and 4,683 warrant officers +and enlisted men.</p> + +<p>In the work of examining and considering the +great volume of ideas and devices and inventions +submitted from the public, the Naval +Consulting Board has rendered a signal service. +Beginning March, 1917, the Navy Department +was overwhelmed with correspondence so great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +that it was almost impossible to sort it. Letters, +plans, and models were received at the rate of +from 5 to 700 a day. Within a year upward of +60,000 letters, many including detailed plans, +some accompanied by models, have been examined +and acted upon. To do this work a greatly +enlarged office force in the Navy Department +was necessary, and offices were established in +New York and San Francisco. While a comparatively +small number of inventions have +been adopted—some of them of considerable +value—the majority has fallen into the class of +having been already known, and either put +into use or discarded after practical test.</p> + +<p>And thus the Navy Department is carrying +on its share of the war, a share significant at +the very outset as one of our most important +weapons in the establishment of the causes for +which the United States entered the great +conflict.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">The beginning of the end—Reports in London that +submarines were withdrawing to their bases to +head a battle movement on the part of the German +Fleet—How the plan was foiled—The surrender +of the German Fleet to the combined British and +American Squadrons—Departure of the American +Squadron—What might have happened had the +German vessels come out to fight</p> + + +<p>In the early fall of 1913 an American naval +officer, who enjoyed to a peculiar degree +the confidence of certain officers of the British +Admiralty, was attending to duties of an extremely +confidential nature in London when +one morning he was accosted by a friend, an +officer high in the councils of His Majesty's +Navy.</p> + +<p>"M——," he said, "I have rather an important +bit of news. Within a few weeks—in fact, +we cannot quite tell how soon—there is going +to be the greatest naval engagement the world +has ever seen. We are ready for them, though, +and we shall win."</p> + +<p>The American was naturally curious, and in +reply to his questions the Briton went on to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +say that from certain intelligence quarters word +had come that the trend of German U-boats +back to their bases—which had been noted for +a week or so—contained a grim meaning. It +meant, in fine, the emergence of the German +fleet, headed by the submarines, prepared for +a final battle to establish the question of sea +power.</p> + +<p>One may imagine the tenseness that reigned +at the Admiralty, and the code messages that +flew back and forth between London and the +flag-ship of the British and American battle +fleet. As it happened, the German sea fighters +never sallied forth in battle array, their final +appearance being less warlike.</p> + +<p>But they would have come, it transpired +later, had not the sailors of the fleet intercepted +messages from German officers to their families, +bidding a last good-by. They never expected +to return from this last fight. But the seamen +were of a different mind from their officers. +They declined to go forth to a losing battle, +and they struck. This, then, appears to be the +reason why the German battleships and armored +cruisers and the like did not come forth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> +to battle—at least this is one of the stories +told in navy circles.</p> + +<p>With the events that followed the cessation +of hostilities on November 11 almost every +American is familiar. The armistice of that +date demanded that Germany give her entire +fleet to the keeping of England. For a discussion +of the surrender the German light cruiser +<i>Koenigsberg</i> brought representatives from the +Soldiers' and Sailors' Council, which was then +in nominal control of the German fleet, into +the Firth of Forth. Admiral Beatty refused to +deal with these representatives, and insisted +that all arrangements be made through some +flag-officer of the imperial fleet.</p> + +<p>Thereupon Admiral von Reuter, the commanding +German officer, went aboard the <i>Queen +Elizabeth</i>, and there arranged with Admiral +Beatty and his flag-officers for the surrender. +At dinner the German officers dined at one +table, the British at another. After more discussion +the <i>Koenigsberg</i> departed for Kiel about +ten that night. The commander-in-chief then +issued an order to all his ships, prescribing the +entire details of the surrender.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +The American battle squadron got under +way about 4 A.M. November 21, 1918, and +steamed from the Forth bridge out of the Firth +into the North Sea.</p> + +<p>The entire Grand Fleet was here concentrated, +formed in two long parallel lines steaming +due east six miles apart, our American +squadron being the second one in the northern +line. By that time the Sixth Battle Squadron +was composed of the <i>New York</i>, <i>Texas</i>, <i>Wyoming</i>, +<i>Arkansas</i>, and <i>Florida</i>, the <i>Delaware</i> having returned +home. Our ships were led by the <i>New +York</i>. About 9 A.M. the men crowding the +decks sighted some smoke coming dead ahead +out of the mist, and in a short time the German +battle-cruisers were plainly seen leading the +other German ships in their last trip at sea +under their own flag. They were not flying +battle-flags. At this time every one of the +Anglo-American ships was at her battle station, +turrets were fully manned, and all preparations +made for treachery at the last minute.</p> + +<p>The German line, led by the <i>Seydlitz</i>, steamed +slowly between the Allied lines, keeping perfect +station, and when their flag-ship came abreast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> +of the <i>Queen Elizabeth</i> the signal was given for +the whole Grand Fleet to make a turn of 180 +degrees, and return into port with the humiliated +enemy. The appearance of the enemy +ships was very good. There is no doubt they +were magnificent fighting ships, and that in +action they would have acquitted themselves +gallantly.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant W. A. Kirk, U.S.N., who witnessed +the surrender from a point of vantage on +the bridge of the battleship <i>New York</i>, standing +just behind Admiral Rodman and Admiral +Sims, said that it was exceedingly difficult at +the time to grasp the significance of their surrender +and feel duly impressed, as there was a +lack of show or emotion of any kind.</p> + +<p>"The whole affair," he added, "was run +exactly according to prearranged schedule, and +was only another proof of the quiet, businesslike, +efficient way the Royal Navy does things."</p> + +<p>Continuing, he said:</p> + +<p>"We proceeded into port in this formation, +our lines gradually converging as we approached +the entrance of the Firth of Forth. After +reaching a point a short distance in the Firth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +the German ships dropped anchor, and Admiral +Beatty on his flag-ship stood by to inspect +them. As we passed within 500 yards +of the enemy ships on our way to anchorage, +we gave the British Admiral three rousing cheers. +He returned them by waving his hat to Admiral +Rodman. About three that afternoon +Admiral Beatty sent his famous message, 'The +German flag will be hauled down at sunset +to-day, and will not be flown again until further +orders.' The German ships a few days later, +and after more inspection, were convoyed to +their port of internment, Scapa Flow."</p> + +<p>The American battleships remained with the +Grand Fleet for about two weeks after the surrender, +and then departed, amid many felicitations +and interchange of compliments, to Portland, +where they joined the vessels assembled +to escort President Wilson into Brest. This +done, the American sea-fighters lay for a day +in Brest, and then, spreading 600-foot homeward-bound +pennants to the breezes, the armada +headed for the United States, where at +the port of New York the men of the fleet +paraded down Fifth Avenue, to the appreciative<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +acclaim of tens upon tens of thousands of enthusiastic +patriots who lined Fifth Avenue.</p> + +<p>Had the German fleet come out for battle a +large percentage of it would unquestionably +have been destroyed, and yet it is the theory +of naval officers that some units, perhaps the +swift cruisers, would in the very nature of the +fighting (sea battles are fought upon the lines +of two great arcs) have succeeded in shaking +themselves loose, to the consequent detriment +of our freight and transport traffic. Cruisers +speeding free upon the face of the broad ocean +are difficult to corner, and a great amount of +damage might have been inflicted on the Allies +before all were finally hunted down.</p> + +<p>As it was, the enemy fleet remained at its +base, and in the end came forth peacefully, as +has been described. Had the war gone on, +had the German craft not appeared for battle, +a plan to smother their base through the medium +of clouds of bombing airplanes would +unquestionably have been put into effect at a +good and proper time. And at the same juncture, +no doubt, our Sixth Squadron would have +joined with the Grand Fleet in an attack upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> +Heligoland, plans for which are still in existence.</p> + +<p>In the waning months of the war it had +become increasingly clear that the submarine +as a weapon to decide the war was ineffective. +Not only were the Allied destroyers and chasers, +armed with their depth-bombs, waging a successful +fight against the undersea boats, but +other methods were beginning to have their +effect. Chief among these were our mine-laying +exploits, by which, in October of 1918, +was established a mine-barrage across the North +Sea, which proved a tremendous handicap to +the German U-boats.</p> + +<p>Captain Reginald R. Belknap, U.S.N., +commanding Mine Squadron I of the Atlantic +Fleet, which operated in European waters, has +compiled an interesting account of the important +part played by the United States mine-laying +squadron in planting mines in the North +Sea. From the time the United States joined +in the war, he says, our Navy Department +urged strong measures, essentially offensive, to +hem in the enemy bases, so that fewer submarines +might get out, or, if already out, get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +back. A new American invention came to the +notice of the Bureau of Ordnance, where its +possibilities were quickly perceived. A few +quiet but searching experiments developed it +into a mine of more promising effectiveness than +any ever used before, especially against submarines. +This gave the United States Navy +the definite means to offer an anti-submarine +barrage, on the German coast or elsewhere, and +the result was the northern mine-barrage in +the North Sea, stretching from the Orkneys +280 miles to Norway, which the Secretary of +the Navy's annual report characterizes as "the +outstanding anti-submarine offensive product of +of the year."</p> + +<p>Manufacture of the mines in this country—they +were of the non-sweepable variety—had +been going on since December, 1917. The +many parts were constructed by the thousands +by numerous different contractors, who delivered +them at Norfolk, where the mine +spheres were charged with 300 pounds of TNT, +and loaded into steamers, managed by the +Naval Overseas Transport Service. It required +twenty-four steamers, running constantly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> +to keep the ten mine-planters supplied with +mines. Only one fell a victim to a submarine.</p> + +<p>Our mine squadron arrived at Inverness +May 26, 1918, and twelve days later started +on its first mine-planting "excursion." On +this excursion, June 7, the squadron planted a +mine field 47 miles long, containing 3,400 mines, +in three hours and thirty-six minutes. One +ship emptied herself of 675 mines without a +single break, 1 mine every eleven and one-half +seconds through more than two hours, the +longest series ever planted anywhere.</p> + +<p>On the seventh excursion, August 26, the +commander of the mine force, Rear-Admiral +Strauss, U.S.N., went out, and on the next, +by the American and British squadrons together, +he was in command of them both, on +the <i>San Francisco</i>. The mine field on this occasion +closed the western end of the barrier off +the Orkneys, making it complete across. Of +the ninth excursion Rear-Admiral Clinton-Baker, +R.N., was in command. Altogether the +American squadron made fifteen excursions, the +British squadron eleven, and when the barrage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +was finished, at the end of October, 70,100 +mines in all had been planted in it, of which +56,570 were American. The barrier stretched +from off the northern Orkney Islands, 230 miles, +to the coast of Norway, near Bergen. Its width +averaged 25 miles, nowhere less than 15 miles—more +than an hour's run for a submarine.</p> + +<p>The barrage began to yield results early in +July, and from time to time reports would come +of submarines damaged or disappearing. It +may never be known definitely how many +actually did come to grief there, but the best +information gives a probable ten before the +middle of October, with a final total of seventeen +or more. In addition the squadron should +be credited with two submarines lost in the +field of British mines laid by the U.S.S. <i>Baltimore</i>, +off the Irish coast.</p> + +<p>In summing up the work of the navy throughout +the war one month after the armistice had +been signed, Secretary Daniels paid the highest +tribute to the widely recognized efficiency +of Vice-Admiral Sims; he had also superlative +praise for Rear-Admiral Rodman, who commanded +our battleships attached to the Grand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> +Fleet; for Vice-Admiral Wilson, commanding +our forces in French waters; for Rear-Admiral +Niblack, our Mediterranean commander, Rear-Admiral +Dunn in the Azores, and Rear-Admiral +Strauss in charge of mining operations.</p> + +<p>When the fighting ended our force in European +waters comprised 338 vessels, with 75,000 men +and officers, a force larger than the entire navy +before the war. The navy, in its operations, +covered the widest scope in its history; naval +men served on nearly 2,000 craft that plied the +waters, on submarines, and in aviation, while +on land, marines and sailors helped to hold +strategic points. The regiments of marines +shared with the magnificent army their part of +the hard-won victory; wonderfully trained gun-crews +of sailors manned the monster 14-inch +guns—which marked a new departure in land +warfare—while naval officers and men in all +parts of the world did their full part in the +operations which mark the heroic year of accomplishment.</p> + +<p>While the destroyers led in the anti-submarine +warfare, the 406 submarine chasers, of which +335 were despatched abroad, should have credit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +for efficient aid, also the American submarines +sent to foreign waters.</p> + +<p>The transportation of 2,000,000 American +troops 3,000 miles overseas, with the loss of +only a few hundred lives, and without the loss +of a single American troopship on the way to +France, was an unparalleled achievement. From +a small beginning this fleet expanded to 24 +cruisers and 42 transports, manned by 3,000 +officers and 41,000 men, these being augmented +by 4 French men-of-war and 13 foreign merchant +vessels, a grand total of 83 ships. In spite +of the constant menace of submarines, only 3 +of these troopships were lost—the <i>Antilles</i>, +<i>Lincoln</i>, and <i>Covington</i>. All were sunk on the +homeward voyage.</p> + +<p>Four naval vessels were lost as a result of +submarine activity—the destroyer <i>Jacob Jones</i>, +the converted yacht <i>Alcedo</i>, the coast-guard +cutter <i>Tampa</i>, sunk with all on board, and the +cruiser <i>San Diego</i>, sunk in home waters by striking +an enemy mine. The loss of the collier +<i>Cyclops</i>, bound for South America, whose disappearance +is one of the unsolved mysteries of +the seas, will probably never be explained.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span></p> + +<p>The notable achievements in naval ordnance, +especially the work of the 14-inch naval guns +on railway mounts on the western front, which +hurled shells far behind the German lines, have +received adequate recognition from Allied authorities. +These mounts were designed and +completed in four months. The land battery +of these naval guns was manned exclusively by +bluejackets, under command of Rear-Admiral +C. P. Plunkett, and work of the Bureau of Ordnance +was conducted by Admiral Early, the +chief of the bureau, one of our "ablest and fittest" +officers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">Lessons Of The War—The Submarine Not Really a +Submarine—French Term For Undersea Fighter—The +Success of the Convoy Against Submersibles—U-Boats +Not Successful Against Surface Fighters—Their +Shortcomings—What The Submarine Needs +To Be A Vital Factor In Sea Power—Their Showing +Against Convoyed Craft—Record Of Our Navy In +Convoying And Protecting Convoys—Secretary Daniel's +Report</p> + + +<p>Naval scientists learned much as a result +of this war, but contrary to popular +theory the events of the four and a half years +strengthened belief in the battleship as the deciding +element in sea power. The submarine +was frightful, and did a vast amount of harm, +but not so much as one might think. Against +surface fighters it was not remarkably effective; +indeed the war proved that the submarine's only +good chance against a battleship or cruiser was +to lurk along some lane which the big surface +craft was known to be following, and strike her +quickly in the dark. Within effective torpedo +range a periscope, day or night, is visible to +keen-eyed watchers, and all told not a dozen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> +British and American sea fighters, of whatever +class, were sunk as a result of submarine attack.</p> + +<p>In the battle of Heligoland Bight early in the +war, as a matter of fact, a squadron of British +battleships passed right through a nest of submarines +and were not harmed. The most spectacular +submarine success, the sinking of the +three fine cruisers, <i>Aboukir</i> and <i>Cressy</i> and +<i>Hawke</i>, was the result of an attack delivered +upon unsuspecting craft, which were lying at anchor, +or at all events under deliberate headway. +The American Navy, as already pointed out, +lost the <i>Jacob Jones</i>, a destroyer, the coast +cutter <i>Tampa</i>, and the <i>Alcedo</i>, together with +one or two smaller craft, but that is all.</p> + +<p>It will surprise many when the statement is +made that, of all the Atlantic convoys, east or +west bound, in the four years of the war, +aggregating a gross tonnage of some eighty-odd +millions, only 654,288 tons were lost +through submarine attack, considerably less +than 1 per cent of the total tonnage crossing the +war zone during the war—0.83 per cent, to be +exact. Here are some specific figures:</p> + +<p>Atlantic convoys between July 26, 1917, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +October 15, 1918, a total of 1,027 convoys, +comprising 14,968 ships east and west bound, +were carried with a loss of 118 ships—0.79 of +1 per cent.</p> + +<p>For all seas, 85,772 vessels, 433 lost—0.51 +per cent.</p> + +<p>It really boils down to the fact that the greatest +feat of the submarine was in its success in +<i>slowing up oversea freight traffic and in keeping +neutral freighters in port</i>. In this respect the +submarine most certainly was dangerously pernicious. +But as a positive agency, as said, the undersea +craft was not a decisive factor in the war.</p> + +<p>All of which, most naturally, is a graphic +commentary upon the inadequacy of the submarine +as a check to the manifestations of sea +power. In truth, there is a vast deal of popular +misconception about the submarine, a +name which is really a misnomer. The French +are more precise in their term, a submersible; +for, as a matter of fact, the submarine, or submersible, +is in essence a surface craft which is +able to descend beneath the water, proceeding +thus for a limited time.</p> + +<p>The amount of time which a submersible may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> +run beneath the waves depends upon her speed. +The best of the German undersea boats, it has +been estimated, could not remain under more +than three hours at high speed. They then had +to come up, as the navy saying has it, for "more +juice." To be more explicit, a submersible has +a mechanical process, a combination motor and +dynamo between the engine, which drives the +boat when it is on the surface, and the thrust +block through which the shaft runs to the propeller. +This motor-dynamo, serving as a motor, +drives the boat when she is beneath the water. +When the electric power is exhausted the boat +comes to the surface, the motor is disconnected +from the shaft and is run as a dynamo generating +power. Twelve hours are required in +which to produce the amount of electricity required +for use when the vessel next submerges. +Thus, a great proportion of the time the submarine +is a surface craft.</p> + +<p>Again, there are important defects in the lead +battery system, which was generally used in +the war. First of all, they are very heavy, and +secondly the sulphuric acid in the containers is +liable to escape—in fact, does escape—when the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> +boat rolls heavily. Sulphuric acid mingling +with salt water in the bilges produces a chlorine +gas, which, as every one knows, is most deadly. +Not only this: the acid eats out the steel plates +of a hull.</p> + +<p>There is talk of using dry batteries, but these +are heavy, too, and there are evils arising from +their use which have made the lead batteries, +objectionable though they may be, preferable +in a great majority of cases. The British have +a type of submersible propelled on the surface +by steam.</p> + +<p>The Peace Conference at this writing is +talking of the advisability of eliminating the +submarine as a weapon of war. Whether by +the time this is read such action will have been +taken, the fact remains that before the submarine +could hope to approach in formidability +the surface fighter, she will have to experience +a development which at the present time has +not been attained. The vital need seems to be +a single propulsive agency for progress on the +surface and when submerged.</p> + +<p>An interesting table showing the success of +the convoy system is herewith presented:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span></p> + +<table summary="Atlantic convoys"> +<colgroup> + <col width="25%"/> +</colgroup> +<colgroup align="right"> + <col width="15%"/> + <col width="20%"/> + <col width="20%"/> + <col width="20%"/> +</colgroup> +<tr><td>Atlantic Convoys </td><td>No. of convoys </td> + <td>No. of merchant ships </td><td>Losses in convoy </td><td>Percent</td></tr> +<tr><td>Homeward convoys</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td>North Atlantic</td><td>306</td><td>5,416</td><td>40</td><td>0.74</td></tr> +<tr><td>Gibraltar</td><td>133</td><td>1,979</td><td>30</td><td>1.5</td></tr> +<tr><td>West African Ports</td><td>105</td><td>944</td><td>6</td><td>0.64</td></tr> +<tr><td>Rio de Janiero</td><td>22</td><td>307</td><td>1</td><td>0.32</td></tr> +<tr><td>Total Homeward</td><td>566</td><td>8,646</td><td>77</td><td>0.89</td></tr> +<tr><td>Outward convoys</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td>Various sailings</td><td>508</td><td>7,110</td><td>45</td><td>0.63</td></tr> +<tr><td>Other convoys</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td>Scandinavian (old system)</td><td></td><td>6,475</td><td>75</td><td>1.15</td></tr> +<tr><td>Scandinavian (new system)</td><td></td><td>3,923</td><td>16</td><td>0.41</td></tr> +<tr><td>French coal trade</td><td></td><td>37,221</td><td>53</td><td>0.14</td></tr> +<tr><td>Local Mediterranean</td><td></td><td>10,275</td><td>127</td><td>1.24</td></tr> +<tr><td>East Coast</td><td></td><td>12,122</td><td>40</td><td>0.33</td></tr> +<tr><td>Grant total</td><td></td><td>85,772</td><td>433</td><td>0.51</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="center">Statement of ships in organized atlantic convoys<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">July 26, 1917-October 5, 1918</p> +<p class="center">Ships</p> +<table summary="Convoyed ships"> +<colgroup> + <col width="40%"/> +</colgroup> +<colgroup align="right"> + <col width="20%"/> + <col width="20%"/> + <col width="20%"/> +</colgroup> +<tr><td></td><td>Homeward bound </td><td>Outward bound </td><td>Total</td></tr> +<tr><td>Convoys</td><td>539</td><td>488</td><td>1,027</td></tr> +<tr><td>Ships convoyed</td><td>8,194</td><td>6,774</td><td>14,968</td></tr> +<tr><td>Casualties</td><td>74</td><td>44</td><td>118</td></tr> +<tr><td>Per cent of casualties </td><td>0.9</td><td>0.65</td><td>0.79</td></tr> +</table> +<p class="center">Tonnages (Gross Deadweight)</p> +<table summary="Convoyed tonnages"> +<colgroup> + <col width="40%"/> +</colgroup> +<colgroup align="right"> + <col width="20%"/> + <col width="20%"/> + <col width="20%"/> +</colgroup> +<tr><td></td><td>Homeward bound </td><td>Outward bound </td><td>Total</td></tr> +<tr><td>Convoyed</td><td>59,062,200</td><td>47,491,950</td><td>106,554,150</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lost</td><td>510,600</td><td>378,100</td><td>888,700</td></tr> +<tr><td>Per cent of losses </td><td>0.86</td><td>0.8</td><td>0.83</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Fifteen cargo ships with a deadweight tonnage +of 103,692, were lost during 1918 by the +Naval Overseas Transportation Service. The +removal of the ban of secrecy, vital during the +war as a protection to vessels and their crews, +discloses that 6 ships, aggregating 42,627 tons, +were destroyed by enemy activity, 5 vessels, +representing a tonnage of 44,071 tons, were +sunk in collisions, and 4 vessels, totalling 16,994 +tons, were destroyed by fire and explosion. +Seventy-two ships were originally assigned to +this service late in 1917, and when the armistice +was signed, November 11, 1918, the cargo fleet +numbered 453 vessels, including 106 ships ready +to be taken over.</p> + +<p>Crews of naval cargo ships faced many perils, +including the menace of an unseen foe, the +danger of collision, and the liability to death +by accidents from inflammable cargoes.</p> + +<p>Not only were these crews confronted with +the normal perils of the sea, says the report, +but they faced destruction from torpedo, collision, +and other unforeseen accidents that might +cause fire in inflammable cargoes. It took +brave men to steam week in and week out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> +through submarine and mine infested waters +at eight knots an hour in a ship loaded with +several thousand tons of depth charges, TNT, +or poison gas, not knowing what minute the +entire vessel was going to be blown to matchwood.</p> + +<p>It is on record that a convoy of fifty ships +from New York was disintegrated by a violent +storm in mid-Atlantic, and that only two of the +number reached France under convoy. "Every +ship for herself," the forty-eight others by luck, +pluck, and constant vigil, all finally dropped +their anchors in the protected harbors of their +destination.</p> + +<p>The value of a cargo ship is realized when it +is known that under existing war conditions +each ship cost to operate $100 every hour. +Good, bad, and indifferent ships, old or new, +fast or slow, were transformed into serviceable +craft. The personnel of the Naval Overseas +Transportation Service at the time of the armistice +included 5,000 officers and 45,000 enlisted +men.</p> + +<p>The world has been so deeply occupied with +figures and facts relating to the havoc by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> +German submarine that little thought has been +centred upon the work of the Allied submersibles. +Yet in the way of accounting for war-ships +one may fancy that they rivalled the +Teutonic craft. Details may be given of the +part which British submarines played during +the war. This service destroyed 2 battleships, +2 armed cruisers, 2 light cruisers, 7 destroyers, +5 gunboats, 20 submarines, and 5 armed auxiliary +vessels. In addition 3 battleships and +1 light cruiser were torpedoed, but reached +port badly damaged. One Zeppelin also got +back to port badly damaged after having been +attacked by a submarine.</p> + +<p>Other enemy craft destroyed by British submarines +were 14 transports, 6 ammunition and +supply ships, 2 store ships, 53 steamships, +and 197 sailing ships. In no case was a merchant +ship sunk at sight. Care was taken to +see that the crews of all vessels got safely away.</p> + +<p>In addition to carrying out their attacks on +enemy war-craft, the submarines played an +important part in convoy work. In the third +year of the war one of the British submarine +commanders carried out 24 cruises, totalling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> +22,000 miles, which probably constitutes a +record for any submarine. In the first and +second years of the war 7 British submarine +commanders carried out a total of 120 cruises, +extending for 350 days, all of which were actually +spent in the enemy theatre.</p> + +<p>Our submarines, too, acquitted themselves +nobly on the other side, and when the story of +the navy's activities is finally presented by +Mr. Daniels, we shall have in our possession +details not now to be printed. We may, however, +say that battles, submarine against submarine, +have not been unknown in the war +zone; the fact that in addition to moving ahead +or astern the submarine has also the power of +dodging up and down complicated these fights +in many interesting ways.</p> + +<p>There has been, too, a great deal of misapprehension +concerning the relative showing of +the United States and Great Britain in conveying +our soldiers to the theatre of war. At one +time in the war, it is true, the British were +carrying considerably more than half of our +soldiers, but in the latter stages our transport +service made gigantic strides, so that now the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> +total of percentages is such as to enlist our +pride. According to figures issued from the +office of Admiral Gleaves, in charge of oversea +transport for our navy, of the 2,079,880 American +troops transported overseas, 46-½ per cent +were carried in <i>American ships, manned by +Americans</i>; 48-½ per cent in British vessels, +and the small balance in French and Italian +craft. Of the total strength of the naval escort +guarding these convoys the <i>United States furnished +82-3/4 per cent</i>, Great Britain 14-½ per cent, +and France 2-1/8 per cent.</p> + +<p>Figures giving some idea of the records attained +by convoys carrying our soldiers may +now be presented, and they are immensely interesting. +In the three months of July, August, +and September of 1918, 7 American soldiers +with equipment arrived every minute of the day +and night in England or France. The banner +month was July, when 317,000 American soldiers +were safely landed. In September, 311,219 +American troops, 4,000 American sailors, and +5,000 Canadians were successfully transported +across the Atlantic. The largest single convoy +of this month carried to France 31,108, and to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> +England 28,873. Of the troops transported in +this month American vessels carried 121,547; +British vessels 175,721, and French 13,951.</p> + +<p>All in all, in patrol, in convoy duty, in actual +combat, our navy in the war accomplished with +utter precision a stupendous task, a task of +multifarious phases—all performed in that clean-cut, +vigorous, courageous, painstaking, large-minded +way which we, throughout ail the years, +have been proud to regard as typical of the +American Navy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SECRETARY_DANIELS_REPORT" id="SECRETARY_DANIELS_REPORT"></a>SECRETARY DANIELS'S REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES +OF THE NAVY IN THE WAR<a name="FNanchor_1_2" id="FNanchor_1_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_2" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></h2> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_2" id="Footnote_1_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_2"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, issued an official report +on December 8, 1918, in which he presented the following full account +of the work of the navy during the war.</p></div> + + +<p>The operations of our navy during the world war have +covered the widest scope in its history. Our naval forces +have operated in European waters from the Mediterranean +to the White Sea. At Corfu, Gibraltar, along the +French Bay of Biscay ports, at the English Channel ports, +on the Irish Coast, in the North Sea, at Murmansk and +Archangel our naval forces have been stationed and have +done creditable work. Their performance will probably +form the most interesting and exciting portion of the +naval history of this war, and it is the duty which has +been most eagerly sought by all of the personnel, but +owing to the character of the operations which our navy +has been called upon to take part in it has not been possible +for all of our naval forces, much as they desired it, +to engage in operations at the front, and a large part of +our work has been conducted quietly, but none the less +effectively, in other areas. This service, while not so +brilliant, has still been necessary, and without it our +forces at the front could not have carried on the successful +campaign that they did.</p> + +<p>Naval men have served on nearly 2,000 craft that plied +the waters, on submarines, and in aviation, where men of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> +vision and courage prevent surprise attacks and fight with +new-found weapons. On the land, marines and sailors +have helped to hold strategic points, regiments of marines +have shared with the army their part of the hard-won +victory, and a wonderfully trained gun crew of sailors has +manned the monster 14-inch guns which marked a new +departure in land warfare.</p> + +<p>In diplomacy, in investigation at home and in all parts +of the world by naval officers and civilian agents, in protecting +plants and labor from spies and enemies, in promoting +new industrial organizations and enlarging older +ones to meet war needs, in stimulating production of +needed naval craft—these are some of the outstanding +operations which mark the heroic year of accomplishment.</p> + + +<h3>FIGHTING CRAFT</h3> + +<p>The employment of the fighting craft of the navy may +be summed up as follows:</p> + +<p>1. Escorting troop and cargo convoys and other special +vessels.</p> + +<p>2. Carrying out offensive and defensive measures +against enemy submarines in the Western Atlantic.</p> + +<p>3. Assignment to duty and the despatch abroad of +naval vessels for operations in the war zone in conjunction +with the naval forces of our allies.</p> + +<p>4. Assignment to duty and operation of naval vessels +to increase the force in home waters. Despatch abroad +of miscellaneous craft for the army.</p> + +<p>5. Protection of these craft en route.</p> + +<p>6. Protection of vessels engaged in coastwise trade.</p> + +<p>7. Salvaging and assisting vessels in distress, whether +from maritime causes or from the operations of the enemy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span></p> + +<p>8. Protection of oil supplies from the Gulf.</p> + +<p>In order to carry out successfully and speedily all these +duties large increases in personnel, in ships of all classes +and in the instrumentalities needed for their production +and service were demanded. Briefly, then, it may be +stated that on the day war was declared the enlistment +and enrollment of the navy numbered 65,777 men. On +the day Germany signed the armistice it had increased +to 497,030 men and women, for it became necessary to +enroll capable and patriotic women as yeomen to meet +the sudden expansion and enlarged duties imposed by +war conditions. This expansion has been progressive. +In 1912 there were 3,094 officers and 47,515 enlisted men; +by July 1, 1916, the number had grown to 4,293 officers +and 54,234 enlisted men, and again in that year to 68,700 +in all. In granting the increase Congress authorized the +President in his discretion to augment that force to 87,800. +Immediately on the outbreak of the war the navy was +recruited to that strength, but it was found that under +the provisions of our laws there were not sufficient officers +in the upper grades of the navy to do the war work. +At the same time the lessons of the war showed it was impossible +to have the combatant ships of the navy ready +for instant war service unless the ships had their full personnel +on board and that personnel was highly trained.</p> + +<p>In addition to this permanent strength recourse was +had to the development of the existing reserves and to +the creation of a new force.</p> + + +<h3>NAVAL VOLUNTEERS</h3> + +<p>Up to 1913 the only organization that made any pretense +of training men for the navy was the Naval Militia,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> +and that was under State control, with practically no +Federal supervision. As the militia seemed to offer the +only means of producing a trained reserve, steps were at +once taken to put it on a sound basis, and on February +16, 1914, a real Naval Militia under Federal control was +created, provision being made for its organization and +training in peace, as well as its utilization in war. As +with all organized militia, the Naval Militia, even with +the law of 1914, could not, under the Constitution, be +called into service as such except for limited duties, such +as to repel invasion. It could not be used outside the +territorial limits of the United States. It is evident, then, +that with such restrictions militia could hardly meet the +requirements of the navy in a foreign war, and to overcome +this difficulty the "National Naval Volunteers" +were created in August, 1916.</p> + +<p>Under this act members of Naval Militia organizations +were authorized to volunteer for "any emergency," of +which emergency the President was to be the judge. +Other laws included the same measure, provided for a +reserve force, for the automatic increase of officer personnel +in each corps to correspond with increases in enlisted +men, and for the Naval Flying Corps, special engineering +officers, and the Naval Dental and Dental +Reserve Corps. It also provided for taking over the +lighthouse and other departmental divisions by the navy +in time of war. Briefly, then, on July 1, 1917, three +months after the declaration of war, the number of officers +had increased to 8,038—4,694 regulars, 3,344 reserves—and +the number of enlisted men to 171,133—128,666 +regulars, 32,379 reserves, 10,088 National Naval Volunteers. +The increase since that time is as follows:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span></p> + +<table summary="Navy enlistment"> +<tr><td>April 1, 1918 </td><td>Officers </td><td>Men</td></tr> +<tr><td>Regular Navy</td><td></td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td>Permanent</td><td>5,441</td><td>198,224</td></tr> +<tr><td>Temporary</td><td>2,519</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td>Reserves</td><td>10,625</td><td>85,475</td></tr> +<tr><td>Total</td><td>18,585</td><td>283,699</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td>November 9, 1918</td><td></td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td>Permanent</td><td>5,656</td><td>206,684</td></tr> +<tr><td>Temporary</td><td>4,833</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td>Reserves</td><td>21,985</td><td>290,346</td></tr> +<tr><td>Total</td><td>32,474</td><td>497,030</td></tr> +</table> + + +<h3>THE NAVY THAT FLIES</h3> + +<p>The expansion of aviation in the navy has been of +gratifying proportions and effectiveness. On July 1, +1917, naval aviation was still in its infancy. At that +time there were only 45 naval aviators. There were +officers of the navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard who +had been given special training in and were attached to +aviation. There were approximately 200 student officers +under training, and about 1,250 enlisted men attached +to the Aviation Service. These enlisted men were assigned +to the three naval air stations in this country then +in commission. Pensacola, Fla., had about 1,000 men, +Bay Shore, Long Island, N.Y., had about 100, and Squantum, +Mass., which was abandoned in the fall of 1917, +had about 150 men. On July 1, 1918, there were 823 +naval aviators, approximately 2,052 student officers, and +400 ground officers attached to naval aviation. In addition,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> +there were more than 7,300 trained mechanics, and +more than 5,400 mechanics in training. The total enlisted +and commissioned personnel at this time was about +30,000.</p> + + +<h3>THE SHIPS</h3> + +<p>On the day war was declared 197 ships were in commission. +To-day there are 2,003. In addition to furnishing +all these ships with trained officers and men, the +duty of supplying crews and officers of the growing merchant +marine was undertaken by the navy. There has +not been a day when the demand for men for these ships +has not been supplied—how fit they were all the world +attests—and after manning the merchant ships there has +not been a time when provision was not made for the +constantly increasing number of ships taken over by the +navy.</p> + +<p>During the year the energy available for new construction +was concentrated mainly upon vessels to deal with +the submarine menace. Three hundred and fifty-five of +the 110-foot wooden submarine chasers were completed +during the year. Fifty of these were taken over by +France and 50 more for France were ordered during the +year and have been completed since July 1, 1918. Forty-two +more were ordered about the end of the fiscal year, +delivery to begin in November and be completed in +January.</p> + +<p>Extraordinary measures were taken with reference to +destroyers. By the summer of 1917 destroyer orders had +been placed which not only absorbed all available capacity +for more than a year, but required a material expansion +of existing facilities. There were under construction, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> +on order, in round figures, 100 of the thirty-five-knot +type.</p> + +<p>During the year, including orders placed at navy yards, +the following have been contracted for: Four battleships, +1 battle cruiser, 2 fuel ships, 1 transport, 1 gunboat, 1 +ammunition ship, 223 destroyers, 58 submarines, 112 +fabricated patrol vessels (including 12 for the Italian +Government), 92 submarine chasers (including 50 for the +French Government), 51 mine-sweepers, 25 seagoing tugs +and 46 harbor tugs, besides a large number of lighters, +barges, and other auxiliary harbor craft. In addition to +this, contracts have been placed for 12 large fuel ships in +conjunction with the Emergency Fleet Corporation.</p> + +<p>Ships launched during the year and up to October 1, +1918, include 1 gunboat, 93 destroyers, 29 submarines, +26 mine-sweepers, 4 fabricated patrol vessels, and 2 seagoing +tugs. It is noteworthy that in the first nine months +of 1918 there were launched no less than 83 destroyers +of 98,281 tons aggregate normal displacement, as compared +with 62 destroyers of 58,285 tons during the entire +nine years next preceding January 1, 1918.</p> + +<p>There have been added to the navy during the fiscal +year and including the three months up to October 1, +1918, 2 battleships, 36 destroyers, 28 submarines, 355 submarine +chasers, 13 mine-sweepers and 2 seagoing tugs. +There have also been added to the operating naval forces +by purchase, charter, etc., many hundred vessels of commercial +type, including all classes from former German +transatlantic liners to harbor tugboats and motorboats +for auxiliary purposes.</p> + +<p>Last year the construction of capital ships and large +vessels generally had been to some extent suspended. +Work continued upon vessels which had already made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> +material progress toward completion, but was practically +suspended upon those which had just been begun, or +whose keels had not yet been laid. The act of July 1, +1918, required work to be actually begun upon the remaining +vessels of the three-year programme within a +year. This has all been planned and no difficulty in +complying with the requirements of the act and pushing +rapidly the construction of the vessels in question is +anticipated. Advantage has been taken of the delay to +introduce into the designs of the vessels which had not +been laid down numerous improvements based upon war +experience.</p> + + +<h3>WORK OVERSEAS</h3> + +<p>War was declared on April 6, 1917. On the 4th of +May a division of destroyers was in European waters. +By January 1, 1918, there were 113 United States naval +ships across, and in October, 1918, the total had reached +338 ships of all classes. At the present time there are +5,000 officers and 70,000 enlisted men of the navy serving +in Europe, this total being greater than the full strength +of the navy when the United States entered the war. +The destroyers upon their first arrival were based on +Queenstown, which has been the base of the operations +of these best fighters of the submarines during the war. +Every facility possible was provided for the comfort and +recreation of the officers and men engaged in this most +rigorous service.</p> + +<p>During July and August, 1918, 3,444,012 tons of shipping +were escorted to and from France by American escort +vessels; of the above amount 1,577,735 tons were escorted +in and 1,864,677 tons were escorted out of French ports. +Of the tonnage escorted into French ports during this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> +time only 16,988 tons, or .009 per cent, were lost through +enemy action, and of the tonnage escorted out from +French ports only 27,858, or .013 per cent, were lost +through the same cause. During the same period, July +and August of this year, 259,604 American troops were +escorted to France by United States escort vessels without +the loss of a single man through enemy action. The +particulars in the above paragraph refer to United States +naval forces operating in the war zone from French ports.</p> + +<p>During the same time—July and August—destroyers +based on British ports supplied 75 per cent of the escorts +for 318 ships, totalling 2,752,908 tons, and including the +escort of vessels carrying 137,283 United States troops. +The destroyers on this duty were at sea an average of +67 per cent of the time, and were under way for a period +of about 16,000 hours, steaming approximately an aggregate +of 260,000 miles. There were no losses due to enemy +action.</p> + +<p>The history of the convoy operations in which our +naval forces have taken part, due to which we have been +able so successfully to transport such a large number of +our military forces abroad, and so many supplies for the +army, is a chapter in itself. It is probably our major +operation in this war, and will in the future stand as a +monument to both the army and the navy as the greatest +and most difficult troop transporting effort which has +ever been conducted across seas.</p> + +<p>(The Secretary says the convoy system was "suggested +by President Wilson." He continues:)</p> + +<p>This entire force, under command of Rear-Admiral +Albert Gleaves, whose ability and resource have been +tested and established in this great service in co-operation +with the destroyer flotilla operating abroad, has developed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> +an anti-submarine convoy and escort system the +results of which have surpassed even the most sanguine +expectations.</p> + + +<h3>TROOPS CARRIED OVERSEAS</h3> + +<p>American and British ships have carried over 2,000,000 +American troops overseas. The United States did not +possess enough ships to carry over our troops as rapidly as +they were ready to sail or as quickly as they were needed +in France. Great Britain furnished, under contract with +the War Department, many ships and safely transported +many American troops, the numbers having increased +greatly in the spring and summer. A few troops were +carried over by other allied ships. The actual number +transported in British ships was more than a million.</p> + +<p>Up to November 1, 1918, of the total number of United +States troops in Europe, 924,578 made passage in United +States naval convoys under escort of United States +cruisers and destroyers. Since November 1, 1917, there +have been 289 sailings of naval transports from American +ports. In these operations of the cruiser and transport +force of the Atlantic fleet not one eastbound American +transport has been torpedoed or damaged by the enemy +and only three were sunk on the return voyage.</p> + +<p>Our destroyers and patrol vessels, in addition to convoy +duty, have waged an unceasing offensive warfare +against the submarines. In spite of all this, our naval +losses have been gratifyingly small. Only three American +troopships—the <i>Antilles</i>, the <i>President Lincoln</i>, and the +<i>Covington</i>—were sunk on the return voyage. Only three +fighting ships have been lost as a result of enemy action—the +patrol ship <i>Alcedo</i>, a converted yacht, sunk off the +coast of France November 5, 1917; the torpedoboat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> +destroyer <i>Jacob Jones</i>, sunk off the British coast December +6, 1917, and the cruiser <i>San Diego</i>, sunk near Fire +Island, off the New York coast, on July 19, 1918, by striking +a mine supposedly set adrift by a German submarine. +The transport <i>Finland</i> and the destroyer <i>Cassin</i>, +which were torpedoed, reached port and were soon +repaired and placed back in service. The transport +<i>Mount Vernon</i>, struck by a torpedo on September 5 last, +proceeded to port under its own steam and was repaired. +The most serious loss of life due to enemy activity was +the loss of the Coast Guard cutter <i>Tampa</i>, with all on +board, in Bristol Channel, England, on the night of September +26, 1918. The <i>Tampa</i>, which was doing escort +duty, had gone ahead of the convoy. Vessels following +heard an explosion, but when they reached the vicinity +there were only bits of floating wreckage to show where +the ship had gone down. Not one of the 111 officers and +men of her crew was rescued, and, though it is believed +she was sunk by a torpedo from an enemy submarine, +the exact manner in which the vessel met its fate may +never be known.</p> + + +<h3>OTHER POINTS SUMMARIZED</h3> + +<p>Secretary Daniels records many other achievements of +ships and personnel, including those of the naval overseas +transportation service. Of the latter he says in +substance:</p> + +<p>In ten months the transportation service grew from 10 +ships to a fleet of 321 cargo-carrying ships, aggregating a +deadweight tonnage of 2,800,000, and numerically equalling +the combined Cunard, Hamburg-American, and North +German Lloyd lines at the outbreak of the war. Of this +number 227 ships were mainly in operation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span></p> + +<p>From the Emergency Fleet Corporation the navy has +taken over for operation 94 new vessels, aggregating 700,000 +deadweight tons. On March 21, 1918, by order of +the President 101 Dutch merchant vessels were taken over +by the Navy Department pending their allocation to the +various vital trades of this country, and 26 of these vessels +are now a part of the naval overseas fleet. This vast +fleet of cargo vessels has been officered and manned +through enrollment of the seagoing personnel of the +American merchant marine, officers and men of the United +States Navy, and the assignment after training of graduates +of technical schools and training schools, developed +by the navy since the United States entered the war.</p> + +<p>There are required for the operation of this fleet at the +present time 5,000 officers and 29,000 enlisted men, and +adequate arrangements for future needs of personnel have +been provided. The navy has risen to the exacting demands +imposed upon it by the war, and it will certainly +be a source of pride to the American people to know that +within ten months of the time that this new force was +created, in spite of the many obstacles in the way of its +accomplishment, an American naval vessel, manned by +an American naval crew, left an American port on the +average of every five hours, carrying subsistence and +equipment so vital to the American Expeditionary Force.</p> + +<p>One of the agencies adopted during the war for more +efficient naval administration is the organization and development +of naval districts.</p> + +<p>Secretary Daniels, in other passages of the foregoing +report, declares that the record made abroad by the United +States Navy, in co-operation with the navies of Great +Britain, France, Italy, and Japan, is without precedent +in allied warfare. He pays a high tribute to the efficiency<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> +of Admiral Sims, Commander-in-Chief of American naval +forces in European waters; of Rear-Admiral Rodman, in +command of the American battleships with the British +fleet; of Vice-Admiral Wilson, in France; Rear-Admiral +Niblack, in the Mediterranean; of Rear-Admiral Dunn, in +the Azores; of Rear-Admiral Strauss, in charge of mining +operations, and other officers in charge of various special +activities.</p> + +<p>The report tells of notable achievements in ordnance, +especially the work of the 14-inch naval guns on railway +mounts on the western front, which hurled shells far behind +the German lines, these mounts being designed and +completed in four months. The land battery of these +naval guns was manned exclusively by bluejackets under +command of Rear-Admiral C. P. Plunkett. The work of +the Bureau of Ordnance is praised, and Admiral Earle, +the Chief of the bureau, is declared "one of the ablest and +fittest officers."</p> + +<p>An account is given of the mine barrage in the North +Sea, one of the outstanding anti-submarine offensive projects +of the year, thus closing the North Sea, and for +which 100,000 mines were manufactured and 85,000 +shipped abroad. A special mine-loading plant, with a +capacity of more than 1,000 mines a day, was established +by the Navy Department.</p> + +<p>A star shell was developed which, when fired in the +vicinity of an enemy fleet, would light it up, make ships +visible, and render them easy targets without disclosing +the position of our own ships at night.</p> + +<p>The Bureau of Ordnance, under the direction of Rear-Admiral +Earle, is stated to have met and conquered the +critical shortage of high explosives which threatened to +prolong the time of preparation necessary for America<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> +to smash the German military forces; this was done by +the invention of TNX, a high explosive, to take the place +of TNT, the change being sufficient to increase the available +supply of explosives in this country to some 30,000,000 +pounds.</p> + +<p>In the future, it is stated, American dreadnoughts and +battle cruisers will be armed with 16-inch guns, making +these the heaviest armed vessels in the world.</p> + +<p>Depth-charges are stated to be the most effective antisubmarine +weapons. American vessels were adequately +armed with this new weapon.</p> + +<p>A new type was developed and a new gun, known as +the "Y" gun, was designed and built especially for firing +depth-charges.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MARINE_CORPS" id="MARINE_CORPS"></a>THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MARINE +CORPS</h2> + +<h3>BY JOSEPHUS DANIELS</h3> +<h3>SECRETARY OF THE NAVY</h3> + + +<p>The United States Marine Corps, the efficient fighting, +building, and landing force of the navy, has won imperishable +glory in the fulfilment of its latest duties upon +the battlefields of France, where the marines, fighting for +the time under General Pershing as a part of the victorious +American Army, have written a story of valor and +sacrifice that will live in the brightest annals of the war. +With heroism that nothing could daunt, the Marine +Corps played a vital role in stemming the German rush +on Paris, and in later days aided in the beginning of the +great offensive, the freeing of Rheims, and participated +in the hard fighting in Champagne, which had as its object +the throwing back of the Prussian armies in the +vicinity of Cambrai and St. Quentin.</p> + +<p>With only 8,000 men engaged in the fiercest battles, +the Marine Corps casualties numbered 69 officers and +1,531 enlisted men dead and 78 officers and 2,435 enlisted +men wounded seriously enough to be officially reported by +cablegram, to which number should be added not a few +whose wounds did not incapacitate them for further +fighting. However, with a casualty list that numbers +nearly half the original 8,000 men who entered battle, +the official reports account for only 57 United States +marines who have been captured by the enemy. This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> +includes those who were wounded far in advance of their +lines and who fell into the hands of Germans while unable +to resist.</p> + +<p>Memorial Day shall henceforth have a greater, deeper +significance for America, for it was on that day, May 30, +1918, that our country really received its first call to +battle—the battle in which American troops had the +honor of stopping the German drive on Paris, throwing +back the Prussian hordes in attack after attack, and beginning +the retreat which lasted until imperial Germany +was beaten to its knees and its emissaries appealing for +an armistice under the flag of truce. And to the United +States marines, fighting side by side with equally brave +and equally courageous men in the American Army, to +that faithful sea and land force of the navy, fell the honor +of taking over the lines where the blow of the Prussian +would strike the hardest, the line that was nearest Paris +and where, should a breach occur, all would be lost.</p> + +<p>The world knows to-day that the United States marines +held that line; that they blocked the advance that was +rolling on toward Paris at a rate of six or seven miles a +day; that they met the attack in American fashion and +with American heroism; that marines and soldiers of the +American Army threw back the crack guard divisions of +Germany, broke their advance, and then, attacking, drove +them back in the beginning of a retreat that was not to +end until the "cease firing" signal sounded for the end +of the world's greatest war.</p> + + +<h3>ADVANCING TO BATTLE</h3> + +<p>Having reached their destination early on the morning +of June 2, they disembarked, stiff and tired after a journey<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> +of more than seventy-two miles, but as they formed +their lines and marched onward in the direction of the +line they were to hold they were determined and cheerful. +That evening the first field message from the 4th Brigade +to Major-General Omar Bundy, commanding the 2d +Division, went forward:</p> + +<p>Second Battalion, 6th Marines, in line from Le Thiolet +through Clarembauts Woods to Triangle to Lucy. Instructed +to hold line. First Battalion, 6th Marines, going +into line from Lucy through Hill 142. Third Battalion +in support at La Voie du Chatel, which is also the post +command of the 6th Marines. Sixth Machine Gun Battalion +distributed at line.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the 5th Regiment was moving into line, +machine guns were advancing, and the artillery taking its +position. That night the men and officers of the marines +slept in the open, many of them in a field that was green +with unharvested wheat, awaiting the time when they +should be summoned to battle. The next day at 5 o'clock, +the afternoon of June 2, began the battle of Château-Thierry, +with the Americans holding the line against the +most vicious wedge of the German advance.</p> + + +<h3>BATTLE OF CHATEÂU-THIERRY</h3> + +<p>The advance of the Germans was across a wheat field +driving at Hill 165 and advancing in smooth columns. +The United States marines, trained to keen observation +upon the rifle range, nearly every one of them wearing a +marksman's medal or, better, that of the sharpshooter or +expert rifleman, did not wait for those gray-clad hordes +to advance nearer.</p> + +<p>Calmly they set their sights and aimed with the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> +precision that they had shown upon the rifle ranges at +Paris Island, Mare Island, and Quantico. Incessantly +their rifles cracked, and with their fire came the support +of the artillery. The machine-gun fire, incessant also, +began to make its inroads upon the advancing forces. +Closer and closer the shrapnel burst to its targets. Caught +in a seething wave of machine-gun fire, of scattering shrapnel, +of accurate rifle fire, the Germans found themselves +in a position in which further advance could only mean +absolute suicide. The lines hesitated. They stopped. +They broke for cover, while the marines raked the woods +and ravines in which they had taken refuge with machine-gun +and rifle to prevent their making another attempt to +advance by infiltrating through.</p> + +<p>Above, a French airplane was checking up on the artillery +fire. Surprised by the fact that men should deliberately +set their sights, adjust their range, and then fire deliberately +at an advancing foe, each man picking his +target, instead of firing merely in the direction of the +enemy, the aviator signalled below: "Bravo!" In the +rear that word was echoed again and again. The German +drive on Paris had been stopped.</p> + + +<h3>IN BELLEAU WOOD</h3> + +<p>For the next few days the fighting took on the character +of pushing forth outposts and determining the strength +of the enemy. Now, the fighting had changed. The +Germans, mystified that they should have run against +a stone wall of defense just when they believed that their +advance would be easiest, had halted, amazed; then prepared +to defend the positions they had won with all the +stubbornness possible. In the black recesses of Belleau<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> +Wood the Germans had established nest after nest of +machine guns. There in the jungle of matted underbrush, +of vines, of heavy foliage, they had placed themselves +in positions they believed impregnable. And this +meant that unless they could be routed, unless they could +be thrown back, the breaking of the attack of June 2 +would mean nothing. There would come another drive +and another. The battle of Château-Thierry was therefore +not won and could not be won until Belleau Wood +had been cleared of the enemy.</p> + +<p>It was June 6 that the attack of the American troops +began against that wood and its adjacent surroundings, +with the wood itself and the towns of Torcy and Bouresches +forming the objectives. At 5 o'clock the attack +came, and there began the tremendous sacrifices which +the Marine Corps gladly suffered that the German fighters +might be thrown back.</p> + + +<h3>FOUGHT IN AMERICAN FASHION</h3> + +<p>The marines fought strictly according to American +methods—a rush, a halt, a rush again, in four-wave +formation, the rear waves taking over the work of those +who had fallen before them, passing over the bodies of +their dead comrades and plunging ahead, until they, too. +should be torn to bits. But behind those waves were +more waves, and the attack went on.</p> + +<p>"Men fell like flies," the expression is that of an officer +writing from the field. Companies that had entered the +battle 250 strong dwindled to 50 and 60, with a Sergeant +in command; but the attack did not falter. At 9.45 +o'clock that night Bouresches was taken by Lieutenant +James F. Robertson and twenty-odd men of his platoon;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> +these soon were joined by two reinforcing platoons. +Then came the enemy counter-attacks, but the marines +held.</p> + +<p>In Belleau Wood the fighting had been literally from +tree to tree, stronghold to stronghold; and it was a fight +which must last for weeks before its accomplishment in +victory. Belleau Wood was a jungle, its every rocky +formation containing a German machine-gun nest, almost +impossible to reach by artillery or grenade fire. There +was only one way to wipe out these nests—by the bayonet. +And by this method were they wiped out, for United +States marines, bare-chested, shouting their battle-cry of +"E-e-e-e-e y-a-a-h-h-h yip!" charged straight into the +murderous fire from those guns, and won!</p> + +<p>Out of the number that charged, in more than one instance, +only one would reach the stronghold. There, with +his bayonet as his only weapon, he would either kill or +capture the defenders of the nest, and then swinging the +gun about in its position, turn it against the remaining +German positions in the forest. Such was the character +of the fighting in Belleau Wood; fighting which continued +until July 6, when after a short relief the invincible Americans +finally were taken back to the rest billet for recuperation.</p> + + +<h3>HELD THE LINE FOR DAYS</h3> + +<p>In all the history of the Marine Corps there is no such +battle as that one in Belleau Wood. Fighting day and +night without relief, without sleep, often without water, +and for days without hot rations, the marines met and +defeated the best divisions that Germany could throw +into the line.</p> + +<p>The heroism and doggedness of that battle are unparalleled.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> +Time after time officers seeing their lines +cut to pieces, seeing their men so dog-tired that they even +fell asleep under shellfire, hearing their wounded calling +for the water they were unable to supply, seeing men +fight on after they had been wounded and until they +dropped unconscious; time after time officers seeing these +things, believing that the very limit of human endurance +had been reached, would send back messages to their post +command that their men were exhausted. But in answer +to this would come the word that the line must hold, +and, if possible, those lines must attack. And the lines +obeyed. Without water, without food, without rest, +they went forward—and forward every time to victory. +Companies had been so torn and lacerated by losses that +they were hardly platoons, but they held their lines and +advanced them. In more than one case companies lost +every officer, leaving a Sergeant and sometimes a Corporal +to command, and the advance continued.</p> + +<p>After thirteen days in this inferno of fire a captured +German officer told with his dying breath of a fresh division +of Germans that was about to be thrown into the +battle to attempt to wrest from the marines that part of +the wood they had gained. The marines, who for days +had been fighting only on their sheer nerve, who had been +worn out from nights of sleeplessness, from lack of rations, +from terrific shell and machine-gun fire, straightened +their lines and prepared for the attack. It came—as +the dying German officer had predicted.</p> + +<p>At 2 o'clock on the morning of June 13 it was launched +by the Germans along the whole front. Without regard +for men, the enemy hurled his forces against Bouresches +and the Bois de Belleau, and sought to win back what +had been taken from Germany by the Americans. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> +orders were that these positions must be taken at all costs; +that the utmost losses in men must be endured that the +Bois de Belleau and Bouresches might fall again into German +hands. But the depleted lines of the marines held; +the men who had fought on their nerve alone for days +once more showed the mettle of which they were made. +With their backs to the trees and boulders of the Bois de +Belleau, with their sole shelter the scattered ruins of Bouresches, +the thinning lines of the marines repelled the +attack and crashed back the new division which had +sought to wrest the position from them.</p> + +<p>And so it went. Day after day, night after night, +while time after time messages like the following travelled +to the post command:</p> + +<p>Losses heavy. Difficult to get runners through. Some +have never returned. Morale excellent, but troops about +all in. Men exhausted.</p> + +<p>Exhausted, but holding on. And they continued to +hold on in spite of every difficulty. Advancing their +lines slowly day by day, the marines finally prepared +their positions to such an extent that the last rush for the +possession of the wood could be made. Then, on June +24, following a tremendous barrage, the struggle began.</p> + +<p>The barrage literally tore the woods to pieces, but even +its immensity could not wipe out all the nests that remained, +the emplacements that were behind almost every +clump of bushes, every jagged, rough group of boulders. +But those that remained were wiped out by the American +method of the rush and the bayonet, and in the days that +followed every foot of Belleau Wood was cleared of the +enemy and held by the frayed lines of the Americans.</p> + +<p>It was, therefore, with the feeling of work well done +that the depleted lines of the marines were relieved in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> +July, that they might be filled with replacements and +made ready for a grand offensive in the vicinity of Soissons, +July 18. And In recognition of their sacrifice and +bravery this praise was forthcoming from the French:</p> + +<p>Army Headquarters, June 30, 1918.</p> + +<p>In view of the brilliant conduct of the Fourth Brigade +of the Second United States Division, which in a spirited +fight took Bouresches and the important strong point of +Bois de Belleau, stubbornly defended by a large enemy +force, the General commanding the Sixth Army orders +that henceforth, in all official papers, the Bois de Belleau +shall be named "Bois de la Brigade de Marine."</p> + +<p>Division General Degoutte,</p> + +<p><i>Commanding Sixth Army</i>.</p> + +<p>On July 18 the marines were again called into action +in the vicinity of Soissons, near Tigny and Vierzy. In the +face of a murderous fire from concentrated machine guns, +which contested every foot of their advance, the United +States marines moved forward until the severity of their +casualties necessitated that they dig in and hold the positions +they had gained. Here, again, their valor called +forth official praise.</p> + +<p>Then came the battle for the St. Mihiel salient. On the +night of September 11 the 2d Division took over a line +running from Remenauville to Limey, and on the night +of September 14 and the morning of September 15 attacked, +with two days' objectives ahead of them. Overcoming +the enemy resistance, they romped through to +the Rupt de Mad, a small river, crossed it on stone bridges, +occupied Thiaucourt, the first day's objective, scaled the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> +heights just beyond it, pushed on to a line running from +the Zammes-Joulney Ridges to the Binvaux Forest, and +there rested, with the second day's objectives occupied +by 2.50 o'clock of the first day. The casualties of the division +were about 1,000, of which 134 were killed. Of +these, about half were marines. The captures in which +the marines participated were 80 German officers, 3,200 +men, ninety-odd cannon, and vast stores.</p> + +<p>But even further honors were to befall the fighting, +landing, and building force, of which the navy is justly +proud. In the early part of October it became necessary +for the Allies to capture the bald, jagged ridge twenty +miles due east of Rheims, known as Blanc Mont Ridge. +Here the armies of Germany and the Allies had clashed +more than once, and attempt after attempt had been +made to wrest it from German hands. It was a keystone +of the German defense, the fall of which would have a +far-reaching effect upon the enemy armies. To the glory +of the United States marines, let it be said that they were +again a part of that splendid 2d Division which swept +forward in the attack which freed Blanc Mont Ridge +from German hands, pushed its way down the slopes, and +occupied the level around just beyond, thus assuring a +victory, the full import of which can best be judged by +the order of General Lejeune, following the battle:</p> + +<p>France, Oct. 11, 1918.</p> + +<p>Officers And Men Of The 2d Division:</p> + +<p>It is beyond my power of expression to describe fitly +my admiration for your heroism. You attacked magnificently +and you seized Blanc Mont Ridge, the keystone +of the arch constituting the enemy's main position. You +advanced beyond the ridge, breaking the enemy's lines,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> +and you held the ground gained with a tenacity which is +unsurpassed in the annals of war.</p> + +<p>As a direct result of your victory, the German armies +east and west of Rheims are in full retreat, and by drawing +on yourselves several German divisions from other +parts of the front you greatly assisted the victorious advance +of the allied armies between Cambrai and St. +Quentin.</p> + +<p>Your heroism and the heroism of our comrades who died +on the battlefield will live in history forever, and will be +emulated by the young men of our country for generations +to come.</p> + +<p>To be able to say when this war is finished, "I belonged +to the 2d Division; I fought with it at the battle of Blanc +Mont Ridge," will be the highest honor that can come to +any man.</p> + +<p>John A. Lejeune.</p> + +<p>Major-General, United States Marine Corps, Commanding.</p> + +<p>Thus it is that the United States marines have fulfilled +the glorious traditions of their corps in this their latest +duty as the "soldiers who go to sea." Their sharpshooting—and +in one regiment 93 per cent of the men wear the +medal of a marksman, a sharpshooter, or an expert rifle-man—has +amazed soldiers of European armies, accustomed +merely to shooting in the general direction of the +enemy. Under the fiercest fire they have calmly adjusted +their sights, aimed for their man, and killed him, and in +bayonet attacks their advance on machine-gun nests has +been irresistible.</p> + +<p>In the official citation lists more than one American +marine is credited with taking an enemy machine-gun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> +single-handed, bayoneting its crew, and then turning the +gun against the foe. In one battle alone, that of Belleau +Wood, the citation lists bear the names of fully 500 United +States marines who so distinguished themselves in battle +as to call forth the official commendation of their superior +officers.</p> + +<p>More than faithful in every emergency, accepting +hardships with admirable morale, proud of the honor of +taking their place as shock troops for the American +legions, they have fulfilled every glorious tradition of +their corps, and they have given to the world a list of +heroes whose names will go down to all history.</p> + +<p><i>To Secretary Daniels's narrative may be added a brief +account of the terms in which the French official journal +cited the 4th American Brigade under Brigadier-General +Harbord on December 8.</i></p> + +<p>The brigade comprised the 5th Regiment of marines, +under Colonel (now Brigadier-General) Wendel C. Veille; +the 6th marines, under Colonel (now Brigadier-General) +Albertus A. Catlin, and the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, +under Major Edward B. Cole. The citation says the +brigade, in full battle array, was thrown on a front which +the enemy was attacking violently and at once proved +itself a unit of the finest quality. It crushed the enemy +attack on an important point of the position, and then +undertook a series of offensive operations:</p> + +<p>"During these operations, thanks to the brilliant courage, +vigor, dash, and tenacity of its men, who refused to +be disheartened by fatigue or losses; thanks to the activity +and energy of the officers, and thanks to the personal +action of Brigadier-General Harbord, the efforts of +the brigade were crowned with success, realizing after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> +twelve days of incessant struggle an important advance +over the most difficult of terrain and the capture of two +support points of the highest importance, Bouresches +village and the fortified wood of Belleau."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR NAVY IN THE WAR***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 18676-h.txt or 18676-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/6/7/18676">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/6/7/18676</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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