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diff --git a/old/63596-0.txt b/old/63596-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 71576bc..0000000 --- a/old/63596-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,16107 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Navy at war, by Josephus Daniels - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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 -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this ebook. - -Title: Our Navy at war - -Author: Josephus Daniels - -Release Date: November 01, 2020 [EBook #63596] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Carlos Colón, The University of North Carolina at Chapel - Hill and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at - https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive/American - Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR NAVY AT WAR *** - - - - - Transcriber's Notes: - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by - =equal signs=. - - Small uppercase have been replaced with regular uppercase. - - Blank pages have been eliminated. - - Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been left as in the - original. - - - - -[Illustration: From painting in Navy Department by R. S. Meryman] - - - - - OUR NAVY AT WAR - - - BY - - - JOSEPHUS DANIELS - SECRETARY OF THE NAVY - 1913 to 1921 - - - [Illustration] - - - Illustrated with Reproductions of Original - and Official Photographs - - - Pictorial Bureau - Washington, D. C. - 1922 - - - - - COPYRIGHT BY - PICTORIAL BUREAU - 1922 - - - - - _To the Six Hundred Thousand Men_ - - _Who Served in the United States Navy - and Marine Corps in the - World War_ - - -_Manning more than two thousand vessels--_ - -_Operating with Allied Navies from the Arctic to the Adriatic--_ - -_Transporting troops and supplies across the Atlantic--_ - -_Protecting ships from attack and destruction--_ - -_Driving off and defeating the murderous submarines, You made safe the -seas, and Kept open the Road to France, so that, Of all the vast Army -sent overseas, Not one soldier on an American troop-ship Lost his life -on the way to France._ - -_Fighting with the Army, your comrades, The Soldiers of the Sea, won -fame in Hard-fought battles that saved Paris, Drove back the German -hordes, and Won for Humanity Complete and Glorious Victory._ - - -_In recognition of your splendid service, your dauntless deeds, this -work is dedicated by one who was sometime your commander and always -your shipmate._ - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I. When the War Call Came 1 - - II. "To Be Strong Upon the Seas" 9 - - III. The Break with Germany 19 - - IV. The Day of Decision 30 - - V. Sending Sims to Europe 36 - - VI. Naval Allies in Historic Conference 45 - - VII. "We Are Ready Now, Sir" 53 - - VIII. Race Between Wilson and Hindenburg 70 - - IX. The Fleet the Kaiser Built for Us 89 - - X. Guarding the Coast of France 99 - - XI. Gibraltar and the Convoy 116 - - XII. Shutting up the Hornets in Their Nests 125 - - XIII. President Wilson as a Strategist 143 - - XIV. Comrades of the Mist 151 - - XV. Cinderellas of the Fleet 161 - - XVI. "Do Not Surrender"--"Never" 173 - - XVII. When the U-Boats Came to America 187 - - XVIII. Marines Stopped Drive on Paris 206 - - XIX. The Answer to the 75-Mile Gun 218 - - XX. The Navy That Flies 228 - - XXI. The Ferry to France 241 - - XXII. Radio Girdled the Globe 250 - - XXIII. A Surprise for Count von Luxburg 259 - - XXIV. American Admiral Saved Kolchak 268 - - XXV. The Half-Way House 275 - - XXVI. To Victory on a Sea of Oil 280 - - XXVII. Edison--and 100,000 More 285 - - XXVIII. Building a Thousand Ships 297 - - XXIX. Making Sailors out of Landsmen 309 - - XXX. Three Hundred Thousand Strong 318 - - XXXI. Women in the Navy 328 - - XXXII. Coast Guard Wins Distinction 332 - - XXXIII. Winning the First Battle of the War 341 - - XXXIV. Fighting the Profiteers 347 - - XXXV. "Sirs, All Is Well with the Fleet" 354 - - XXXVI. After the Armistice 366 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - Josephus Daniels _Frontispiece_ - - FACING PAGE - - War Chiefs of the Navy, the Secretary and his Advisory - Council 16 - - A Friendly Bout 17 - - School Hour Aboard a Battleship 17 - - President Wilson and the War Cabinet 32 - - American Dreadnoughts, the Embodiment of Sea Power 33 - - American Destroyers in Queenstown Harbor 52 - - The Return of the Mayflower 53 - - The Surrender of the U-58 58 - - Crew of the Fanning, which sank the U-58 59 - - They, Too, Were Ready 67 - - The Seattle and Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves 68 - - A Dash through the Danger Zone 68 - - The Sinking of the President Lincoln 80 - - The Secretary of the Navy with Captain Dismukes and the - men who saved the Mount Vernon 81 - - The Mount Vernon safely in port after being torpedoed 81 - - Brest, Center of the Great System of Naval Operations in - France 112 - - A German "Sub" and Some of its Enemies 113 - - At Gibraltar, Key to the Mediterranean 124 - - The Great Mine Barrage against the Submarines 125 - - Planting Mines in the North Sea 128 - - How the Big Mines in the North Sea Barrage Worked 129 - - One of the Perils of Mine-Sweeping 136 - - The Mine-Sweepers Proved Wonderful Sea Boats 136 - - United States Naval Officers in Important Commands 137 - - American and British Naval Officials 137 - - The Transport which carried President Wilson to the Peace - Conference 144 - - Allied Naval Council in Session at Paris 145 - - Fifth Battle Squadron Joining the British Grand Fleet 160 - - Surrender of the German High Seas Fleet 161 - - American Sub-chasers at Corfu, Greece 168 - - A Flock of Sub-chasers with their Mother-ship 169 - - Gun-crew of the Luckenbach has a Four-Hour Fight with a - Submarine 192 - - Chief Gunner's Mate Delaney, of the Campana, Defying his - Captors 192 - - The Merchant Submarine Deutschland 193 - - Leaders of the Marines 208 - - The Marines in Belleau Wood 209 - - Naval Railway Battery Firing from Thierville upon Longuyon 224 - - On the Turret Platform of a Battleship 225 - - Assembling Naval Airplanes at Brest 228 - - A Navy Blimp Leaving Hangar at Guipavas, France 229 - - Naval Aviation Hangars at Guipavas 229 - - Pauillac, Naval Aviation Station 240 - - Fliers whose Exploits Brought Prestige to Naval Aviation 241 - - The Station Whose Messages are Heard around the World 256 - - The Tablet on the Main Building of the Lafayette Radio - Station 257 - - Eagle Boats at Anchor in the Ice of the White Sea 274 - - The Half-Way House 275 - - The Naval Consulting Board and the Navy Department Chiefs 288 - - Secretary Daniels and Thomas A. Edison 289 - - Fitting Out for Distant Service 304 - - Hanging up a Record 305 - - The Living Flag 320 - - United States Naval Academy at Annapolis 321 - - Yeomen (F) in Liberty Loan Parade, New York City 328 - - Cyclops, the Collier which Disappeared without Leaving a - Trace 329 - - Lost with Every Man on Board (Coast Guard Cutter Tampa) 336 - - They Saved Survivors of Torpedoed Vessels 337 - - Gallant Officers of the Coast Guard 337 - - A General View of Bantry Bay 352 - - A Close-up View of American "Subs" at Berehaven 352 - - Rodman and Beatty 353 - - From Manila to the Adriatic 368 - - Scorpion, only American Naval Vessel Interned during the - War 369 - - - - -Our Navy at War - - - - -CHAPTER I - -WHEN THE WAR CALL CAME - - NEWS FLASHED TO SHIPS AND STATIONS FIVE MINUTES AFTER PRESIDENT - SIGNED DECLARATION--ENTIRE NAVY MOBILIZED AT ONCE--FLEET, ON WAR - BASIS SINCE BREAK WITH GERMANY, WAS AT YORKTOWN--"IN BEST STATE OF - PREPAREDNESS IT HAD EVER BEEN," ADMIRAL MAYO SAID--OFFICERS AND MEN - EAGER FOR ACTION. - - -Five minutes after President Wilson signed the war resolution passed by -Congress April 6, 1917, the Navy's radio operators were flashing this -message to every ship and station: - - Sixteen Alnav. The President has signed act of Congress which - declares a state of war exists between the United States and - Germany. Acknowledge. 131106. - - SECNAV. - -That dispatch had been prepared hours before. Radio and telegraph -operators were at their keys waiting for the word to "let it go." -Lieutenant Commander Byron McCandless, my naval aide, was waiting in -the executive office at the White House. Lieutenant Commander Royal -Ingersoll was stationed at the Navy Department, across the street, -watching for the signal. The moment the President appended his -signature, McCandless rushed out and wigwagged that the resolution had -been signed. Ingersoll dashed down the corridor to the Communication -office, and ordered the operators to start the "alnav" (all navy) -dispatch. - -Flashed from the towers at Arlington, in a few minutes it was received -by the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, by vessels and stations all along -the coast. By radio, telegraph and cable, the message was carried to -Panama, across the Pacific to Honolulu, the Philippines, to the vessels -on the Asiatic station. By the time the newspaper "extras" were on the -street, the naval forces had received notice that we were at war. - -The fleet was mobilized that afternoon by the following telegram to the -five flagships: - - _U. S. S. Pennsylvania_ - _U. S. S. Minnesota_ - _U. S. S. Seattle_ - _U. S. S. Columbia_ - _U. S. S. Vestal_ - - Flag Sigcode. Mobilize for war in accordance Department's - confidential mobilization plan of March 21. Particular attention - invited paragraphs six and eight. Acknowledge. - - JOSEPHUS DANIELS. - - [Paragraph 6 assigned the rendezvous of the various forces, and - paragraph 8 contained instructions with regard to vessels fitting - out at navy yards.] - -When this message was received by the Atlantic Fleet, at 1:33 p. m., -Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander-in-Chief, hoisted on his flagship, the -_Pennsylvania_, the signal, "War has commenced." At 5:50 o'clock he -received the mobilization order, for which officers and vessels were so -well prepared that Admiral Mayo said he did not have to "give a single -order of any kind or description to pass the Fleet from a peace to a -war basis." The entire Navy--Department, Fleet, yards and stations--was -on a war footing within a few hours after war was declared. Complete -instructions and plans, brought up to date, had been issued two weeks -previous, and mobilization was completed without an hour's delay. - -The Fleet was at its secret rendezvous "Base 2," to which it had sailed -from Hampton Roads on April 3, the day after President Wilson delivered -his war message to Congress. "Base 2" was Yorktown, Va., one of the -most historic spots in America, and our battleships were in sight of -the place where Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington. They rode -at anchor in the waters where the timely arrival of De Grasse's ships -assured the success of the war for American independence. - -In those waters, first made historic in naval annals by the presence -of the French ships sent to aid the struggling colonists in the -crucial days of 1781, the American Navy was making ready to repay that -invaluable assistance--to send its vessels to the beleaguered French -coast, both to safeguard the vast army America would send to France and -to drive back the onrushing enemies that threatened its life. In 1917 -the York and the Chesapeake were again the rendezvous of fighting men -of the same mettle as those of 1781, who were to strengthen by united -service and common sacrifice in the World War the bonds of friendship -between France and America that had been forged more than a century -before. - -And those who fought each other then were comrades now. "Old wars -forgot," Great Britain and France for years had held the lines, and -America was taking its place beside them, throwing all its power and -strength with them against the common foe. From Yorktown went the -first United States forces, ordered overseas just after war began. -Sent to England's aid, to serve with the British forces, their -arrival was hailed as the beginning of a new era in the relations -of the nations--the "Return of the Mayflower." And later went huge -dreadnaughts to the North Sea, joining the Grand Fleet in the mightiest -aggregation of naval power the world has ever seen. - -That is a wonderful harbor, there in the York River, with water deep -enough for the largest battleship, and broad enough to accommodate a -whole fleet. With defenses at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay, and nets, -mines and patrol across York River, no submarine could ever hope to -penetrate to this safe haven. - -"When the active fleet arrived in Hampton Roads about the 1st of April, -after its training period in Cuban waters, it was in the best state of -preparedness that it had ever been," said Admiral Mayo, "and there was -a feeling of confidence in the personnel of being able to cope with any -emergency." - -"At the end of March, 1917, when we were on the verge of entry into -the war," said Rear Admiral Charles P. Plunkett, Director of Gunnery -Exercises, "the gunnery was in the highest state of efficiency that it -has been in the history of the American Navy." - -When the break with Germany came the fleet was in Cuban waters, engaged -in target practice, engineering exercises, and battle maneuvers. This -intensive training had been going on under regular schedule for more -than two years. Every man in the fleet, from the Commander-in-Chief to -the youngest recruit, felt in his bones that the maneuvers that spring -were a real preparation for war. Eager to get a chance at the Germans, -confident that they could defeat any force of similar strength and -tonnage afloat; they were just waiting for the word "Go!" - -Is there such a thing as mental telepathy! Would you call it that or a -mere coincidence, if the same thought at almost the same moment came -to the Admiral of the Fleet at Guantanamo and to the Chief of Naval -Operations in Washington? That is exactly what occurred on February 4, -1917. And the two dispatches stating the same conclusions in regard to -moving the fleet were en route at the same time. - -At 3:59 o'clock that afternoon Admiral Mayo sent this message from his -flagship at Guantanamo: - - Unless instructions are received to the contrary, propose to shift - fleet base to Gulf of Guacanayabo after spotting practice February - 5th; then proceed with schedule of all gunnery exercises. - -Before that message reached Washington, in fact in less than ten -minutes after it was handed to the operator in Cuba, the following to -Admiral Mayo from Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Operations, was -being sent from the Department: - - Position of fleet well known to everybody. If considered advisable - on account of submarines, shift base to Gulf of Guacanayabo or - elsewhere at discretion. Inform Department confidentially. - -The first duty was protection of the Fleet from submarine attack. Four -months before the U-53 had called at Newport, and sallying forth, had -sunk British vessels just off our coast. On January 16th a Japanese -steamer, the _Hudson Maru_, captured by Germans, a prize crew placed -on board, had put into Pernambuco with 287 survivors from half a dozen -vessels sunk by a German raider. That raider, as was learned later, was -the famous _Moewe_, which captured twenty-six vessels, sinking all -except the _Hudson Maru_ and the _Yarrowdale_, which carried several -hundred prisoners to Germany, among them fifty-nine American sailors. - -The Germans could easily send their U-boats across the Atlantic. There -was a possibility that they might strike quickly without warning. Naval -strategists do not yet understand why Germany did not make an immediate -dash against our coasts in the spring of 1917, instead of waiting until -1918. Allied and American officers alike expected the submarines to -extend their operations to this side of the Atlantic when this country -entered the war. It was necessary to provide for the fleet a rendezvous -with which the Germans were not familiar, one easily defended, where -battleships could carry on their work free from attack until the time -came to bring them into action. But why Guacanayabo? - -Though you would hardly notice it on the average map, the Gulf of -Guacanayabo is a sizeable body of water, extending in a sort of -semicircle some seventy miles, the broadest part about fifteen miles -wide. On the southern coast of Cuba, it extends from Santa Cruz del Sur -to below Manzanillo, nearly to Cape Cruz. With plenty of deep water -inside, once the main channel is closed, only a navigator familiar with -the turnings and depths can navigate safely through the other channels, -for the Gulf is surrounded by a chain of islands, with many shoals. -Difficult for submarines to negotiate submerged, it is easily defended -against them. - -When Admiral Mayo had placed his ships in this landlocked harbor, shut -the door and turned the key, they were as safe as my lady's jewels in -a safety deposit vault. At Guacanayabo the fleet continued its work, -going out to sea for battle practice and long-range gunnery in the -daytime, returning at night to conduct night firing with the secondary -batteries, torpedo attack, and other exercises. There was even room -in the Gulf to carry on torpedo firing and defense at 10,000 yards -distance. - -There the fleet remained until it was ordered north, on March 20th. -"I feel sure that if this force had engaged an enemy on its cruise -north in the spring of 1917, the victory would have been ours," said -Admiral Henry B. Wilson, commander of the flagship, and Admiral Joseph -Strauss, in command of the _Nevada_, declared: "In April, 1917, we -could have gone out in mid-ocean and engaged the German fleet and come -out successfully. Our ships were superior; our guns were superior; I -believe our morale was superior." - -Upon the arrival of the fleet, Yorktown became the center of battle -training. During the entire war this base was one of the busiest places -in America. Every ship was carrying on intensive training day and -night--training gunners, engineers, firemen, deck officers and crews, -armed guards for merchant vessels, men of every rank and rating to man -transports, destroyers, patrol craft, and all the many vessels put into -European and trans-Atlantic service. In addition to new men in their -own crews, the special training squadron of older battleships trained -more than 45,000 officers and men for service in other vessels. - -When the bugle sounded, they all wanted to get into action. They had -looked for the declaration of war as the signal to weigh anchor and -set sail for Europe. As the destroyers and patrol craft went overseas -and the cruisers plunged across the Atlantic escorting troop-ships -and convoys, those who were left behind envied those who had received -such assignments. But teaching recruits, tame and tiresome as it was, -was their job, most necessary and useful. Until they had their heart's -desire and were ordered abroad, they stuck to it with the vim and -determination with which they afterwards entered upon the U-boat chase. -That was the spirit that won. - -Three thousand miles across the seas the men on the British Grand Fleet -were likewise eating their hearts out because the enemy dreadnaughts, -after the one dash at Jutland, were hugging the home ports, denying -to Allied naval forces the chance for which all other days had been -but preparation. All naval teaching for generations had instilled into -American and British youth the doctrine that, whereas battles on land -might continue for months, domination of the sea would be lost or won -in a few moments when the giant dreadnaughts engaged in a titanic duel. -German naval strategy, after the drawn battle at Jutland, defeated all -naval experience and expectation. Hiding behind their strong defenses, -never venturing forth in force, they imposed the strain and the -unexciting watchful waiting which more than anything else irks men who -long to put their mettle to the test by a decisive encounter. - -The acme of happiness to the fleets at Yorktown and at Scapa Flow to -which all looked, both before and after the American division joined -the British Grand Fleet, was a battle royal where skill and courage -and modern floating forts would meet the supreme test. It was not to -be. The disappointment of both navies was scarcely lessened by the -knowledge that they had gained a complete victory through successful -methods which a different character of warfare brought into existence. -They wished the glorious privilege of sinking the ships in an -engagement rather than permitting the Germans later to scuttle them. -Admiral Beatty voiced the regret of both navies in his farewell address -to his American shipmates, when he said: "I know quite well that you, -as well as all of our British comrades, were bitterly disappointed -at not being able to give effect to that efficiency you have so well -maintained." - -The sense of disappointment at the drab ending was heightened by the -belief entertained that there had been times when the bold and daring -offensive would have compelled a great naval battle. In Germany, fed -up for years on the claim of naval superiority and stuffed with fake -stories of a great German victory at Jutland, there had been demand -that their navy make proof of its worth by giving battle instead of -rusting in home ports. Men of the navies that had produced Nelsons, and -Farraguts and John Paul Joneses and Deweys grow restive under inaction. -They knew that the existence and readiness of the two great fleets -and of the French and Italian fleets held the German High Seas Fleet -in behind shore protection, rendering impotent the force Von Tirpitz -had assured Germany would sink enemy ships. But the dreary program of -blockade carried on during four long years was not to their liking. -It succeeded, but it was not the finish for which they had trained. -They longed to the very end for the real fight, the daring drive, the -bringing of their big guns into play, the final combat which could end -only with annihilation of the enemy's fleet. - -Whatever may be said of the wisdom of the ancient prudent doctrine of -"a fleet in being," I shall always believe that, if, at the opportune -time, such fighting sailors as Beatty and Carpenter, Mayo and Rodman -and Wilson, could have joined in a combined assault, they would -have found a way or made one, to sink the German fleet, in spite of -Heligoland and all the frowning German guns. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -"TO BE STRONG UPON THE SEAS" - - PRESIDENT IN 1914 LAID DOWN POLICY WHICH GUIDED THE NAVY IN - YEARS OF PREPARATION--ON VERGE OF WAR IN 1916--FLEET PREPARED - TO MOBILIZE--"DEUTSCHLAND" AND U-53 WARNED US TO EXPECT - SUBMARINES--CONGRESS AUTHORIZED BUILDING OF 157 WARSHIPS--MERCHANT - SHIPS LISTED, MUNITIONS ACCUMULATED, COUNTRY'S INDUSTRIES SURVEYED. - - -"We shall take leave to be strong upon the seas," declared President -Wilson in his annual message to Congress in December, 1914, and this -was the guiding policy in the years of preparation that preceded the -war. And the two years that followed were the busiest the Navy has ever -known in time of peace. - -The United States was on the very verge of war a year before it was -declared. All preparations were made to mobilize the Fleet when -President Wilson, after the sinking of the _Sussex_, sent his ultimatum -to Germany declaring: - - Unless the Imperial Government should now immediately declare and - effect an abandonment of its present methods of submarine warfare - against passenger and freight-carrying vessels, the Government - of the United States can have no choice but to sever diplomatic - relations with the German Empire altogether. - -That note was despatched on April 18, 1916. Germany did not reply -promptly and in a few days the following order was issued: - - NAVY DEPARTMENT - - Washington, April 27, 1916. - - CONFIDENTIAL. - - From: Chief of Naval Operations. - - Subject: Mobilization Plan. - - The following order had this day been approved by the Secretary of - the Navy: - - "1. In case of mobilization for war in the Atlantic the - organization of the naval forces will be as indicated in - the mobilization sheets published from time to time by the - Department. - - "2. Plans will be developed by all officers concerned for - execution upon the receipt of the order to mobilize. - - "3. The order to mobilize when received will be construed as an - order to take all necessary action for the rapid assembly of - ships at the rendezvous in all respects ready for war service. - - "4. The rendezvous is designated as Chesapeake Bay." - - Copies of mobilization sheets are forwarded herewith. - -All our battleships except three, and 40 of our 47 destroyers were -reported immediately available. Mobilization is the next step to actual -hostilities and is only justifiable when conditions are extremely -threatening. That was the case in the spring of 1916. In fact, what -threatened then was what actually occurred a year later. - -The German Government in its note of May 4th met all Wilson's demands, -declaring it would do its utmost to confine the operations for the rest -of the war to the fighting forces of the belligerent. "Guided by this -idea," it notified the United States Government that the German naval -forces had received the following orders: - - In accordance with the general principles of visit and search - and destruction of merchant vessels recognized by international - law, such vessels, both within and without the area declared as - naval war zone, shall not be sunk without warning and without - saving human lives, unless such ships attempt to escape or offer - resistance. - -It was not until Feb. 1, 1917, that Germany repudiated this pledge and -resumed ruthless U-boat warfare. But it did give us warning that it -could send its undersea craft to American waters whenever it chose. - -If there ever had been any fancied security from their submarines, -it was removed that Sunday, July 9, 1916, when the _Deutschland_ -bobbed up in Chesapeake Bay, and a few hours later reached her dock -in Baltimore. Coming from Bremen via Heligoland, it had made its way -through the North Sea and around Scotland, crossed the ocean and -entered Hampton Roads under the very noses of the British cruisers -just outside. Two hundred and thirteen feet long, with a displacement, -submerged, of 2,200 tons, it had a surface speed of 12 to 14 knots an -hour, and could run under water at 7-1/2 knots. Though unarmed, and -called a "mercantile submarine," by the placing of guns and torpedo -tubes aboard, she could be quickly converted into a man-of-war. The -_Deutschland_ came again to America in November, going to New London, -Conn., reaching Germany, on her return, December 10. This was her last -trip as a merchantman, for she was soon afterwards converted into -a warship, and was one of the submarines sent to sink shipping in -American waters in 1918. - -Even more startling was the visit of the U-53. This German submarine, -almost as large as the _Deutschland_, suddenly appeared off Point -Judith and calmly steamed into Newport, R. I., the afternoon of -October 7th. Flying the German man-of-war ensign, she carried two guns -conspicuously placed. The cruiser _Birmingham_, Rear Admiral Albert -Gleaves commanding, was near by, and the U-53 asked to be assigned a -berth. Kapitän Leutnant Hans Rose, her commander, in full uniform, -called on the commandant of the Naval Station, stating that his object -in entering the port was to "pay his respects," and that he intended to -sail at 6 o'clock. He invited our officers to visit his ship, saying he -would be glad to "show them around." The crew seemed anxious to impress -the Americans with the boat and its mechanism. - -While in port, the U-53 was careful not to violate neutrality -regulations, but the day after leaving Newport she began a slaughter of -vessels. On October 8th, she sank the British steamships _Stephano_, -_Strathdine_ and _West Point_, the Dutch steamer _Blommersdijk_, and -the Norwegian _Chr. Knudsen._ The first two were attacked within sight -of Nantucket Lightship, just outside the three-mile limit. The others -sunk were farther away, but all were near our coast. - -The first news we had of this raid was that the American steamer -_Kansan_ had been stopped early in the morning by a German submarine, -which, after examining her papers, had allowed her to proceed. A short -time later a radio message was received stating that the British -steamer _West Point_ was being gunned. After that, distress signals -came thick and fast. Rear Admiral Gleaves immediately ordered our -destroyers to the relief of the vessels attacked, and they rescued -crews and passengers, bringing them safely to port. - -Within seven or eight months those destroyers were across the Atlantic, -fighting the undersea raiders in European waters. And they had their -revenge in September, 1918, when an American destroyer and sub-chasers -bombed the U-53 with such effect that according to reports, she -abandoned the fight, glad to be able to get to her home base. - -Thus Germany in 1916 gave us a taste of submarine warfare, showing -what it could do and did do in American waters in 1918, and what sound -strategy caused naval experts to expect it to undertake in the spring -of 1917. The U-53 had been careful not to attack any American vessels, -and had conducted its operations outside our territorial waters. But -this piece of German bravado aroused the indignation of the entire -country. It was a warning--and probably so intended--that the Germans -could at any time send their U-boats across the seas to sink our -vessels off our own shores. - -Even then the country at large seemed to regard our entrance into -war as improbable, and to the average man it did seem only a remote -possibility; but our attaché in Berlin reported that Germany was -building U-boats by scores, the parts being made at plants in various -parts of the country, and assembled at coast shipyards. The Germans -continued to talk peace, but our Navy continued to build ships, enlist -men, and accumulate reserves of guns, ammunition, and war materials. - -Congress on August 29, 1916, authorized the construction of 157 war -vessels--ten battleships of the largest type and six huge battle -cruisers, larger and swifter than any then in existence; ten scout -cruisers, fifty destroyers, nine fleet submarines, fifty-eight coast -submarines and one of the Neff type; three fuel ships, two destroyer -tenders, two gunboats and two ammunition ships, a repair ship, a -transport, a hospital ship and a submarine tender. Sixty-six vessels -were appropriated for, to be begun in the current year. That bill -carried total appropriations of $312,678,000, the largest amount ever -granted for naval purposes in time of peace, and larger than previous -appropriations when this country was actually engaged in war. - -Usually, after vessels are authorized, months are required to prepare -the plans and specifications. That was not the case this time. The -Bureau of Construction and Repair, under the direction of Rear -Admiral David W. Taylor, regarded in this country and abroad as one -of the world's ablest naval constructors, had begun work on the plans -long before. They were ready when the bill passed Congress. Bids were -advertised for the next day, and as soon as the law allowed, contracts -were let. Before the end of 1916, we had entered upon the biggest -shipbuilding program ever undertaken by any navy at one time. - -Providing for an enlisted strength of 74,700 regulars, Congress also -authorized the President to increase the Navy to 87,000 in case of -emergency. This, with the 6,000 apprentice seamen, the Hospital Corps, -and allowance for the sick, prisoners and men on probation, would give -us an emergency strength of some 95,000--including both officers and -men, a force of over 100,000. Five thousand additional enlisted men and -255 more officers were authorized for the Marine Corps, which could be -raised in emergency to 17,500. The increases alone were larger than the -entire number of men employed by the Navy in the Spanish War. The Naval -Reserve, instituted in 1915, was made a Naval Reserve Force unlimited -in numbers. - -The Naval Militia had grown to a force of nearly 10,000, and interest -had been stimulated by a training cruise for civilians on eleven war -vessels, known as the "Ocean Plattsburg." The Act of 1916 laid the -basis for the enormous personnel we secured during the war--over half -a million men in the Navy, and 75,000 in the Marine Corps. Immediately -after its passage, a vigorous recruiting campaign was begun. - -Large reserves of powder and shells had been accumulated, but orders -were given for much more, and efforts were made to speed up projectiles -under manufacture. "We had at the end of 1916," Admiral Strauss, then -Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, stated, "batteries of four guns each -for 189 auxiliary ships. These batteries were housed at navy yards, and -the full supply of powder, shell, primers, etc., were all prepared and -ready for these ships at the nearest ammunition depots, so that in the -event of war the guns could be secured on the ships and the magazines -and shell-rooms supplied at once." - -Equipment for ships to be converted, and spare parts of all kinds -were accumulated and stored at points where they would be quickly -available. All the bureaus concerned with construction, shipbuilding, -conversion, and repair, engines and machinery, ordnance and supplies -were increasing production, reporting, as did our vessels, constant -improvement in "readiness for war." - -This was the result of two years' constant work. Special duties were -imposed from the beginning of the European conflict in 1914. Only a -few days after hostilities began, the cruisers _Tennessee_ and _North -Carolina_ sailed, carrying millions of dollars in gold to relieve the -thousands of Americans stranded in Europe, unable to get home. Naval -vessels were kept busy along our coasts, enforcing neutrality in our -territorial waters. Naval censors were placed at wireless stations, -preventing the sending of unneutral messages. Intelligence officers -were active in thwarting the machinations of German spies and plotters. -But all this was small in comparison with the efforts we were making to -increase and improve the Navy in its every branch and prepare it for -any emergency. - -The sinking of the _Lusitania_, May 7, 1915, was followed by such -naval activity as had never been seen before, except in the midst of -hostilities. - -Congress had created in the current naval bill a Chief of Naval -Operations, charged with "the operation of the fleet and its -readiness for war." For this important position, I had, after careful -consideration, selected Rear Admiral William S. Benson, whose ability -and experience admirably fitted him for this vital task. He assumed -office on May 10, three days after the _Lusitania_ went down. It was -a critical period. The President on May 13 addressed to Germany his -vigorous note giving notice that this Government would omit no word or -act to protect its citizens against murder on the seas. Many Americans -were urging that war be declared at once. The crisis lasted for weeks, -and ended only when the German government gave its promise that -non-belligerent vessels would not be sunk without warning. - -Admiral Benson, bureau chiefs, commanders, and officials devoted every -energy to preparing the fleet for war. Abolition of the cumbersome -system of naval aides brought the bureau chiefs in closer touch with -the Secretary. There was no longer any division of authority and -responsibility, and we could get direct action. On this basis we built -up a departmental organization so efficient that no change was found -necessary during the entire war period, the bureaus merely expanding to -meet the enormously increased demands, each new activity easily fitting -into some part of the existing organization. - -The General Board of the Navy, of which Admiral Dewey was the -head until his death Jan. 16, 1917, had developed a comprehensive -administrative plan, under which each bureau was required to report, -periodically, on its readiness for war. This enabled us to keep -informed of exact conditions and progress made. The Board also worked -out a scheme for development of shore bases and stations. - -Navy yards were expanded not only to repair and convert vessels, but -to build warships of every type. These new ways and shops formed -a substantial and valuable addition to the nation's shipbuilding -facilities. - -I created the Secretary's Advisory Council, consisting of the Assistant -Secretary, the Chief of Naval Operations and the chiefs of the various -bureaus. Meeting regularly once a week and oftener when necessary, -this Council brought together the chief administrative officers of -the Department, and discussed all matters of general interest to the -service. Thus the heads of bureaus kept in close touch with each other; -having the advantage of a General Staff without its many disadvantages. - -Comprehensive plans for possible war against Germany--we then called -it "war in the Atlantic"--had been made by the General Board, and were -constantly corrected and brought up to date in accordance with war -developments. - -When the fleet was reviewed by President Wilson at New York, May 15, -1915, Admiral Dewey wrote: - - The people of New York have just cause for pride in the fleet now - assembled in their harbor. Not only is it composed of the finest - and most efficient warships that we have ever had, but it is - not excelled, except in size, by the fleet of any nation in the - world. Our ships and guns are as good as any in the world; our - officers are as good as any; and our enlisted men are superior in - training, education, physical development and devotion to duty to - those of any other navy. As President of the General Board for the - past fifteen years, I can say with absolute confidence that the - efficiency of the fleet has steadily progressed, and has never been - so high as it is today. - -For months we had been at work on a plan for reorganizing the fleet. -Completed and put into effect in July, 1915, that plan proved so -efficient that it was continued throughout the war. Four battleships, -the _Pennsylvania_, _Nevada_, _Oklahoma_ and _Arizona_, ten destroyers, -seven submarines, and two tenders, the _Melville_ and the _Bushnell_, -were completed in 1915-16. - -Battle and target practice were conducted with a constant improvement -in gunnery. In August, 1916, there was held off the North Atlantic -Coast the largest "war game" in the annals of the Navy. Eighty-three -vessels, including twenty-eight battleships and thirteen submarines, -engaged in this strategic maneuver, which lasted for four days, and -simulated the conditions of a great naval battle. - -Congress had, in 1913-14, authorized the construction of five -dreadnaughts as compared with only two granted by the previous -Congress, and we were building more destroyers and submarines than in -previous years. Forty-one more ships were in commission, and there -were 5,000 more men in the service than there had been in 1913. The -fleet was incomparably stronger than it had ever been before, but we -were heartily tired of the hand-to-mouth policy that had prevailed so -long, a policy that made it impossible to plan far ahead and develop -a consistent and well-balanced fleet. In common with its officers, I -wanted the United States to possess a navy equal to any afloat, and to -initiate a building program that should be continuous and not haphazard. - -Consequently, in July, 1915, I requested Admiral Dewey to have the -General Board submit its opinion of what should be done to give us a -navy worthy of this country and able to cope with any probable enemy. -In response the General Board set forth this policy, which has guided -us ever since and is now nearing a triumphant reality: - - The Navy of the United States should ultimately be equal to the - most powerful maintained by any other nation of the world. It - should be gradually increased to this point by such a rate of - development, year by year, as may be permitted by the facilities - of the country, but the limit above defined should be attained not - later than 1925. - -[Illustration: WAR CHIEFS OF THE NAVY, THE SECRETARY AND HIS ADVISORY -COUNCIL - -Seated--Secretary Daniels. Standing (left to right):--Maj. Gen. George -Barnett, Commandant U. S. Marine Corps; Capt. W. C. Watts, Judge -Advocate General; Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of -the Navy; Rear Admiral Samuel McGowan, Paymaster General, Chief of -the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts; Rear Admiral Robert S. Griffin, -Engineer-in-Chief, Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering; Rear -Admiral David W. Taylor, Chief Constructor, Chief of the Bureau of -Construction and Repair; Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval -Operations; Rear Admiral Ralph Earle, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance; -Commander H. G. Sparrow, Naval Aide to the Secretary; Rear Admiral -Charles W. Parks, Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks; Rear Admiral -Leigh C. Palmer, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation; Rear Admiral -William C. Braisted, Surgeon General, Chief of the Bureau of Medicine -and Surgery.] - -[Illustration: A FRIENDLY BOUT - -Spectators on the U. S. S. Bushnell are having as much fun as the -boxers.] - -[Illustration: SCHOOL HOUR ABOARD A BATTLESHIP] - -It was in accordance with this policy, and at my direction, that the -General Board developed the continuous building program, comprising -157 war vessels, later known as the "three-year program," which was -authorized by Congress in the next naval appropriation act. Presented -in my annual report for 1915, it was strongly urged by President Wilson -in his message to Congress, and he sounded the keynote in his speech -at St. Louis, February 3, 1916, when he declared: "There is no other -Navy in the world that has to cover so great an area of defense as the -American Navy, and it ought, in my judgment, to be incomparably the -most adequate Navy in the world." - -With all the Navy striving to build up and expand the service, I -turned attention to other forces that might be utilized. War had -become a science; inventions were playing a vastly greater part -than ever before, and on July 7, 1915, I wrote to Mr. Thomas A. -Edison, suggesting the formation of a board of eminent inventors and -scientists, and asking if he would consent to become its head. The -idea appealed to Mr. Edison, as it did to the various scientific and -engineering societies, and in a few weeks the Naval Consulting Board -became a reality. Composed of men of eminence and distinction, this was -the first of those organizations of patriotic civilians which, when war -came, rendered such signal service to the nation. - -This board began in 1915 a survey of all the country's industries and -resources which might be employed, in case of war, for the production -of munitions and supplies, and the thousand and one things required by -armies and navies. - -The Navy made a survey of all merchant ships and privately owned craft -which might be utilized as auxiliaries. The Board of Inspection and -Survey was increased, each vessel listed for service to which it could -be adapted, and plans made for all the changes needed to convert it to -war purposes. This was worked out to the last detail, even to the yards -to which the vessels would be sent, and the accumulation of machinery -and materials for their conversion. A standardized schedule was -developed of all ammunition, materials, equipment and supplies needed -by vessels in case of war. - -Aviation received earnest attention. Seaplanes and flying boats were -secured, and a school and station established at Pensacola, Fla., -for the training of aviators. The cruisers _North Carolina_, _West -Virginia_, and _Washington_ were fitted with a launching device, from -which aeroplanes could fly from ships. Operating with the fleet, our -aeroplanes began developing the tactics of aircraft at sea. - -During the _Sussex_ crisis, arrangements were made for the mobilization -of the communications of the entire United States radio, telegraph and -telephone. This important experiment was carried out from May 6 to -8, 1916, and was a complete success, proving that in a day we could -link all methods of communication and put in touch all our yards and -stations and our ships at sea. Congress had previously authorized -the erection of a chain of high power radio stations to span the -Pacific--at San Diego, California; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and at Cavite, -in the Philippines--and these were under construction. - -The Naval Communication Service was created and under its direction -all our communications, wire and wireless, were prepared for war. -This entire service was mobilized the day the United States severed -relations with Germany. - -Admiral Dewey said, in the autumn of 1916: "The last three years have -been wonderful years. I have been in the Navy since 1854, and both in -material and personnel, we are more efficient today than ever before." -Admiral Charles J. Badger, who, upon the death of Dewey in January, -1917, became head of the General Board, stated: "I do not mean to say -that we had attained to perfection in the Navy--we never shall; that -no errors of judgment or mistakes were made--they will always occur; -but I assert that the Navy when it entered the war was as a whole, well -prepared and administered." - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE BREAK WITH GERMANY - - SURPRISE AND TERROR PLANNED IN STARTING U-BOAT WAR--BERNSTORFF - WITHHELD NOTE UNTIL JUST BEFORE SUBMARINES STRUCK--AMERICA'S - ENTRANCE COULD NOT AFFECT "TREND OF THE WAR," HOLTZENDORFF - INSISTED--FLEET PUT ON WAR BASIS--PLANS MADE TO COOPERATE WITH - ALLIES--"GET AND KEEP THE BEST MEN," PRESIDENT TOLD SECRETARIES OF - WAR AND NAVY. - - -Germany struck practically without warning in inaugurating ruthless -U-boat warfare. Surprise of Allies and neutrals, giving no time -for negotiations, was one thing upon which its Admiralty insisted. -Terrorizing America was a part of the plan, and if the United States -entered the war, the Teuton naval authorities contended that it would -exert no marked influence, and could furnish little assistance in -troops or vessels. - -Admiral von Holtzendorff, head of the German Admiralty, set forth all -this in his memorandum detailing the arrangements for the "U-boat war." -That document, one of the German official papers made public after the -war, is marked "Strictly secret--B-35840-I," and is dated, "Berlin, -Dec. 22, 1916." - -"The beginning and the declaration of the unrestricted U-boat war," -said Holtzendorff, "must follow so quickly one upon the other that -there is no time for negotiations, especially between England and the -neutrals. The wholesome terror will exercise in this case upon enemy -and neutral alike." - -The submarines were to begin the general attack not later than February -1, 1917. England was to be starved out in five months, and the -Allies forced to surrender by August 1st. This is all stated in that -memorandum, and those exact dates are given. - -The probable entrance of the United States as a belligerent was -discussed, and Holtzendorff took pains to set forth what little -influence this country's participation could have upon the "trend of -the war," saying: - - As regards tonnage this influence would be negligible. It is not - to be expected that more than a small fraction of the tonnage of - the Central Powers lying in America and many other neutral harbors - could then be enlisted for the traffic to England. For the far - greatest part of this shipping can be damaged in such a way that it - cannot sail in the decisive time of the first months. Preparations - to this effect have been made. There would also be no crews to be - found for them. - - Just as little decisive effect can be ascribed to any considerable - extent to American troops, which, in the first place, cannot be - brought over through lack of tonnage. - -Bernstorff, the German Ambassador at Washington, carried out his part -of the plans to the letter. It was not until a few hours before the -submarines were to strike, late in the afternoon of Jan. 31, 1917, -that he presented the note of the German Government to the Secretary -of State. He had that note in his possession twelve days before -he presented it. He admits that it reached the German Embassy in -Washington on January 19, the same day that Zimmermann, the German -Foreign Minister, sent to Mexico his crafty but absurd proposal that -Mexico form an alliance with Japan, and make war with the United States -to recover the "lost territory" of New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. That -proposal also passed through the Washington embassy, in the Berlin -diplomatic code, and was read by the Ambassador. - -Before he presented the note declaring submarine warfare, Bernstorff -had given the order that "the engines of all German ships lying -in American harbors were to be destroyed." "I had already given -instructions to this effect at the time of the _Sussex_ crisis, and -these instructions had now been repeated from Berlin," he says in his -book. "As a matter of fact it was dangerous to allow of any delay, -for on the evening of January 31, our ships were already seized by -the American police. As far as I know, however, all of them without -exception were made unfit for use before this occurred." - -The day ruthless U-boat warfare began, new mobilization plans were -prepared and sent out to the entire Navy. Formal action had not then -been taken by our Government. Its course was still under consideration -and the Cabinet was to meet the next day. But the moment I read the -German note, I regarded a break as inevitable, and active hostilities -almost certain to follow. - -As the Cabinet assembled on Friday, February 2d, all of us realized the -significance of the occasion. Parley and negotiation were ended. The -time had come for decisive action. That was the conviction, I believe, -of every man who rose to greet the President when he entered the room. -Usually genial and smiling at the gatherings of his official family, he -was now grave and serious. The destiny of a hundred million people lay -in his hands, perhaps the destiny of the world. - -The Cabinet members had, of course, read the text of the German note, -whose meaning was plain enough, camouflaged as it was in diplomatic -terms and pretended concessions. All had studied it, and were familiar -with its provisions. But the President read it to us again. He read it -in measured tones, giving weight to every significant syllable. - -His mind was already made up, I felt certain. But before giving voice -to his own decision, he called upon his official advisers to state -their views. They spoke freely and frankly, each stating just what he -thought the situation demanded. Expressions varied, of course, and each -man approached the problem in his own way. There were differences of -opinion as to details, but none as to the main point. On that, all were -agreed. They felt that relations with Germany must be severed. - -This was the President's position. He had never wavered from the firm -stand he had taken a year before that, if unrestricted submarine -warfare was continued, or resumed, the United States could have no -further relations with Germany. It was no surprise to him that his -colleagues, to a man, shared his views that the Cabinet was a unit for -the dismissal of Bernstorff, and the sharpest possible warning to the -German Government. - -Although the session lasted several hours, this decision was soon -reached. It had required no debate. The German note itself was a -compelling argument. - -Most of the time was devoted to discussing what steps each department -should take, particularly State, War and Navy. It was recognized -thoroughly that the severance of relations would create a difficult -situation, one likely in a few weeks at most to lead to open warfare. -It was realized that Germany might strike without waiting for formal -declaration from the United States. The sinking of American vessels -without warning would be, in itself, an overt act, an act of war. We -had to prepare for any eventuality, to map out a program for immediate -action. - -The following telegram was sent to the entire Navy that night: - - Six Alnav. In view of the present international situation, take - every precaution to protect Government plants and vessels. - -All who received that message knew what it meant, that they were to -guard against surprise, and be ready for anything that might arise. - -The next afternoon at two o'clock, the President, addressing a joint -session of the two houses of Congress, pointed out that Germany had -"suddenly and without prior intimation of any kind," deliberately -withdrawn the solemn assurances given in its note of May 4, 1916, and -announced that all diplomatic relations with Germany had been severed. - -At the very hour the President began his address, and Bernstorff was -handed his passports, Admiral Mayo, in Cuban waters, issued the first -campaign order, putting into effect the plan for the defense of the -fleet in Guantanamo Bay. As soon as I returned from the Capitol, this -order was sent out: - - One Alatl. Radicode. Mobilize Naval Communications. - - SECNAV. - -That placed all our communications--radio, telegraphs, telephones, and -signals--on a war basis. This message was just going out by wireless, -when I was called to the White House, where I found the Secretary of -War, who had likewise been summoned. - -The President was concerned about the safety of Government property. -There was enough cause for this anxiety, for there were thousands -of aliens who could not be interned legally unless or until war was -declared. Among them were hostile Germans who would resort to almost -any violence to vent their resentment or to cripple this Government in -its manifold preparations for war. - -Navy yards and army posts were closed, and orders sent to every naval -and military plant in the United States, Porto Rico, the Virgin -Islands, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and the Philippines, to exclude all -visitors and strengthen the guards. The guards in the Panama Canal Zone -were doubled, and special precautions were taken to protect the canal. - -To prevent information from reaching Germans, we stopped publishing -the movements of naval vessels and the daily orders to naval officers. -Since the outbreak of the war in Europe we had maintained along the -coast a number of naval vessels to enforce neutrality regulations. Now -this force was increased, and a virtual coast patrol established. - -That night I sent out the order, "Alnav availability," which directed -all vessels to report their actual readiness for war. - -The President kept in close touch with all our preparations. Not -satisfied with general reports, he wanted to know just what was being -done. Monday afternoon, while I was hard at work with officers on plans -and orders, Mr. Wilson suddenly appeared in my office. Glad as I was to -see him, his visit was a surprise. Documents concerning a number of the -matters we were working upon were on my desk, and in a few moments I -reviewed in detail the plans, told him what we had done and were doing, -and asked his directions as to certain operations. - -Then he suggested that we go to the War Department, to talk matters -over with the Secretary of War. Mr. Baker was in his office and the -three of us held a long conference, discussing the situation in all its -phases. Some things the President said to us are indelibly impressed on -my memory. - -The breach in diplomatic relations, he pointed out, did not necessarily -mean war, but it brought us so close to the possibility that we must -put our house in order, and be ready for any emergency. - -Men concerned him quite as much as measures, and he inquired -particularly about the officers in important positions and commands. -If there were any who did not seem equal to the tremendous tasks they -would be called upon to perform, he wanted them replaced. If abler men -were available, he wished us to secure them. - -"Each of you must surround yourself with the ablest men you have," -he said. Turning to me, he asked whether I felt that my immediate -advisers, those in the Navy Department and in command afloat, were the -men to retain in those positions. - -"They are the best men in the Navy," I replied. - -He asked the same question of the Secretary of War. Mr. Baker told him -that the officers in responsible positions in the War Department and -the Army knew their jobs and were going ahead earnestly with them. Some -were necessarily slated for early retirement, but to anticipate this, -he thought, would be unwise, as it might occasion needless alarm and -disturb morale. - -The President listened intently to us. When we finished, he again -impressed upon us that only the ablest, most alert and energetic -officers should be put in places of responsibility. - -"Get and keep the best," he said as our conference ended. - -Mr. Wilson had no sympathy with the fear of hurting some man's -"feelings," which, he said, is the rock upon which efficient public -service often goes to pieces. The big job called for the big man, and -no personal consideration had any weight with him in getting the thing -done, and done in the best way. "Get and keep the best," without regard -to friendship, past performance, prestige, social or political pull, -guided the President in his entire conduct of the war. It was that -policy which enabled American power to be thrown into the scales so -quickly and decisively. - -It is gratifying to recall that under the rigid test of war, every -responsible officer in the Navy Department measured up to his full -duty. Not one failed to meet the requirements of his position. No -change whatever was required. Franklin D. Roosevelt was Assistant -Secretary of the Navy, Admiral William S. Benson was Chief of Naval -Operations, Rear Admiral Charles J. Badger head of the General Board. -The bureau chiefs were: Rear Admirals Robert S. Griffin, Engineering; -David W. Taylor, Construction and Repair; Ralph Earle, Ordnance; Leigh -C. Palmer, Navigation; Samuel McGowan, Supplies and Accounts; William -C. Braisted, Medicine and Surgery; F. R. Harris, Yards and Docks. -Captain W. C. Watts was Judge Advocate General, and Major General -George Barnett, Commandant of the Marine Corps. When Admiral Harris -resigned in December, 1917, to become head of the U. S. Emergency Fleet -Corporation, he was succeeded as Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks -by Rear Admiral Charles W. Parks. Captain Watts, requesting sea duty -in March, 1918, was succeeded by Rear Admiral George R. Clark as Judge -Advocate General. Thus, practically all those who were in office when -war began served to its end. And no men ever did better service. Able -and energetic, they worked together with a harmony and efficiency never -excelled. - -U-boat warfare being aimed directly at shipping, our own as well as -that of other nations, the protection of American merchantmen was of -prime importance. As the President was announcing the severance of -relations with Germany, February 3d, the steamer _Housatonic_ was sunk -in European waters, and on February 12th, the schooner _Lyman M. Law_ -was sent down by the Germans. - -Though he considered that under the general powers of the Executive he -had the authority to arm merchant vessels for protection, the President -desired, before taking such an important step, which must almost -inevitably result in gunfire engagements with U-boats, to ask the -support of Congress. Before that time, at a cabinet meeting at which -this matter was discussed, the President turned to me and asked: - -"Daniels, has the Navy the guns and gunners for this job?" - -"We can arm them as fast as the ships are ready," I replied. - -On February 26th, in an address to the two houses, President Wilson -requested that Congress authorize him to "supply our merchant ships -with defensive arms, should that become necessary, and with the means -of using them, and to employ any other instrumentalities or methods -that may be necessary and adequate to protect our ships and our people -in their legitimate and peaceful pursuits on the seas." A bill to -this effect, introduced at once, promptly passed the House by a large -majority, but failed in the Senate by reason of a filibuster conducted -by a handful of Senators who by continual debate prevented the bill -from coming to a vote before the end of that Congress on March 4th. - -It was this filibuster that called forth the President's denunciation -of the "little group of willful men" who had, with reckless disregard -of the country's needs, prevented important legislation, and his -suggestion that the rules of the Senate be changed so as to make -impossible any such occurrence in the future. Before adjournment a -large majority of the senators signed a document stating that they -favored the bill to arm American merchantmen, and would have voted for -it, had they been given the opportunity. - -Confident that he had the power under the Constitution, and a large -majority of Congress having expressed its willingness to grant him -specific authority, the President on March 12 directed me to furnish -guns and naval gunners to American ships. Guns and men were ready, and -the work of arming merchantmen began immediately. In two days guns were -installed on the _Manchuria_, _St. Louis_ and _Aztec_, and four days -later the _New York_ and _St. Paul_ were equipped. The _Manchuria_ -sailed for England March 15, and thereafter a constant succession of -merchant ships carrying armed guards left our ports for Europe. - -The day after Bernstorff was dismissed the General Board had submitted -the following specific steps to be taken in case of conflict with -Germany: - - G. B. No. 425. Confidential. Serial No. 666. - - February 4, 1917. - - From: Senior member present. - - To: Secretary of the Navy. - - Subject: Steps to be taken to meet a possible condition of war with - the Central European Powers. - - On account of existing conditions, the General Board recommends - that the following steps be taken to meet a possible condition of - war with the Central European Powers: - - 1. Complete complements and allowances of all kinds, first of the - A and B fleet, then of the C fleet, and naval districts. - - 2. Mobilize the A fleet in the Lower Chesapeake, and increase it - immediately to the B fleet. (See Black Plan.) - - 3. Dock and repair all ships in reserve and ordinary that will be - used. - - 4. Arrange for the supply of fuel to the fleet and stock all fuel - depots to capacity. - - 5. Establish additional recruiting stations and increase - personnel of the Navy and Marine Corps to the total number - required to supply complements for all the ships built, - building, and authorized, and to maintain shore establishments - and naval defense districts, including aviation service, with - 10 per cent additional for casualties as follows: Enlisted - force--Navy, 150,000; Marines, 30,000; officers in the proportion - prescribed by law. - - 6. Mobilize the naval districts, including the Coast Guard and - Lighthouse services, and put patrol vessels, mine sweepers, etc., - of the Atlantic coast districts, on their stations; no commercial - vessels to be mobilized in the Pacific coast districts at present. - - 7. Prepare to the utmost detail for the employment of mines along - our coast as may be necessary. - - 8. Prepare nets and other obstruction for submarines, ready - for immediate use, at the Chesapeake Capes, Delaware Capes, - entrance to New York Bay, eastern entrance to Long Island Sound, - Narragansett Bay, Panama Canal, and Guantanamo. Other places as - their need becomes apparent. The General Board considers it of - the utmost importance that net protection shall be immediately - provided for the fleet during its mobilization in Chesapeake Bay. - - 9. Establish immediately the guards at all navy yards, magazines, - radio stations, powder factories, munition plants, bases, - shipbuilding yards, and naval shore utilities in accordance with - the mobilization plans. - - 10. Reduce the force of Marines in Haiti and Santo Domingo to - the smallest number that can maintain order there, transferring - these men to the United States to perform necessary guard duty at - navy yards, magazines, radio stations, shipbuilding plants, and - to form cadres for the organization of new regiments as recruits - are obtained. Organize the advanced base force and complete its - equipment. - - 11. Leave in the Caribbean a sufficient number of light cruisers - to keep a lookout for submarines in those waters and for the - protection of our interests there. Protect the Canal and - Guantanamo as far as possible, by the use of mines and where - possible by monitors, submarines and nets. - - 12. For the present use the greater part of the destroyer - flotillas as patrol for submarines in the vicinity of the - principal ports or entrances leading to them. - - 13. Base the submarines at Canal, Guantanamo, and points along - the coast in accordance with the Black Plan. - - 14. Rush to completion all naval vessels building or authorized; - also build up the Aviation Service as rapidly as possible. - - 15. Guard all bays and harbors on the coast of Maine to prevent - their use as bases of supply. Patrol waters of Haiti, Santo - Domingo, Porto Rico, and Danish West Indies, the Cuban Coast - Guard Service to assist in patrolling all bays and gulfs of the - coast of Cuba. - - 16. Prepare to close entrances to all ports at night and - discontinue or change such aids to navigation as may be - necessary. - - 17. Organize a comprehensive system of intelligence service - covering the whole theater of war in accordance with the plans of - the Office of Naval Intelligence. - - 18. Take possession of all interned vessels of war of Central - Powers; also take control of all commercial vessels of Central - Powers now in United States waters. - - 19. Place under surveillance all citizens of the Central Powers - in the Navy or in Government employ in naval establishments, and - remove them from positions in which they may do possible harm. - - 20. Arm our merchant ships for purposes of defense. - - 21. In accordance with Black Plan, carry out the following: - - (a) Issue proclamation prescribing defensive sea areas and put - rules in regard to them in force. - - (b) Issue proclamation prescribing press regulations and - establishing censorship of cable and radio, including naval - control of all commercial and private radio stations. - - (c) Issue President's order in regard to visit and search, - capture, etc. - - 22. And as most important, arrange, as soon as possible, plans - of coöperation with the naval forces of the Allies for the joint - protection of trans-Atlantic commerce and for offensive naval - operations against the common enemy. - - CHAS. J. BADGER. - -General war plans, as I have stated, had been developed years before -under the direction of Admiral Dewey. Among these was the "Black Plan" -designated for "war in the Atlantic," really for war with Germany. -Revised from time to time as the progress of the European conflict -suggested changes, this was constantly kept up to date, and covered -thoroughly general policies and operations. The recommendations of -February 4th and various others submitted later were for specific -things to be done in consonance with the general scheme. - -A week after the break with Germany, I sent the following to the -General Board: - - February 10, 1917. - - To: The General Board. - Subject: Solution of Problem. - - 1. The Department desires the General Board to consider the - following problem and submit its solution as soon as practicable: - - PROBLEM - - General situation--Conditions as at present except that war with - Germany is declared. - - Special situation--The Allies do not desire our battleship force - at present. - - Required--Naval estimate of the situation: first, as to the grand - strategy demanded by the situation; second, as to the disposition - of the battleship force; third, as to the method of assisting - in maintaining communications with Europe, including scheme - for coöperation with Allies; fourth, as to method of driving - submarines from the sea. - - Assume--Mobilization of all naval vessels and possibility of - mobilizing merchant vessels as required. - - JOSEPHUS DANIELS. - -Anti-submarine warfare, coöperation with the Allies, was the keynote of -all our plans, as of this "problem," the solution of which the General -Board submitted on February 17. We were then, as always, planning -"for the joint protection of trans-Atlantic commerce," as the Board -expressed it, "and for offensive naval operations against the common -enemy." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -THE DAY OF DECISION - - MOST IMPORTANT CABINET MEETING OF WILSON ADMINISTRATION HELD MARCH - 20, 1917, WHEN IT WAS DECIDED TO CALL CONGRESS IN SPECIAL SESSION - TO DECLARE WAR--"I WANT TO DO RIGHT, WHETHER IT IS POPULAR OR NOT," - SAID THE PRESIDENT--FLEET ORDERED NORTH--NAVY AND MARINE CORPS - INCREASED TO EMERGENCY STRENGTH. - - -Tuesday, March 20, 1917, is not fixed in the war chronologies, so far -as I can find. But it should be, for that was the Day of Decision. -That was the occasion of the most important Cabinet meeting of the -Wilson administration, in fact without doubt the most important of our -generation. - -Eleven days earlier the President had called Congress to meet in -special session April 16th, "to receive such communication as may be -made by the Executive." But events were moving rapidly. Four American -vessels had been sunk without warning--the _Algonquin_, _City of -Memphis_, _Illinois_, and _Vigilancia_--with the loss of American -lives. German U-boats were destroying shipping by the hundred thousand -tons. We had been arming merchant vessels, but it was evident that this -"armed neutrality" in itself was insufficient, valuable as it was. - -The "overt act" had occurred. The Germans were sinking our ships, -killing our citizens on the high seas. There were matters of vital -importance to be discussed when the Cabinet met. Congress had already -been summoned to meet within a month. But every day counted. - -Should the special session be called at an earlier date? What message -should be sent to Congress in view of the situation? These were the -questions propounded by the President, who was grave, feeling the deep -sense of responsibility. He wished every member of the Cabinet to -state his conviction of the national duty, he told us, and each spoke -from his standpoint. - -I have often wished that it might have been possible to preserve a -record of Cabinet meetings, particularly in the months preceding and -during the war. If the American people could have seen the President -and heard him as he spoke to us on March 20th, they would have felt a -confidence and admiration which nothing else could have imparted. I do -not feel at liberty to give from memory what he said, or the statements -of the ten members of the Cabinet. His severest critics have praised -President Wilson's power to express national sentiment and set forth -problems and solutions in living sentences in his public addresses. -That power was even more markedly displayed in the bosom of his -official family. - -That day he began by sketching the steps this country had taken to -protect American lives. He was disinclined to the final break. As -he so often did in laying weighty matters before the cabinet, Mr. -Wilson clearly stated the events culminating in repeated sinking of -American ships by German submarines, and then, with a sort of seeming -detachment, invited the views of the Cabinet. - -It was a supreme moment. Some of us, fully in harmony with the -President's patient and long successful efforts to protect American -rights by peaceful means, had at last, like himself, lost hope of -world and national safety without resort to war. Others, approving -of steps taken, had earlier wished entrance into the struggle. It is -interesting, even when the matter is not one greater than life and -death, as was this determination, to observe how ten men with the -same objective will differ in the presentation of their views or the -reasons which prompt their conclusions. No two of the Cabinet on that -day gave expression to precisely the same reasons, or rather, I should -say, aside from the impelling reason, each had been influenced by -some incident or argument he presented. But all were convinced that -the character of the warfare being waged by the Central Powers could -no longer be tolerated and that no course was open but for America to -throw the weight of its great power into the scales against Germany. - -After all had advised that Congress be called in session as early -as practicable, one member read a number of telegrams conveying the -impression that popular opinion was strongly in favor of our early -entrance into the war. - -"We are not governed by public opinion in our conclusion," said the -President. "I want to do right whether it is popular or not." - -The next morning the proclamation was issued summoning Congress to -meet April 2, "to receive a communication by the Executive on grave -questions of national policy which should be taken under consideration." - -War was only a matter of days. Under the conditions, the place for -the fleet was in home waters. When I returned to the Department after -the Cabinet meeting, orders were sent to Admiral Mayo to bring the -fleet north at once. Some smaller vessels were left in the Caribbean -to protect tankers coming from Mexico and Texas. Though the day -previous I had asked the General Board to consider carefully whether -everything possible was being done for the protection of our ships -entering the proscribed area, that afternoon, accompanied by Admiral -Benson, I attended a meeting of the Board, informing its members that -the President wished them to outline every measure that the Navy could -employ for protection of American shipping entering European ports, -beyond the provision of armed guards which we had already undertaken. I -told the Board that we desired the fullest and most ample protection, -regardless of effort or expense. - -Replying immediately, the Board recommended: - - Escort vessels to deep water from our ports, and similarly from - deep water to our ports. - - Arrange with British and French Governments for the convoy of our - ships through the barred zones. - - Merchant ships to proceed on high seas from points of leaving and - receiving escorts, depending upon their guns for protection and - upon changes of course to follow alternate routes. - - Arrange with British and French Governments a code of signals to be - used in directing merchant ships as to routes to be followed and - points of meeting escorts. - - Establish a patrol of the Atlantic coast. - - Recruit up to the limit allowed by law for emergencies in order - to provide crews for patrols and auxiliaries, and fill battleship - complements which have been depleted to supply gun crews to - merchant ships. - -[Illustration: - - © Harris & Ewing - - PRESIDENT WILSON AND THE WAR CABINET - -Around the table, from left to right: the President, Secretary of -the Treasury McAdoo, Attorney General Gregory, Secretary of the Navy -Daniels, Secretary of Agriculture Houston, Secretary of Labor Wilson, -Secretary of Commerce Redfield, Secretary of the Interior Lane, -Postmaster General Burleson, Secretary of War Baker, Secretary of State -Lansing (in light suit).] - -[Illustration: AMERICAN DREADNOUGHTS, THE EMBODIMENT OF SEA POWER] - -At the next meeting of the Cabinet, on Friday, I presented the -authority granted by Congress to increase the enlisted strength of -the Navy to 87,000, and the President directed me to fill up the Navy -and Marine Corps to the full number authorized in case of national -emergency. - -On Saturday afternoon the President called at the Navy Department. -Mrs. Wilson came with him. The rapid approach of war weighed upon him, -and he wished to keep in close touch with all military preparations. -It was then that I brought up the matter of sending to London a naval -officer of high rank, which resulted, a few days later, in the sending -of Admiral Sims. - -I also informed him of the result of the important conference we had -held that morning with shipbuilders to secure rapid construction of -additional destroyers. Before that time we had always insisted upon and -been able to secure "fixed price" contracts, under which it could be -known precisely what a vessel would cost, the builders being under bond -to deliver it to us at the price agreed upon. But this was no longer -possible. With the rising cost of labor and materials, the builders -were unwilling to name specific figures. Reluctantly, I agreed to a -contract based on actual cost of construction with ten per cent profit. -Destroyers were sorely needed, we wanted all the shipyards could build, -and expedition was worth all it might cost. As a matter of fact, no -other construction during the war was accomplished with so little -increased cost. - -That night the President signed the order directing that the authorized -enlisted strength of the Navy be increased to 87,000 men, and the next -day I sent a telegram to the newspapers of the country, more than a -thousand of them, asking them to print the order on the first page and -also make an editorial appeal for recruits, saying: - - New ships and ships in reserve are being fully commissioned as - rapidly as possible, and the need is imperative for a larger - enlistment to man them. There has been a net increase of over 6,500 - in enlistment since Congress recently authorized an increase, but - many more are needed and needed now. - -This appeared in nearly every paper in the United States, and most of -them accompanied it with an editorial. It was an example of the fine -spirit of coöperation and patriotism shown by the American press during -the entire war. Every recruiting station was telegraphed to increase -the force and to engage doctors to examine applicants, so there would -be no delay. Within a few hours after the President signed the order to -increase the Navy, the recruiting campaign was under way in every part -of the Union. - -Thursday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock, as I was holding the daily -interview with the press, President Wilson, unannounced, came into the -Navy Department. It was several minutes before I knew he was there. -There had been a rapid fire of interrogations and answers between -the Secretary and the correspondents when an officer came to my desk -and said, "The President is here." He was sitting quietly at the -other end of the big room, listening to the cross-examination which -a cabinet officer undergoes at the hands of press representatives -twice every day. And they always ask "searching questions." As soon as -the newspaper men knew the President was in the room, they lost all -interest in me and I asked to be excused from further questioning. - -"Do you have to undergo that ordeal every day?" Mr. Wilson asked. - -"Yes, twice every day," was my reply; "but it is not usually an ordeal. -Being a newspaper man myself, I recall that most of my life has been -spent in doing to other public officers what those reporters are doing -to me--and, besides, I rather like it." - -What to do with the interned German ships was still a puzzling and -undecided question, and that was one of the matters that Mr. Wilson had -come to discuss. - -"We must keep in close touch," he said, as he opened the conversation. -He spoke of the submarine situation and the interned ships, and then -showed me a letter from a man of importance to the effect that an -Austrian had arrived in the United States on a submarine, had called -upon the Austrian Consul at New York, and given him important papers -which had been brought from Europe in the undersea boat. He understood -that two submarines had come over from Germany, the writer said. - -While this seemed improbable, a telegram was sent in code to all naval -commanders and stations to be on the lookout. That night a message -was received from the Commandant of the New York district that two -submarines had been sighted off Montauk Point. Destroyers and motor -boats were sent there to search the vicinity. - -This proved to be a "false alarm," as did so many reports which were -sent forth with every particularity in that early period. But we had to -investigate all that seemed possible, for we could not afford to take -any chances of surprise attacks. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -SENDING SIMS TO EUROPE - - COÖPERATION WITH ALLIES THE KEYNOTE OF OUR POLICY--ADMIRAL WILSON - FIRST CHOSEN--SIMS' MISSION AND INSTRUCTIONS--SAILED AS "S. W. - DAVIDSON," PRIVATE CITIZEN--BRITISH HAD NO PLANS THAT PROMISED - SUCCESS, LORD JELLICOE TOLD HIM--CARSON PRAISED AMERICA'S "SPEEDY - ACTION." - - -The most important thing, perhaps, that I discussed with the President -when he visited the Navy Department March 24th was sending to London an -officer of high rank who would put us in more intimate touch with the -British Admiralty. - -The text of that discussion was the following cablegram just received -from the American Ambassador: - - London, March 23, 1917, 7 p. m. - - Secretary of State, - - Washington. - - Mr. Balfour has shown me the informal suggestion conveyed by the - Navy Department through Gaunt [British naval attaché on duty in - Washington] regarding closer relations and his reply. The British - Government will heartily fall in with any plan we propose as soon - as coöperation can be formally established. It was intimated to - me that a submarine base on the coast of Ireland would then be - assented to. - - The whole subject of active coöperation and the best methods to - bring it about have been informally discussed by me with Mr. - Balfour, Mr. Bonar Law, the Prime Minister, Admiral Jellicoe, and - others at their invitation, and they will most gladly assent to any - proposals that we are likely to make. They withhold proposals of - their own until the way has formally been opened by us lest they - should seem to push themselves upon us, which they, of course, do - not wish to do. - - I know personally and informally that they hope for the - establishment of full and frank naval interchange of information - and coöperation. Knowing their spirit and their methods, I can not - too strongly recommend that our government send here immediately - an admiral of our own navy who will bring our navy's plans and - inquiries. The coming of such an officer of high rank would be - regarded as a compliment and he would have all doors opened to him - and a sort of special staff appointed to give him the results and - methods of the whole British naval work since the war began. Every - important ally has an officer of such high rank here. In a private - conversation with me today at luncheon Mr. Balfour expressed his - enthusiastic hope that such a plan would be immediately carried - out. Many things of the greatest value would be verbally made known - to such an officer which would never be given in a routine way nor - reduced to writing. - - Admiral Jellicoe has privately expressed the hope to me that our - navy may see its way to patrol our coast and possibly relieve the - British cruisers now on our side of the Atlantic. He hopes too that - in case more German raiders go out we may help capture them in - waters where they prey on shipping from Mexico or South America. - - If our Navy Department will send an admiral it would be - advantageous for me to be informed as soon as possible. The - confidential information that he will come by would be of immediate - help. Such an officer could further definite plans for full - coöperation. - - PAGE. - -We had presented the proposition informally through the British naval -attaché, as the Ambassador pointed out. Captain McDougall, our naval -attaché in London, was given access to all records which were not -confidential, and his intimate association with the officers of the -Admiralty enabled him to keep the Navy Department in constant touch -with the situation and to give us data bearing on many phases of naval -effort. But there were, of course, many things kept secret, unrevealed -to any neutral. Our break with Germany brought about new conditions, -and made possible a more intimate exchange of views between the -American and British navies. Ruthless U-boat warfare begun only a few -weeks before, the Germans sinking shipping by the million tons, and -the British naturally concealing their losses and their plans, made -it important for us to secure the fullest information as to the exact -situation, and what steps were being taken to meet it. And in case war -was declared, to have in London an admiral to aid the Department in -putting into immediate effect the coöperation with the Allies which we -were planning. - -That Saturday afternoon I discussed Ambassador Page's cablegram -and the whole matter with the President, and he approved the plan. -Then the question arose as to what officer should be selected for -this important mission. The choice was Admiral Henry B. Wilson, -later commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet, then commanding the -battleship _Pennsylvania_. But we were creating a strong patrol force -and Admiral Wilson was regarded as the best man to organize and command -it. - -Admiral Jellicoe was, as Ambassador Page said, particularly anxious -that our Navy might "see its way to patrol our coast and possibly -relieve the British cruisers now on our side of the Atlantic," and -also, in case more German raiders got out, as was feared, to "help -capture them in waters where they prey on shipping from Mexico or South -America." This was in line with the policy we had already adopted. -Formally organized on March 28, Admiral Wilson was put in command -of this force, which accomplished just what Admiral Jellicoe then -suggested, and what was one of the first requests made, after war was -declared, by Admirals Browning and Grasset. - -The Germans, naval officers pointed out, might well conclude as soon -as we declared war to send submarines across the Atlantic to attack -shipping and cut down the flow of munitions and supplies to Europe. One -or two operating in the Gulf might interrupt the shipment of oil from -Mexican fields, the largest source of supply for the British Fleet. A -strong patrol force would not only protect all shipping on this side of -the ocean, but, well organized and equipped, would be ready when called -upon, to operate in European waters, as it did later on. So, it was -determined to assign Wilson to that duty and Admiral William S. Sims -was then chosen for the London mission. - -On Monday, March 26, I telegraphed him to come to Washington. He -arrived on the 28th and came to the Navy Department in the afternoon. -Referring to Mr. Page's telegram, I told him the President had decided -to send an admiral to England, and he had been selected. Informing him, -in confidence, of our belief that the time was near at hand when the -United States would enter the war, I told him that, in that event, we -must prepare for the fullest coöperation with the British Navy. But his -immediate duty, I pointed out, was to secure all possible information -as to what the British were doing, and what plans they had for more -effective warfare against the submarines. - -In the course of the conversation, I said: "You have been selected for -this mission not because of your Guildhall speech, but in spite of it." -In that speech Sims had said, "If the time ever comes when the British -Empire is seriously menaced by an external enemy, it is my opinion that -you may count upon every man, every dollar, every drop of blood of your -kindred across the sea." Impressing upon him the fact that the United -States was still neutral, and that until Congress should declare war -his mission must be a secret and confidential one, I informed him that -it had been decided not to issue written orders detaching him from his -duties at Newport, but for him to go quietly as a civilian passenger, -and report to Ambassador Page personally before any public announcement -was made. - -Among the matters discussed was the extent of the sinkings by -submarines. Ambassador Page had written me confidentially that the -situation was more serious than the British admitted. I told Admiral -Sims that the President believed the British had not taken the -necessary vigorous offensive to prevent destruction of shipping by the -U-boats and that he strongly believed two things ought to be done: - -First, that every effort should be made to prevent the submarines -getting into the Atlantic--that they ought to be shut up in their own -coasts, or some method should be found to prevent their ingress and -egress. - -Second, that all ships ought to be convoyed. The President had been of -this opinion for a long time, and had insisted that it was essential to -give protection to shipping. The General Board had strongly recommended -convoy, and I favored it. But, as I told Admiral Sims, I had taken this -matter up with naval officers in the Department, and there was division -of opinion, most of them seeming to agree with the British Admiralty, -which apparently opposed the convoy system. It had not been adopted -abroad. - -Admiral Sims seemed pleased with his mission and instructions. And the -only official instructions he received were those I gave him. But, -someone may ask about the sensational statement in his letter that he -was given the explicit admonition, "Don't let the British pull the wool -over your eyes. It is none of our business pulling their chestnuts out -of the fire. We would as soon fight the British as the Germans." - -I never heard of that until I read it in Sims' letter of January 7, -1920. Later, testifying before the Senate investigating Committee he -stated that the remark was made by Benson, who afterwards in Paris made -a similar statement. "I will admit that I had completely forgotten the -incident," said Sims in regard to the latter. "It was recalled to me by -a member of my staff who was present, and who heard it. I think that -the reason I did not remember that distinctly was because I regarded -it as a personal idiosyncrasy of the Admiral. I had known the general -opinion that he was intensely anti-British, but it did not affect me -particularly." - -"I have always had the best possible personal relations with Admiral -Benson," he continued. "I regard him as an upstanding and honest -man who has exceedingly strong convictions and who is very firm in -adherence to those convictions. I believe everything he has done during -the war has been done conscientiously, and to get along with the war." - -Benson said he could not recall just what was said; that he strongly -approved Sims' selection, but probably used "very forcible language" in -impressing upon him the seriousness of the situation and the importance -of being very careful that "his feelings toward the British did not -lead him into any indiscretion." He denied strongly that his words -could be interpreted to mean anything else. - -In view of these statements and the known fact that Admiral Benson and -everybody else in our navy earnestly coöperated with the British, and -that Benson had a large part in arranging this coöperation before Sims -reached London, I think there is no occasion for any further allusion -to the remark. - -On the last day of March, a week before war was declared, Admiral Sims -and his aide, Commander J. V. Babcock, boarded the steamship _New -York_, entered upon the passenger list as "S. W. Davidson" and "V. J. -Richardson." Their fellow voyagers had no idea that "Mr. Davidson" -was an admiral of the United States Navy going abroad on an important -mission, and "Mr. Richardson" was his aide. - -Reaching Liverpool April 9th, after an uneventful voyage, the _New -York_, as it approached the outer harbor, struck a mine. Though -the ship was not damaged beyond repair, it was crippled, and the -passengers were transferred to another vessel and taken ashore. At -the dock the American officers were welcomed by Rear Admiral Hope, -and they found that a special train, provided by the Admiralty, was -waiting to take them to London. Admiral Sims on arrival there at once -conferred with Ambassador Page and the British naval authorities, and -was admitted to the confidence of the Admiralty. - -Since his departure from America, there had been a radical change in -the situation. The United States had declared war against Germany, -and we were free to deal with the Allies as associates in the -great conflict. While Sims was having his first interview with the -authorities in London, we were in conference at Washington with the -ranking British and French admirals in the Western Atlantic. In fact -a working agreement was perfected, and orders had been issued to send -destroyers to Europe before we received Sims' first dispatch. Thus -Sims in London and our authorities in Washington carried out with the -utmost cordiality that splendid coöperation between the British and -American navies which continued throughout the war and which has hardly -a parallel in naval history. - -In his first cablegram from London, April 14, 1917, Sims reported: - - The submarine issue is very much more serious than the people - realize in America. The recent success of operations and the - rapidity of construction constitute the real crisis of the war. The - morale of the enemy submarines is not broken, only about fifty-four - are known to have been captured or sunk and no voluntary surrenders - have been recorded. * * * - - Supplies and communications of forces on all fronts, including the - Russians, are threatened and control of the sea actually imperilled. - - German submarines are constantly extending their operations into - the Atlantic, increasing areas and the difficulty of patrolling. - Russian situation critical. Baltic fleet mutiny, eighty-five - admirals, captains, and commanders murdered, and in some armies - there is insubordination. - - The amount of British, neutral and Allied shipping lost in February - was 536,000 tons, in March 571,000 tons, and in the first ten days - of April 205,000 tons. With short nights and better weather these - losses are increasing. - -The Germans, he said, had seventy mine-laying submarines, and were -building new ones at a rate approaching three a week. - -What were the British doing to meet this perilous situation? What plans -did they have to defeat the U-boats? That was what we particularly -wanted to know, and were surprised when it was not stated in that -dispatch. - -Describing his first interview with Lord Jellicoe, Admiral Sims says, -in his book, published three years later: - - "It looks as though the Germans were winning the war," I remarked. - - "They will win, unless we can stop these losses--and stop them - soon," the Admiral replied. - - "Is there no solution for the problem?" I asked. - - "Absolutely none that we can see now," Jellicoe announced. - -What the British were doing in regard to protecting ships was set forth -clearly in Sims' letter of April 19, in which he said: - - After trying various methods of controlling shipping, the - Admiralty now believes the best policy to be one of dispersion. - They use about six relatively large avenues or arcs of approach - to the United Kingdom and Channels, changing their limits or area - periodically if necessity demands. - -There was considerable criticism of the Admiralty, he said, "for not -taking more effective steps," and one of the principal demands was for -"convoys of merchant shipping, and more definite and real protection -within the war zone." But not only officers but ship owners and -captains opposed convoy, favoring the arming of merchant vessels and -independent sailings, he informed us, saying: - - The Admiralty has had frequent conferences with merchant masters - and sought their advice. Their most unanimous demand is: "Give us - a gun and let us look out for ourselves." They are also insistent - that it is impracticable for merchant vessels to proceed in - formation, at least in any considerable numbers, due principally - to difficulty in controlling their speed and to the inexperience - of their subordinate officers. With this view I do not personally - agree but believe that with a little experience merchant vessels - could safely and sufficiently well steam in open formations. - -In this Sims was right, as was shown when, later, convoy was adopted. -The system President Wilson had long advocated, which shipping -interests and many naval officers had opposed, proved not only -practicable, but a very effective measure. - -Urging that the maximum number of destroyers and anti-submarine craft -be sent to Europe, Sims in his first cablegram informed us: - - It is very likely the enemy will make submarine mine-laying raids - on our coasts or in the Caribbean to divert attention and to keep - our forces from the critical areas in the Eastern Atlantic through - effect upon public opinion. - -We had to expect this and to provide against it; and at the same time -extend all possible aid to our Allies in Europe. Destroyers had already -been ordered abroad, the first arriving May 4, and others were sent -over in rapid succession. - -Was this quick response? The English so considered it. Sir Edward -Carson, First Civil Lord of the Admiralty, called it "speedy action" -when he said in his address to the British Navy League on May 17: - - "The toast that I have to propose is that of the American Navy. - I give it to you from the bottom of my heart. The date of this - particular function is very opportune. It almost coincides with - the arrival in our seas of the first installment of the assistance - which the American Navy is going to give us in the terrible task - that is before us. It enables us who are members of our Navy - League, and it enables me as for the moment presiding over the - great service of the Admiralty in this country, to express and - demonstrate our appreciation of the speedy action of the American - Navy and to offer a hearty welcome to the officers and men who have - reached our shores. * * * - - I don't underestimate the submarine menace. It is a great, a novel, - and a terrible menace. It is a menace that has been unsolved by any - navy--our own navy, the German navy, the Austrian navy, the Italian - navy, or the American navy. But don't imagine you will solve it by - abuse or funk. No, the way to look upon it is that it is a real - danger, and it is the work of men to face and solve real dangers." - -The problem being still unsolved, it was up to our Navy to devise -some plan that might solve it. And we did propose, nine days after -this country entered the war, the biggest project that was put into -effect--mine barrages to shut in the U-boats, preventing their egress -into the Atlantic. On April 15 our Bureau of Ordnance presented plans -for mine barriers across the North Sea and the English Channel. On -April 17, I cabled Sims to report on the practicability of blocking the -German coast, to prevent submarines from getting out from their bases. -He replied that this had been tried and found "unfeasible," and said: - - To the best of my knowledge and experience we should adopt present - British methods and base further developments only upon actual - experience in coöperation with them. - -That the barrage was unfeasible was the opinion of the Admiralty -officers, but it was not the view of the Prime Minister, Lloyd George, -who like President Wilson and our own ordnance officers, did not regard -it as impossible, for Sims in his mail report to us April 19th said: - - The Prime Minister only two days ago expressed to me the opinion - that it ought to be possible to find physical means of absolutely - sealing up all escape for submarines from their own ports. The - fact that all such methods (nets, mines, obstructions, etc.) - inherently involve the added necessity of continuous protection - and maintenance by our naval forces is seldom understood and - appreciated. I finally convinced the Prime Minister of the fallacy - of such propositions by describing the situations into which we - would be led: namely, that in order to maintain our obstructions we - would have to match the forces the enemy brought against them until - finally the majority if not all of our own forces would be forced - into dangerous areas where they would be subject to continual - torpedo and other attack, in fact in a position most favorable to - the enemy. - -But the naval administration at Washington had faith in that idea, and -urged it again and again, until it was adopted, and the vast barrage -was laid across the North Sea. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -NAVAL ALLIES IN HISTORIC CONFERENCE - - FOUR DAYS AFTER WAR WAS DECLARED, BRITISH, FRENCH AND AMERICAN - ADMIRALS MET AT FORTRESS MONROE TO MAP OUT PLANS FOR IMMEDIATE - COÖPERATION--CONFERENCE AT WASHINGTON, APRIL 11TH, FIXED THE POLICY - OF UNITED NAVAL EFFORT--FREQUENT AND FULL INTERCHANGE OF OPINION - WITH ALLIES. - - -Four days after war was declared, admirals of the United States, Great -Britain and France were in conference at Fortress Monroe. Immediately -upon the action of Congress, without awaiting the arrival of Admiral -Sims, then on the ocean bound for London, arrangements were made to -confer with the commanders-in-chief of the British and French forces on -this side of the Atlantic, who were familiar with conditions overseas -as well as on this coast. When they arrived Admiral Benson asked: -"Where can our Navy render the best immediate service?" - -Then these sea fighters sat down to an all-day session to find the best -answer to Benson's question. The Allied admirals, who had been in the -war from the beginning, told what had been attempted, what achieved, -and the ways wherein they hoped America could come to the rescue. - -Hampton Roads was the site of a historic conference, between Abraham -Lincoln and Alexander H. Stephens and others in 1865, when there was -hope that the War between the States might be brought to an end. -That conference failed, but this of April 10, 1917, was a pronounced -success; for it was followed the next day by the conference at the Navy -Department in Washington, which laid the foundations for the perfect -coöperation in the war with Allied governments, the first agreement -the United States Navy ever made with foreign naval officials to wage -war together. At the time even the fact that it was held was secret, -and its conclusions were sent abroad only in code. For secrecy was -necessary in regard to this as well as other plans and operations. - -Since 1914 both the British and French navies had maintained their -ships in the Western Atlantic from Halifax to Southern waters. Vice -Admiral Browning and Rear Admiral Grasset, in command of the British -and French forces, respectively, were at Bermuda when war was declared -and came at once to Hampton Roads. Admiral Benson, Chief of Naval -Operations, accompanied by Admiral Mayo, Commander-in-Chief of the -fleet, went from Washington on the President's yacht, the _Sylph_, and -were joined by Admiral Wilson, in command of the United States Patrol -Force. In sight of the spot where the _Monitor_ and the _Merrimac_ -met in their epoch-making fight over half a century before, these -admirals exchanged views regarding the naval conduct of the war. -Admiral Browning had been in command of a squadron in the North Sea, -and acquainted the American officers with conditions abroad, and they -in turn advised the visiting admirals of conditions here. - -At the conclusion of this meeting, all these admirals came to -Washington for a conference with the Secretary of the Navy. They sailed -on the _Sylph_, and the unprecedented spectacle was witnessed of that -little ship flying the flags of staff officers of three nations. It was -symbolic of the unity which marked their joint operations during the -war. - -Upon their arrival, in addition to the admirals who had met them in -Hampton Roads, I invited to confer with them the Assistant Secretary -of the Navy, and the members of the General Board. "This conference," -I stated when we had assembled in the rooms of the General Board, "has -been called to consider and carry out without delay the best plans -for the fullest coöperation of the navy of the United States with the -allied navies, and to place every ounce of our naval strength into the -struggle in the ways where it will do most to win victory." - -Turning to the British and French representatives, I said that as their -nations had been long in the war we desired to learn by their successes -and be warned by their failures, if they had made any. The conference -was a protracted one and discussed every phase of the naval situation. -The British and French admirals told of their long and satisfactory -talks with Benson, Mayo and Wilson, and stated that they were -practically agreed as to the plans which they thought would best aid -in the object all had in view. They made certain suggestions and the -following arrangements were made by which, it was agreed, the United -States could best throw its weight into the struggle:-- - -1. The United States Navy to take over the patrol of the Atlantic coast -from Canada to South American waters. They explained the importance of -that patrol and why they had felt it essential to preserve it since -1914. They gave three reasons for its continued maintenance: (a) -protection of shipping for the Allied armies, including food for their -civilian populations, and oil from Mexico for their fleets and armies; -(b) protection against the coming of U-boats, which was deemed not only -possible but probable; and (c) readiness to destroy German raiders. -They told us that if we could take over this patrol it would serve the -double purpose of protecting shipping on this coast and releasing their -ships, which were needed at home. - -At that time both here and abroad there was a general belief that -German strategy would dictate the sending of U-boats to our coast. -There was a fear too (and there were many reports), of possible -submarine bases at out-of-the-way places on the Atlantic and Gulf. -Indeed, from the beginning of the war in 1914 the Navy had been -vigilant in sending craft into all places on our coast, from Canada -to the Panama Canal, which might possibly enable U-boats to subsist -in our waters. That conference agreed that this vigilance should be -continued and made more effective, because it was thought the incentive -to submarine activity on this side of the Atlantic would be stimulated -by the desire to sink transports carrying American troops. - -2. The United States to have in readiness squadrons to operate against -any raider in either the North or South Atlantic. That was regarded as -of great importance by the French and British conferees, and it was one -of the chief duties of our Patrol Squadron. Speaking later of that, -Admiral Badger, head of the General Board, said: "While a discussion -of the general subject was had, the British and French admirals were -particularly concerned as to the patrol of the east coast of North and -South America, for which their forces were considered inadequate." The -Chief of Naval Operations was directed, at this meeting, to strengthen -the patrol force and to send it wherever it would render the quickest -and best service against the enemy. It was later sent to Gibraltar, to -protect the vast volume of shipping plying between the Mediterranean -and Northern Europe. The Pacific fleet, under Admiral William B. -Caperton, was later on duty on the coast of Brazil and other South -American countries for the protection of Allied shipping in the South -Atlantic. - -3. Recognizing the accepted naval doctrine of all countries that -destroyers should be provided for operation with every dreadnaught, -the British and French admirals said they hesitated to request the -detachment of any destroyer from the fleet. "Of course your fleet -naturally would not be willing to part with or weaken the screen of -destroyers," said Admiral Browning, but he expressed the hope that we -might send at once one or two destroyers to Europe for the moral effect -this would inspire, as well as their aid in combatting submarines. -Though the commander-in-chief felt it would be taking desirable -protection from his fleet, it was agreed immediately to send six. -"We will send a division at once," I informed the British and French -admirals, "and all other aid in our power." Admirals Benson and Mayo -were then directed to issue the necessary orders for the destroyers to -make ready for distant service. Later the number was increased, and -by the end of May twenty-eight were at or on their way to Queenstown. -In pursuance of the policy of the United States adopted at this -conference, the American Navy continued to send destroyers, submarine -chasers, yachts and other craft overseas until the number in Europe -reached 373. - -4. Our Navy agreed to look after the west coast of North America from -Canadian to Colombian boundaries. - -5. It was promised that United States armed government vessels would -maintain continuous service to Chile, from which country America and -the Allies obtained nitrates indispensable for the manufacture of -munitions. All during the war there was fear that the steady flow of -nitrates might be interrupted, and every effort was made to transport -large quantities as rapidly as possible. It was gratifying when -Admiral Browning reported that the British relations with Chile were -"excellent." While our relations with that country were also cordial, -scarcity of ships and hazards of transportation were such that the -United States spent many millions to establish nitrate plants within -its own borders. - -6. It was agreed that our Asiatic fleet should be maintained. It -operated in close coöperation with Allied fleets all during the war and -they acted together when conditions in Russia became acute. - -7. Our Navy undertook to supervise the Gulf of Mexico and Central -American waters as far south as the Colombian boundary and as far east -as Jamaica and the Virgin Islands. It was through this area that Allied -navies transported their oil, chiefly from Tampico. The protection of -tankers was always of prime importance and the patrol of those waters, -begun before we entered the war, was carried on until its close, first -under Admiral Wilson and afterwards by Admiral Anderson. The vigilance -of this patrol was never relaxed. - -8. Our Navy assumed the duty of sending submarines to Canadian waters, -"if and when enemy submarines appeared off that coast." - -9. The French Admiralty was assured that, as soon as possible, we would -send patrol vessels to the French coast. This was done, our armed -yachts sailing early in June for Brest. - -10. We also undertook to send armed naval transports for carrying -needed railway material to France, one immediately, and others as soon -as possible. - -After the conference adjourned, I suggested that the Chief of -Operations and the French and British admirals perfect the details of -coöperation agreed upon. They did so, and a cablegram was sent by these -admirals to their governments setting forth the foregoing definite -steps agreed upon for active participation by the United States with -the naval forces of the Allies. - -Many other conferences followed, some of them notable, with Allied -officers and government officials who came to Washington for -consultation. All the Allied nations sent naval officers to Washington, -many of whom remained during the entire war for the specific duty -of expediting coöperation with our Navy. Some of them had authority -virtually to conclude arrangements. There was always frequent, frank -exchange of views, and the same spirit of oneness existed on this as on -the other side of the Atlantic. - -The French mission, which came in April, 1917, headed by Marshal -Joffre and Viviani, was a distinguished body, embracing soldiers and -sailors who had seen hard service. Joffre, the beloved "hero of the -Marne," was the commanding military figure, and Washington, accustomed -as it was to celebrities, gave him a reception never excelled in its -wild enthusiasm. Everybody fell in love with him. Unaffected, simple, -charming, he was the embodiment of French courage and comradeship. -Other representatives of foreign governments had pressed the need of -money and ships; but Joffre said, "Send fresh soldiers. We can arm -them, and they can be trained in France as well as here." - -Marshal Joffre expressed more than once his admiration of the -appearance of the ships and crews on the American warships which -he visited. "It is evident from their appearance, they are ready, -enthusiastically ready, and their spic and span appearance is in marked -contrast to the grimness of the French naval vessels," he said upon the -occasion of his visit to Mt. Vernon, where in his tribute to Washington -he said the early coming of American troops to France "will tighten the -links of affection and esteem which have ever united France and the -United States." - -With Joffre came Admiral Chocheprat of the French Navy. He was met at -Hampton Roads by Assistant Secretary Franklin D. Roosevelt, and came -to Washington for conference with naval officials, who obtained from -him valuable information from the seat of war. This enabled our Navy -to render better assistance in French waters and led to the opening of -more French ports for the landing of American troops and the quicker -turn-around of transports. - -The British mission, which was headed by the distinguished Mr. Balfour, -arrived on April 21st. Its members brought the inside story of -conditions, particularly in the desperate fight against the submarine. -They had been met at Halifax and welcomed on behalf of the Navy by -Admiral Frank F. Fletcher, who accompanied them to Washington. Mr. -Balfour had, until a short time before, been First Civil Lord of the -Admiralty. With him as naval representative was Admiral Dudley S. de -Chair. They emphasized the seriousness of the submarine sinkings, -holding back nothing. American officials discussed the necessity of -new naval offenses; attacking the German bases or constructing mine -barrages to prevent egress and ingress of submarines and other plans -to end the U-boat menace. As representative of the foremost sea power, -the interchange of views between Admiral de Chair and our naval experts -was most helpful. The Admiral was well pleased with the arrangements -completed earlier in the month with Admiral Browning and with our broad -plans and construction program. - -Naval Allied coöperation was strengthened by conferences with the -Prince of Udine, and the Italian mission; the Belgian mission headed by -Baron Ludovic Moncheur; the Russian mission, whose naval representative -was the ill-fated Admiral Kolchak; the Japanese mission, which -included the able Vice Admiral Takeshita--all these and other special -representatives who came from time to time or remained attached to -their embassies in Washington. Later the British Admiralty sent as its -representative Admiral Lowther Grant, who was in almost daily touch -with officers of the Navy Department until the close of the war and won -the regard of all. - -Through the United States Naval Representative in London, American -admirals on duty at Brest and Gibraltar and naval attachés abroad, the -representatives of the Allied navies in Washington, who were kept fully -informed by their governments, and the diplomatic and naval missions, -the Navy Department was enabled to reach its decisions with all the -possible lights before it. It never had to depend upon any single -source of information. - -These conferences at Washington were of the utmost importance because -all large policies had to be settled by the Navy Department. Officers -abroad were in command of ships assigned to them, and in emergencies -upon their own initiative employed their forces to the best advantage. -The ships overseas never were under independent command, but, as -distinctly stated in orders, constituted a "task force of the Atlantic -Fleet." Their orders stated: "The individuality of the United States -forces should be such that they may be continuously ready to change -their areas of operations as may be made necessary or by orders of the -Navy Department." - -In the World War it was necessary for the Navy to maintain close -relationship with the President, the Council of National Defense, the -State and War Departments, the War Industries Board, the War Trade -Board, the Shipping Board and other war agencies, and the supply system -for Army as well as Navy. It was essential to be in constant touch with -the plans for the sending of troops and to have daily interchange of -views with representatives of Allied navies. Intimate contact made for -prompt action. The efficiency secured and maintained would have been -impossible if the naval control had ever passed from Washington. - -The decisions to establish bases at Brest, at Gibraltar and in the -Azores were made by the Navy Department in Washington after conference -with Allied powers. The result of their establishment justified -the action taken. Routing of ships called for joint action between -Allied and American naval agencies working together on both sides of -the Atlantic. The movement of vessels carrying troops and supplies -was necessarily dependent upon daily conference with War Department -officials in Washington. Admiral William V. Pratt, who was Assistant -Chief of Operations during the war, thus stated the main naval duty: -"Our total naval effort in this war consisted less in the operation of -forces at the front than in a logistic effort in the rear, in which -the greatest problems we had to contend with originated and had to be -solved, here at home. It must be noted that in this war the main united -naval effort was one of logistics." - -Building ships by the hundred; training men by the hundred thousand -to operate them; producing munitions, materials and supplies by -millions of tons; providing vessels to carry troops and men-of-war -to protect them--all these problems of production and transportation -were necessarily settled in Washington. It was this vast effort in -America, directed from the Navy Department, which made possible all our -activities in Europe, all the assistance we were able to render to the -Allies and the general cause. - -[Illustration: AMERICAN DESTROYERS IN QUEENSTOWN HARBOR - -The depth charges are conspicuous on each stern.] - -[Illustration: - - From the painting by Bernard F. Gribble - - THE RETURN OF THE MAYFLOWER - -First American destroyers arriving in Queenstown harbor, May 4, 1917.] - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -"WE ARE READY NOW, SIR" - - DESTROYERS, AFTER 3,000-MILE VOYAGE, PREPARED FOR IMMEDIATE - SERVICE--FIRST OF AMERICAN FORCES SENT TO EUROPE--DEADLIEST FOE OF - U-BOATS, THEY SAILED VAST AREAS, PROTECTING TROOPS AND CARGOES--256 - ATTACKS ON SUBMARINES--"FANNING" SANK U-58 AND CAPTURED CREW--NO - RANK IN SACRIFICE OR HONORS. - - -"Fit out for long and distant service!" was the order the Eighth -Destroyer Division received from the flagship of the Atlantic Fleet the -night of April 14, 1917. It was then 9:30 p. m., and they were directed -to sail at daylight. At five o'clock next morning they started for -their home navy yards. - -Speeding to New York and Boston, the ships went into drydock, made -repairs, tuned up machinery, and took aboard three months' stores and -provisions--all in ten days. - -Sailing from Boston April 24th, under sealed orders, it was not until -midnight, when they were fifty miles at sea, that the officers of the -flotilla knew its destination. Breaking the seal, the commander read -the following, the first operating order issued to any American force: - - NAVY DEPARTMENT - - OFFICE OF NAVAL OPERATIONS - - Washington, D. C., April 14. - - SECRET AND CONFIDENTIAL. - - To: Commander, Eighth Division, Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet; U. - S. S. _Wadsworth_, flagship. - - Subject: Protection of commerce near the coasts of Great Britain - and Ireland. - - 1. The British Admiralty have requested the coöperation of a - division of American destroyers in the protection of commerce near - the coasts of Great Britain and France. - - 2. Your mission is to assist naval operations of Entente Powers in - every way possible. - - 3. Proceed to Queenstown, Ireland. Report to senior British naval - officer present, and thereafter coöperate fully with the British - Navy. Should it be decided that your force act in coöperation with - French naval forces, your mission and method of coöperation under - French Admiralty authority remain unchanged. - - Route to Queenstown: Boston to latitude 50 N., Long. 20 W., to - arrive at daybreak, then to latitude 50 N., Long. 12 W., thence to - Queenstown. - - When within radio communication of the British naval forces off - Ireland, call GCK and inform the Vice Admiral at Queenstown in - British general code of your position, course, and speed. You will - be met outside of Queenstown. - - 4. Base facilities will be provided by the British Admiralty. - - 5. Communicate your orders and operations to Rear Admiral Sims at - London and be guided by such instructions as he may give you. Make - no report of arrival to Navy Department direct. - - JOSEPHUS DANIELS. - -Signed only three days after the conference with British and French -admirals in Washington, this put into effect the verbal orders given -the moment they requested that one or two destroyers be sent. Six were -on the way--the _Wadsworth_, _Conyngham_, _Porter_, _McDougal_, _Davis_ -and _Wainwright_. They were the first of the United States forces -despatched to Europe, the pioneers of the large fleet we sent across -the Atlantic. - -It was no smooth voyage they had in that long trip. Caught in a -southeast gale which lasted for seven days, they were so tossed about -by the heavy seas that they could not even set the mess-tables. "We ate -off our laps," one officer remarked. But the welcome received when they -reached port more than made up for these hardships. Nearing the coast, -the ninth day out, a British destroyer, the _Mary Rose_, was sighted, -flying the international signal, "Welcome to the American colors!" - -"Thank you, we are glad of your company," the Americans replied. - -Next morning, Friday, May 4th, they reached Queenstown. Though efforts -had been made to keep secret their coming, the American flag floated -from public buildings, business houses and residences, and from vessels -in the harbor. Crowds assembled on the hills and along the shore, -cheering as the ships from over the sea hove in sight. - -It was a brilliant scene, flooded with sunshine--a historic day, -marking the arrival of the first American forces to take part with the -Allies in the struggle against the Central Powers. Through cheering -crowds the Navy boys proceeded to the American Consulate, where the -lord mayors of Queenstown and Cork extended a formal welcome. Sir -John Jellicoe, First Sea Lord of the British Admiralty, in a letter -to Commander J. K. Taussig, in command of the flotilla, offered the -"warmest welcome possible in the name of the British nation and the -British Admiralty," concluding: "May every good fortune attend you, and -speedy victory be with us." - -Vice Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, Commander-in-Chief of the Coasts of -Ireland, invited the destroyer commanders to dine with him that -evening, closing his invitation with the characteristic note: "Dine -in undress; no speeches." Able and energetic, he was known as a "hard -driver"; a man of few words who hated talk and demanded results. - -"When will you be ready to go to sea?" was about the first question he -asked. He naturally supposed that, after a long and stormy voyage, they -would ask some time for rest and repairs. - -"We are ready now, sir," Commander Taussig replied; "that is, as soon -as we finish refueling." - -"I will give you four days from the time of arrival," the Admiral said. -"Will that be sufficient?" - -"Yes," was the answer, "that will be more than ample time." - -Four days later they were all at sea, hunting submarines. Before the -month was out they were swearing by Admiral Bayly, and he was calling -them "my boys." - -"Things were looking black," Commander Taussig said. "In the three -previous weeks the submarines had sunk 152 British merchant ships. -The night before we entered the harbor a German submarine had planted -twelve mines right in the channel. Fortunately for us they were swept -up by the ever vigilant British mine-sweepers before we arrived. -The day following our arrival, one of the British gunboats from our -station was torpedoed and her captain and forty of her crew were lost. -Patrol vessels were continually bringing in survivors from the various -ships as they were sunk." - -The convoy system had not then been instituted, the British depending -on patrol. This was trying duty, searching for the U-boat that might be -anywhere within four or five hundred square miles, for the ocean was -strewn with wreckage for three hundred miles from shore. - -The Queenstown "area" comprised twenty-five thousand square miles, -and yet this wide zone of trans-Atlantic shipping, west and south of -Ireland, had been left almost unprotected. "Sometimes only four or five -British destroyers were operating in this great stretch of waters," -said Admiral Sims, "and I do not think the number ever exceeded -fifteen." - -Soon after the Americans arrived, the few British destroyers at -Queenstown were withdrawn. Urging the sending of all floating craft -available, Sims had informed us in his cablegram of April 28th: - - Yesterday the War Council and Admiralty decided that coöperation - of twenty-odd American destroyers with base at Queenstown would no - doubt put down the present submarine activity which is dangerous - and keep it down. The crisis will be passed if the enemy can be - forced to disperse his forces from this critical area. - -Within a month twenty-eight destroyers and two tenders were either in -Queenstown or on the way there. On May 17th a second division arrived, -followed by two other divisions, and two additional destroyers and the -tenders _Melville_ and _Dixie_. The _Melville_, which arrived May 22nd, -was the "mother ship" and became the flagship of the United States -forces stationed there. On June 1st, Sims wrote to the Navy Department: - - It is gratifying to be able to report that the operations of our - forces in these waters have proved not only very satisfactory, but - also of marked value to the Allies in overcoming the submarine - menace. The equipment and construction of our ships have proved - adequate and sufficient and the personnel has shown an unusually - high degree of enthusiasm and ability to cope with the situation - presented. - -As a special compliment to the American Navy, Admiral Sims had been -invited, a few days before, to assume command at Queenstown in the -absence of Admiral Bayly on a brief vacation, and for several days -the American flag floated from Admiralty House. "So far as exercising -any control over sea operations was concerned, this invitation was -not particularly important," said Admiral Sims. "Matters were running -smoothly at the Queenstown station; Admiral Bayly's second in command -could have kept the machine in working order; it was hardly likely in -the few days that I was to command that any changes in policy would -be initiated. The British Admiralty merely took this way of showing a -great courtesy to the American Navy, and of emphasizing to the world -the excellent relations that existed between the two services." - -In his book, "The Victory at Sea," Admiral Sims said: - - One day Admiral Bayly, Captain Pringle of the _U. S. S. Melville_, - Captain Campbell, the Englishman whose exploits with mystery ships - had given him world-wide fame, and myself, went out on the _Active_ - to watch certain experiments with depth-charges. It was a highly - imprudent thing to do, but that only added to the zest of the - occasion from Admiral Bayly's point of view. - - "What a bag this would be for the Hun," he chuckled. "The American - Commander-in-Chief, the British admiral commanding in Irish waters, - a British and an American captain." - - In our mind's eye we could see our picture in the Berlin papers, - four distinguished prisoners standing in a row. - -The destroyers which escorted the first troop convoys were, after -they reached St. Nazaire, sent to the base in Ireland. By July 5th -we had thirty-four destroyers at Queenstown. Thirty-seven vessels of -the Force--35 destroyers and two tenders--had been sent to Europe, as -follows: - - Destroyers and Date of Sailing Commanding Officer - - _Wadsworth_--April 24 Lt. Comdr. J. K. Taussig - _Conyngham_--April 24 Lt. Comdr. A. W. Johnson - _Porter_--April 24 Lt. Comdr. W. K. Wortman - _McDougal_--April 24 Lt. Comdr. A. P. Fairfield - _Davis_--April 24 Lt. Comdr. R. F. Zogbaum - _Wainwright_--April 24 Lt. Comdr. F. H. Poteet - _Rowan_--May 7 Lt. Comdr. C. E. Courtney - _Tucker_--May 7 Lt. Comdr. B. B. Wygant - _Cassin_--May 7 Lt. Comdr. W. N. Vernou - _Ericsson_--May 7 Lt. Comdr. C. T. Hutchins - _Winslow_--May 7 Lt. Comdr. N. E. Nichols - _Jacob Jones_--May 7 Lt. Comdr. D. W. Bagley - _Melville_ (tender)--May 11 Commander H. B. Price - _Cushing_--May 15 Lt. Comdr. D. C. Hanrahan - _Nicholson_--May 15 Lt. Comdr. B. A. Long - _Sampson_--May 15 Lt. Comdr. B. C. Allen - _Cummings_--May 15 Lt. Comdr. G. F. Neal - _Benham_--May 15 Lt. Comdr. J. B. Gay - _O'Brien_--May 15 Lt. Comdr. C. A. Blakely - _Patterson_--May 21 Lieut. J. H. Newton - _Warrington_--May 21 Lieut. I. F. Dortch - _Drayton_--May 21 Lieut. D. L. Howard - _Jenkins_--May 21 Lieut. W. H. Lee - _Paulding_--May 21 Lieut. J. S. Barleon - _Trippe_--May 21 Lieut. R. C. Giffen - _Sterrett_--May 23 Lieut. G. W. Simpson - _Walke_--May 23 Lieut. C. F. Russell - _Jarvis_--May 25 Lieut. L. P. Davis - _Perkins_--May 25 Lieut. F. M. Knox - _Dixie_ (tender)--May 31 Commander J. R. P. Pringle - _Burrows_--June 14 Lieut. H. V. McKittrick - _Fanning_--June 14 Lieut. A. S. Carpender - _Allen_--June 14 Commander S. W. Bryant - _Wilkes_--June 14 Lt. Comdr. J. C. Fremont - _Ammen_--June 17 Lieut. G. C. Logan - _Shaw_--June 17 Lt. Comdr. M. S. Davis - _Parker_--June 17 Lt. Comdr. H. Powell - -Others were sent as they became available, and new destroyers, in -course of construction when war began, were dispatched to Europe upon -completion. All but two of the destroyers we had in April, 1917, served -in foreign waters. We also sent to Europe nine of the old type later -designated as "coast torpedo vessels"--the _Bainbridge_, _Barry_, -_Chauncey_, _Dale_, _Decatur_, _McDonough_, _Stewart_, _Truxtun_ and -_Worden_--and, old and small as they were, they did excellent service. -Eighty-five destroyers, in all, saw service in the "war zone." - -Hunting U-boats, going to the relief of vessels attacked, rescuing -survivors, and later, when the convoy system was put into effect, -escorting vessels--troop and supply ships, passenger steamers and -merchantmen--through the danger zones to and from port, the destroyers -had plenty to do. - -[Illustration: THE SURRENDER OF THE U-58 - -The crew of this submarine surrendered to the Fanning, after the -destroyer's depth charges had disabled the undersea boat. Inset, the -first officer of the U-boat, who traded his Iron Cross for a clean -undershirt.] - -Finding a "sub" was the hardest part of the game, for the mere glimpse -of a destroyer through a periscope was sufficient for the submarine -to submerge and scurry away. Yet our vessels in European waters were -credited with 256 attacks on U-boats, and there were not a few exciting -encounters. - -[Illustration: CREW OF THE FANNING, WHICH SANK THE U-58 - -The star on the funnel indicates a submarine victim.] - -No more striking example of prompt action and quick results occurred -during the entire war than that of the _Fanning_ and the _Nicholson_ -when they "got" a German submarine, the U-58, on November 17, 1917. -Sailing along with a convoy, at 4:10 p. m. Coxswain David D. Loomis, -lookout on the _Fanning_, caught a glimpse of a periscope. It was a -finger periscope, a tiny thing an inch and a half in diameter, no -larger than a walking stick. It was lifted for only a few seconds, -but the keen eyes of Loomis spied it, and he estimated its distance -and location--three points on the port bow, 400 yards distant, moving -across the bow at two knots' speed. The _Fanning_ headed for the spot, -full speed, and as it crossed the course dropped a depth-bomb. Changing -course, the _Nicholson_ was dashing across to drop another charge when -the conning tower appeared. The _Nicholson_ headed for the submarine, -and the _Fanning_ turned in her wake to attack. Dropping a depth-charge -alongside the U-boat, the _Nicholson_ turned, firing from her stern -gun. The sub's bow came up rapidly. She seemed to be down by the -stern and was evidently badly damaged, but tried to right herself and -increased her speed. As the _Nicholson_ cleared, the _Fanning_ opened -fire with her bow gun. At the third shot the German crew came on deck, -and held up their hands shouting, "Kamerad!" At 4:28 the submarine -surrendered. It had been only 18 minutes since Loomis had sighted her -periscope. - -Getting a line to the crippled craft, the destroyers prepared to take -it in tow. But two of her crew disappeared for a moment. They scuttled -the boat. As it sank, the Germans jumped into the water and swam for -the _Fanning_. Heaving lines were thrown to them, and all but one, -Franz Glinder, managed to get aboard. When it was seen that he was -sinking, two of the _Fanning's_ crew, Chief Pharmacist's Mate Elzer -Harwell and Coxswain Francis G. Connor, jumped overboard to rescue -him. They got him aboard the ship, but in spite of all efforts to -resuscitate him, he died. - -The commander, Kapitän-Leutnant Gustav Amberger, his three other -officers and thirty-five men were prisoners. They were given hot -coffee, sandwiches and cigarettes, and men of the _Fanning_ loaned -their warm clothing. No prisoners were ever better treated. As they -entered the boats that were to take them ashore, they cheered the -_Fanning_ and its crew. - -A larger volume than this would be required to detail all the exploits -of our destroyers in European waters, or even to give the reports of -their contacts with submarines. But a few examples will give some idea -of the work they did. - -Not long after her arrival in Queenstown, the _O'Brien_ (Lieutenant -Commander C. A. Blakely) defeated a U-boat which was trying to attack -the British steamer _Elysia_, twelve miles south of Ballycotton Light, -off the Irish coast. This encounter occurred at 4:21, June 16, 1917, -and the London Headquarters' report of June 20th, said: - - It is reasonably certain now that the _O'Brien_ destroyed the - submarine mentioned. She was escorting a valuable ship when the - two periscopes of a submarine were observed about 800 yards on her - bow. She altered course immediately, headed for it, and increased - to full speed. The periscopes were again seen about a minute - later about 100 yards dead ahead, the submarine having apparently - attempted to avoid the _O'Brien_ and torpedo her escort astern - of her. From the last position sighted, the submarine apparently - started to dive, and must have barely escaped being rammed. - - The lookout on the top observed her hull distinctly alongside the - _O'Brien_ and gradually disappearing as she proceeded downward, on - almost exactly the opposite course to the _O'Brien_. A depth-charge - was dropped when the submarine was under the after deck-house, and - although the _O'Brien_ was making 20 knots by this time, less than - three minutes after the submarine had been sighted, the explosion - of the depth-charge gave the ship a very severe shaking. The - _O'Brien_ circled over the spot, but saw no evidence of damage. A - British destroyer passing over the same spot, nearly three hours - later found and reported large patches of strong-smelling oil. The - _Cushing_, on the following morning, passed the same area and also - reported a large amount of oil. This incident occurred just off - Queenstown entrance and was unfortunately one of those cases the - exact results of which cannot be determined. - -The _Trippe_, _Warrington_, _Jenkins_, _Wadsworth_, _Cummings_, -_Wilkes_ and _Benham_ all had encounters in July which were not only -successful but showed evidence that the U-boats were damaged, if not -disabled. The _Parker_ (Lieutenant Commander Halsey Powell) on August -3rd had a long U-boat encounter. With the _Fanning_ and _Nicholson_, -she had been escorting steamers and had just returned to patrol when a -submarine was reported about 30 miles away. Speeding to the locality, -at 2:15 she found the steamship _Newby Hall_ had been attacked, and -was told that the U-boat had submerged probably six miles distant. -Escorting the steamer toward port, the _Parker_, at 4:10 p. m. turned -her over to the _Burrows_, and returned to look for the "sub." The -steamship _Rio Verde_, which was in the vicinity, was escorted out of -the dangerous locality, and the destroyer resumed the hunt for the -enemy. - -At 6:50 the _Parker_ sighted the submarine, which submerged when the -destroyer came within 8,000 yards. But the U-boat left a long oil -slick which the _Parker_ followed down. "On reaching the end of the -slick, saw submarine underneath the end of the bridge," the commander -reported. "Dropped two depth-charges on the submarine and from all -evidence she was very probably sunk. There was practically simultaneous -explosion of the depth-charges, followed by another explosion. There -was discovered on the surface of the water air bubbles, and a heavy -scum of oil, and particles of what appeared to be cork." As no wreckage -or prisoners were obtained, the Admiralty gave the credit "probably -seriously damaged"; but the men aboard the _Parker_ were convinced that -the submarine had been destroyed. - -The _Jacob Jones_, _Davis_ and _McDougal_ were credited with successful -encounters in September, the _McDougal_ being credited in Admiral Sims' -Headquarters' report of Sept. 15th, with "protection of two meeting -convoys against enemy submarine," and "possible destruction" of the -U-boat. - -While escorting a New York convoy the _McDougal_ (Commander A. P. -Fairfield) at 1:21 a. m. sighted the submarine on the surface, and gave -chase. The "sub" submerged 500 yards ahead. Dropping two depth-charges, -the _McDougal_ circled around the spot, and soon noticed oil rising, -apparently from the U-boat. A northbound convoy from France to Wales -was sighted only a half mile away. "One or more ships of convoy were -undoubtedly saved by the fact that the submarine was forced to submerge -hastily," said the Headquarters' report. "Submarine believed to be -damaged or sunk." - -When the large British steamship _Orama_ was torpedoed October 19, -1917, the _U. S. S. Conyngham_ attacked and drove off the submarine, -saving other ships of the convoy. Her commanding officer, Commander A. -W. Johnson, made this report: - - During the afternoon _Conyngham_ hailed _H. M. S. Orama_ and - suggested that, due to submarine reported ahead, convoy change - course. This was not thought advisable by the commanding officer of - _H. M. S. Orama_ and convoy proceeded on original course. - - At 5:30 p. m. _Parker_, in position 48 degrees N. 09-20 W., escort - about two miles ahead of convoy, reported sighting discolored water - (brownish). - - At 5:50 p. m., while _Conyngham_ was alongside starboard side of - _Orama_ passing her recognition signals, a torpedo crossing _Clan - Lindsay's_ bow struck _H. M. S. Orama_ in port side, about No. 3 - hold. A distinct report was heard, followed immediately by cloud of - smoke arising from _Orama_ forward of her bridge. _Orama_ listed - to port and began to sink by the bow. _Conyngham_ by radio ordered - convoy to disperse. _Conyngham_ sounded general quarters and went - full speed ahead and crossed _Orama's_ bow by going full left - rudder, then proceeded to make circle between VA and VR columns. - - When circling, a wake was sighted on starboard quarter. A periscope - about one foot emerged visible for few seconds only was seen in - this wake. A short time afterwards a periscope was sighted sharp - on our starboard bow. This periscope submerged almost immediately, - but wake was plainly visible. _Conyngham_, then a few yards from - the periscope, headed for same and dropped depth-charge over - the wake. An explosion resulted. Large quantities of discolored - water was seen to rise in the air and a number of crew and - officers distinctly made out a quantity of wreckage, one piece of - which might have been the wireless mast of the submarine, when - _Conyngham_ circled near the spot of the explosion. - -The _Jacob Jones_ and the _Conyngham_ remained by the _Orama_ to save -life. It was night when the vessel began to settle and was abandoned by -her crew. But the destroyers rescued all the 478 persons who were on -board the _Orama_. - -American destroyers had been operating in European waters six months -with no damage from enemy action, when, on October 15th, the _Cassin_ -(Lieutenant Commander W. N. Vernou) was torpedoed. Her rudder was blown -off, a gun blown overboard, and the after part of the ship wrecked; yet -by expert seamanship she was kept afloat and taken to port, repaired -and put back into service. Nine men of the crew were wounded, but only -one was killed--Gunner's Mate Osmond K. Ingram, who gave his life to -save the ship. - -Patrolling off the Irish coast, 20 miles south of Mine Head, at 1:30 -p. m. the _Cassin_ sighted a submarine, but it vanished before the -destroyer could get close to it. Half an hour later Commander Vernou -sighted a torpedo running at high speed toward the ship. Double -emergency full speed was rung, the rudder put hard left, and for a -moment it looked as if the torpedo might pass astern. When only fifteen -or twenty feet away, it porpoised, leaving the water and sheering to -the left; and struck the vessel well aft, on the port side. - -When the torpedo was sighted, Ingram, who was at his gun, realized that -if it struck among the depth-bombs astern, the explosion might sink -the ship. Instantly, he ran aft to strip these charges and throw them -overboard. He was blown to pieces when the torpedo struck. The memory -of this heroic gunner's mate, who made the supreme sacrifice to save -his shipmates, is preserved in the name of one of our new destroyers, -the _Ingram_, the first naval vessel ever named for an enlisted man. -There is no rank in sacrifice or honors. - -The officers and men worked heroically to save the _Cassin_. Her -rudder gone, she was moving in circles. Efforts were made to steer by -use of the engines, but something carried away and put the starboard -engine out of commission. The ship seemed absolutely unmanageable. All -was dark below, the electric generator having been disabled. Radio -apparatus broken, a temporary auxiliary antenna had to be rigged up -before assistance could be summoned by wireless. But the crew were -undismayed, the gunners were at their stations, and when, at 2:30 -o'clock, a conning tower was sighted, the _Cassin_ opened fire. Two -shots struck close to the U-boat, which submerged and did not again -attempt to attack the crippled ship. - -Just before 4 o'clock the _U. S. S. Porter_ arrived. At 9 the British -ships _Jessamine_ and _Tamarisk_ appeared on the scene. But the sea was -rough, the wind high, and it was not until 2:30 a. m. that a hawser -was made fast and the _Tamarisk_ started towing the _Cassin_. An hour -later the hawser parted. The _Tamarisk_, two trawlers and a tug worked -until morning, attempting to get the vessel in tow again. But it was -not until 10:37 a. m. that a towing line from the _Snowdrop_ was made -fast, and the _Cassin_ taken to port. - -Thirty-five feet of the stern was blown off. Living compartments and -store-rooms in the after part of the ship were wrecked or gone. The -equivalent of 850 pounds of TNT, in torpedo and depth-charges, had -exploded on the _Cassin's_ fantail. Twenty-odd men were in the wrecked -living compartments when the torpedo exploded. Their escape was almost -miraculous. Dazed by the shock, they automatically closed water-tight -doors and performed other emergency duties, but could never tell just -how they did it or got away. All declared that from the instant of the -explosion they were absolutely blinded. Forty-five members of the crew, -including the chief petty officers, lost all their belongings except -the clothes they had on. But that did not bother them. The ship was -saved, they were still alive, and that was happiness enough. - -The _Chauncey_, one of our small, old-type destroyers, was rammed and -sunk by the steamship _Rose_ near Gibraltar at 1:46 a. m., November -19th. Three of the officers--Lieutenant Commander Walter E. Reno, -commanding, Lieutenant (junior grade) C. F. Wedderburn, and Ensign H. -G. Skinner--and 18 men were lost. - -On December 6th, the _Jacob Jones_ was sunk, with the loss of two -officers--Lieutenant (junior grade) Stanton F. Kalk, of Washington, D. -C., and Gunner Harry R. Hood, of Atlanta, Ga.--and 62 men of the crew. -The _Jones_ was proceeding alone from off Brest to Queenstown when, at -4:21 p. m., a torpedo was sighted rushing toward the ship. The rudder -was put hard left, the destroyer put on all its speed, but could not -maneuver in time to escape. - -Broaching and jumping clear of the water, the torpedo submerged again -50 or 60 feet from the ship, striking in the fuel-oil tank, three feet -below the water-line. The deck was blown clear for twenty feet, a -number of men were killed; the auxiliary room wrecked, a torpedo-tube -thrown into the air, the mainmast and radio apparatus were carried -away. The vessel settled aft immediately, and the after deck was awash. -The gunnery officer, Lieutenant J. K. Richards, ran aft to set the -depth-charges "safe"; but they were already under water. Rafts and -lifeboats were launched, circular lifebelts and splinter masts set -adrift to provide floatage for the crew. - -The ship went down in eight minutes. Most of the men were on rafts -or wreckage, but some were swimming astern of the vessel. Lieutenant -Commander David W. Bagley and other officers jumped overboard as the -destroyer began to sink. Officers and men bore themselves with great -coolness. "Bagley's handling of the situation after his ship was -torpedoed," wrote Admiral Sims, "was everything I expected in the way -of efficiency, good judgment, courage, and chivalrous action." - -Going down stern-first the destroyer twisted through 180 degrees, as -she swung upright. As she turned, her depth-charges exploded, killing -or stunning the men near by. - -Twenty minutes later the submarine appeared, two or three miles -distant, then gradually approached and picked up two men from the -water, Albert De Mello and John F. Murphy, whom she carried to Germany -as prisoners. All the survivors in sight were collected, and rafts and -boats gotten together. The ship's radio had been wrecked, preventing -the sending out of distress signals. Two shots had been fired from -her guns in the hope of attracting some nearby ship, but none was in -hearing. There seemed no prospect of assistance except from shore, -and leaving Lieutenant Richards in charge of the rafts, Lieutenant -Commander Bagley, the ship's commander, and Lieutenant Norman Scott, -the navigating officer, with four men, started to row to the nearest -land to secure assistance. - -Night soon came on, and the men on the rafts prepared for a long vigil. -When help would arrive, none could tell. Shivering from cold, shaken -by the experience through which they had passed, the survivors kept up -their courage with the amazing cheerfulness of the sailor in stress -and disaster. Their very lives depending on keeping warm, men who had -thick clothing divided it with those more thinly clad. Officers and men -shared their belongings and worked together for the common safety. - -One small raft, which had been separated from the others, was picked up -at 8 p. m. by the steamship _Catalina_. The other survivors remained in -their perilous position all night, and it was not until 8:30 o'clock -next morning when they were discovered and rescued by the British -steamship _Camellia_. - -One brave young officer died before relief arrived. Though still -suffering from the effects of the explosion, which had stunned him, -and weakened by his efforts after the ship sank, Lieutenant Kalk swam -from one raft to another to equalize the weight on them. Striving for -the safety of his men, he overtaxed his own strength, and died of -exhaustion and exposure. Men who were on the raft with him said, "He -was game to the last." His courage and self-sacrifice are commemorated -in a destroyer that bears his name. - -There was no other serious damage to destroyers until March 19, 1918, -when a British vessel collided with the _Manley_. The collision -exploded the depth-charges on her decks, killing Lieutenant Commander -Richard McC. Elliot, of New York, and 33 enlisted men, and injuring -22 others. The _Manley_, though badly damaged, was gotten to port and -repaired. - -The destroyers never halted in their warfare on the submarines, and -many encounters were reported in the early part of 1918, probably the -most notable being those of the _Allen_, Feb. 2d; the _Reid_, March -18th; the _Isabel_; the _Stewart_, April 23; the _Porter_, April 28; -the joint attack of the _Patterson_, _Beale_, _Burrows_ and _Allen_ on -May 19th, and that of the _Sterrett_ on June 1st. All these were given -official credits by the British Admiralty, which also gave the _Tucker_ -(Lieutenant Commander W. H. Lassing), which bombed and sent down a -U-boat on August 8th, the credit "possibly sunk." - -The armed yachts, the sub-chasers and all the rest played well their -parts. But after all it was the gallant destroyers which did most -to combat the submarine menace. At sea two-thirds of the time, they -escorted thousands of vessels in and out of European ports. Some of -them made astounding records. The first year after we entered the war -at least three, the _Porter_, _Davis_ and _Conyngham_, steamed nearly -65,000 miles each, over twice the distance around the globe, while the -_Caldwell_ for some time averaged 8,500 miles a month, over 280 miles a -day. No class of ship, big or little, ever excelled these records. - -Commander Byron McCandless, who commanded the _Caldwell_, went to Mare -Island Navy Yard not long after her keel was laid, and banged away -so persistently to get his ship finished that the workmen called him -"Captain Bing-Bang." It was completed in quick time, and for its trial -trip made a record run from San Francisco through the Panama Canal to -Hampton Roads, going thence across the Atlantic and into service in the -war zone. - -There were many stories of the destroyers' efficiency, and one told me -by a gentleman on his return from Europe impressed me particularly. -Making its way across the North Atlantic, a convoy of troop-ships was -still some three hundred miles from land when a voyager, who was making -his first trip across, remarked: "All you can hear about nowadays is -the Navy. It is the Navy this, the Navy that; but as far as I can see, -the Navy is not doing much in this war." - -One of the civilians in the party who had a son in the Navy, rose to -his feet, pulled out his watch and said: "In ten minutes six United -States destroyers will meet this convoy." - -"What are you talking about?" asked the voyager. "How do you know?" - -"Well," was the confident answer, "it is now 4:05 o'clock. The -destroyers are ordered to meet this convoy at 4:15, and they will be on -time." - -The party went out on deck to watch, and on the minute, at 4:15, -destroyers hove in sight. Swinging into line, on each side of the -convoy, the saucy little vessels, heaving foam and spray from bow to -stern, spanked along through the heavy seas. - -"Good heavens!" exclaimed the doubting Thomas, "if these little -destroyers can come three hundred miles to sea in any kind of weather, -keep their schedule, and locate a convoy on the dot, I will believe -anything I hear regarding the Navy." That's just an example of the way -our destroyer boys went at the job, and they kept it up until the last -horn blew. - -Their skill in navigation, in locating convoys or vessels in distress -or boats containing survivors was positively uncanny. When the -_President Lincoln_ was sunk five hundred miles at sea, the _Smith_ -and the _Warrington_, two hundred and fifty miles away, hurried to -the rescue. A wireless message stating the locality was all they had -to steer by. It was 11 p. m. when they arrived. Boats and rafts had -drifted fifteen miles. But so accurately had the destroyer officers -estimated the drift that in the darkness they almost ran into the -rafts! - -American destroyers at Brest operated under direct command of Admiral -Wilson and those at Gibraltar under command of Admiral Niblack. Though -operating under Admiral Bayly and subject to his orders, our Destroyer -Force at Queenstown had its own organization. The chief-of-staff was -Captain J. R. P. Pringle, whose ability and untiring energy won the -respect and regard of British and Americans alike. The senior commander -was Commander David C. Hanrahan, of the _Cushing_, whose enterprise and -energy were a fine example to his juniors. - -The splendid work done by our vessels, the excellent condition in which -they were maintained, the superb morale of the entire force, called -for the highest praise. A year after the arrival of the first group, -Admiral Bayly issued the following order: - - 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 have all 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. - -A thrilling example of the courage, quick decision and prompt action -that characterized the Destroyer Force was that of the _Shaw_ October -9, 1918. Escorting the British transport _Aquitania_, the _Shaw_ was -just completing the right leg of a zigzag that brought her close to -the convoy, when her rudder jammed. As the huge transport turned, -the destroyer was aimed straight toward her side. Commander William -Glassford, captain of the _Shaw_, saw that a collision was inevitable. -Either destroyer or transport would be sacrificed. If the sharp-prowed -_Shaw_ struck the _Aquitania_, the big troop-ship, with eight thousand -men aboard, might be ripped and sunk, with heavy loss of life. - -[Illustration: THEY, TOO, WERE READY - -Above, a view through the stem of the Cassin after she had been hit -by a torpedo; although crippled, she continued the search for the -submarine. Inset, Gunner's Mate Osmond K. Ingram, who gave his life -to save the Cassin. Below, the U. S. S. Shaw alongside deck after her -collision with the Aquitania.] - -Glassford decided instantly to sacrifice his own ship. Unable to turn -it aside, he gave the order, "Full speed astern!" A moment later, the -_Aquitania_ struck the destroyer and sliced her almost in two, passing -through her without even slowing speed. Striking just forward of the -bridge, the _Aquitania_ cut off ninety feet of the _Shaw's_ bow -and raked the whole length of her side, stripping open the forward -boiler room, and tearing out the mainmast, which, in falling, jammed -the starboard engine. Sparks ignited the oil in the forward tank, -setting fire to the vessel. The _Duncan_ and the _Kimberly_ went to her -assistance, the _Kimberly_ rescuing the survivors in the bow, which was -floating two hundred yards from the remainder of the ship. - -[Illustration: THE SEATTLE AND REAR ADMIRAL ALBERT GLEAVES - -The Commander and Flagship of the Cruiser and Transport Force.] - -[Illustration: - - From the painting by Burnett Poole - - A DASH THROUGH THE DANGER ZONE - - The Leviathan, largest of the transports, escorted by the Kimberly.] - -That the vessel kept afloat at all seemed remarkable; to get her to -port appeared almost impossible. But those brave men of the _Shaw_ put -out the fire, in the face of bursting ammunition. They rigged up her -engines and got them working again, and repaired the steering gear. -And they navigated that remnant of a ship to port, reaching Portland -at 1:30 in the afternoon. Two of her officers and ten men of her crew -were dead, killed in the collision. Three officers and twelve men were -injured. Her bow and most of the forward part of the ship was gone. But -what was left of her was taken to a shipyard, and a new forward part -was built. Some months afterwards, on a visit to Portsmouth, England, -where she was repaired, I saw her again in commission, doing splendid -service in the Navy. - -Could there be a better tribute than that to the staunchness of our -destroyers and the undying spirit and superb efficiency of their -officers and men? - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -RACE BETWEEN WILSON AND HINDENBURG - - BIGGEST TRANSPORTATION JOB IN HISTORY--TWO MILLION TROOPS CARRIED - 3,000 MILES OVERSEAS--FIRST CONVOYS ATTACKED BY U-BOATS NO AMERICAN - TROOP-SHIP SUNK, NOT ONE SOLDIER ABOARD LOST THROUGH ENEMY ACTION, - ON THE WAY TO FRANCE--NAVAL TRANSPORTS TOOK 911,000 TO EUROPE, - BROUGHT HOME 1,700,000--U. S. NAVY PROVIDED FOUR-FIFTHS OF ESCORTS. - - -What was the greatest thing America did in the World War?" That is a -question I have often been asked, and it is easily answered. It was -the raising and training of an army of 4,000,000 men, a navy of over -600,000, and the safe transportation of more than two million troops to -Europe. And all this was accomplished in eighteen months. - -When the issue hung in the balance, in the spring of 1918, Lloyd George -said: "It is a race between Wilson and Hindenburg." Could America land -enough soldiers in France in time to check the German offensive? That -was the one vital question. - -Carrying the American Expeditionary Force across the Atlantic -and bringing our troops home has been justly termed the "biggest -transportation job in history." Sailing through submarine-infested -seas, they constantly faced the menace of attack from an unseen foe, -as well as the perils of war-time navigation. Yet not one American -troop-ship was sunk on the way to France, and not one soldier aboard a -troop transport manned by the United States Navy lost his life through -enemy action. - -That achievement has never been equalled. It was not only the most -important but the most successful operation of the war. The Germans -never believed it could be done. - -When Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves, commander of the Cruiser and -Transport Force, came to Washington for his final instructions, just -before the first troop convoys sailed for Europe, as he was leaving my -office, I said to him: - - Admiral, you are going on the most important, the most difficult, - and the most hazardous duty assigned to the Navy. Good bye. - -That was not overstating it in any particular. No nation in history had -ever attempted to transport so huge an army overseas. It would have -been difficult enough under the most ideal conditions, with nothing to -hinder or molest. - -The German navy could have no greater object than to prevent our troops -from getting to France. There could have been no greater victory for -them than to have sunk a transport loaded with American soldiers. Words -can hardly express the strain of those anxious days when our first -transports were running the gauntlet to France; or our relief when we -received the news that they had all arrived safely at St. Nazaire. - -Sailing in a dense fog on June 14, 1917, the first group arrived on -June 26th; the last, the cargo ships, on July 2nd. The first group, -Gleaves reported, was attacked by submarines the night of June 22nd, at -10:15 p. m.; the second group encountered two, and a torpedo was fired -at the fourth group on June 28th. That they had escaped the submarines -was an added cause for rejoicing. Not a ship was damaged or a man -injured, and an officer reported: "We didn't lose but one horse, and -that was a mule." - -"The German Admiralty had boasted that not one American soldier should -set foot in France," Gleaves said. "The bluff had been called, and it -could not have been called at a more psychological moment." - -The question of the hour had been successfully answered; France, as -well as America, celebrated the event in a very delirium of rejoicing. -This was the beginning of that vast stream of troops and supplies that -poured across the Atlantic until the Germans were overwhelmed. - -Getting that first group of transports together was a job. The army -had only a few troop-ships, none of them fitted for trans-Atlantic -service. The Navy had only three--the _Henderson_, just completed; -the _Hancock_, and the former German commerce raider, _Prince Eitel -Friedrich_, which we converted into an auxiliary cruiser and renamed -the _DeKalb_. The Army secured fourteen mail and cargo steamships, -and hastily converted them. It had to be quick work. We had not -contemplated sending troops so soon. From a military standpoint it -would have been better, many experts in this country and Europe held, -to have retained the regulars for a while to aid in training the new -officers and raw recruits, and not to have begun transportation until -we had a larger army. - -But war-weary France, grimly holding back the Germans, and England, -beset by submarines, needed cheering up; needed visible evidence that -reënforcement was certain, that the Americans were coming. Marshal -Joffre asked that some troops be sent at the earliest possible -moment--"a regiment or two, if possible a division." He told Secretary -Baker that he looked forward to the day when the United States should -build up its "splendid army of 400,000 or 500,000." What must he -have thought when he saw an American army of 4,000,000 men, with two -millions of them in France! He appreciated the necessity, he said, of -retaining the regulars to train the new army, and knew that few could -be spared. But the very sight of American troops on French soil, of -our men marching through the streets of Paris, would be a tremendous -inspiration to all France. The wise old Marshal was right. - -Secretary Baker immediately began his preparations to send troops. When -he told Congress he would have an army of 500,000 men in France in the -summer of 1918, a leading senator declared it was "impossible." It was -impossible to those without vision. But the Secretary of War's figures -were increased three-fold. - -General Pershing was chosen to command the forces to be sent to Europe, -and was summoned from the Mexican border. He arrived in Washington -May 10th. Preparations were already under way by both Army and Navy. -Officers of both services were working out in detail the system by -which they were to secure ships and coöperate in transportation. - -I selected Gleaves, then in command of our destroyer force, to direct -the troop transportation, and I never had reason to regret this -choice. No man could have done a big job better; no job was ever better -done. On May 23, he was summoned to Washington and informed that he had -been chosen to command the first expedition to France. - -General Pershing and his staff sailed May 28th on the _Baltic_ and -arrived at Liverpool June 8, reaching France at Boulogne, June 13th. -The troop convoys sailed from New York the next day. Admiral Gleaves, -on his flagship, the cruiser _Seattle_, was in command. The vessels -were arranged in four groups, which sailed six hours apart: - - Group 1--Transports: _Saratoga_, _Havana_, _Tenadores_, _Pastores_. - Escort: _Seattle_, armored cruiser; _DeKalb_, auxiliary cruiser; - _Corsair_, converted yacht; _Wilkes_, _Terry_, _Roe_, destroyers. - - Group 2--Transports: _Henderson_, _Momus_, _Antilles_, _Lenape_. - Escort: _Birmingham_, scout cruiser; _Aphrodite_, converted yacht; - _Burrows_, _Fanning_, _Lamson_, destroyers. - - Group 3--Transports: _Mallory_, _Finland_, _San Jacinto_. Escort: - _Charleston_, cruiser; _Cyclops_, fuel ship; _Allen_, _McCall_, - _Preston_, destroyers. - - Group 4--Transports: _Montanan_, _Dakotan_, _El Occidente_, _Edward - Luckenbach_. Escort: _St. Louis_, cruiser; _Hancock_, cruiser - transport; _Shaw_, _Parker_, _Ammen_, _Flusser_, destroyers. - -No convoy that ever sailed had a stronger escort or was more closely -guarded. Their protection was our supreme duty. Before they left, I -cabled Admiral Sims: "I hereby instruct you to furnish escorts, to -consist of one division of destroyers for each convoy group from the -point of meeting to the point of debarkation." - -Submarines were reported operating in the area that had to be crossed. -Three of the groups encountered U-boats, Admiral Gleaves reported, and -Admiral Sims cabled on June 30th, "First group attacked by submarines, -longitude 25 degrees 30, before arriving at first rendezvous; second -group attacked longitude 8"; and the next day he cabled: "It is -practically certain that enemy knew position of the first rendezvous -and accordingly sent a submarine to intercept before juncture with -destroyers." - -About 10:15 p. m., June 22, the officer of the deck and others on the -bridge of the _Seattle_, which was leading the first group, saw a -white streak about 50 yards ahead of the ship, crossing from starboard -to port. The cruiser was immediately run off 90 degrees to starboard -at full speed. The officer of the deck said, "Report to the admiral a -torpedo has just crossed our bow." General alarm was sounded, torpedo -crews being already at their guns. When Gleaves reached the bridge, the -_DeKalb_ and one of the transports astern had opened fire, the former's -shell fitted with tracers. Other vessels of the convoy turned to the -right and left. The destroyer _Wilkes_ crossed the _Seattle's_ bow at -full speed and turned toward the left column in the direction of the -firing. - -Two torpedoes passed close to the _DeKalb_ from port to starboard, one -about 30 yards ahead of the ship and the other under her stern, as the -ship was turning to the northward. Captain Gherardi stated that at -10:25 the wake of a torpedo was sighted directly across the _DeKalb's_ -bow. A second torpedo wake was reported ten minutes later by the after -lookouts. - -The torpedoes fired at the _Havana_ passed from starboard to port about -40 yards ahead of the ship, leaving a distinct wake which was visible -for 400 or 500 yards. - -The submarine sighted by the _Seattle_ was seen by the _Wilkes_ and -passed under that ship, Lieutenant Van Metre reported, stating that the -oscillator gave unmistakable evidence of the presence of a submarine. -The radio operator at the receiver reported, "Submarine very close to -us." As the U-boat passed, it was followed by the _Wilkes_, which ran -down between the columns, chasing the enemy. - -The _Birmingham_, leading the second group, encountered two submarines, -the first about 11:50 a. m., June 26, in latitude 47° 01´ N. longitude -06° 28´ W., about a hundred miles off the coast of France, and the -second two hours later. The _Wadsworth_ investigated the wake of the -first without further discovery. The _Cummings_ sighted the bow wave of -the second at a distance of 1,500 yards, and headed for it at a speed -of 25 knots. The gun pointers at the forward gun saw the periscope time -and again, but as the ship was zigzagging, it disappeared each time -before they could fire at it. The _Cummings_ passed about 25 yards -ahead of a mass of bubbles which were coming up from the wake and let -go a depth-charge just ahead. Several pieces of timber, quantities of -oil, bubbles and debris came to the surface. Nothing more was seen of -the submarine. The attacks on the second group occurred about 800 miles -to the eastward of where the attacks had been made on the first group. - -The voyage of the third group, Admiral Gleaves reported, was -uneventful; but the _Kanawha_, with the fourth group, on June 28th, -fired on what was believed to be a submarine. The _Kanawha's_ commander -saw the object; and a minute or two later the port after gun's crew -reported sighting a submarine, and opened fire. The lookouts said they -saw the U-boat under the water's surface, about where the shots were -landing. Lieutenant (junior grade) Lee C. Carey, in charge of the -firing, reported that he saw the submarine fire two torpedoes in the -direction of the convoy, which sheered off when the alarm was sounded. -"All the officers and men aft had observed the torpedoes traveling -through the water and cheered loudly when they saw a torpedo miss a -transport," reported the _Kanawha's_ commander. - -When he was in Paris Admiral Gleaves was shown a confidential bulletin -of information issued by the French General Staff, dated July 6, which -contained the following: - - Ponta Delgada was bombarded at 9 a. m., July 4. This is undoubtedly - the submarine which attacked the _Fern Leaf_ on June 25, four - hundred miles north of the Azores and sank the _Benguela_ and - _Syria_ on the 29th of June 100 miles from Terceira (Azores). This - submarine was ordered to watch in the vicinity of the Azores at - such a distance as it was supposed the enemy American convoy would - pass from the Azores. - -"It appears from the French report just quoted above and from the -location of the attack that enemy submarines had been notified of our -approach and were probably scouting across our route," Gleaves said. - -On the evening of July 3rd, I had the pleasure of announcing the safe -arrival of all our convoys, without the loss of a man. This occasioned -general rejoicing in France, England and Italy, as well as America. For -us, the national holiday that followed was truly a glorious Fourth. -Secretary Baker wrote the thanks of the Army, adding: "This splendid -achievement is an auspicious beginning, and it has been characterized -throughout by the most cordial and effective coöperation between -the two military services." In replying, "in behalf of the men whose -courage gave safe conduct to courage," I said that the Navy waited "in -full confidence for the day when the valor of your soldiers will write -new and splendid chapters in the history of our liberty-loving land." - -The policy of the Department, with reference to the safety of ships -carrying troops to France, was laid down in this cablegram which I -wrote with my own hand: - - Washington, D. C., July 28, 1917. - - Admiral Sims: - - The paramount duty of the destroyers in European waters is - principally the proper protection of transports with American - troops. Be certain to detail an adequate convoy of destroyers and - in making the detail bear in mind that everything is secondary to - having a sufficient number to insure protection to American troops. - - JOSEPHUS DANIELS. - -From the small beginning was built up the great Cruiser and Transport -Force which took to France 911,047 American soldiers, and brought -home 1,700,000--a total of 2,600,000 carried across the Atlantic in -naval transports. In less than a year this Force grew to a fleet of -83 vessels, and after the armistice comprised 142 vessels carrying -troops, with facilities for 13,914 officers and 349,770 men. Rear -Admiral Gleaves' headquarters were at Hoboken, N. J., where most of the -transports docked. His chief of staff was Captain De W. Blamer. The -Newport News Division was commanded by Rear Admiral Hilary P. Jones, -now commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet, with Captain J. F. Hines -as his chief of staff. - -Of the 194,965 troops which sailed before the end of 1917, 113,429 were -carried in American vessels, all but 8,535 of these in our transports; -and 75,500 were taken in British ships. In January, February and March, -1918, British vessels carried 57,399; U. S. naval transports, 123,917. -Foreign shipping in large quantity did not become available until -after the famous "March drive" made by the Germans in 1918. Then the -most important thing to all the Allies was getting American soldiers -to Europe, and British, French and Italian ships in numbers were -furnished. In April, 1918, 67,553 sailed in U. S. transports, 47,362 -in British ships. In May the British carried more than we did, 133,795 -to our 99,561, besides 12,127 carried in Italian vessels leased by the -British. In the next five months up to the armistice, 520,410 were -carried in U. S. naval transports, and 28,973 in other American ships; -British vessels carried 692,931; British-leased Italian ships 53,493 -and French, Italian and other foreign ships, 38,218. - -The records of the Cruiser and Transport Force show that, in all, -2,079,880 American troops were transported to France before the -armistice--952,581 in American vessels, 911,047 of these in U. S. -naval transports; 1,006,987 in British ships; 68,246 in British-leased -Italian vessels; 52,066 in French, Italian and other foreign ships. -American vessels carried 46.25 per cent, 43.75 of this in U. S. Naval -transports; British vessels 48.25 per cent; British-leased Italian -ships, 3 per cent; French, Italian and others, 2.5 per cent. - -The purely naval duty was escorting these vessels, guarding them -against attack by raiders or submarines. Of this the British navy -performed 14.125 per cent, the French 3.125, and the United States Navy -82.75 per cent, over four-fifths. Of the total number of troops, 61,617 -were under French escort, 297,903 under British escort, and 1,720,360 -sailed under the escort of the United States Navy. - -But that is only half the story. When hostilities ended, that vast -army had to be brought back from Europe. For this, very little foreign -shipping was available. Of the 1,933,156 Americans returned from -November 11, 1918, to the end of September, 1919, the Navy brought home -1,675,733; all other vessels, American and foreign, 257,423. During -hostilities we had returned 11,211 sick, wounded, casuals, etc.; some -were returned after September, so that the total number brought by the -Navy from Europe to America ran well over 1,700,000. - -Of the total troop and official passenger movement incident to the war, -approximately 4,000,000, the Navy transported more than 2,600,000. Not -only did the Navy man and operate the United States transports, but -provided the food for this vast army of soldiers en route. And during -the entire war period, four-fifths of all the American troops who -sailed were guarded by American cruisers, destroyers and patrol craft. - -This country could not have sent over nearly so many troops as it did, -if we had not been aided by the British, French and Italian vessels. -This was no gift, of course. The United States Government paid for -every soldier transported on a foreign vessel. The aid of our Allies -was invaluable, and highly appreciated. They should be given full -credit for all they did; but this should not detract one iota from -the great task performed by our Navy, which was the biggest factor in -putting through this biggest job of the war. - -Not a single vessel of the Cruiser and Transport Force was torpedoed on -the way to France. Two, the _President Lincoln_ and the _Covington_, -were sunk returning, as was also the _Antilles_, an Army chartered -transport not manned by the Navy. Two American transports were -torpedoed, the _Finland_, manned by a civilian crew, and the _Mount -Vernon_, manned by the Navy; but both were successfully navigated -to port and repaired. The _Tuscania_ and the _Moldavia_, sunk while -carrying American troops to Europe, were British chartered vessels, as -was also the _Dwinsk_, which was sunk while returning. - -The first transport lost was the _Antilles_, October 17, 1917, two days -out of Brest. Eleven days later the _Finland_ was struck by a torpedo. -In both cases there was loss of life and confusion among the civilian -crews. After these experiences, it was decided to man all American -troop-ships entirely by naval personnel; and it was not until May 31st -that another was lost. - -Returning to America, in company with the _Susquehanna_, _Antigone_ -and _Rijndam_, the _President Lincoln_ (Commander P. W. Foote), was -steaming along, 500 miles from land. At 9 o'clock a terrific explosion -occurred on the port side of the _Lincoln_, 120 feet from the bow. In -an instant there was another explosion in the after part of the vessel. -The ship had been struck by three torpedoes, fired in a salvo from a -submarine. Two struck together near the bow, the other near the stern. -Officers and lookouts had sighted the wakes, but the torpedoes were so -close that it was impossible to avoid them. - -There were 715 persons on board, including 30 officers and men of the -army, a number of whom were sick, two helpless from paralysis. It was -realized that the vessel could not long remain afloat, but there was no -confusion. Crew and passengers coolly waited for and obeyed orders. -Boats were lowered and life-rafts placed in the water. Fifteen minutes -after the torpedoes struck, all hands except the guns'-crews were -ordered to abandon the ship. - -Gunners stood at their stations, awaiting any opportunity for a shot -at the submarine. Commander Foote and several other officers remained -aboard. All the rest of the ship's company were in the boats or on the -rafts. When the guns began firing, they broke into cheers. The firing -was kept up until the water covered the main deck, and the gunners did -not leave their posts until they were ordered off just before the ship -sank. - -With her colors flying, twenty-five minutes after the torpedoes -exploded, the _Lincoln_ went down. Three officers and 23 men were -lost. Seven working below decks were either killed by the explosion, -or drowned by the inrush of water. Sixteen men on a raft alongside -were caught by the current and carried under as the ship went down. -The officers lost were Passed Assistant Surgeon L. C. Whiteside, the -ship's medical officer; Paymaster Andrew Mowat, the supply officer, and -Assistant Paymaster J. D. Johnson. Dr. Whiteside and Paymaster Mowat -had seen that the men under their charge had gotten away safely, the -doctor having attended to placing the sick in the boat provided for -them. Paymaster Johnson was on the raft which was pulled down as the -ship plunged. - -Admiral Sims cabled that the "small loss of life is due to thorough -discipline of ship's company, and excellent seamanship of Commander -Foote." This he said was "evidenced by actual results even after the -ship had sunk and the personnel was adrift in boats and on rafts." -Admiral Gleaves wrote to Foote: "Your action and judgment under such -trying conditions were in accord with the best traditions of the -service." Half an hour after the ship went down a large submarine -emerged, and went among the boats and rafts, seeking the commander -and other senior officers, whom they wished to take prisoners. The -Germans could identify only one officer, Lieutenant Edouard Victor M. -Isaacs, who was taken on board and carried away. The submarine--it was -the U-90,--remained in the vicinity for two hours, and returned again -in the afternoon, evidently seeking to attack other vessels of the -convoy. But they were far away, having, in accordance with standard -instructions to avoid attack, put on all steam and left the scene as -soon as the _Lincoln_ was hit. - -The U-boat was so menacing that some feared it would fire upon the -life-craft. When several of the crew went to its gun, apparently -preparing it for action, a man in one of the boats exclaimed: "Good -night! Here come the fireworks!" - -By dark the boats and rafts had been lashed together. Lighted lanterns -were hoisted and flares and signal lights burned every few minutes. -None knew when aid would arrive. Distress signals had been sent out, -but the nearest destroyers were 250 miles away, protecting another -convoy. Military necessity might prevent their being detached. - -Five hundred miles from land, waiting for aid until far in the night, -the men cheered and sang such songs as "Over There," "Keep the Home -Fires Burning," "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here," and "Where do we -go from here, boys?" At 11 p. m. the destroyers _Smith_ (Lieutenant -Commander Kenyon) and _Warrington_ (Lieutenant Commander Klein) -arrived. With only the wireless distress message sent at 9 a. m. to -guide them, they had located the life-craft in the middle of the night, -though boats and rafts had drifted 15 miles. The hundreds of survivors -were taken aboard the destroyers, which remained until daylight to -search for survivors, departing at 6 a. m. - -Though their decks were crowded with the _Lincoln's_ officers and men, -the _Smith_ and _Warrington_ made a fast run to Brest, arriving there -next day. En route they sighted the wake of a periscope and rained -depth-bombs on the very submarine which had sunk the _Lincoln_, but by -descending to a great depth the U-90 escaped. - -[Illustration: - - From the painting by Frank Dana Marsh - - THE SINKING OF THE PRESIDENT LINCOLN - -The U. S. S. President Lincoln, commanded by Captain P. W. Foote, was -one of the two vessels of the Cruiser and Transport Force which were -sunk by submarines. She was lost on May 31, 1917, going down with -colors flying twenty-five minutes after the torpedoes struck her. Of -the 715 persons on board, all but 26 were saved.] - -[Illustration: THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WITH CAPTAIN DISMUKES AND THE -MEN WHO SAVED THE MOUNT VERNON] - -[Illustration: THE MOUNT VERNON, FORMERLY THE GERMAN LINER -KRONPRINZESSIN CECILIE, SAFELY IN PORT AFTER BEING TORPEDOED, SEPTEMBER -5, 1918.] - -That it was the same U-boat was learned positively when, months -afterward, Lieutenant Isaacs escaped from prison. His experiences -aboard the submarine and in Germany make a thrilling story. Describing -his capture, after the sinking of the _Lincoln_, and his being taken -aboard the U-boat, Lieutenant Isaacs said: - - We passed north of the Shetlands into the North Sea, the Skagerrak, - the Cattegat, and the Sound into the Baltic. Proceeding to Kiel, we - passed down the canal through Heligoland Bight to Wilhelmshaven. - - On the way to the Shetlands we fell in with two American - destroyers, the _Smith_ and the _Warrington_, who dropped 22 - depth bombs on us. We were submerged to a depth of 60 meters and - weathered the storm, although five bombs were very close and shook - us up considerably. The information I had been able to collect was, - I considered, of enough importance to warrant my trying to escape. - Accordingly in Danish waters I attempted to jump from the deck of - the submarine, but was caught and ordered below. - - The German Navy authorities took me from Wilhelmshaven to - Karlsruhe, where I was turned over to the army. Here I met officers - of all the Allied armies, and with them I attempted several - escapes, all of which were unsuccessful. After three weeks at - Karlsruhe I was sent to the American and Russian officers' camp - at Villingen. On the way I attempted to escape from the train by - jumping out of the window. With the train making about 40 miles an - hour, I landed on the opposite railroad track and was so severely - wounded by the fall that I could not get away from my guard. They - followed me, firing continuously. When they recaptured me they - struck me on the head and body with their guns until one broke his - rifle. It snapped in two at the small of the stock as he struck me - with the butt on the back of the head. - - I was given two weeks solitary confinement, for this attempt to - escape, but continued trying, for I was determined to get my - information back to the Navy. Finally, on the night of October 6, - assisted by several American Army officers, I was able to effect an - escape by short-circuiting all lighting circuits in the prison camp - and cutting through barbed-wire fences surrounding the camp. This - had to be done in the face of a heavy rifle fire from the guards. - But it was difficult for them to see in the darkness, so I escaped - unscathed. - - In company with an American officer in the French Army, I made my - way for seven days and nights over mountains to the Rhine, which - to the south of Baden forms the boundary between Germany and - Switzerland. After a four-hour crawl on hands and knees I was able - to elude the sentries along the Rhine. Plunging in, I made for the - Swiss shore. After being carried several miles down the stream, - being frequently submerged by the rapid current, I finally reached - the opposite shore and gave myself up to the Swiss gendarmes, who - turned me over to the American legation at Berne. From there I made - my way to Paris and then London and finally Washington, where I - arrived four weeks after my escape from Germany. - -It was my pleasure to greet Lieutenant Isaacs on his return, -congratulate him on his escape, and commend him for the heroic courage -and enterprise he had displayed under such trying circumstances. - -The _Covington_ (Captain R. D. Hasbrouck) was torpedoed July 1st at -9:15 p. m., the torpedo smashing a hole in the vessel's side and -throwing into the air a column of water higher than the smokestacks. -Engine and fire rooms quickly filled, the ship lost headway rapidly and -in fifteen minutes lay dead in the water. - -Listing heavily to port, it was feared the vessel might take a lurch -and sink suddenly. Twenty-one boats were lowered, three had been -smashed by the explosion. "Abandon ship," was ordered. The bugle -sounded "Silence," and silently the men went down the Jacob's ladders -as if they were at drill. The destroyer _Smith_ stood close by, taking -the men from the boats. Thirty officers and men remained aboard with -the Captain until an hour after the torpedo struck. - -Hoping to save the transport, a salvage party was organized, to go -on board as soon as the men could be collected from rafts and boats. -The little _Smith_, which in addition to its own crew of one hundred, -had aboard 800 of the _Covington's_ officers and men, encircled the -transport to keep off the submarine and prevent it from firing another -torpedo. - -Another destroyer, the _Reade_, came to the rescue; at 4:20 a. m. the -British salvage tugs, _Revenger_ and _Woonda_ arrived, and at 5:30 -o'clock the American tug _Concord_ reached the scene. The _Smith_, -which was ordered to take to port all the crew not needed, at 5:20 left -for Brest. By 6 o'clock the three tugs had the _Covington_ in tow, -and were making from five to six knots through the water. Two more -destroyers joined shortly after to guard the crippled ship from attack. -She was then listed about twenty degrees to port, and about noon took a -quick list of ten degrees more. - -By 1:30 p. m. she had heeled to an angle of 45 degrees. Sensing sinking -conditions, the working party was directed to leave the ship, the -_Nicholson_ taking them off. At 2:30 the _Covington_ began to sink -rapidly by the stern and disappeared two minutes later. The ship went -down with her colors flying. - -The only fighting ship of the Cruiser and Transport Force that was -sunk--in fact, the only large United States naval vessel lost during -the war--was the armored cruiser _San Diego_ (Captain H. H. Christy) -sunk by a mine off Fire Island, N. Y., July 19, 1918. - -Proceeding from Portsmouth, N. H., to New York, the cruiser was -steering what was regarded as a safe course to avoid the submarines, -then operating in Atlantic waters, and the mines they had laid. -Lookouts, gun-watches, fire control parties were at their stations, the -whole crew on the alert. There was no sign of any U-boat or mine. - -Suddenly, at 11:05 a. m., there was an explosion at frame No. 78, -on the port side well below the water line. "Full speed ahead," was -rung by the Captain, who hoped the ship could be kept afloat, and the -starboard engine operated until it was stopped by rising water. - -Machinist's Mate Hawthorne, who was at the throttle in the port engine -room, was blown four feet under a desk. He got up, closed the throttle -on the engine, which had already stopped, and then escaped up the -ladder. The lieutenant on watch in the starboard engine room, closed -the water tight doors, and gave instructions to the fireroom to protect -the boilers. - -The vessel listed to port so heavily that water entered the gun ports -on the gun deck. Listing 8 degrees quickly, the vessel hung for seven -minutes; then gradually turned until 35 degrees was reached. At this -time the port quarter-deck was three feet under water. The cruiser then -rapidly turned turtle and sank. - -Captain Christy was last to leave the ship. Going from the bridge down -two ladders to the boat deck, he slid down a line to the armor belt, -then dropped four feet to the bilge keel, and thence to the docking -keel. From there he jumped into the water. The men cheered their -captain as he left the ship. On the rafts they sang "The Star Spangled -Banner" and "My Country 'Tis of Thee," and more cheers arose when the -United States ensign was hoisted on the sailboat. - -Two dinghies with six officers and twenty-one men pulled to shore, -arriving at 1:20 p. m. The steamer _Malden_ picked up 370 officers and -men, the _Bossom 708_; the _E. P. Jones 78_. Six men were lost, three -of these being killed by the explosion. The court of inquiry reported -that "the conduct of the Captain, officers and crew was in the highest -degree commendable," and that "the remarkably small loss of life was -due to the high state of discipline maintained on board." - -This was the last loss sustained by the Cruiser and Transport Force -until September 5th. Then the troop-ship _Mt. Vernon_ (Captain D. E. -Dismukes) was torpedoed, but by splendid seamanship was taken to -port under her own steam. The _Mt. Vernon_, homeward bound, was 250 -miles from the coast of France when she was struck. The explosion was -so terrific that for an instant it seemed that the ship was lifted -clear out of the water and torn to pieces. Men at the after guns and -depth-charge stations were thrown to the deck, and one gun thrown -partly out of its mount. The torpedo struck fairly amidship, destroying -four of the eight boiler-rooms and flooding the middle portion of the -vessel from side to side for a length of 150 feet. The vessel instantly -settled 10 feet increase in draft, but stopped there. This indicated -that the water-tight bulkheads were holding, and she could still afford -to go down two or three feet more before she would lose her floating -buoyancy. The immediate problem was to escape a second torpedo. -Depth-charge crews jumped to their stations, and started dropping a -depth-bomb barrage. - -Men in the firerooms knew that the safety of the ship depended on them. -The shock of the explosion, followed by instant darkness, falling -soot and particles; the knowledge that they were far below the water -level inclosed practically in a trap; the imminent danger of the ship -sinking, the added threat of exploding boilers--all these dangers and -more must have been apparent to every man below, said Captain Dismukes, -and yet not one man wavered in standing by his post of duty. - -C. L. O'Connor, water tender, was thrown to the floor and enveloped in -gas flames from the furnaces. Instead of rushing to escape, he turned -and endeavored to shut a water-tight door leading into a large bunker -abaft the fireroom, but the hydraulic lever that operated the door had -been damaged and failed to function. Three men at work in this bunker -were drowned. If O'Connor had succeeded in shutting the door, all would -have been saved. Caught in the swirl of inrushing water, O'Connor was -thrust up a ventilator leading to the upper deck. - -The torpedo exploded on a bulkhead separating two firerooms, the -explosive effect being apparently about equal in both firerooms, yet -in one fireroom not a man was saved, while in the other two of the men -escaped. The explosion blasted through the outer and inner skin of -the ship and through an intervening coal bunker and bulkhead, hurling -overboard 750 tons of coal. The two men saved were working the fires -within 30 feet of the explosion and just below the level where the -torpedo struck. How they escaped is a miracle. One of the men, P. -Fitzgerald, landed on the lower grating. Groping his way through the -darkness, trying to find the ladder leading above, he stumbled over -the body of a man apparently dead. Finding he was only unconscious, -Fitzgerald aroused him and took him to safety. The man would have been -lost, for the water rose 10 feet above this grating as the ship settled. - -Shortly after the Mt. Vernon arrived at Brest, Captain Dismukes -received this letter from Brigadier General George H. Harries, U. S. A.: - - Sorrow mingled with pride, for those who died so nobly. - Congratulations on the seamanship, discipline and courage. It was a - great feat you accomplished. - - Passengers whom I have seen this morning are unable to fully or - fitly voice their praises of your always worthy self or of your - ship's company. - - The best traditions of our Navy have been lifted to a higher plane. - What a fine thing it is to be an American these days! - - The olive drab salutes the blue. - -Every American vessel available was pressed into service to bring the -troops home after the war. - -Fifty-six cargo vessels were converted into troop-carriers. Nine of the -German vessels turned over under the armistice were assigned to us--the -_Imperator_, _Kaiserin Augusta Victoria_, _Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm_, -_Zeppelin_, _Cap Finisterre_, _Graf Waldersee_, _Patricia_, _Pretoria_, -and _Mobile_. The capacity of all our transports was considerably -increased. - -But more was needed, and I gave orders to use our old battleships -and cruisers to carry troops. Naval officers objected, saying these -warships were not fitted for such duty. I was told the soldiers on -board would be uncomfortable, and would return home with a grouch -against the Government and the Navy. What happened? Army officers -and men were glad of the chance to come home on a warship. It was an -experience no other soldiers had enjoyed. Once aboard, they fell to and -made themselves thoroughly at home. Upon the arrival at Hampton Roads -of the first battleship bringing troops, the Army officers sent me a -letter of thanks for the fine voyage and the opportunity to return on a -naval vessel, and later other officers expressed themselves in similar -fashion. - -In a few months we had in operation 142 vessels carrying troops with -facilities for 363,684 officers and men. The maximum was reached in -June, when 340,946 embarked from France, 314,167 of them in United -States transports. This exceeded the largest number carried overseas by -all American and Allied vessels in any one month during the war. By the -end of July, 1919, 1,770,484 men had been returned to America. The big -troop movement was virtually over by October 1st, at which time nearly -two million had been returned, 1,675,733 of them in naval transports. -Several thousands more came later, and 11,211 had returned previous to -the armistice. - -The record of the ten leading vessels of the Cruiser and Transport -Force, in troops carried to Europe and passengers and sick and wounded -returned, was: - - Transported Transported From Europe Total - to Europe Passengers Sick and Wounded Carried - Leviathan 96,804 93,746 10,913 192,753 - America 37,768 46,823 4,668 86,801 - George Washington 48,373 34,142 5,085 83,350 - Agamemnon 36,097 41,179 4,425 78,249 - President Grant 39,974 37,025 3,301 77,129 - Mount Vernon 33,692 12,500 4,015 76,402 - Siboney 20,299 34,702 5,307 55,169 - Mongolia 19,013 34,813 2,707 54,337 - Manchuria 14,491 39,501 6,186 54,230 - Great Northern 28,248 22,852 5,522 54,085 - -------- -------- -------- -------- - 374,679 427,283 52,129 812,505 - -These ships also brought back 2,366 passengers before the armistice, -which are included in the total numbers carried. - -The other vessels used in transporting to France, as well as returning -troops were: - - _Aeolus_ - _Antigone_ - _Calamares_ - _Covington_ - _DeKalb_ - _Finland_ - _Hancock_ - _Harrisburg_ - _Henderson_ - _Huron_ - _K. der Nederlanden_ - _Kroonland_ - _Lenape_ - _Louisville_ - _Madawaska_ - _H. R. Mallory_ - _Martha Washington_ - _Matsonia_ - _Maui_ - _Mercury_ - _Northern Pacific_ - _Orizaba_ - _Pastores_ - _Plattsburg_ - _Pocahontas_ - _Powhatan_ - _President Lincoln_ - _Princess Matoika_ - _Rijndam_ - _Sierra_ - _Susquehanna_ - _Tenadores_ - _Von Steuben_ - _Wilhelmina_ - _Zeelandia_ - -The battleships and cruisers employed in troop transportation brought -back more than 145,000 men, as follows: - - Battleships--_Connecticut_, 4,861; _Georgia_, 5,869; _Kansas_, - 7,486; _Louisiana_, 4,714; _Michigan_, 1,052; _Minnesota_, 3,955; - _Missouri_, 3,278; _Nebraska_, 4,530; _New Hampshire_, 4,900; - _New Jersey_, 4,675; _Ohio_, 778; _Rhode Island_, 5,303; _South - Carolina_, 4,501; _Vermont_, 4,795; _Virginia_, 5,784; total, - 66,481. - - Cruisers--_Charleston_, 7,704; _Frederick_, 9,659; _Huntington_, - 11,913; _Montana_, 8,800; _North Carolina_, 8,962; _Pueblo_, - 10,136; _Rochester_, 317; _Seattle_, 9,397; _South Dakota_, 3,463; - _St. Louis_, 8,437; total, 78,788. - -Merchant ships converted into troop-carriers, and used in bringing -soldiers home were: - - _Alaskan_ - _Amphion_ - _Ancon_ - _Arcadia_ - _Arizonian_ - _Artemis_ - _Black Arrow_ - _Buford_ - _Callao_ - _Canandaigua_ - _Canonicus_ - _Cape May_ - _Comfort_ - _Dakotan_ - _Eddelyn_ - _El Sol_ - _El Oriente_ - _Etten_ - _Eurana_ - _Floridian_ - _Freedom_ - _Gen. Goethals_ - _Gen. Gorgas_ - _Housatonic_ - _Iowan_ - _Kentuckian_ - _Lancaster_ - _Liberator_ - _E. F. Luckenbach_ - _Edward Luckenbach_ - _F. J. Luckenbach_ - _Julia Luckenbach_ - _Katrina Luckenbach_ - _K. I. Luckenbach_ - _W. A. Luckenbach_ - _Marica_ - _Mercy_ - _Mexican_ - _Minnesotan_ - _Montpelier_ - _Nansemond_ - _Ohioan_ - _Otsego_ - _Panaman_ - _Paysandu_ - _Peerless_ - _Philippines_ - _Radnor_ - _Roanoke_ - _Santa Ana_ - _Santa Barbara_ - _Santa Cecilia_ - _Santa Clara_ - _Santa Elena_ - _Santa Elisa_ - _Santa Leonora_ - _Santa Malta_ - _Santa Olivia_ - _Santa Paula_ - _Santa Rosa_ - _Santa Teresa_ - _Scranton_ - _Shoshone_ - _Sol Navis_ - _South Bend_ - _Suwanee_ - _Texan_ - _Tiger_ - _Troy_ - _Virginian_ - _Yale_ - -These converted cargo ships brought 441,986 passengers, 10,452 wounded; -total 452,438. The nine German passenger ships employed after the -armistice brought back 138,928. - -When the troop movement was near its close, in September, 1918, -Admiral Gleaves, who had been in charge from the beginning, was made -commander-in-chief of the Asiatic fleet. He was succeeded by Captain -C. B. Morgan. The Cruiser and Transport Force, which at its maximum -comprised a fleet of 142 vessels, of 2,341,038 tons displacement, -carried across the Atlantic, going to or returning from Europe, -approximately 2,600,000 persons. And this without the loss, through -navigation or enemy action, of any soldier entrusted to its care. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE FLEET THE KAISER BUILT FOR US - - EX-GERMAN VESSELS CARRIED 557,000 AMERICAN TROOPS TO - EUROPE--ENGINES AND MACHINERY WRECKED BY THEIR CREWS, GERMANS - BELIEVED THEY COULD NEVER BE USED--NAVY REPAIRED LINERS, AND HAD - ALL RUNNING IN TRANSPORT SERVICE IN A FEW MONTHS--TRIUMPH OF - AMERICAN GENIUS AND ENGINEERING SKILL--REMARKABLE RECORD MADE BY - "LEVIATHAN." - - -More than half a million of the troops that defeated the Germans -were transported across the Atlantic in German vessels. I sometimes -wonder if the Kaiser ever dreamed, when his liners came scurrying into -American ports in 1914, that he was presenting us with the one thing we -needed most, a lot of the finest transports that ever sailed the sea. - -That could not happen according to the Teuton mind. They had figured it -all out. If America kept out of the conflict, their ships would be as -safe here as in their home ports. If we did enter the war, they would -be so badly damaged that we could not use them. This was all carried -out according to schedule. Before ruthless U-boat warfare was declared, -Bernstorff had issued his orders, and all the interned vessels were -disabled, their engines and machinery smashed. - -"Some you may get running in a year; some you can never use," boasted -the German crews. - -"If America can repair this ship, I will eat my hat," said another. He -has not yet tested his digestion by a diet of headgear. - -But they, like the Kaiser and Admiral Von Holtzendorff, underestimated -American ingenuity and enterprise. By using new methods, and keeping at -the task day and night, in a few months all these vessels were repaired -and in service, carrying troops and supplies. - -The German _Vaterland_, re-christened the _Leviathan_, alone carried -nearly a hundred thousand troops to Europe. When she was performing -such prodigies for us it interested me to recall an occurrence when -this great vessel, the largest afloat, reached New York on its first -voyage, not long before the war began in 1914. Glorying in the -attention it evoked, the _Vaterland's_ officers gave a dinner, inviting -leading American shipbuilders and engineers, as well as prominent -citizens, to view this latest creation in marine construction. - -"It is a veritable floating palace for voyagers to Europe," remarked -one of its officers, "but that is not the best or most important thing -about the _Vaterland_." - -"Well, what is it?" asked the visitors. - -"Come below," said he, "and I will show you." - -Below went the party, and there they were shown how the whole vessel -had been planned so that it could quickly be converted into a carrier -for 10,000 soldiers. "In a remarkably short time, if need arises," the -officer remarked, "it can be turned into a troop transport." - -He was right. We proved it in 1917, not only in regard to the -_Vaterland_, but the other Teuton liners. - -Repaired, renamed, manned and operated by United States naval officers -and men, those former German vessels carried to Europe 557,788 American -soldiers. Here is the record in detail: - - German Name American Name U. S. Troops Carried - _Vaterland_ _Leviathan_ 96,804 - _Kaiser Wilhelm II_ _Agamemnon_ 36,097 - _Koenig Wilhelm II_ _Madawaska_ 17,931 - _President Lincoln_ _President Lincoln_ 20,143 - _President Grant_ _President Grant_ 39,974 - _Barbarossa_ _Mercury_ 18,542 - _Grosser Kurfurst_ _Aeolus_ 24,770 - _Hamburg_ _Powhatan_ 14,613 - _Friedrich der Grosse_ _Huron_ 20,871 - _Prinzess Irene_ _Pocahontas_ 20,503 - _George Washington_ _George Washington_ 48,373 - _Martha Washington_ _Martha Washington_ 22,311 - _Prinz Eitel Friedrich_ _DeKalb_ 11,334 - _Amerika_ _America_ 39,768 - _Neckar_ _Antigone_ 16,526 - _Cincinnati_ _Covington_ 21,628 - _Kronprinzessin Cecelie_ _Mount Vernon_ 33,692 - _Prinzess Alice_ _Princess Matoika_ 21,216 - _Rhein_ _Susquehanna_ 18,345 - _Kronprinz Wilhelm_ _Von Steuben_ 14,347 - -------- - Total 557,788 - -The repair of those vessels was a triumph of ingenuity and engineering -skill. But they were not the only interned ships the Navy restored. -When war was declared there were seized German merchant vessels -aggregating 592,195 gross tons, Austrian ships, 40,461 tons--a total of -632,656 tons of shipping placed under the United States flag from these -two sources. - -The machinery was so badly damaged that those in charge had practically -decided that new cylinders and various other parts would have to be -manufactured and installed. This would have caused many months' delay. -Captain E. P. Jessop, engineering officer of the New York Navy Yard, -who had been acting as advisory officer in connection with these ships -before they were turned over to the Navy, was confident that the most -serious breaks could be repaired by electric welding. Rear Admiral -Burd, industrial manager of the New York Yard, was of the same opinion, -as were engineering experts in the Navy Department. But there was -doubt among other engineers, and strong opposition to the new method. -The vessels were then under control of the Shipping Board, but it was -expected that those to be used as troop-ships would be assigned to the -Navy. Anticipating such action, Admiral Griffin, Chief of the Bureau -of Engineering, in June sent his assistant, Captain O. W. Koester, -to New York to make a thorough investigation. He returned convinced -that repairs could be successfully made by electric welding, and this -process was immediately adopted. - -Sixteen of these vessels were turned over to the Navy on July 11, -1917. Work was begun the next morning. Cylinders had been broken, -throttle and engine valves destroyed, pipes cut, fittings smashed. -Parts easily removable had been thrown away. The German crews had done -all they could to put the ships out of business. Memorandums found -aboard bore the frequent comment, "Cannot be repaired." There were -serious injuries that had been carefully concealed, evidently with the -idea of disabling the vessels if they ever got to sea. Important parts -were cut in half, then replaced so the cut would not be discovered. -Obstructions were placed in cylinders to wreck the engines as soon as -steam was turned on. Every inch of the machinery had to be examined -inside and out. The fact that nothing escaped detection is evidence of -the thoroughness with which the work was done. - -The _Barbarossa_, which we renamed the _Mercury_, was the first ship -repaired by the new welding process. Given a sea trial of 48 hours, she -was put to every imaginable test. The results proved satisfactory in -every particular. On all the other vessels, virtually the same methods -were used--electric or oxy-acetylene welding, mechanical patching, and -at times a combination of these. Each ship was, upon completion, tested -by long runs at sea, so that no doubt might exist as to the safety of -the troops they were to carry. It is noteworthy that no weakness ever -developed in the engines so repaired. - -Of the 103 German and Austrian vessels seized, the Navy converted 34 -into troop and freight transports. Subsequently it repaired 20 more for -the Shipping Board. - -To build new cylinders, replace burned-out boilers and other machinery, -would have required at least a year, perhaps more, it was estimated. By -using new methods, the Navy quickly restored the ships assigned to it. -In a few months all were in service--and some of them were running at -higher speed than the Germans had ever been able to attain. - -Twelve months in time was saved, during which these vessels transported -hundreds of thousands of troops. The entire saving was estimated at -more than $20,000,000. - -Until the United States declared war, these vessels were, under -strict interpretation of international law, not liable to seizure. -They could not leave our ports, but the crews remained aboard and, -though under constant surveillance to prevent unneutral acts, they -caused the American authorities considerable trouble. There were nine -German liners at their piers in Hoboken when Germany declared war. -All had been ordered not to sail. Being a part of the German Naval -Reserve, they were subject to the orders of the German Admiralty. The -_Vaterland_ was scheduled to sail that day, having booked some 3,600 -passengers. Angry crowds who had purchased tickets stormed the piers, -and extra guards had to be placed around the vessel. German crews held -a mass-meeting in Hoboken, discussing mainly how they could get back -to Germany. Ten thousand reservists on August 6th demanded of the -German Consul that he send them back on the _Vaterland_ to rejoin their -regiments. But not one of those vessels ever escaped from American -ports. - -Their crews, however, were always seeking to help Germany and injure -the Allies. Most of their plots and plans were foiled, though they -did succeed, now and then, in "putting something over." The _Grosser -Kurfurst_ (_Aeolus_) was, we found later, used as a sort of "clearing -ship" for German officers in this country. They had secret orders to -go aboard her and stay until arrangements could be made for them to -travel aboard outbound steamers. Disguised, often carrying forged or -illegally-obtained passports, some of them managed to get to Germany. -The captain of the _Aeolus_, its chief engineer and purser were among -those who successfully ran the British blockade. Given command of a -Zeppelin, the captain took part in several airship raids, but was -brought down and killed near London. When news of his death came, the -flags on all the German interned ships were placed at half-mast. - -When the ship-bomb conspiracy was unearthed--the scheme to place -explosives in cargoes, timed to go off and sink vessels when they were -far out at sea--it was found that men on board the _Friedrich der -Grosse_ (_Huron_) had been making parts of these bombs, which were -assembled at a plant in Hoboken. This plot, however, was nipped in the -bud. The sailors and others involved were promptly arrested, tried, -convicted, and sent to jail. - -When the _Lusitania_ was sunk in 1915 the German sailors held a -celebration. Thinking war with the United States was imminent, they -prepared to destroy the ships, only waiting for the word to carry out -the orders previously given them. This was, again, the case in 1916, -when we came so near war after the sinking of the _Sussex_. But the -orders did not finally come until January 31, 1917, when, obeying -Ambassador Bernstorff's instructions, they smashed the machinery of the -vessels. - -They regarded it as a huge joke when, on the morning of April 1st, a -naval vessel anchored off Pier 2, and set watch over them. But they -laughed on the other side of their mouths when, four days later, United -States officials rounded up officers and men, and sent them to Fort -Oglethorpe, Ga., and other Federal prisons and internment camps. - -The _Vaterland_ was taken over at 4 a. m., April 5th. On that day the -United States armed forces seized 91 German ships in various ports. -The night before, U. S. Government officials held a conference on the -_Vaterland_ with the German commanders, who were warned against any -violence. There was no resistance when the ships were seized. - -The _Vaterland_, with a displacement of 69,000 tons, was the biggest -craft afloat. There was no drydock in America large enough to hold -her. When the engineering officers reported to Captain J. W. Oman, -her commander, that the former _Vaterland_ (she had been renamed the -_Leviathan_) was "in all respects ready for sea," it was decided to -test her out by a longer run than that to which any other vessel had -been subjected, making a trial trip to Cuba. - -On her return, the ship was carefully gone over again, every part put -in prime condition, and on December 15, 1917, in a snowstorm, she -sailed on her first trip across the Atlantic. The ship's complement was -68 officers and 2,240 men. She had aboard 7,254 troops, including base -hospitals 31 and 34, the 163rd and 164th Infantry, and headquarters of -the 82nd Brigade, Brigadier General Edward Vellruth commanding. - -Running for the first day or two at 20 knots, the ship then speeded up -to 21-1/2 knots. The _Leviathan_ had "struck her gait." She made the -run across in record time. In describing this voyage, the "History of -the _Leviathan_" says: - - On the morning of December 23rd, at 4 a. m., out of the black sky, - just before dawn and in a heavy sea with a strong wind blowing, a - small white wake was seen by the lookout on the bridge. At first - it was taken for the wake of a periscope and the gun crews were - called to quarters, then as the guns were trained on it, a small - white flash was seen blinking the American recognition signal, and - we then knew that it was one of our destroyers. We picked them up - out of the black sky and a heavy sea until there were seven little - wasps that spelled danger to the Hun submarine. They sped along - with us while we zigzagged in and out on our course. They crossed - our bow and ran in and far out on each side of us, always looking - for the "sub" that might be lying in wait for us. Their motto was, - "Go get 'em." They never waited for a "sub" to attack first, they - always started the fight provided that "Fritz" was willing to show - himself; and we want to say right here that he was very reluctant - to do so when an American destroyer showed itself. - -That night the _Leviathan_ dropped anchor outside Liverpool, proceeding -next morning, Dec. 24th, to the landing-stage, where the soldiers -disembarked. The ship had to be sent into drydock to have her bottom -thoroughly scraped and cleaned. Three years in disuse, she was covered -with barnacles, and even oysters were found attached to her keel. The -Gladstone Dock at Liverpool was the only drydock outside of Germany -which would accommodate her. Even then, she had to wait more than two -weeks for a tide high enough to float her in. Docking was completed -successfully, but there was considerable delay before the big boat -could get away, and it was not until Lincoln's birthday that she -started back for America, reaching New York Feb. 19th. On her second -trip, sailing March 4, 1918, the _Leviathan_ carried 8,242 troops, -under command of Major General J. T. Dickman. Liverpool was again the -destination and she arrived there March 12th. Going up St. George's -channel, there was considerable excitement when the destroyer _Manley_, -head of the escort, sighting signs that led her to believe a submarine -was near, swerved out of position, and began firing. One depth-bomb it -dropped shook the _Leviathan_ from stern to stern, and many persons -aboard thought she had struck a mine. But she got in safely, and soon -landed all her troops. - -Low water again held the _Leviathan_ in port for weeks, and it was not -until April 10th, that she was able to sail. This was the last time she -was sent to Liverpool. Thereafter, she went direct to Brest, and there -were no more delays. In fact, on the third trip, when she carried 8,909 -soldiers, under command of Brigadier General Walter H. Gordon, she -disembarked her troops, took aboard 4,600 tons of coal, and the third -evening after her arrival was on the way back to New York. - -The _Leviathan_ was so big a target and the German eagerness to sink -her was so well known that there was at first opposition to the use -of this big vessel as a troop-ship, and Admiral Sims wrote to me on -November 2, 1917: - - I have previously reported against using the _Vaterland_ for the - present until we have a little more experience in handling the - other large transports. The _Vaterland_ is, of course, a much - larger target, and injury to her would be a serious affair. I am - assuming too that all of the troops that we have to transport - for the next few months can be accommodated in other transports, - assisted by British liners. Whenever the situation becomes - pressing, I presume we shall have to use the _Vaterland_ and take - the additional risk. - -We did use the former _Vaterland_ with such success that during all the -war she was never touched by the enemy; but the fears entertained of -attack on this biggest transport afloat were justified. On the fourth -voyage, when in sight of the coast, May 30, 1918, the _Leviathan_ -recorded her first encounter with a submarine, following being the -entry in the ship's log: - - 12:29 p. m.--Sighted submarine pursuing us on our port quarter - about 1,500 yards distant. Ordered full speed, 165 revolutions. - Opened fire with Number Six and Number Eight guns, three shots. - Stopped zigzagging. Changed course 12:40 p. m. - - 12:59 p. m.--Submarine appeared again. Opened fire with Number Six - and Number Eight guns. Nine shots. - - 1:19 p. m.--Submarine appeared again. Opened fire with Number Six - and Number Eight guns. Seven shots. - - 1:34 p. m.--Threw in maneuvering combination. Standard speed 112 - revolutions. - - 1:45 p. m.--Entering harbor at various courses and speeds. - -Of this attack, the _Leviathan_ History says: - - The coolness of our commanding officer, Captain H. F. Bryan, and - the splendid coördination of the entire crew were so perfect, that - only three distinct orders were issued in this moment of peril - as follows: 1. Hold your course. 2. Open fire on submarine, port - quarter. 3. Sound General Alarm. - - Every shot fired was greeted by cheers and shouts of encouragement - from the enthusiastic soldiers on the decks, who crowded to - favorable positions to witness the accurate firing of our - gun-crews. The Army nurses left their luncheon to take a peek at - the "fun," and their calmness and enthusiasm in the face of a - deadly menace were an inspiration to the sailors manning the big - guns. - -Sailing the afternoon of June 1st, accompanied by the destroyers -_Nicholson_ and _Wadsworth_, at 7:16 o'clock a periscope wake was -sighted on the starboard quarter. "Full speed ahead!" was rung, and the -_Leviathan_ sprang forward, a cloud of black smoke pouring from her -funnels. Her guns began firing, and from the signal bridge floated the -green-and-white submarine warning flag. The destroyers turned quickly -and charged down the wake, laying a barrage of depth-bombs which shook -the _Leviathan_, by that time nearly two miles away. The _Nicholson's_ -blinker lights flashed: - - We saw periscope of submarine and laid barrage of depth-charges - around the spot. Will report to Force Commander. - -The _Wadsworth_ then inspected the locality, but soon signaled, "We see -no submarine now." A few minutes later both destroyers steamed up to -the big vessel and resumed escort. - -Twilight had come, and it was an impressive scene when the chaplain -(always called the sky pilot), as was his daily custom, went to the -navigation bridge and offered the sunset prayer at sea--a prayer for -the safety of captain, officers and crew; for soldiers, passengers and -all on board. - -Making the most of her speed, the _Leviathan_ traveled alone, except -for man-of-war escort, until August. Then she was accompanied by the -_Great Northern_ and _Northern Pacific_, and these fast ships made -several voyages together. After arrival from her eighth trip, Sept. -19th, Captain William W. Phelps became the _Leviathan's_ commanding -officer, succeeding Captain Bryan. In April, 1919, he was succeeded by -Captain E. H. Durell. - -There were rumors of peace when the _Leviathan_ sailed on her tenth -trip October 27th, and as the destroyers met her they signaled that -all the German submarines in that area had been recalled October -21st. Arriving at Liverpool November 3rd, she landed her last load -of troops going to the front. A week later, when she was in drydock -undergoing repairs, the armistice was signed; the fighting was over. -The _Leviathan_ had transported to Europe 96,804 officers and men of -the American Army. She had carried across 119,215 persons, including -her crew and naval supernumeraries. She had carried on a single voyage -as many as 10,860. - -In returning the troops all war-time records were broken. On the -sixteenth west-bound trip, there were on board, including the naval -crew, 14,300 persons. The vessel brought home 93,746 soldiers. She -carried to or from Europe, including naval personnel and passengers, -over 200,000 persons. - -Completed in 1914, the _Leviathan_ made but one round trip under the -German flag. She had just arrived in New York on her second voyage when -war broke out in Europe. That was all the use the Germans ever got of -this wonder of the seas, which cost millions to build and was the pride -of Germany. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -GUARDING THE COAST OF FRANCE - - BREST THE CENTER OF GREAT SYSTEM UNDER COMMAND OF WILSON--PATROL - SQUADRON SENT OVER IN JUNE, 1917--ARMED YACHTS AND DESTROYERS - ENABLED TROOPS TO REACH PORTS SAFELY--"STEWART" PLOWED THROUGH - BLAZING AMMUNITION TO RESCUE SURVIVORS OF "FLORENCE H."--WRESTLE - WITH DEPTH-BOMB. - - -On the anniversary of the fall of the Bastille, the French national -holiday, July 14, 1917, our naval forces began work with the French, -whose vessels under DeGrasse had, 136 years before, given such signal -aid to America in its struggle for liberty. - -France was the center of American activities, military and naval, and -our most important operations in Europe were in French waters. It was -the vast system built up by the Navy, the splendid work of our armed -yachts and destroyers and aircraft, which kept the sea lanes clear, -protected transports, and enabled American troops and supplies to reach -French ports in safety. - -Sending naval vessels to France, and establishing bases were two of the -first things considered by the Navy Department. They were discussed -with the French mission, with Marshal Joffre and Admiral Chocheprat, -when they reached Washington in April. They recommended Brest and -Bordeaux as the principal ports to be used by the Americans, and we -decided to establish bases there as well as at St. Nazaire, where our -first troops landed. - -Preparations were at once begun to send patrol craft, and for this -purpose, the largest and best of American yachts, stripped of their -luxurious fittings, were armed and converted into men-of-war. A special -force was organized under command of Rear Admiral William B. Fletcher, -and on June 9, the first of the "U. S. Patrol Squadrons Operating in -European Waters," sailed from New York for France. In this group were -the _Noma_, (Lieutenant Commander L. R. Leahy); _Vedette_, (Lieutenant -Commander C. L. Hand); _Christabel_, (Lieutenant Commander H. B. -Riebe); _Kanawha_, (Lieutenant Commander H. D. Cooke); _Harvard_, -(Lieutenant Commander A. G. Stirling), and the _Sultana_, (Lieutenant -Commander E. G. Allen). Proceeding by way of the Azores, they reached -Brest July 3. Two speedier yachts, the _Corsair_ (Lieutenant Commander -T. A. Kittinger), and the _Aphrodite_ (Lieutenant Commander R. P. -Craft), sailed from New York with the first troop convoy June 14, -reaching St. Nazaire June 27, and arriving at Brest July 2. - -Protection of vessels carrying troops was the primary mission of our -forces in France, and after that the storeships loaded with munitions, -materials and supplies for the Army. But this was by no means all their -work. They escorted convoys sailing from Verdon, vessels coming from -Bordeaux, Pauillac and other points up the Gironde river; from Brest; -from Quiberon Bay (St. Nazaire); ships of all kinds sailing along the -coast of France, for England or southern ports. - -With headquarters at Brest, where the American admiral had his offices -next to those of the French Chief of the Brittany Patrol, Vice Admiral -Schwerer, who acted directly under Vice Admiral Moreau, senior Allied -naval officer, an organization was built up extending all along -the French coast. Working in closest coöperation with the French, -our forces were always under American command, first under Admiral -Fletcher, and then under Admiral Henry B. Wilson, who succeeded him on -Nov. 1, 1917. - -Captain T. P. Magruder was made senior naval officer at Lorient, -with a division of mine-sweepers to keep clear the approaches to St. -Nazaire. Captain N. A. McCully commanded the Rochefort district, which -extended from the Lorient line to the Spanish coast. Six yachts were -based at Rochefort, to give prompt service to convoys entering the -Gironde River, for Bordeaux or Pauillac. The Brest district, from Cape -Brehat to Penmarch Point, was in command of Captain H. H. Hough, and -the Cherbourg district, north of this, was assigned to Commander David -Boyd. Naval port officers, stationed at Brest, Havre, Cherbourg, -Rouen, St. Malo, Granville, St. Nazaire, Nantes, Quiberon Bay, Sables -d' Olonne, Bordeaux, La Pallice, Rochefort, Royan, Verdon, Pauillac and -St. Jean de Luz, kept in touch with Army officials and shipmasters, -expediting dispatch of vessels and the flow of transportation and -commerce. Military and naval officers pulled together with a will, and -the saying was: "There is no Army and Navy at Brest. It's all one gang!" - -From Brest radiated lines of command, communication, and -coöperation--to our own forces, and the French naval commanders on the -coast; our naval representatives and naval attaché in Paris, and the -French Ministry of Marine; through the superintendent of ports and -coding officer to Army officials, those in charge of troops and supply -transport; to the Chief of Aviation and the American and French air -forces; and to U. S. Naval Headquarters in London. - -The development of this organization brought such success in -anti-submarine operations as the French coast had never known, changing -the entire situation in these waters, not only for our vessels but -for all Allied shipping. Here is a chart record of vessels sunk by -submarines on the west coast of France for six months and it tells the -story: - - October, 1917 24 - November, 1917 13 - December, 1917 4 - January, 1918 9 - February, 1918 1 - March, 1918 0 - -Describing an evening with Admiral Wilson, Reginald Wright Kauffman -wrote: - - The Admiral and his staff sleep in rooms just below their office. - That is, they say they sleep. I asked the Admiral's orderly if he - had ever seen him in bed, and he said, "No, sir." - - The Admiral, after a long day's work, spoke of how good it was to - draw his chair close to the open fire. One of the three guests had - to leave early, because, although he is our host's nephew, he had - volunteered as a common seaman and had to be aboard ship betimes. - That orderly of the commander, a Lehigh graduate with six months' - experience of the service, muttered in the hall: - - "This is the most democratic Navy I ever saw; an Admiral helping a - gob on with his coat!" - -That intimate view of Admiral Wilson shows the side of his character -which makes officers and men love him. Strict in discipline, firm in -administration, a master of his profession, he illustrates the military -truth that he is the greatest officer who is the best shipmate. It was -this combination of qualities which enabled him to do the big job in -France, where he was beloved and honored by the French as well as the -Americans. - -What Mr. Kauffman described at Brest was characteristic of our Navy -in the war, as it was of our crews on the French coast. In one gun's -crew a young New York millionaire served with a former mechanic and -an erstwhile clerk from the East Side. In the crew of a yacht was -a Philadelphia policeman and a Texas ranger; the first boatswain's -mate had his sheepskin from Cornell; there was a Lehigh senior in the -forecastle and a Harvard post-graduate assisting in the radio room. -Several young men served as sailors on ships their fathers owned, and -had turned over to the Government for war use. - -They were nearly all reservists or recent recruits, the crews of the -armed yachts and sub-chasers. But they put it over like veterans, and -took things as they came. And they had some lively brushes with the -"subs." - -The yachts got a taste of U-boat warfare on the way over. The _Corsair_ -was with the troop-ships when the group she was escorting was attacked -by submarines. Nearing the French coast on July 2, the _Noma_ sighted a -periscope, and with the _Kanawha_ circled the vicinity for some time, -but without result. The next evening the _Sultana_, which was somewhat -behind the other yachts, arrived at Brest, bringing 37 of the crew and -13 of the armed guard of the American steamship _Orleans_, which had -been sunk, apparently by the same submarine which had been sighted by -the _Noma_. - -The day after they began patrol duty, the _Harvard_ brought into port -59 survivors picked up from two British ships that had been torpedoed. -A torpedo was fired at the _Noma_ on July 19, and on August 8th she -took part in a fight between a noted British decoy-ship--"Q-boats," -they were called--and a submarine in the Bay of Biscay. - -"SOS," came the distress call from the _Dunraven_, "Shelled by -submarine." The _Noma_ had just finished repairing one of her boilers, -but she put on all steam and headed for the scene. As she came up, -the vessel, torpedoed, seemed to be sinking. The submarine, which was -close to the steamer, was still shelling her. The _Noma_ headed for -the U-boat, attempting to ram her, but she submerged and the yacht -dropped depth-bombs around the spot. Then she turned attention to the -_Dunraven_. This decoy ship, commanded by Captain Gordon Campbell, most -noted of "Q-boat" captains, had pursued its usual tactics when the -"sub" was sighted, part of the crew, disguised as merchant sailors, -taking to the lifeboats, leaving hidden aboard the gunners ready to -fire shells or torpedo when the submarine ventured nearer. But this -time the U-boat got the best of it. One of its shells struck the -steamer and blew up a depth-bomb. Two more shots landed, and set the -ship afire. The flames swept down to where ammunition, shells and -torpedoes were piled, and they exploded, hurling gun and gun-crew into -the air. - -Then came the torpedo, which as it hit the ship caused another big -explosion. But the _Dunraven_ fought on, and it was only after she had -fired two torpedoes at the "sub," and many of her crew were wounded, -that she sent out the distress call. - -The "sub" driven off, the _Noma_ circled the vicinity, keeping a -sharp lookout for the enemy. Two British destroyers arrived shortly -afterward, and with the _Noma_ rescued the decoy-ship's crew. One -of them, the _Christopher_, took the _Dunraven_ in tow, the _Noma_ -acting as escort until the next day, when she was relieved by a French -destroyer. But the _Dunraven_ was too badly damaged to remain afloat, -and sank before she reached port. - -Our forces in French waters were reinforced in August and September by -nineteen more vessels, these being: - - Second Patrol Division, Commander F. N. Freeman--_Alcedo_, - (Lieutenant Commander W. T. Conn); _Remlik_, (Lieutenant - Commander I. C. Johnson); _Wanderer_, (Lieutenant Commander P. L. - Wilson); _Guinevere_, (Lieutenant Commander Guy Davis); _Corona_, - (Lieutenant Commander L. M. Stevens); _Carola_, (Lieutenant - Commander H. R. Keller); and the _Emeline_, (Lieutenant Commander - R. C. Williams). - - Third Division, Captain T. P. Magruder--_Wakiva_, (Lieutenant - Commander T. R. Kurtz), armed yacht; _Anderton_, (Boatswain H. - Miller); _Cahill_, (Lieutenant A. E. Wills); _Rehoboth_ and - _McNeal_, (Lieutenant C. N. Hinkamp); the _Lewes_, _James_, - _Douglas_, _Bauman_, _Courtney_, and _Hinton_, (Lieutenant A. - McGlasson), mine-sweepers; _Bath_, supply ship. - -Sixteen American-built submarine chasers, which we had turned over to -the French Government, also arrived in September, and began patrol off -the French coast, and soon afterward the yachts _Nokomis_, (Commander -D. Boyd); _May_, (Commander F. T. Evans), and _Rambler_, (Lieutenant -E. G. Rose) and the mine-sweeper _Hubbard_ were added to our force at -Brest. - -All along the French coast and in the Bay of Biscay our vessels were -kept busy, escorting convoys, troop and cargo ships and hunting -U-boats. This was done so effectively that we had no loss until -October, when a mine-sweeper, the _Rehoboth_, foundered, the Army -transport _Antilles_ and the yacht _Alcedo_ were sunk, and the -_Finland_ torpedoed. - -Two days out from Quiberon Bay, on October 17th, the _Antilles_, bound -for America, was proceeding with the _Henderson_ and _Willehad_, -escorted by the _Corsair_ and _Alcedo_, when she was struck by a -torpedo. Shivering from stern to stern, she listed immediately to port -and began to sink. One of the lookouts in the main-top was thrown clear -over the five-foot canvas screen, and killed as he struck a hatch. -Everyone in the engine-room was killed or disabled except one oiler, -who crawled through the skylight just as the ship went down. Of the 21 -men in the engine and firerooms, only three survived--the oiler, and -two firemen who escaped through a ventilator. - -Commander Daniel T. Ghent, senior naval officer on board, gave the -order to abandon ship. Boats were lowered, distress signals sent out. -Guns were manned in the hope of getting a shot at the submarine. There -the gunners remained until ordered to leave, and two of them--John -Walter Hunt and J. C. McKinney--went down with the ship. - -The vessel sank in four and a half minutes. Commander Ghent said: - - The behavior of the naval personnel throughout was equal to the - best traditions of the service. The two forward guns' crews, in - charge of Lieutenant Tisdale, remained at their gun stations while - the ship went down, and made no move to leave until ordered to - save themselves. Radio Electrician C. L. Ausburne went down with - the ship while at his station in the radio room. When the ship - was struck Ausburne and McMahon were asleep in adjacent bunks - opposite the radio room. Ausburne, realizing the seriousness of - the situation, told McMahon to get his life preserver on, saying, - as he left to take his station at the radio key, "Good-bye, Mac." - McMahon, later finding the radio room locked and seeing the ship - was sinking, tried to get Ausburne out, but failed. - -Radio Electrician H. F. Watson was also lost. He remained with -Commander Ghent on the bridge until the guns' crews were ordered to -leave, and was on his way to a lifeboat when last seen. - -The _Alcedo_ rescued 117 and the _Corsair_ 50 of the 234 persons who -were on the _Antilles_. Sixty-seven were lost--4 men of the Navy, 16 of -the Army; 45 of the ship's merchant crew; a civilian ambulance driver -who had been serving with the French army, and a colored stevedore. - -Rafts, set free by the blast of the explosion, were spread broadcast. -Men who had been unable to get into the boats swam for them, and for -boxes, planks or anything floating they could reach. As the _Corsair_ -was picking up the survivors, a sailor was seen calmly roosting on a -box. As the yacht steamed for him, he stood up and, waving his arms, -wigwagged: - -"Don't come too close, box contains live ammunition!" - -They rescued him with care, and with due respect for the explosive as -well as for the gunner who considered the ship's welfare before he -thought of his own safety. - -Eleven days later the _Finland_ was torpedoed, the explosion blowing in -her side for 35 feet, the V-shaped hole running down to the bilge-keel. -Three of the naval gun-crew, James W. Henry, Newton R. Head and Porter -Hilton; two men of the Army, a colored transport worker, and six of -the ship's merchant crew were lost. But the vessel, under the skilful -direction of the senior naval officer, Captain S. V. Graham, made port -under her own steam, was repaired and put back into service. - -Repairing this ship was a striking example of the versatility of the -American Army in France. The repairs were undertaken by the French -naval arsenal, but man-power was scarce and the work was going slowly. -A regiment of U. S. Army engineers, stationed at a point not far -distant, offered assistance. Among them were a number of locomotive -boiler riveters, and structural workers. It was these American -"engineers" who came to the bat and actually repaired the _Finland_. - -Neither the _Antilles_ nor the _Finland_ was a naval transport, both -being chartered by the Army, and manned by civilian crews, the only -Navy personnel aboard being the senior naval officer, the armed guard -and the radio operators. It was the experience with these undisciplined -crews which hastened the arrangement by which the Navy manned and -operated, as well as escorted, all American troop-ships. - -Only one of our armed yachts in French waters was sunk, the _Alcedo_, -torpedoed at 1:45 a. m., November 5, 1917. She sank in eight minutes. -About 75 miles west of Belle Ile, she was escorting a convoy, when a -submarine was sighted, and then a torpedo, which struck the ship under -the port forward chain-plates. Boats were lowered, and as the vessel -began going down, Commander W. T. Conn, Jr., the commanding officer, -ordered the men who were still aboard to jump over the side, intending -to follow them. Before he could jump, however, the vessel listed -heavily to port, plunging by the head, and sank, carrying him down with -the suction. Coming to the surface, he swam to a raft, and later got -to a whaleboat, which, with several dories, went among the wreckage, -picking up survivors. - -Half an hour after the _Alcedo_ sank, the submarine approached, but -after remaining twenty or thirty minutes steered off and submerged. -After searching the vicinity for three hours, Commander Conn's boat -and the others with him, containing 3 officers and 40 men, headed -for Penmarch Light. They rowed until 1:15 that afternoon, when they -were picked up by a French torpedo-boat. Reaching Brest at 11 p. -m., Commander Conn was informed that two other dories, containing -3 officers and 25 men, had landed at Penmarch Point. One of the -_Alcedo's_ officers, Lieutenant (junior grade) John T. Melvin of Selma, -Ala., and 20 enlisted men were lost. - -This was the last American naval or troop-vessel sunk in many months by -the submarines, which were kept on the run by our forces. The _Wakiva_, -_Noma_, and _Kanawha_ fought off two U-boats and it is believed sank -one, which appeared as they were escorting the storeships _Köln_ and -_Medina_ on November 28, 1917. At 6:20 p. m., the lookout on the -_Kanawha_ reported a periscope on the port beam, heading towards the -_Medina_. It disappeared, but at 6:50 the _Noma_ saw a periscope on -her starboard beam. Twelve minutes afterward the _Wakiva_ sighted a -periscope heading towards the convoy. Swinging into position to fire a -torpedo at the _Wakiva_, the submarine crossed the yacht's wake. The -_Wakiva_ fired three shots, apparently striking the periscope, which -disappeared. She also let go two depth-charges. - -As the _Wakiva_ approached, what appeared to be the conning tower of -the submarine emerged. The yacht fired at it, and the conning tower -sank. The _Wakiva_ dropped numerous depth-charges and after they -exploded her commander saw what seemed to be three men clinging to a -piece of wreckage. He hailed them, but received no response, and when -the yacht went near the place they had disappeared. In the meantime the -_Noma_ had continued search, and sighted a periscope on her starboard -bow, turned toward it, and let go several depth-charges. Officers were -convinced that there were two submarines, and that one of them was sunk -by the _Wakiva_. - -The _Christabel_, smallest of the converted yachts, surprised her big -sisters by smashing up a submarine so badly that it was just able -to reach a Spanish port, where U-boat and crew were interned for -the remainder of the war. Escorting the _Danse_, a British steamer -which had fallen behind its convoy two miles from Ile de Yeu, on May -21, 1918, the _Christabel_ at 8:52 p. m. sighted a periscope, and -made for it, firing two depth-bombs. As the second charge exploded, -there followed another violent explosion which threw up, between the -_Christabel_ and the water column raised by the bomb, a large amount of -water and debris. Heavy black oil and a number of splintered pieces of -wood rose to the surface. - -That was the last the _Christabel_ saw of the "sub," but three days -later the report came that the UC-56 had arrived at Santander, Spain, -too seriously damaged to attempt to return to Germany. Its officers and -men were glad enough to escape with their lives. - -Fine as was the record of the armed yachts, it was more than equaled -by the destroyers, which bore the heaviest part in escorting the vast -number of troop and cargo ships sent to France. This duty was performed -at first by our force at Queenstown, but from October on, when the -tender _Panther_ (Commander A. M. Procter) and five destroyers -arrived, destroyers were sent to Brest as follows: - - _Reid_, (Commander C. C. Slayton); _Flusser_, (Lieutenant Commander - R. G. Walling); the _Preston_, (Lieutenant Commander C. W. - Magruder); _Lamson_, (Lieutenant Commander W. R. Purnell); _Smith_, - (Commander J. H. Klein); _Monaghan_, (Lieutenant Commander J. F. - Cox); _Roe_, (Lieutenant Commander G. C. Barnes); _Warrington_, - (Lieutenant Commander G. W. Kenyon); _Whipple_, (Lieutenant - Commander H. J. Abbett); _Truxtun_, (Lieutenant Commander J. G. - Ware); _Stewart_, (Lieutenant Commander H. S. Haislip); _Worden_, - (Lieutenant Commander J. M. B. Smith); _Isabel_, (Lieutenant - Commander H. E. Shoemaker); _Nicholson_, (Lieutenant Commander J. - C. Fremont). - -Recounting what they accomplished, Admiral Wilson said: - - The record of the service of these vessels on the coast of France - furnishes one of the finest tributes in the history of our Navy - to the soundness of their construction and to the ability of the - personnel under trying conditions. - - Until about the first of June, 1918, when the original lot of - destroyer captains was detached and ordered to the United States to - fit out new vessels, no American destroyers sent from France had - ever missed contact with a convoy; no destroyer dispatched with - a mission had ever returned to port before the completion of her - duty, and furthermore, during this period, after the torpedoing of - the _Finland_, on October 28, 1917, no vessel en route from America - to France or from France to America, when escorted by American - vessels based on France, had ever been torpedoed or successfully - attacked on the high seas. - -The _Jarvis_ (Lieutenant Commander R. C. Parker), and the _Drayton_ -(Lieutenant Commander G. N. Barker), two of the 740-ton oil-burning -destroyers, joined the force on February 15, 1918; then on March 4th, -the _Wadsworth_ (Lieutenant Commander C. E. Smith). The following -destroyers that had also previously operated out of Queenstown were -sent to Brest in June: - - _Sigourney_, (Commander W. N. Vernou); _Wainwright_, (Commander R. - A. Dawes); _Fanning_, (Lieutenant Commander F. Cogswell); _Tucker_, - (Lieutenant Commander W. H. Lassing); _Winslow_, (Lieutenant - Commander F. W. Rockwell); _Porter_, (Lieutenant Commander A. - A. Corwin); _O'Brien_, (Commander M. K. Metcalf); _Cummings_, - (Lieutenant Commander O. Bartlett); _Benham_, (Lieutenant Commander - F. J. Fletcher); _Cushing_, (Commander W. D. Puleston); _Burrows_, - (Lieutenant Commander A. Steckel); _Ericsson_, (Lieutenant - Commander R. R; Stewart); and on July 23, the _McDougal_, - (Lieutenant Commander V. K. Coman). - -The Navy Department had decided that all additional destroyers built -would be sent to Brest and to Gibraltar, and Admiral Wilson's forces -were augmented from time to time by these new destroyers: - - _Little_, (Captain J. K. Taussig); _Conner_, (Captain A. G. Howe); - _Taylor_, (Commander C. T. Hutchins); _Stringham_, (Commander N. E. - Nichols); _Bell_, (Lieutenant Commander D. L. Howard); _Murray_, - (Lieutenant Commander R. G. Walling); _Fairfax_, (Lieutenant - Commander G. C. Barnes). - -For more than a year American mine sweepers pursued their dangerous but -tedious task, sweeping up mines and keeping clear the channels leading -to ports. Mainly converted fishing boats, the constant duty along the -coast was not easy for them. The _Rehoboth_ foundered off Ushant in a -heavy sea October 4, 1917. Steaming in a fog near Concarneau, January -12, 1918, the _Bauman_ struck one of the numerous rocks that make -navigation in that region so dangerous. Though she was badly damaged, -Ensign P. J. Ford, her executive officer, and several of her crew -remained aboard, hoping to save her, and the _Anderton_ started to tow -her to Lorient, but she sank before reaching port. Soon afterwards, on -January 25, the _Guinevere_, attempting to get to Lorient in a dense -fog, ran on the rocks. - -The mine force was not infrequently called upon to reinforce coastal -convoys or go to the aid of vessels grounded or in distress. When the -U-boats began attacking coastal convoys near Penmarch in January, 1918, -the sweepers were sent out to patrol those waters at night. Lying in -darkness, they spent long hours listening through the "C" tubes for any -sound of a "sub." They were often hurried out to sweep mines discovered -at various points. In a heavy sea, the _Hinton_, _Cahill_ and _James_ -swept up a mine field near Belle Ile in record time, the _James_ -cutting four mines in fifteen minutes. These are only a few instances -of the fine work they continually performed. - -Heroes? There were plenty of them in our forces in France, as there -were everywhere else in the Navy--men who feared no danger and, when -necessity arose, risked their lives without a thought of self. Hear -the story of the _Florence H._ The rescue of her survivors when that -munition ship blew up off Quiberon Bay, April 17, 1918, is one of the -war's most thrilling events. - -The night was dark and cloudy, the sea smooth. Steaming along quietly, -the convoy was nearing port. At 10:45 someone was seen signaling with -a searchlight from the bridge of the _Florence H._ An instant later -the vessel burst into flames, which soon enveloped the ship, and rose -a hundred feet into the air. In ten minutes the vessel split open -amidships and five minutes later went down, blazing like a torch. Smoke -and flames prevented those on the ships around from seeing what had -occurred aboard the steamship. Survivors reported later that there was -a tremendous explosion in No. 2 hatch which lifted the deck and blew -out the ship's starboard side. Her chief engineer, John B. Watson, -said: "She just burned up and melted in about twenty minutes." - -The whole thing occurred so suddenly that a naval commander, as he saw -the flash, remarked: "Not a living soul will get off that ship." - -Rescue seemed almost hopeless. The waters around were covered with -flaming powder-cases and wreckage, so thickly packed that they spread -to leeward like enormous rafts. All over the vicinity ammunition was -exploding, shooting flame and gas ten to twenty feet into the air. - -As soon as the fire broke out, two naval vessels started for the -stricken ship. As they got near, the ammunition on the deck of the -_Florence H._ began to explode, showering up like fireworks. Then her -guns went off. For the wooden yachts to venture into that sea of flame -was almost certain destruction. The destroyers, their decks laden -with depth-charges, were in almost equal danger. When the _Stewart_ -drew near the ship, the senior commander signaled her to be careful. -It seemed hardly possible that any of the _Florence H.'s_ crew had -escaped. But Lieutenant Commander H. S. Haislip heard cries in the -water. That meant that there were men still alive, struggling in that -horror. - -There was only one way to rescue them. That was to plough through the -blazing wreckage. Haislip knew what chances he was taking, risking -his ship and crew. But it was to save human lives and he did not -hesitate a moment. The _Stewart_ led the way, and the other destroyers, -the _Whipple_ and the _Truxtun_, followed. Pushing through bursting -powder-casks, and burning boxes, they made a path for the other ships. - -Lines were thrown out and seamen jumped overboard to hold up men who -were blinded or drowning. Lifeboats put out from half a dozen ships. -The flames lit up the whole area so that it was almost as bright as -day. Men could be seen clinging to ammunition boxes, and the rescuers -rowed or swam to them. - -Three men were found in a blazing lifeboat hemmed in by wreckage. A -naval vessel steamed alongside and pulled them aboard. F. M. Upton, -quartermaster third class, and J. W. Covington, ship's cook, plunged -overboard to rescue a sailor too exhausted to help himself. Chaplain -William A. Maguire assisted in the rescue, going out in a lifeboat -which had to pole its way through the smouldering wreckage. Surgeons J. -A. Flautt and G. E. Cram and Pharmacist's Mate W. Lorber were out in -small boats, giving aid to the wounded, many of whom were burned about -the head and arms. - -Lieutenant (junior grade) M. L. Coon, took a boat into the wreckage -and rescued three men. A motor-boat in charge of Lieutenant H. R. -Eccleston ploughed its way through to a man who could not be reached -by the rowers. Other boats were assisting in the rescue, directed by -Lieutenant (junior grade) H. E. Snow, and Ensigns William O. Harris, -Sherburne B. Rockwell and R. A. Johnston. - -All the naval vessels did splendid work--the destroyers _Stewart_ -(Lieutenant Commander Haislip); _Whipple_ (Lieutenant Commander H. J. -Abbett), and _Truxtun_ (Lieutenant Commander J. G. Ware); the yachts -_Wanderer_ (Lieutenant Commander P. L. Wilson); _Sultana_ (Lieutenant -Commander F. A. LaRoche); _Christabel_ (Lieutenant Commander M. B. -McComb), and _Corona_ (Lieutenant H. H. J. Benson). More than a dozen -officers and fifty enlisted men performed deeds for which they were -officially commended. Upton and Covington were awarded the Medal of -Honor. But Haislip, born in Virginia, appointed to the Naval Academy -from Wisconsin, his later home in California, won most distinction, -the highest honors we could bestow. The French Vice Admiral praised -his courage and decision, saying that he exhibited not only "superb -contempt of danger," but, "remarkable qualities of seamanship." - -Thirty-two of the 77 men aboard the _Florence H._ were rescued. Had it -not been for the heroic work of these men of the Navy, not one would -have escaped alive. - -Thrilling as Victor Hugo's description of the cannon which broke loose -and threatened the ship, was John Mackenzie's wrestle with a depth-bomb -on the _Remlik_. A storm was raging in the Bay of Biscay, and the -_Remlik_, patrolling off the French coast, was having a hard time -weathering the gale. Suddenly a periscope was sighted, and there was a -cry from the lookout: "Submarine 400 yards off starboard beam!" - -"General quarters" alarm was sounded, and stations manned. Heavy seas -were breaking over the vessel, but the after gun's crew stayed at its -post, trying to get a shot at the U-boat. Before they could fire the -submarine submerged. Then followed one of the queerest of situations -at sea, patrol ship and submarine both so tossed by wave and wind that -they could not use their weapons against each other. - -The U-boat poked up its double periscope three times, each time -submerging as she saw the patrol ship's guns turned toward her. She -could not launch a torpedo with any success in that raging sea; neither -could the _Remlik_ drop a depth-bomb on her, as the _Remlik_ could -make only two knots against the gale and a bursting depth-charge might -damage her as much as it would the "sub." There they maneuvered like -two tigers, unable to spring at each other. After a few minutes the -submarine, which had never shown enough of herself for our gunners to -plant a shell in her, finally submerged and stayed under. The Americans -kept sailing over the locality, hoping she would reappear; but, not -wanting to risk a gunfire contest, the "sub" had given up the fight. - -Tossed about by that stormy sea, a more imminent danger threatened -the _Remlik_. The waves breaking over the stern tore loose one of the -huge depth-bombs. The box that held it fell overboard, but the bomb -was hurled in the opposite direction. There it went, rolling around -the deck, while the crew amidships watched it with the fascination of -danger. - -[Illustration: BREST, CENTER OF THE GREAT SYSTEM OF NAVAL OPERATIONS IN -FRANCE] - -[Illustration: A GERMAN "SUB" AND SOME OF ITS ENEMIES - - Above: The German submarine UC-56 in internment at Santander, - Spain, where it was forced by the Christabel, the smallest of the - American armed yachts in European waters. - - Inset: High officers of the French and American Navies. Left to - right: Vice Admiral Moreau, Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, Vice - Admiral Schwerer, Rear Admiral Benoit, Vice Admiral Wilson. - - Below: Patrol Boats and Sub-Chasers at Finisterre Dock, Brest, Base - Section Number 5.] - -"The safety-pin's come out!" some one shouted. - -They all knew what that meant. If the firing mechanism should hit, -sending off that bomb; if its 300 pounds of TNT should explode, the -_Remlik_ would be shattered. - -To catch and hold that heavy bomb, with the vessel rolling and pitching -as it was, seemed almost impossible. Even to venture into that part of -the ship was to risk life. The seas were breaking over it, threatening -to sweep off anyone who went down the deck. All knew the ship faced -destruction; that anyone who went after that bomb risked being swept -overboard or blown to pieces. But quickly a voice rang out: - -"Watch me; I'll get it!" - -Mackenzie dashed down the deck and flung himself upon the plunging -cylinder. He almost had his arms around it, when it broke away. He -jumped for it again, and again it tore loose from him. - -"Hey!" he yelled. "Stand by and lend a hand. It won't do for this colt -to get away from me." - -As he grabbed for it the third time, the big charge lurched, and -falling, came near crushing him. But he caught his footing, and on -the fourth attempt got a firm grip on it. Exerting all his strength, -he heaved the "can" up on end, and then sat on it and held it down. -Holding on firmly, he managed to retain his grip until lines could be -run to him, and the bomb lashed down. Mackenzie had risked his life, -but he had saved his ship and shipmates. - -Recommending that the Medal of Honor be bestowed on Mackenzie, the -first reservist to whom it was awarded, the commanding officer of the -_Remlik_ said: - - Mackenzie, in acting as he did, exposed his life and prevented - serious accident to the ship and probably loss of the ship and - entire crew. Had this depth-charge exploded on the quarter-deck - with the sea and wind that existed at the time, there is no doubt - that the ship would have been lost. - -There was no more striking instance of resourcefulness and good -seamanship than the double service of the Americans in rescuing the -survivors of the French light cruiser _Dupetit Thouars_, and salvaging -and taking 350 miles to port the American steamship _Westward Ho_. The -steamer was in a convoy from New York to the Bay of Biscay which had -been escorted across the Atlantic by the French cruiser. At 10 o'clock, -the night of August 7, 1918, the _Dupetit Thouars_ was torpedoed, and -soon sank. The destroyers _Winslow_, _Porter_, _Drayton_, _Tucker_, -_Fanning_ and _Warrington_ went to her aid and rescued the survivors. - -The next morning at 6:40 the destroyers caught a distress signal, found -that the _Westward Ho_ had been torpedoed, and took aboard her crew. -The American yachts _May_ and _Noma_ and the French sloop _Cassiopee_ -soon afterwards arrived and found the ship still afloat. But she was -apparently in a sinking condition, so deep in the water that attempts -to tow her failed. A volunteer crew from the _May_ headed by Lieutenant -T. Blau, went aboard and though they had no experience with oil burning -or turbine machinery, got up steam, started the pumps, and at last got -the engines going. She was so deep in the water forward that they could -not make much headway steering the ship bow first. So the volunteer -crew turned her around, and with the two yachts towing and the French -sloop looking out for submarines, ran that big steamship backwards -three hundred and fifty miles, and got her safely into harbor. - -A week later another surprising feat was accomplished. Proceeding in -convoy 400 miles from the French coast, the _West Bridge_, on August -15, stripped her main turbine and lay helpless. She had hardly sent -a radio to Brest, asking assistance, when the convoy was attacked by -a submarine. The _Montanan_ was torpedoed, and after she went down, -the U-boat turned its attention to the _West Bridge_. Struck by two -torpedoes, she was apparently about to founder. But the destroyer -_Smith_ went to her aid, and a volunteer crew under Lieutenant R. L. -Connolly went aboard the disabled steamer. There was no possibility -of raising steam. She had to be steered by hand. Eventually four tugs -arrived and with the yacht _Isabel_ started to tow. The well-deck -forward of the ship's bridge was flush with the sea, the waves broke -over her in a constant roar. Holds, engine and fire rooms were flooded. -Keeping her afloat and keeping her moving was slow and hard work. For -five days and nights those men struggled to save that ship, and at last -they got her to port. When she reached Brest they beached her on a -flat. The officers who examined her for repairs declared she did not -have a hundred tons of positive buoyancy, hardly enough to keep her -up an hour. Yet those Navy men had kept her afloat for five days and -pulled her four hundred miles to port! - -The spirit of America in Europe, its high ideals, the attitude of -officers and men could not have been better expressed than in this open -letter of Admiral Wilson to the forces under his command in France: - - We are guests in the house of another people. Our home will be - judged by our conduct in theirs. We still live under the rules, - laws, and spirit of the place from which we come. - - Every great nation in history has stood for some one definite idea: - Greece for beauty, Rome for law, Israel for religion. America, in - the eyes of the world, stands preëminently for freedom and the - ideal of manhood. We must not shake that opinion but do all that we - can to strengthen it. - - We have come to this side of the world to record, by the indelible - imprint of arms, our protest against that which is brutal, wicked, - and unjust, to give expression to that measure of indignation - stirred in the hearts of America by the deeds of terror which the - enemy has written across the face of France. Our Nation stands for - everything that is contrary to the spirit of arrogant power and - tyranny. Let us prove that by our lives here. - - The only history of America that many of the people of Europe will - ever read is that which is recorded by our lives. - - Live here the proud, manly existence that is justly expected. - - Be courteous, temperate and self-controlled. - - We fight against the Hun's ill-treatment of women; let no man be - tempted to do, by insinuation, what we charge our enemies with - doing by force. Let the women of France remember the men of America - as those who would shield them against all harm, even that which - might spring from their defenders. - - You would fight the man who insulted your uniform; do not insult - it yourself. Let it not be carried into places of disrepute or - into any discrediting act. We are here for a great, high, and - solemn purpose. Let every personal desire be subordinated to that - righteous purpose, then we will return to our homes clean and proud - and victorious. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -GIBRALTAR AND THE CONVOY - - AMERICAN VESSELS ESCORTED NINETY PER CENT OF SHIPPING BETWEEN - ENGLAND AND MEDITERRANEAN--GREAT WORK ACCOMPLISHED BY SHIPS UNDER - COMMAND OF ADMIRAL NIBLACK--U. S. NAVAL FORCES MADE POSSIBLE - OPERATION OF CONVOY SYSTEM, ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEASURES OF - THE WAR. - - -Gibraltar was the gateway through which passed one-fourth of all the -shipping of the Allies. When the convoy system was applied to the -Mediterranean, July, 1917, it became the principal convoy port of the -world. - -United States naval vessels furnished ocean escort both going and -returning for 90 per cent of all convoys between Gibraltar and Great -Britain--200 of the 225 groups which sailed, 4,269 ships, representing -12,000,000 gross tons. The Mediterranean escort protected 5,120 -vessels; our destroyers in that region, 1004; our Marseilles escort -73; and our men-of-war accompanied 12 other special ships, transports, -cable layers and submarines. Thus the United States vessels of this -force escorted a total of 10,478 ships. - -Realizing the strategic importance of Gibraltar, the Navy Department, -on July 5, 1917, decided to establish a base there, and on July 14th, -directed 11 vessels, including gunboats and light cruisers, under -command of Admiral Wilson, to prepare for distant service, and sail for -Gibraltar at the earliest possible date. This base, one of the most -important in Europe, was established by the Navy Department on its own -initiative, as had been the bases at Brest and Bordeaux and the Azores. -By the time our vessels arrived it became, for protection of Allied -shipping, a point of prime importance. - -The convoy system was inaugurated in the Mediterranean, by British -Admiralty order, on July 22, 1917. Five days afterwards the first -regular convoy of 14 ships sailed for England. August 6th the vanguard -of the United States naval vessels, the cruiser _Sacramento_ (Captain -T. T. Craven) reached Gibraltar. On the 17th Admiral Wilson arrived -in the _Birmingham_ (Captain C. L. Hussey), followed next day by the -_Nashville_ (Captain H. E. Yarnell). Other ships followed--the gunboats -_Castine_ (Captain W. C. Asserson), _Machias_ (Commander Austin Kautz), -_Wheeling_ (Commander H. W. Osterhaus), _Paducah_ (Commander H. H. -Royall), the cruiser _Chester_ (Captain Philip Williams), the Coast -Guard cutters _Seneca_ (Captain W. J. Wheeler), _Manning_ (Lieutenant -Commander A. J. Henderson), _Tampa_ (Lieutenant Commander Charles C. -Satterlee), _Ossipee_ (Lieutenant Commander W. H. Munter), _Yamacraw_ -(Lieutenant Commander Randolph Ridgely), _Algonquin_ (Lieutenant -Commander G. C. Carmine), the converted yachts _Yankton_ (Lieutenant -G. E. Lake), _Nahma_ (Lieutenant Commander E. Friedrick), _Druid_ -(Lieutenant Commander J. F. Connor), _Wenonah_ (Lieutenant Commander P. -E. Speicher), _Arcturus_ (Lieutenant Commander C. F. Howell), _Lydonia_ -(Lieutenant Commander R. P. McCullough), _Cythera_ (Lieutenant -Commander W. G. Roper), _Wadena_ (Lieutenant Commander W. M. Falconer), -and _Venetia_ (Commander L. B. Porterfield), the Coast and Geodetic -Survey vessel _Surveyor_ (Commander R. E. Pope), the destroyers -_Bainbridge_ (Lieutenant T. A. Thomson, Jr.), _Barry_ (Lieutenant H. -P. Sampson), _Chauncey_ (Lieutenant Commander W. E. Reno), _Dale_ -(Lieutenant Roy Pfaff), _Decatur_ (Lieutenant Ralph R. Stewart), -_Gregory_ (Commander A. P. Fairfield), _Dyer_ (Commander F. H. Poteet), -_Stribling_ (Commander G. C. Logan), _Luce_ (Commander R. C. Parker), -_Israel_ (Lieutenant Commander G. N. Barker), _Maury_ (Commander J. H. -Newton), _Lansdale_ (Lieutenant Commander C. W. Magruder), and _Schley_ -(Lieutenant Commander R. C. Giffen), and the destroyer tender _Buffalo_ -(Captain C. M. Tozer). - -American vessels took a prominent part in escort duty practically from -the beginning of convoy in that region, becoming in a short time, the -largest factor in the system. In the latter part of October, Admiral -Wilson was ordered to command our forces on the French coast, and -was succeeded by Admiral A. P. Niblack, who directed our forces at -Gibraltar to the end of the war, with fine judgment and ability. He -and his force became a tower of strength in that region, to the Allies -as well as our own Navy. - -As the American vessels arrived, they were immediately placed on duty -with convoys and as danger-zone escorts. The ships of the Allies were -employed almost exclusively in the Mediterranean, with headquarters at -Malta, and our naval vessels did nearly all the escort duty between -Gibraltar and the United Kingdom. They also convoyed over 4,000 vessels -in local Mediterranean traffic, or bound for Mediterranean and Far -Eastern ports; ships supplying the American army through Marseilles, -the French forces in North Africa; the Allied armies at Salonika; the -British in Egypt and Palestine; and the forces of Italy. - -Soon after our vessels arrived in August, 1917, Rear Admiral H. -S. Grant, British Royal Navy, senior naval officer in command at -Gibraltar, drew up the plans by which the "H. G." (Home-Gibraltar) and -"G. H." (Gibraltar-Home) convoys were organized between the United -Kingdom and the Mediterranean. These also included ships bound to and -from French ports in the Bay of Biscay and ships bound to the United -States. Destroyers, sloops and special service vessels accompanied each -convoy as a danger-zone escort through the Straits of Gibraltar to 10 -degrees west longitude and there waited for, or met, an incoming convoy -from England. Men-of-war acted as ocean escort to the convoys from that -point to British waters, where they were met by a danger-zone escort at -the end of the route. - -At the beginning of October, 1917, a system of fast convoys, sailing -every sixteen days, between the United Kingdom and Port Said, and vice -versa, was organized. These were met at a rendezvous in approximately -longitude 10 degrees west by naval vessels which escorted them to -Gibraltar, where they were relieved usually by ships from the Malta -command, to take them through the Mediterranean. These convoys were -joined at Gibraltar by ships of over 10-1/2 knots speed, which were -taken out by relief escorts and joined the convoy off Europa Point. -The first of the through outward-bound convoys, _O. E. 1_ (outward -eastward) passed Gibraltar October 11th, and the first through homeward -bound convoy, _H. E. 1_, passed on November 26th. - -By December most merchantmen which arrived at Gibraltar had been in -convoy at one time or another, and it was possible to sail ships bound -for North and South American ports in separate small convoys, with one -master and commodore, escorted through the danger zone to longitude 10 -degrees west. Between that time and the middle of February, 1918, 207 -ships were thus sailed to the Americas. - -More escort ships being available, and enemy submarine cruisers -becoming active, ships for United States and South American ports -were, beginning February 27, formed into convoys, two, a fast and a -slow one, sailing on the same day, each accompanied by the danger-zone -escort to longitude 30 degrees west, then proceeding "on their own" to -longitude 70 degrees west to be dispersed to their proper destinations. -Under this revised system there were sailed to American ports 1,013 -ships, totalling 4,371,063 gross tons. These were called W. A. Convoys -(Western Atlantic). - -The main artery for supply of the Allied armies operating in Egypt, -Palestine, Greece, Italy, Northern Africa and Southern France ran -through the Gibraltar area, requiring a great amount of offensive -work against enemy submarines, in addition to escorting convoys. -Patrol of the Straits was carried on by torpedo boats, motor launches, -sub-chasers and vessels of small displacement, entailing hardships and -exposure in every kind of weather. - -Numerous attacks on U-boats were reported in this region. The British -Admiralty credited the _U. S. S. Lydonia_ (Lieutenant Commander R. P. -McCullough) and _H. M. S. Basilisk_ with sinking a submarine while -escorting a Mediterranean convoy, May 8, 1918. In latitude 38 degrees -06´ north, longitude 3 degrees 3´ east, the _Lydonia_ sighted the -wake of a torpedo which sank the British steamship _Ingleside_. The -British and American ships immediately attacked, dropping a barrage of -depth-charges, which destroyed the enemy. The submarine was the German -UB-70, and the British Admiralty awarded these vessels the credit, -rarely given, of "known sunk." - -Commander Richard P. McCullough, commanding the _Lydonia_, was -officially commended by the British Admiralty and the British senior -naval officer at Gibraltar, as well as by our own authorities. -Lieutenant Claud F. Reynaud, the executive officer, was also given -special commendation. Sighting the torpedo at the instant it was fired, -Reynaud started his stop-watch, timed the run of the torpedo, made -immediate change of course to the position of the submarine and noted -its bearings. This enabled the commanding officer to track the probable -movements of the submarine, which was destroyed by depth-charges from -the _Lydonia_ and the _Basilisk_. - -Credit was also given for the sinking of a submarine by the _Wheeling_, -_Surveyor_ and _Venetia_. While on escort duty, May 15, 1918, in -latitude 36-03 N., longitude 1-47 W., these vessels sighted the track -of a torpedo which struck a merchant ship of the convoy. They dashed -down the wake made by the U-boat's periscope, dropping depth-charges -which soon put the submarine out of business. - -The notable record of the _Venetia_ is recited in Admiral Niblack's -recommendation of its commanding officer, Commander L. B. Porterfield, -for special commendation: - - While escorting Gibraltar-Bizerta convoy, on May 11, 1918, an enemy - submarine, which was not seen, torpedoed the French steamship - _Susette Fraisenette_ at 3:39 a. m. With excellent judgment he - assumed that submarine had dived under the convoy, and in following - out the theory sighted the submarine on the surface at daylight, - compelling it to submerge. This submarine was subsequently sunk in - the Adriatic, and the survivors testified that the attack of the - _Venetia_ on this occasion drove them off, and saved the convoy - from further attack. Commended in British Senior Naval Officer's - letter 78-14 of 24th May, 1918, and British Commander-Chief's - Mediterranean letter No. 2089-93 of 23 June, 1918. - - While escort to Gibraltar-Bizerta convoy on May 17, 1918, the - British steamship _Sculptor_ was torpedoed at 6:48 p. m. Submarine - was not seen, but the _Venetia_, having been previously detailed - to attack with depth-charges, and remain behind four hours to keep - down submarine, did so. At 7:02 p. m. wake of submarine was sighted - and depth-charges dropped. On May 18th an enemy submarine interned - at Cartagena, Spain, and was officially assumed to have been - damaged by the _Venetia_. - - While on escort duty, Gibraltar-Genoa, the British steamship - _Messidor_ was torpedoed at 7:24 p. m., July 23, 1918, and the - _Venetia_ instantly made attack, dropping thirteen depth-charges on - pre-arranged plan. - -The cruiser _Chester_ had two encounters with submarines. While on -convoy duty November 9, 1917, it attacked with gunfire a submarine -which had sunk one of the vessels of the convoy, compelling the U-boat -to submerge. On September 5, 1918, at 1:04 a. m., the _Chester_, -on ocean escort, sighted a submarine close aboard on the starboard -bow. First the cruiser attempted to ram the enemy, then attacked the -undersea craft with depth-charges, which apparently damaged the U-boat. - -Four days later a submarine attacked Convoy GGA-54, torpedoing and -sinking the British steamship _Arabis_. The _Paducah_ attacked with -depth-bombs and, according to reports, damaged the submarine. The -_Seneca_ on September 16th drove off a submarine which attacked Convoy -OM-99. The _U. S. S. Druid_ and _H. M. S. Gilia_ repulsed an attack on -Convoy BG-65, on September 22nd. Escorting Convoy BG-67, on September -30th, the _Seneca_ sighted a periscope and attacked with depth-charges -and gunfire. - -Convoy BG-68, escorted by the _Cythera_, was attacked the night of -October 3rd, and two steamships, the British _Ariel_ and the French -_St. Luc_, were torpedoed. The _Cythera_ went for the submarine, laying -a pattern of depth-charges. While being escorted through the Straits -of Gibraltar by _H. M. S. Defender_ and the _U. S. S. Decatur_, _H. M. -S. Britannia_ was torpedoed and sunk at 7 a. m., November 9, 1918. The -_Decatur_ attacked with depth-charges. The same day a torpedo was fired -at the _Parker_, which was on temporary duty on the western barrage -line, in the Straits. But the torpedo missed, and the _Parker_ went -after the U-boat, dropping depth-bombs around her. - -German submarine activity around Gibraltar continued up to the very end -of hostilities. On November 10, 1918, the day before the armistice, the -_Israel_, which was operating on the barrage line with a sub-chaser, -discovered and attacked a U-boat, and the same day Sub-chaser Unit C, -while patrolling off Point Boassa, also made contact with a submarine. - -Two vessels of the Gibraltar force were lost--the destroyer _Chauncey_, -sunk in collision with the British steamship _Rose_, November 19, 1917, -and the Coast Guard cutter _Tampa_, sunk in British waters September -30, 1918. - -The six little destroyers sent from the Philippines to Gibraltar made -the long voyage of 12,000 miles under their own steam, arriving in -October. The work they did was amazing, when their small size and age -are considered. One of them, the _Decatur_, 420 tons displacement, -which had been condemned as not seaworthy enough to venture out of -sight of land, successfully negotiated the long voyage from Manila, and -in service at Gibraltar steamed over 48,000 miles, making a total of -60,000 miles steaming before her departure for the United States. - -The _Wenonah_, an armed yacht of hardly more than 200 tons, steamed in -escort work 29,979 miles. The U. S. Coast Guard cutter _Seneca_, which -arrived at Gibraltar September 4, 1917, escorted 600 ships in convoys, -carrying total cargoes of 2,100,000 tons. These are only a few of the -phenomenal records made. - -United States naval vessels based on Gibraltar assisted in escorting -562 convoys, and 79 single ships, furnishing an average of fifty per -cent of all escorts. Under way 46 per cent of the time and 68 per cent -available at all times for operation, our vessels were, in addition -to the Gibraltar-England service and danger zone escort, employed in -escorting ships to Bizerta, Genoa, Oran and Marseilles. They maintained -a monthly service to the Azores, escorted cable ships, and also did -other odd jobs. - -No vessels performed more convoy duty than these, and Admiral Niblack, -who commanded them, thus states what was expected of the system: - - (a) That a relatively small number of escort vessels could protect - more ships if they were in convoy than in any other way. - - (b) That ships in convoy could not be visited and sunk by bombs, as - were single ships. - - (c) That ships in convoy would not be attacked by gunfire by - submarines. - - (d) That convoys, being few in number, would be difficult to find - and consequently fewer attacks could be made by torpedo. - - (e) That in the danger zones near ports where submarines would lay - for convoys the escort by anti-submarine craft could be made so - strong as to make the risk to submarines very hazardous. - -"The great advantage of the convoy," said he, "was that the ships -arrived in the danger zone collectively and at a definite time, where -an adequate danger zone escort could be assembled, which was fitted -with depth-charges and was in such numbers as to make the chances of -submarines extremely small if it attempted to attack the convoy." - -But, in considering the effect of convoy in lessening sinkings, Admiral -Niblack said: - - I think we should take into consideration, as Admiral Mayo points - out, the employment of new and offensive measures through the use - of the depth-charges, mystery ships, airships, kite balloons, - the laying of mine barrages, the firing of torpedoes from Allied - submarines, combined with the use of organized patrols fitted with - listening devices and hunting the submarine systematically. * * * * - - One very important phase of the discussion of the convoy system - which has been entirely overlooked is that during the entire - war only one escorted convoy crossed from the United States to - Gibraltar. * * * All the rest of the million tons of shipping which - crossed from the United States to Gibraltar went across as single - ships, going "on their own," as it were. These ships depended on - their armed guard gun crews, and were independent of the convoy - system. They actually encountered submarines, but they relied on - their guns for protection. - -The convoy system, however, accomplished all that was expected of it, -and was markedly successful. - -It was our destroyers at Queenstown, our forces on the French coast and -at Gibraltar, our cruisers escorting convoys crossing the Atlantic, -that made it the success it was--and it was one of the most successful -measures of the war. - -President Wilson, as I have said, favored its adoption from the -beginning; in fact, wondered why the Allies had not adopted it upon the -outbreak of war in Europe. It was one of the first measures recommended -by the General Board. But at the time this country entered the war, the -Allies were pursuing exactly the opposite method; that is, dispersion -of shipping. - -When troop transportation was first determined upon, in May, 1917, -we adopted the convoy system for troop-ships. It was in that month -that the British decided to try out the plan for merchant ships, to -see whether it would work. The first experimental convoy arrived in -England from Gibraltar, May 20. A few convoys were despatched in June, -and on June 22 Sims cabled me: "The British Admiralty have now adopted -the convoy system and will put it into effect as fast as ships can be -obtained for high sea convoy against raiders, and destroyers for escort -duty in submarine zone." He reported two routes in operation, stated -that eight convoys a week were planned, and recommended that we furnish -one cruiser or battleship a week for high sea escort. On June 30, I -informed him that the Department would assign seven cruisers for this -duty. Our destroyers were engaged in the danger-zone from the time the -first trans-Atlantic convoys were started. - -Putting the convoy system into effect was a big job, involving the -larger part of the world's shipping--a reversal of method that -necessitated a radical change in the naval scheme. Concerning the part -the United States Navy played in this great task, Admiral Sims wrote in -the _World's Work_: - - I do not wish to say that the convoy would not have been - established had we not sent the destroyers for that purpose, yet - I do not see how it could have been established in any complete - and systematic way at such an early date. And we furnished other - ships than destroyers, for, besides providing what I have called - the modern convoy--protecting the compact mass of vessels from - submarines--it was necessary also to furnish escorts after the old - Napoleonic plan. It was the business of the destroyers to conduct - merchantmen only through the submarine zone. They did not take them - the whole distance across the ocean, for there was little danger of - submarine attack until the ships reached the infested waters. This - would have been impossible in any case with the limited number of - destroyers. - - But, from the time the convoys left the home port, say New York or - Hampton Roads, there was the possibility of the same kind of attack - as that to which convoys were subjected in Nelsonian days--that is, - from raiders or cruisers. We always feared that German cruisers or - raiders of the Moewe type might escape into the ocean and attack - these merchant ships, and we therefore had to escort them across - the ocean with battleships and cruisers just as they did a century - ago. The British did not have ships enough available for this - purpose, and here again the American Navy was able to supply the - lack; for we had a number of pre-dreadnaughts and cruisers that - were ideally adapted to this kind of work. - -[Illustration: AT GIBRALTAR, KEY TO THE MEDITERRANEAN - -Above: U. S. S. Buffalo, Schley and Jupiter. - -Inset: Rear Admiral Albert P. Niblack, commanding American naval forces -in the Mediterranean. - -Below: The signal tower and American sub-chasers.] - -[Illustration: THE GREAT MINE BARRAGE AGAINST THE SUBMARINES - -This map shows the location of the mine barrage across the North Sea as -well as the smaller one across the English Channel. The dangers of this -barrage, more than any other single factor, destroyed the morale of the -German submarine crews.] - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -SHUTTING UP THE HORNETS IN THEIR NESTS - - MINE BARRAGE ACROSS NORTH SEA A TERROR TO U-BOATS--GERMANS PLANNED - BIG DRIVE, BUT SUBMARINE CREWS REFUSED TO GO TO SEA--MORALE - SHATTERED, KAISER'S NAVY WAS WRECKED BY MUTINY--PROPOSED BY U. - S. NAVY IN APRIL, 1917, EIGHTY PER CENT OF BARRAGE WAS LAID BY - AMERICANS. - - -Germany planned a great naval offensive in the fall of 1918--that is, -the German authorities did, the High Command. Why was it never carried -out? Why were the U-boats recalled? Why did the Kaiser's High Seas -Fleet surrender without striking a blow? - -When Sir Eric Geddes, First Lord of the British Admiralty, visited -Washington in October, 1918, he told me that we might expect a decided -increase in submarine activity, a German drive at sea. In the official -conferences we held, Sir Eric and his associates predicted that, -notwithstanding all the efforts we were making, vastly more tonnage -might be sunk in the ensuing months. The British were striving to -increase ship production, and put as many war vessels as possible into -commission. - -The next day I telegraphed the leading shipbuilders of the country, -asking them to come to Washington. Over 200 destroyers were under -construction or contracted for, and rapid progress was being made on -them. But I thought that, by special effort, we might rush a larger -number to completion. The critical situation outlined by the British -authorities was explained to the builders, and they were directed -to make construction continuous--to run three shifts of eight hours -each, working day, night and Sundays, and to speed up to the utmost on -destroyers and all anti-submarine craft. They pledged their earnest -assistance, proposing to increase forces, if labor could be secured, -and to push the program already undertaken on the highest gear. - -While the visit of the British mission as announced was to "discuss -certain matters concerning the naval situation," and its conferences -were confidential, its members in public statements made clear their -belief that easy or early victory was not to be expected. - -"I have made it the keynote of all my policy and all my advice to -others not to be deluded with hopes of an early peace, but to prepare -for an ever-receding duration of the war," said Sir Eric Geddes. "We -must always be prepared for two years more, and then only shall we have -the sure means of victory in our hands." - -More significant still, more to the point, was the remark made by Sir -Eric just before he sailed for Europe: - -"A great renewed effort on Germany's part is impending. We know it, and -its extent." - -Before he reached England, U-boat warfare was practically ended. Within -ten days the submarines were recalled to their home bases. As they were -returning to Germany they sank a few ships. But these were the last few -examples of German frightfulness on the seas. - -What had brought about that tremendous change? It was not due to any -lack of determination on the part of the German Admiralty, or the -Kaiser. But they found that the big stick with which they were to -strike was only a broken reed. The morale of their navy was shattered. -Officers were willing enough to obey orders, but their men refused to -fight. - -The U-boat crews, for years the pick and pride of the service, refused -to go to sea. Germany was building hundreds of submarines, they were -being turned out by the score. She might soon have sent out a dozen for -every one she had when ruthless warfare began. But willing crews were -lacking to man them. - -This was a complete reversal of previous experience. A year before -U-boat duty had been the most sought-for branch of the service. -Essaying long voyages in the Atlantic or the Mediterranean, cruising -for weeks around the waters of England and France, their officers -and men had braved many dangers, and returning were hailed by their -countrymen as conquering heroes. - -Sinkings had been made more difficult by the convoy system. Listening -devices had made it more dangerous for submarines to remain in the -vicinity of naval vessels. Patrol, by surface ships and aircraft, -had become more efficient. Shipping was more difficult to get at and -destroy. More submarines were being sunk than in the early days. But, -with all these operating against them, the U-boats, even if they could -not make such high scores in tonnage, had more than an even chance to -reach their home bases unscathed. - -Now was another danger to face, however; one that was hidden and -deadly, and it had to be faced by every boat departing or returning. -Some U-boats, putting out to sea from their nesting places on the -German coasts, vanished utterly. No trace was left, no record of what -fate befell them. - -Others, badly damaged, limped back to port. Survivors told of colliding -with mines hidden far below the surface, whose presence could not be -guessed. No vigilance could locate or action avoid them. They might -run into them anywhere within hundreds of miles. This was a terror the -undersea boatmen were unwilling to face. The revolt of the U-boat crews -spread to other branches of the naval service, and the entire German -navy began to disintegrate. - -The mutiny in the German sea forces, the demoralization of its -personnel, has no parallel in naval history. This was undoubtedly due -to various causes, but, in my belief, there was no one thing that had -more influence in breaking the German morale, particularly in the -U-boat service, than did the Northern Mine Barrage. - -Stretching across the North Sea, from Norway almost to the Orkneys, -this heavy barrier of powerful mines opposed any enemy vessels which -attempted to make their way around the north of Scotland into the -Atlantic. The Germans had only two exits from the North Sea, the one -covered by this mine barrier, and, to the south, the narrow Straits of -Dover, also partially mined and guarded by the famous Dover Patrol. - -It was a new factor in war, this vast barrage, the most successful -innovation, the biggest new naval offensive put forth after our -entrance into the war. American in conception, it was also mainly -American in construction. A joint British and American undertaking, -as it was, four-fifths of the mines laid were of American design and -manufacture, made in this country, taken across the Atlantic in -American ships, and laid by American naval vessels. - -Though not actually laid until the summer of 1918, this was the first -big project proposed by the United States Navy after our entrance into -the war. In fact, it was only nine days after war was declared that -the Bureau of Ordnance presented an elaborate memorandum, outlining -the proposition. But the British Admiralty, without whose consent and -coöperation it could not be constructed, and Admiral Sims pronounced it -"impractical" and "unfeasible." It was not until six months later that -we secured the Admiralty's approval, and the great project got under -way. - -The first mine was laid on June 8, 1918. "The barrier began to take -toll of the enemy's submarines as early as July 9, when one was -disabled on the barrier and compelled to return to Germany," reported -Admiral Joseph Strauss, commander of American mining operations in the -North Sea. "It is not known how many submarines were sunk or disabled -in the mine field. It has been placed as high as twenty-three. My own -estimate, based on known sinkings, is ten, although I am inclined to -think that is a modest one." - -Captain Reginald R. Belknap, commander of Mine Squadron 1, says the -barrage began to yield results before it was half way across. "From the -nature of the case it may never be known definitely how many actually -did come to grief there," he said; "but the best information gives -a probable ten before the middle of October, with a final total of -seventeen or more. In addition to this toll, the squadron should be -given credit for two submarines lost in the field of British mines laid -by the _Baltimore_ off the Irish coast." - -Eight and one-half per cent of the total number of submarines lost -during the war were brought into the list of missing by the barrage, -was the estimate of Admiral Ralph Earle, Chief of the Bureau of -Ordnance, under whose administration and leadership the mine barrage -was conceived, projected and constructed. Admiral Earle reported to me: - - It has been established that six submarines were lost in the - barrage and three more so badly damaged that they never again put - to sea. However, from further evidence, the British Admiralty - officially credit the barrage with fourteen additional, or a - total of twenty-three. Two hundred German U-boats were destroyed - in the war, or fifty more than the Allies could account for. - To err on the conservative side, we claim but eight out of the - fourteen credited the barrage by the British Admiralty, or a total - of seventeen. This is also the figure arrived at by Captain R. R. - Belknap, commander of Mine Squadron 1. What does this figure show? - Eight and one-half per cent of the total number of submarines - lost during the war were brought into the list of missing by the - barrage, which existed for only six per cent of the period of the - war. Such results more than justified the effort and time and funds - expended. - -[Illustration: PLANTING MINES IN THE NORTH SEA - -A squadron of American mine planters at work. Inset: Rear Admiral -Joseph Strauss, who was in general command of mining operations.] - -[Illustration: HOW THE BIG MINES IN THE NORTH SEA BARRAGE WORKED - -Fig. 1. Mine and Anchor leaving launching rails. - -Fig. 2. Fifth wheel released, plummet supported by dashpot. - -Fig. 3. Plummet released and unwinding cord. - -Fig. 4. Plummet at end of cord. Slip hook pulled off. - -Fig. 5. Anchor paying out mooring cable as it sinks. Plummet strikes -bottom and locks cable drum. - -Fig. 6. Anchor on bottom submerging mine distance equal to length of -plummet cord. - - A. MINE CASE - B. ANCHOR - C. PLUMMET - D. PLUMMET CORD - E. SLIP HOOK - F. MOORING] - -The barrage did more than take toll of submarines sent to kingdom come -by its mines. "There is no doubt," reported Sims in the "Summary of -Activities of American Forces in European Waters," "that the barrage -had a considerable moral effect on the German naval crews, for it is -known that several submarines hesitated some time before crossing. -Also, reports from German sources are that the barrage caused no small -amount of panic in some of the submarine flotillas. It is also probable -that the barrage played a part in preventing raids on Allied commerce -by fast enemy cruisers." - -Admiral Strauss, in his testimony before the Senate Investigating -Committee, declared that if the Northern Barrage and that across the -Straits of Dover had been fully completed as we planned, "it would have -ended the submarine menace, so far as submarines going from the North -Sea into the Atlantic were concerned;" and that the building of the -mine barriers across the Adriatic and Aegean seas, for which we were -preparing materials, "would have actually ended submarine operations." - -Could it have been built in 1917, a year earlier than it was? Strauss -said it could, and this was the firm belief of Earle and other -ordnance experts. True, the antenna mine we developed later was a big -improvement, superior to any previously devised. It would have taken -two or three times as many mines of the type then in use, perhaps -180,000 of them, as was estimated. We manufactured 100,000 of the -antenna type, and could have made as many more, if necessary. The -British had no antenna mines, Admiral Strauss pointed out, and all the -mines they laid in the barrage were of the older type. After all the -objections were presented to him, Admiral Strauss, when asked if he -still considered it would have been feasible to have gone ahead with -the barrage in 1917, unhesitatingly answered: "Yes." - -Not laying that barrage earlier--in fact, at the earliest possible -moment--was, in my opinion, the greatest naval error of the war. If the -British had erected it early in the war, and put a similar effective -barrier across the Straits of Dover and Otranto, the Germans would have -been so restricted that widespread U-boat warfare, with its terrible -destruction of life and shipping, would have been impossible. - -"Shutting up the hornets in their nests," as President Wilson expressed -it, was the first idea that occurred to us when we went to war. The -Bureau of Ordnance on April 15, 1917, submitted a memorandum urging -that we "stop the submarines at their source" and suggesting that -mine barriers be laid across the North Sea, the Adriatic and the -Dardanelles. "The northern barrier," it stated, "would extend from the -mid-eastern coast of Scotland to the Norwegian coast, a distance of -about 250 miles," and the southern (that is, to close the Straits of -Dover) would extend "from the southeast coast of England and to a point -on the French coast near the Belgian frontier, a distance of about -forty miles." Next day I cabled Admiral Sims, who had just arrived in -London: - - Is it not practicable to blockade German coast efficiently and - completely, thus making practically impossible the egress and - ingress of submarines? The steps attempted or accomplished in this - direction are to be reported at once. - -Two days later came the answer: - - To absolutely blockade the German and Belgian coast against - the entrance and departure of submarines has been found quite - unfeasible. - -The next day he wrote a long letter, amplifying the difficulties and -reporting against any such barriers. But our ordnance experts were -thoroughly convinced the project was feasible. On May 9th they outlined -their plans in a memorandum to be submitted to the British Admiralty, -and on May 11th I cabled to Admiral Sims: "Much opinion is in favor of -concerted efforts by the Allies to establish a complete barrier across -the North Sea, Scotland to Norway, either direct or via the Shetlands, -to prevent the egress of German submarines." I added, "The difficulty -and size of the problem is recognized, but if it is possible of -accomplishment the situation would warrant the effort." He was directed -to consult with the British Admiralty regarding this plan. Two days -later came the reply: - - From all experience Admiralty considers project of attempting to - close exit to North Sea to enemy submarines by the method suggested - to be quite impracticable. Project has previously been considered - and abandoned. - -In a dispatch on May 14th Sims said: "The abandonment of any serious -attempts at blockading such passages as Scotland-Norway, the Skagerrack -and Scotland to Shetland has been forced by bitter and expensive -experience." - -"As may well be imagined," he wrote later, "this whole subject has -been given the most earnest consideration, as it is, of course, -realized that if submarines could be kept from coming out, the whole -problem would at once be solved." But he said, "I cannot too strongly -emphasize the fact that during nearly three years of active warfare -this whole question had been the most serious subject of consideration -by the British Admiralty," which had concluded that no "barrier can be -completely effective." - -This, however, did not deter our ordnance experts. The more they -studied the question, the more were they convinced that the barrier -could be "put across." Believing in mines, preparing for mine -operations on a large scale, they were astonished when, on May 31st, -Sims reported that, instead of our giving attention to mine production, -the British Admiralty "consider we can more profitably concentrate on -other work." - -Earle and his associates in the Bureau of Ordnance never doubted final -success. They experimented with mines, firing and anchoring devices, -and on July 30th announced the development of a new type of mine, -particularly adapted to deep waters. A unique feature of this mine was -that it did not have to be struck to explode, but would explode if a -submarine passed close to it. This was due to the firing apparatus, -which was evolved from an electrical device submitted by Mr. Ralph C. -Browne, of Salem, Mass., to be used on a submerged gun. Officers of the -Bureau concluded this could be adapted to mines, and in May began work -to that end. Commander S. P. Fullinwider, chief of the Mine Section, -was aided by Mr. Browne, Lieutenant Commander T. S. Wilkinson, Jr., -and Commodore S. J. Brown in producing this firing device, and others -who assisted in developing the mine were Lieutenant Commanders O. W. -Bagby, J. A. Schofield, W. A. Corley, C. H. Wright and H. E. Fischer, -Lieutenant S. W. Cook and Lieutenant (junior grade) B. W. Grimes. - -With this improved mine as an argument, our ordnance officers renewed -the proposal of a mine offensive in the North Sea. The memorandum the -Bureau submitted was comprehensive, and contained all the essential -features of the barrage plan that was later adopted and carried into -effect. - -How could the project be best presented to the British Admiralty again? -Admiral Mayo was preparing to sail within a short time for Europe. Just -before his departure the entire project was discussed and the operation -of the improved mines explained, as he was to bring the whole matter to -the attention of the British Admiralty and the Allied Naval Council. To -prevent loss of time and further insure the Admiralty's consideration, -on August 17th, before Mayo sailed, I cabled Sims: - - Bureau of Ordnance has developed a mine which it hopes may have - decisive influence upon operations against submarines. Utmost - secrecy considered necessary. Request that an officer representing - the Admiralty, clothed with power to decide, be sent here to - inspect and thoroughly test mine, and, if found satisfactory, - arrange for coöperation in mining operations. - -The Allied Naval Conference, held in London September 4th and 5th, -which Mayo attended, took up not only the barrage project, but another -proposition our Navy Department had suggested months before, a close -offensive in German waters. After the meeting Mayo cabled: - - Conference completed after agreement upon the following points: - - 1. That close offensive in German waters should be carefully - considered by Allies, after which they should indicate to British - Admiralty contribution of old war ships they are prepared to - furnish should offensive prove practicable. - - 2. That alternative offensive employing effective mine field or - mine net barrage to completely shut in North Sea not practicable - until adequate supply satisfactory type mines assured, and - that pending such supply, extension present system mine fields - desirable and that mine net barrage impracticable. - -This indicated to us that the British still doubted the effectiveness -of a barrage, as well as our ability to furnish an adequate supply of -mines. It was evident that, after five months of earnest advocacy, -further urging was needed to secure approval of the project. Benson, -therefore, on September 12th, cabled Mayo: - - There are great possibilities in the satisfactory solution of - the mine and depth-charge question. Officers sent over here most - satisfactory and remarkably well posted. I think it would help the - whole situation wonderfully if Commodore Gaunt could visit the - Admiralty for a few days and have a heart-to-heart talk. No time to - be lost. - -What happened next? The day after Benson's message was received, -the British Admiralty made out for Mayo a paper entitled, "General -Future Policy, Including Mine Policy," with an appendix, "Mine Barrage -Across the North Sea." The policy outlined by the Admiralty, announced -September 14th, was the same the Navy Department had suggested nearly -five months previous. - -Even then there was delay. On October 9th, Sims reported that the -Admiralty was "thoroughly investigating the question" and that "the -discussion of this question will probably be postponed by the Admiralty -until the return of the commander-in-chief." We were still not certain -as to whether the British were ready to put it through. But, believing -that the plan must finally be put into effect, our Bureau of Ordnance -went ahead, and let the contracts for 100,000 mines. Upon Mayo's return -October 15th, the amendments suggested by the British were approved by -the General Board and accepted by the Department. Nothing definite, -however, had come from London and on October 20th Sims was cabled: - - The Department requests to be informed whether the plan for - the placing of a mine barrier across the North Sea on the - Aberdeen-Egersund line has the approval of the Admiralty. - -Finally on October 22nd, an answer direct from the British Admiralty -said, "Admiralty has approved mine barrier and now confirms approval." - -All the details were then perfected--this required several days--and -on October 29th I received and approved the completed plans. The -President, who for months had been impatient of delay, gave his -approval as soon as they were laid before him. This was at a cabinet -meeting on October 30th. The same day a cable was sent to the Admiralty -that we had taken steps to fit out mine-planters; that shipment of -mines would begin the first of January, and officers would be sent in a -few days to arrange details. - -So after months of opposition, doubt and indecision, the two navies -united in the construction of this most stupendous job of the kind ever -conceived or undertaken. It was well done and the result demonstrated -its effectiveness. Admiral Sims himself, after its completion and -success, said that "no such project has ever been carried out more -successfully" and that "as an achievement it stands as one of the -wonders of the war." - -I am not giving these details in any spirit of criticism of the -British Admiralty or our representative in London, but to do justice -to the vision, initiative and resource of the American Navy. It was, -indeed, a bold and gigantic experiment, calling for many millions of -money and the strenuous and dangerous work of many men. That it was so -successfully done reflects credit alike on Britons and Americans, and -both share in the honor of its accomplishment. - -Manufacturing 100,000 mines was a big order, but that was only -the beginning. They had to be shipped 3,500 miles overseas, which -necessitated a fleet of mine-carriers. Twenty-three cargo vessels -were converted, and assigned to this duty. To fill the mines with -explosives a mine-loading plant of 22 buildings was erected at St. -Julien's Creek, Va., capable of receiving, loading and shipping 1,000 -mines a day. Advanced bases, for inspection and assembly of the mines, -were established in February, 1918, on the east coast of Scotland, at -Inverness and Invergordon, with Captain O. G. Murfin in charge. - -For the work of mine-laying, a Mine Squadron was created, under command -of Captain Reginald R. Belknap. This consisted of the flagship _San -Francisco_ (Captain H. V. Butler), and her consort, the _Baltimore_ -(Captain A. W. Marshall), "crack cruisers of the vintage of 1890," -as Captain Belknap called them; and eight former merchant vessels -converted into naval mine planters. Four of these were Southern -Pacific or Morgan liners, carrying freight between New York and -Galveston, renamed the _Roanoke_ (Captain C. D. Stearns), _Canonicus_ -(Captain T. L. Johnson), _Housatonic_ (Captain J. W. Greenslade), and -_Canandaigua_ (Commander W. H. Reynolds). Two were the Old Dominion -passenger liners _Jefferson_ and _Hamilton_, running between New York -and Norfolk, renamed _Quinnebaug_ (Commander D. Pratt Mannix), and -_Saranac_ (Captain Sinclair Gannon). The remaining two were the fast -Boston and New York passenger steamers, _Massachusetts_ and _Bunker -Hill_, of the Eastern Steamship Corporation, renamed _Shawmut_ (Captain -W. T. Cluverius), and _Aroostook_ (Captain J. Harvey Tomb). They were -accompanied abroad by several seagoing tugs, the _Sonoma_, _Ontario_, -_Patapsco_ and _Patuxent_. - -Admiral Strauss, who was in general command of mining operations, -went to England in March, inspected the bases, and conferred with the -British authorities as to the general arrangements. His flagship was -the _Black Hawk_ (Captain R. C. Bulmer), which was also the repair -vessel of the mine force. The British began mine laying in March, but -one of their vessels, the _Gailardia_, was sunk; and operations were -suspended for a time until the safety of the mines could be assured. - -The _Baltimore_, the first of our vessels sent over, arrived in the -Clyde in March. Submarines were very active in Irish waters, and the -Admiralty decided to lay a deep mine-field off the north coast of -Ireland, in the North Channel. As all British mine-layers were employed -elsewhere, the Admiralty requested the use of the _Baltimore_. This was -readily granted and the _Baltimore_ engaged in this from April 13th -until the latter part of May, joining our squadron in Scotland June -2nd. The _Roanoke_, sent over to assist her, was instead ordered to our -base at Invergordon. - -Sailing from Newport, May 12th, the _San Francisco_ and other vessels -arrived at Inverness, May 26th, all ready to begin operations. -Twelve days later the squadron started on its first mine-planting -"excursion." On these expeditions, which lasted usually from 40 to -80 hours, the squadron was regarded as a part of the British Grand -Fleet. Screening it against submarines, and hostile mines casually -placed, was an escort of eight to twelve British destroyers, which -formed around the squadron upon its leaving the base and kept with it -until its return. To guard against attack from enemy cruisers, while -away from the coast, the squadron was accompanied by a supporting -force, consisting of a battleship or battle-cruiser squadron and a -light-cruiser squadron of the Grand Fleet, sometimes by all three, -according to the estimated probabilities of attack. On the second -mining excursion the support was the Sixth Battle Squadron, the -American battleships, commanded by Admiral Rodman. Captain Belknap gave -a vivid picture of the dangerous character of mine-laying when he said: - - One may imagine with what feelings we saw our own great ships file - out of Scapa Flow, form line on our quarter, and slowly disappear - in the haze, as they swept off to the southeastward. It will be - readily understood that the way had to be made smooth for the mine - planters. As long as it was so, all would go well; but a single - well placed torpedo or mine, or a few enemy shells, would certainly - finish one vessel, and probably destroy all ten of them. Each mine - planter carried from 24 to 120 tons of high explosive, a total of - nearly 800 tons in the squadron, many times more than the amount - that devastated Halifax. With this on board, the squadron was - hardly a welcome visitor anywhere. - -Operations as a whole were conducted in conjunction with a British -mine-laying squadron of four vessels, under command of Rear Admiral -Clinton-Baker. American and British squadrons often went out at the -same time, under protection of the same heavy vessels, but except on -two occasions they worked separately, in different parts of the barrage -area. Thus there were altogether fourteen mine planters at work at the -same time. - -On the first excursion, June 7th, the American squadron planted a mine -field 47 miles long, containing 3,400 mines, in 3 hours and 36 minutes. -Everything went without a hitch. One ship emptied herself of 675 mines -without a single break, one mine every 11-1/2 seconds through more than -two hours, a record never before equalled. - -[Illustration: ONE OF THE PERILS OF MINE-SWEEPING - -An explosion close astern of the Patapsco. The greatest care was -exercised to avoid accidents of this character, but to eliminate them -entirely was impossible.] - -[Illustration: THE MINE-SWEEPERS PROVED WONDERFUL SEA BOATS - -These tiny craft rode many a rough sea which worried larger and more -powerful ships.] - -[Illustration: UNITED STATES NAVAL OFFICES IN IMPORTANT COMMANDS - -Left to right: Admiral Sims, Admiral Mayo, Captain Nathan C. Twining, -Captain O. P. Jackson, Admiral Wilson.] - -[Illustration: AMERICAN AND BRITISH NAVAL OFFICIALS - -Left to right: Admiral Benson, Secretary Daniels, Sir Eric Geddes, -Admiral Duff.] - -Dangerous as was the work, there were very few casualties. One man -fell overboard from the _Saranac_ and was drowned, but he was the only -man lost at sea, and there were but four other deaths in that force of -4,000. Laden with high explosives, navigating waters where enemy mines -had been laid, operating near mine fields, and in danger of premature -explosion from those they themselves had laid, it is remarkable that -not one of these ships was lost or seriously damaged. - -The eighth excursion in which British and American squadrons joined, -both in command of Admiral Strauss, closed the western end of the -barrier, off the Orkneys. The next expedition was conducted in the -same manner, with Rear Admiral Clinton-Baker, of the British Navy, in -command. The American squadron made fifteen excursions, the British -eleven, operations being completed October 26th. In four hours on one -expedition, 6,820 mines were planted, 5,520 by our vessels, 1,300 by -the British. Our squadron alone planted a field 73 miles long in one -day. - -Seventy thousand, two hundred and sixty-three mines were laid--13,652 -British, 56,611 American. Numerous lines were laid near the surface; -others were placed at from 90 to 160 feet; and the lowest went to -depths from 160 to 240 feet. - -Beginning near the northern Orkneys, the barrier ran to Udsire Light, -near Bergen, on the coast of Norway, 230 miles. Its average width was -25 miles, in some places it was 35 miles across, and at no point was -it less than 15 miles wide. At its narrowest, this meant more than -an hour's run for a submarine. Mines were planted, row after row, at -various depths. If a U-boat proceeded on or near the surface, it would -encounter from six to ten lines of mines. If it tried to break through -by going deeper, there were more of the deadly explosives. Submergence -was, in fact, as dangerous as running the gauntlet on the surface. No -matter how far the sub went down there were mines to meet it, to the -furthest limit of submarine descent. One touch--even a slight jar from -the vibration of the U-boat--was enough to set off one of these mines, -and when it exploded the U-boat was done for. - -Mine-laying was not the only role played by the American force, Captain -Belknap wrote: - - In addition to the value of the barrage itself, in keeping the - enemy submarines in or from their bases, the mine squadrons were - expected to serve as bait, to draw out the German fleet; the - squadrons' role being neatly expressed by one high officer as - "an important military offensive with a front seat at the Second - Battle of Jutland." This ever present possibility and the fact - that the working ground lay in the principal thoroughfare of enemy - submarines, with attendant incidents of periscope sightings, - submarine reports, depth charges, smoke screens, floating mines, - and dead Germans floating by, lent spice to the work, which, like - the proverbial sporting life, was often hard but never dull. * * * - - On every excursion, during the mine laying, one or more of the - mines would go off fairly close astern--lest we forget! The mines - were very sensitive, and no witness of an excursion could retain - any doubt as to the fate of a submarine that "luckless dares our - silent wake." - -The eastern end of the barrage extended to the territorial waters of -Norway. That country being neutral we could not, of course, mine to its -shores. With the growth of the barrier, U-boats took advantage of this, -going within the three-mile limit to slip by into the open sea. The -Norwegian Government then announced its decision to mine its waters, -which closed that gap. - -Our original plan was to plant mines clear to the Orkneys, and this we -urged. But Admiral Beatty and others strongly objected, fearing that -it might hamper the operations of the Grand Fleet. So the mine-fields -ended ten miles east of the islands. But this ten-mile passage was -heavily patroled, and any "sub" attempting to pass that way must run -the risk of attack by numerous naval vessels. Thus the U-boats could -not get through anywhere except at great risk. Months were required to -lay that barrier, and during that time there were unmined areas through -which vessels could pass. - -The barrage was completed October 26th, almost coincident with -Germany's recall of its U-boats, which practically ended submarine -warfare. Some of those recalled did not reach these waters until the -armistice had been signed, hostilities were over, and they were immune -from attack. Some "ran" the barrage, and several met the fate of the -U-156, one of the undersea cruisers which operated off our own coasts. -Attempting to get through the barrier, she struck a mine and went down. -So far as known, only 21 of her crew were saved. - -The Northern Barrage cost us approximately $80,000,000. Shipping sunk -by submarines averaged, for a long period, over $70,000,000 a month, at -times ran over $80,000,000, in actual monetary value, not counting the -resultant military effect of its loss. Admiral Sims estimates that the -war cost the Allies $100,000,000 a day. Thus, if the Northern Barrage -shortened the war one day, it more than repaid its cost. - -Our mining projects were not confined to the North Sea. Plans had been -accepted and mines were in process of manufacture for a like barrage -across the Straits of Otranto, from Brindisi, the heel of Italy, to -Saseno Island. This would have effectually shut up German and Austrian -submarines in the Adriatic. We had also agreed to undertake to provide -and lay 26,800 mines for a barrage in the Aegean Sea from Euboea Island -to Cape Kanaptitza, except for the part resting on Turkish territorial -waters, which was to be established by Great Britain, since the United -States was not at war with Turkey. The armistice made these barrages -unnecessary. - -But our mining operations were by no means concluded with the cessation -of hostilities. Clearing the seas was our next duty, for navigation -would not be safe until the many thousands of mines were removed. -This work was divided among the various nations. The United States -volunteered to remove all the mines we had laid. - -Admiral Strauss, in charge of these operations, had his base at -Kirkwall, and his force comprised 34 mine-sweepers, 24 sub-chasers, two -tugs, two tenders and 20 British trawlers, which were also manned by U. -S. naval personnel: - - Repair Ships and Force Auxiliaries--_Black Hawk_ (flagship); - _Panther_, _Seneca_, _Chesapeake_, _Aspenleaf_, _Crenella_, and the - British vessels _Hickorol_, _Petronel_ and _Hopkiln_. - - Submarine Chasers--Numbers 37, 38, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 95, 110, - 164, 178, 181, 182, 206, 207, 208, 254, 256, 259, 272, 329, 354, - and 356. - - Mine-Sweepers--_Auk_, _Avocet_, _Bobolink_, _Chewink_, _Cormorant_, - _Curlew_, _Eider_, _Falcon_, _Finch_, _Flamingo_, _Grebe_, _Heron_, - _Kingfisher_, _Lapwing_, _Lark_, _Mallard_, _Oriole_, _Osprey_, - _Pelican_, _Penguin_, _Quail_, _Rail_, _Robin_, _Sanderling_, - _Seagull_, _Swallow_, _Swan_, _Tanager_, _Teal_, _Thrush_, - _Turkey_, _Whippoorwill_, _Widgeon_, _Woodcock_, _Patapsco_, - _Patuxent_. - - Trawlers--_William Johnson_, _Richard Bulkeley_, _Thos. - Blackhorne_, _Thomas Buckley_, _George Cochrane_, _John Collins_, - _William Caldwell, eorge Clarice_, _William Darnold_, _Siam - Duffey_, _John Graham_, _Thomas Laundry_, _William Ashton_, _George - Burton_, _John Dunkin_, _Thomas Graham_, _Thomas Henrix_, _John - Fitzgerald_, _John Clay_, _Pat Caharty_. - -I had the pleasure of visiting our mine base in Scotland just before -the squadron sailed on its first expedition. Everything was ready -for operations. The spirit of officers and men was inspiring. Not -minimizing for a moment the difficulties they had to face, all were -eager to begin the task. - -They were to set forth on April 28th, but the heaviest snowstorm of the -year was raging, causing 24 hours delay. The next morning the sweepers -and a division of sub-chasers got under way for the barrage, while the -_Black Hawk_ and other chasers proceeded to the new base at Kirkwall. -That excursion, which was experimental, was completed May 2nd. - -Mines sometimes fouled in the "kites" which picked them up, and -exploded as the sweep was being hauled in. The _Patuxent_ was the -victim of an accident of this kind on May 12th. Severed by an -explosion, its sweep had to be hauled on board to be repaired. When -the kite came within sight, a mine was seen hanging by its towing -cable. The commanding officer sent all hands forward to a place of -safety, going aft himself to clear it, with the assistance of his chief -boatswain's mate. When the mine got within ten feet of the ship, it -exploded. Several men were blown overboard by the mass of flying water, -but all were rescued. The commanding officer had a narrow escape. Only -a few feet from the exploding mine, his thumb was cut off by a flying -fragment of steel, but luckily he escaped further injury. - -Two days later, the same accident befell the _Bobolink_, killing its -commanding officer, Lieutenant Frank Bruce, and badly damaging the -ship. Seeking first the safety of his crew, Lieutenant Bruce went aft -to clear the mine. Before anything could be done, it exploded, killing -him and blowing the boatswain and three other men into the water. -All four were rescued, though the boatswain was unconscious from the -shock. The _Teal_ took her in tow and, accompanied by the _Swallow_ and -sub-chaser No. 45, towed her to Scapa Flow. - -While clearing the largest mine-group in June the force found -impressive evidence of the success of the barrage. Crossing the lines -of mines, the _Heron_ and the _Sanderling_ were brought to a standstill -by an obstruction which fouled their sweeps. Oil rose to the surface, -and spread out astern, giving evidence of the wreck of a submarine -underneath. This was the locality in which the mine-laying squadron -had sighted the body of a German sailor floating in the water. From -the records of the Admiralty, it appeared that the obstruction was the -wreck of the German submarine UB-127. - -Six mines exploded under and around the _Pelican_ one day in July. -Deluged by the mass of water thrown up by the explosion, the forward -part of the ship ruptured and flooded, the mine-sweeper was rapidly -sinking. Captain R. C. Bulmer, directing the operations, went at -once to her assistance. Placing his flagship, the _Auk_, alongside -the _Pelican_, he connected his wrecking hose with the forward -compartments, and set the pumps going to keep the damaged ship afloat. -The _Eider_ got on the other side, and did the same thing. The _Teal_ -took the three ships in tow, and the four, lashed together, headed -slowly for port. The bow of the _Pelican_ was hardly above water, but -for several hours constant pumping held her up. - -Then a heavy head sea arose, and the pump-lines were carried away. -Water rose in the _Pelican_, buckling the forward bulkhead, and the -vessel was liable to burst at any moment, going down in a flash. Every -man on her was in danger, and it was decided to leave aboard only a -few men to do necessary work. Twelve volunteers were called for. Every -member of her crew stepped forward. The dozen strongest were chosen and -the others, against their will, were ordered off the ship. - -Fifty miles of open sea were still to be traversed. Darkness had -fallen. Crews of _Auk_ and _Eider_ struggled desperately to get the -lines repaired and pumps going. Men stood by with axes to cut the -mooring lines, in case the _Pelican_ should sink. All through the night -this struggle continued, and there was a sigh of relief when day dawned -with the vessel still afloat, and the ships reached the shelter of -Tresness Bay. - -A curious accident befell the _Flamingo_. While weighing anchor, -steel touched copper and exploded a mine which her anchor had fouled, -damaging her rudder, bending her skeg, and dishing in her stern. - -The most serious disaster encountered in all our mine sweeping occurred -on July 12th, the sinking of the _Richard Bulkeley_. Caught in its -kite, a mine was seen close to her stern, near the surface. To get it -further away the kite wire was being veered when the mine exploded. The -after part of the ship's hull was shattered. She sank in seven minutes. - -Commander Frank R. King, who was in command of the division of trawlers -as well as the _Bulkeley_, went down with the vessel. When the blast -came, his first thought was the safety of his crew. Half stunned by the -explosion, one man, whose life-preserver had been blown off, struggled -to the deck. Commander King took off his own life-belt, buckled it -around the sailor, and helped him get clear of the ship before she took -her final plunge. Until the vessel disappeared he was still hunting -for members of the crew who might be left aboard. When last seen, as -the _Bulkeley_ went lower into the water, he was on the bridge. He -went down with his ship, a heroic figure, sacrificing his life to save -his men. It was a solemn privilege to me, a few months later, to pay -tribute to the memory of this gallant officer by naming one of our new -destroyers in his honor. - -Altogether, two officers and nine men were killed during these -hazardous operations, and 23 ships were damaged. Regrettable as was -this loss of life, it was small in comparison with that of our comrades -in the British mine-sweeping service. - -The mine field was removed, consisting of 50,000 mines, spread over an -area of some 6,000 square miles of the stormy North Sea, and the entire -barrage swept up by September 30th. On that day the hazard to shipping -by this vast enterprise in the North Sea was removed. - -When the Mine Force returned to the United States, it was given -a welcome as genuine as that accorded our battleships when they -returned from service abroad. As the vessels steamed up North River, -November 24, 1919, they were reviewed by the Secretary of the Navy, -distinguished officers and citizens on Admiral Strauss' flagship, the -_Black Hawk_. - -This marked the end of that enterprise which "shut up the hornets in -their nests"--that bold adventure which was the greatest new naval -offensive of the war. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -PRESIDENT WILSON AS A STRATEGIST - - SPEAKING TO OFFICERS OF THE FLEET AT YORKTOWN, HE ADVOCATED NEW AND - BOLD METHODS--"WHY NOT SHUT UP THE HORNETS IN THEIR NESTS?"--"LEAVE - OUT OF YOUR VOCABULARY THE WORD 'PRUDENT'; DO THE THING THAT IS - AUDACIOUS TO THE UTMOST POINT OF RISK AND DARING." - - -The world knows President Wilson as a scholar, teacher and historian; -as executive and statesman. But it does not know him, as we did, as a -master of military strategy. - -His grasp of the whole situation, his clear conception of Army and -Navy policies and operations, his rare judgment were demonstrated in -important decisions, and his personal interest and influence had a -marked effect on the conduct of the war. - -Always interested in the Navy, he kept up with all that was being done -and planned, and his suggestions and directions proved of the utmost -value to officers and officials. - -"We shall take leave to be strong upon the seas," he said not long -after the beginning of the European war. In his address at St. Louis, -early in 1916, he declared that ours should be "the most adequate navy -in the world." At the next cabinet meeting a member expressed surprise -at the President's advocacy of so vigorous a naval policy, and asked if -he had been correctly quoted in the newspapers. - -"Yes," replied the President, "and it is one thing I said in my swing -around the circle that I absolutely believe." - -He strongly urged the big construction program presented several months -before, and exercised a potent influence in putting through Congress -the "three year program" which authorized building 157 naval vessels. - -Long before we entered the war, when the Allied navies seemed impotent -before the onslaughts of the submarines, President Wilson pointed to -the vigorous policies which later proved so successful. - -"Daniels, why don't the British convoy their merchant ships and thus -protect them from submarines?" he asked me early in the war. As -sinkings increased, he pointed out that their practice of sailing -ships separately had proved a failure, and asked, "Why now, with their -distressing experiences, do they hesitate about adopting the convoy -system?" - -He could not comprehend why the British, as soon as Germany declared -war, had not mined the English Channel so that no submarine could pass -through it. As a matter of fact, strange as it seems, the channel from -Dover to Calais never was a complete barrier to submarines, though the -Dover Patrol did brilliant service, and the United States Navy insisted -that closing this channel was one of the first steps toward defeating -the U-boats. - -"Why don't the British shut up the hornets in their nests?" he asked -me just before we entered the war, and after we were embarked upon it -he declared that we must insist upon some plan that would prevent the -egress of the U-boats from their bases. "When our Bureau of Ordnance -proposed, in April, 1917, the construction of a mine barrage across the -North Sea, he was deeply interested in the plan and heartily approved -it. That carried out the idea he believed the Allies should have put -into effect earlier in the war. As that plan was debated and delayed, -and characterized in London as "impracticable," he grew impatient -of the long delay in adopting this or some other vigorous offensive -against the submarines. - -[Illustration: THE TRANSPORT WHICH CARRIED PRESIDENT WILSON TO THE -PEACE CONFERENCE - -An aerial view of the George Washington. This ship carried to France -more soldiers than any other transport except the Leviathan.] - -On July 4, 1917, he sent the following cablegram to London: - - "Strictly confidential." From the President for Admiral Sims. - - From the beginning of the war, I have been greatly surprised at the - failure of the British Admiralty to use Great Britain's great naval - superiority in an effective way. In the presence of the present - submarine emergency they are helpless to the point of panic. Every - plan we suggest they reject for some reason of prudence. In my view - this is not a time for prudence but for boldness, even at the cost - of great losses. - - In most of your dispatches you have quite properly advised us of - the sort of aid and coöperation desired from us by the Admiralty. - The trouble is that their plans and methods do not seem to us - efficacious. I would be very much obliged to you if you would - report to me, confidentially, of course, exactly what the Admiralty - has been doing, and what they have accomplished, and, added to the - report, your own comments and suggestions, based upon independent - thought of the whole situation, without regard to the judgment of - any one on that side of the water. - - The Admiralty was very slow to adopt the protection of convoy - and it is not now, I judge, protecting convoys on adequate scale - within the danger zone, seeming to keep small craft with the Grand - Fleet. The absence of craft for convoy is even more apparent on the - French coast than on the English coast and in the Channel. I do - not see how the necessary military supplies and supplies of food - and fuel oil are to be delivered at British ports in any other way - within the next few months than under adequate convoy. There will - presently not be ships or tankers enough and our shipbuilding plans - may not begin to yield important results in less than eighteen - months. - - I believe that you will keep these instructions absolutely and - entirely to yourself, and that you will give me such advice as you - would give if you were handling the situation yourself, and if you - were running a Navy of your own. - - WOODROW WILSON. - -[Illustration: ALLIED NAVAL COUNCIL IN SESSION AT PARIS - -Admiral Sims at the extreme left, Admiral Benson third from left -end. In the center Sir Eric Geddes (bareheaded), First Lord of the -Admiralty, and M. Legues, French Minister of Marine. At the left of M. -Legues is Admiral Beatty, and back of him, to his right, Admiral Long.] - -Admiral Sims made an extended and detailed reply to this cablegram, but -it evidently did not satisfy the President, as was shown a month later, -in his address to the Fleet. - -That visit to the Fleet, August 11, 1917, was a notable occasion. It -was the first time, I believe, that a President has, in the midst of -war, gone to the chief naval rendezvous and gathered the officers -about him for a heart-to-heart talk. Standing on the quarter deck of -the _Pennsylvania_, surrounded by admirals, captains, commanders and -other ranks, he could see all around him the dreadnaughts which are the -embodiment of national strength and naval power. In the background was -Yorktown, where Cornwallis' surrender marked the culminating victory of -the Revolution. And in this historic spot American forces were again -making history. - -The President had slipped away so quietly from Washington that few knew -he was gone. Not only the speech he made, but the very fact of his -visit was long kept secret. But that address, informal and confidential -as it was, deserves a place in naval history. - -Disclaiming any idea that he had come "with malice prepense to make -a speech," he told the officers that he had come to have a look at -them and say some things that might be best said intimately and in -confidence. "One of the deprivations which any man in authority -experiences," he exclaimed, "is that he cannot come into constant and -intimate touch with the men with whom he is associated and necessarily -associated in action." "The whole circumstance of the modern time," is -extraordinary, calling for extraordinary action, he pointed out and -said: - - Now, the point that is constantly in my mind, gentlemen, is this: - This is an unprecedented war and, therefore, it is a war in one - sense for amateurs. Nobody ever before conducted a war like this - and therefore nobody can pretend to be a professional in a war - like this. Here are two great navies, not to speak of the others - associated with us, our own and the British, outnumbering by a - very great margin the navy to which we are opposed and yet casting - about for a way in which to use our superiority and our strength, - because of the novelty of the instruments used, because of the - unprecedented character of the war; because, as I said just now, - nobody ever before fought a war like this, in the way that this - is being fought at sea, or on land either, for that matter. The - experienced soldier,--experienced in previous wars,--is a back - number so far as his experience is concerned; not so far as his - intelligence is concerned. His experience does not count, because - he never fought a war as this is being fought, and therefore he - is an amateur along with the rest of us. Now, somebody has got to - think this war out. Somebody has got to think out the way not only - to fight the submarine, but to do something different from what we - are doing. - - We are hunting hornets all over the farm and letting the nest - alone. None of us knows how to go to the nest and crush it, and - yet I despair of hunting for hornets all over the sea when I know - where the nest is and know that the nest is breeding hornets as - fast as I can find them. I am willing for my part, and I know you - are willing, because I know the stuff you are made of--I am willing - to sacrifice half the navy, Great Britain and we together have to - crush that nest, because if we crush it, the war is won. I have - come here to say that I do not care where it comes from, I do not - care whether it comes from the youngest officer or the oldest, but - I want the officers of this Navy to have the distinction of saying - how this war is going to be won. - - The Secretary of the Navy and I have just been talking over plans - for putting the planning machinery of the Navy at the disposal - of the brains of the Navy and not stopping to ask what rank that - brains has, because, as I have said before and want to repeat, so - far as experience in this kind of war is concerned we are all of - the same rank. I am not saying that I do not expect the admirals - to tell us what to do, but I am saying that I want the youngest and - most modest youngster in the service to tell us what we ought to do - if he knows what it is. Now I am willing to make any sacrifice for - that. I mean any sacrifice of time or anything else. I am ready to - put myself at the disposal of any officer in the Navy who thinks he - knows how to run this war. I will not undertake to tell you whether - he does or not, because I know I cannot, but I will undertake to - put him in communication with those who can find out whether his - idea will work or not. I have the authority to do that and I will - do it with the greatest pleasure. The idea that is in my mind all - the time is that we are comrades in this thing." - -"I wish that I could think and had the brains to think in the terms of -marine warfare," he remarked, "because I would feel then that I was -figuring out the future history of the political freedom of mankind." - -"We have got to throw tradition to the winds," he exclaimed, and went -on to say: - - Now, as I have said, gentlemen, I take it for granted that nothing - that I say here will be repeated and therefore I am going to - say this: Every time we have suggested anything to the British - Admiralty the reply has come back that virtually amounted to this, - that it had never been done that way, and I felt like saying, - "Well, nothing was ever done so systematically as nothing is being - done now." Therefore, I should like to see something unusual - happen, something that was never done before; and inasmuch as the - things that are being done to you were never done before, don't you - think it is worth while to try something that was never done before - against those who are doing them to you? There is no other way to - win, and the whole principle of this war is the kind of thing that - ought to hearten and stimulate America. - - America has always boasted that she could find men to do anything. - She is the prize amateur nation of the world. Germany is the prize - professional nation of the world. Now, when it comes to doing new - things and doing them well, I will back the amateur against the - professional every time, because the professional does it out of - the book and the amateur does it with his eyes open upon a new - world and with a new set of circumstances. He knows so little about - it that he is fool enough to try the right thing. The men that do - not know the danger are the rashest men, and I have several times - ventured to make this suggestion to the men about me in both arms - of the service: Please leave out of your vocabulary altogether the - word "prudent." Do not stop to think about what is prudent for a - moment. Do the thing that is audacious to the utmost point of risk - and daring, because that is exactly the thing that the other side - does not understand, and you will win by the audacity of method - when you cannot win by circumspection and prudence. - - I think that there are willing ears to hear this in the American - Navy and the American Army, because that is the kind of folks we - are. We get tired of the old ways and covet the new ones. - - So, gentlemen, besides coming down here to give you my personal - greeting and to say how absolutely I rely on you and believe in - you, I have come down here to say also that I depend on you, depend - on you for brains as well as training and courage and discipline. - You are doing your job admirably, the job that you have been - taught to do; now let us do something that we were never taught - to do and do it just as well as we are doing the older and more - habitual things, and do not let anybody ever put one thought of - discouragement into your minds. I do not know what is the matter - with the newspapers of the United States. I suppose they have to - vary the tune from time to time just to relieve their minds, but - every now and then a wave of the most absurd discouragement and - pessimism goes through the country and we hear nothing except of - the unusual advantages and equipment and sagacity and preparation - and all the other wonderful things of the German Army and Navy. - My comment is always the very familiar comment, "Rats!" They are - working under infinite disadvantages. They not only have no more - brains than we have, but they have a different and less serviceable - kind of brains than we have, if we will use the brains we have got. - I am not discouraged for a moment, particularly because we have not - even begun and, without saying anything in disparagement of those - with whom we are associated in the war, I do expect things to begin - when we begin. If they do not, American history will have changed - its course; the American Army and Navy will have changed their - character. There will have to come a new tradition into a service - which does not do new and audacious and successful things. - -A short time after the President made this declaration on his flagship, -Admiral Mayo was dispatched to Europe, where he pressed upon the -British Admiralty the necessity of constructing the North Sea barrage. -Finally in October, six months after the plan had been presented, this -great project, in line with President Wilson's idea of bold and new -things in naval warfare, was undertaken. - -From many quarters tips came to the President of possible surprise -action and not a few orders to Naval Intelligence to send out secret -service men to run down a clue were the result of suggestions emanating -from the President. Sometimes, unannounced and unheralded, during the -war, he would drop in at the Navy Department, and quite as often at the -War Department, and he never came merely to visit, agreeable as social -intercourse would have been. He had an idea every time, a practical -suggestion, or a desire to be informed of progress in some particular -undertaking which he was following with deep interest. - -Sometimes when he dropped in unexpectedly to make a suggestion--(he -had a habit of calling directions "suggestions" when speaking to a -Cabinet member)--I sometimes wondered if he was not as much influenced -in making his personal calls to give encouragement and support, and the -helpful personal touch, as to discuss strategy or tactics or policy. -Certainly these visits heartened and strengthened those of us who in -trying times were charged with heavy responsibility. He knew, too, what -was going on. He often surprised me by his knowledge of the comparative -qualities of men he had never seen--how accurate was his appraisement, -how his questioning of them showed the military leadership which few -people thought the college professor possessed. He never left my -office, and I never left the White House, after a conference during the -war, without the reflection that the world had lost a great military -leader when it gained a great educator and executive. - -When we were transporting soldiers through the infested zones he was -anxious, intensely interested, and read every cablegram concerning the -troop-ships. When he did not come in person, in crucial days, there -would come from the White House frequent memoranda written by himself -on his little typewriter, asking for some information or making an -illuminating suggestion, signed " W. W." Those " W. W." notes never -had a spare word, and they showed the same clearness and vision which -John Hay tells us Lincoln had when he would go over to see Stanton, or -Gideon Welles in the dark days of Civil War. - -There is a feeling among many military men that civilians "butt in" -when they give their views on strategy. It is notorious how some of the -generals in the War between the States resented the suggestions of Mr. -Lincoln, suggestions which as a rule displayed sounder judgment of the -way to win battles than the military experts had shown. - -I recall one admiral during the war, who, upon receiving, through the -diplomatic representatives of our Government, President Wilson's -strong opinion that a certain important offensive should be adopted, -asked: "What does the President want to butt in for? What does he know -about it?" As to that particular matter the President, from long study -and reflection, found that it was necessary to "butt in," because some -naval leaders of more than one nation lacked the vision to do the bold -and the new thing to win. - -President Wilson took no perfunctory interest in the Navy. In fact, -he had the keenest naval instinct. People, you know, are born with -a passion for some one thing, or in their youth it comes to them. -When Thomas Woodrow Wilson was a boy--(he had not then dropped the -Thomas)--he picked out for himself a naval career. What a jolly good -captain he would have made of the "_Virginia_" or the "_New Jersey_!" -Living as a boy on a river, he loved boating next to books, or even -before books. He had a penchant for sailing and loved sea stories, and -his ambition was to follow Jones and Farragut. - -When the opportunity was within reach to go to the Naval Academy at -Annapolis, his father, a scholarly Presbyterian preacher of the old -school, who knew his son's real mission in life better than Thomas -Woodrow, said, in substance, "No; you are not meant for the sea; -letters, literature, books, statesmanship for you." I do not know -whether the future President accepted the parental dictum with the -nautically cheerful "Aye, aye, sir," but he accepted it, and the Navy -lost an officer who would probably have destroyed many precedents and -won many victories, when the father snatched him from the topsail and -sent him down below to the drudgery of learning languages and political -economy. - -I do not know a civilian who employs more naval terms. The call to -the sea is in his blood. His father kept him out of the Navy, but he -could not keep the Navy out of him, or the Navy lore and lingo, any -more than you can keep the Quaker out of a Quaker by turning him out -of meeting. At sea President Wilson loved to wear whites or blues, -as near regulation as a civilian can, to don a cap, to watch the -heaving of the lead and the weighing of the anchor, and listen to the -"shiver-my-timbers" talk that one overhears from the older sailors on -duty. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -COMRADES OF THE MIST - - U. S. BATTLESHIPS WITH BRITISH GRAND FLEET--DREADNAUGHTS - UNDER RODMAN FORMED SIXTH BATTLE SQUADRON--ASSIGNED POST OF - HONOR--ATTACKED SIX TIMES BY SUBMARINES--U-BOAT RAMMED THE "NEW - YORK," CAUGHT IN ITS PROPELLER-- THREE BATTLESHIPS, UNDER RODGERS, - AT BANTRY BAY--SURRENDER OF GERMAN FLEET. - - -There was a thrill through all the Grand Fleet, a storm of cheers -sweeping from Admiral Beatty's flagship down to the last destroyer that -December morning when the United States dreadnaughts, under Admiral -Hugh Rodman, steamed around the headlands, up the curved channel, and -down the long line of British battleships, dropping anchor among them. - -Twelve days at sea, weathering a gale that raged for three days, they -had had a hard voyage. Nearing the coast in the pitch-black darkness of -a starless night, they had, a few hours before, been met by a division -of destroyers which escorted them to port. The sun, which rises late -in that northern clime, broke through the mist as they reached the -entrance to the harbor. Seaplanes circled the vessels, and a kite -balloon's heliograph flashed its welcome. - -The _New York_ led the way, Admiral Rodman and his staff on the bridge, -while Admiral Beatty, commander-in-chief, surrounded by his crew, stood -on the deck of the _Queen Elizabeth_. On all the ships the officers and -crews, manning the rails, stood at attention. - -The "Star Spangled Banner" came rolling from the British bands, and -the American bands played "God Save the King." This was according to -custom, but it was a real surprise to our sailors when there came from -the British vessels an outburst of cheers that ran clear down the -line. That seemed like home to our boys, and they replied with Yankee -yells until Scapa resounded with such a roar of sound as it never heard -before. - -"This is the most enthusiastic welcome an American squadron ever -received anywhere," Admiral Rodman remarked. As soon as the ships -anchored, Admiral Rodman made his official call on Admiral Beatty, on -the _Queen Elizabeth_. As they exchanged greetings, Admiral Rodman said: - -"We are here, and we put ourselves entirely at your command. We ask -no favors or privileges. We only want to be one of you. In a sense we -feel that we are no longer merely the American Navy. We are now rather -an integral part of your fleet for the purpose of unified prosecution -of our great common aim. We have not come merely to take part in -the spectacular side of your work. We want to do our fair share of -everything, duties pleasant and unpleasant alike. We do not come to be -your guests but to be co-workers. We do not want to be entertained; we -want to work." That was characteristic of Rodman, who was selected to -command our greatest ships overseas because of his outstanding ability -as a great officer. - -"Today marks an epoch in the history of England and America," said -Admiral Beatty, expressing the pleasure with which he had looked -forward to the coming. - -There was sealed the firm friendship of those "Comrades of the Mist," -the British and American dreadnaughts in that Grand Fleet, which formed -the greatest aggregation of naval power the world ever saw, and whose -very existence kept the German High Seas Fleet contained in its home -ports, never again to venture out until it slunk to Scapa Flow in -surrender. - -The American dreadnaughts which served with the Grand Fleet were the -_New York_ (flagship), Captain C. F. Hughes, afterwards commanded by -Captain E. L. Beach; the _Texas_, Captain Victor Blue; the _Wyoming_, -Captain H. A. Wiley, afterward Captain H. H. Christy; the _Arkansas_, -Captain W. H. G. Bullard, afterward Captain L. R. de Steiguer; the -_Florida_, Captain Thomas Washington, afterward Captain M. M. Taylor; -and the _Delaware_, Captain A. H. Scales. - -"It is a matter of pride," said Admiral Rodman, "that we were at once -able to coördinate and coöperate with the British intelligently, -without the slightest hesitancy, friction or misunderstanding. We -adopted and could use their signals, radio, secret codes and other -communication--and that is one of the hardest problems we have in the -Navy--and could efficiently execute their tactics and maneuvers and -conform to their war plans. This was put to the test when within three -days after our arrival a signal was made for all ships to be ready to -proceed to sea for active service and we reported ready when the time -came. - -"From that day to the end of the war we took part in every major -operation in the North Sea, and some independent smaller ones. There -was never a time but that we were ready when called upon. We could -always steam full speed, maintain our position, and we received nothing -but the highest praise not only from the British admirals, officers and -men, but from those of our own navy who visited us. - -"Let me truthfully add, without taking the slightest credit to myself -as the commanding officer, but giving it to the officers and men, where -it belongs, and to the years of preparedness in the American Navy, -that, put it as modestly as I can, the American Squadron was fully -equal to any of the Grand Fleet." - -Our ships were, in fact, in such a high state of efficiency that the -British Admiralty made specific inquiries as to our methods with a view -to adopting them for their own ships. - -Soon after joining the Grand Fleet, the American dreadnaughts were -designated as the Sixth Battle Squadron, and assigned to one of the two -places of honor and importance in the battle line--one of the two "fast -wings" which would take station at the head or rear of the battleship -force when going into action. On one occasion, when the Grand Fleet -came within a few miles of the German fleet, the American division was -in the van, and would have led the action, but the Germans, as usual, -took refuge behind their defenses before the British and Americans -could run them down and force an engagement. - -Describing the activities of the Grand Fleet and of our battleships, -Admiral Rodman said: - - It was our policy to go after the enemy every time he showed his - nose outside of his ports; no matter when or where, whether in - single ships, by divisions, or his whole fleet, out we went, day - or night, rain or shine (and there was mighty little daylight and - much less shine in the winter months), blow high, or blow low, and - chase him back in his hole. So persistent was this performance - on our part, so sure were we to get after him, that, toward the - end he rarely ventured more than a few miles from his base; and - immediately we would start after him, back he would go in his hole, - and haul his hole in after him. - - Every inducement was offered him to come out. Inferior forces - were sent down into the Heligoland Bight to induce him to attack; - valuable convoys were dispatched, apparently without protection, - and other devices to tempt him out; but he would not come. It is - needless to add that such expeditions, on every occasion, were well - guarded, and we were ready to pounce on him with unseen forces - had he attempted to take advantage of the seeming small force or - unprotected vessels. - - In our operations in the North Sea we were frequently attacked - by submarines, and our battleships had numerous narrow escapes, - often only by prompt and skilful handling. On one occasion a - submarine rammed the flagship _New York_, dented the bottom, and - demolished the starboard propeller. But there is every reason to - believe that the blows from the propeller sank the submarine. En - route to drydock to make repairs and install a new propeller, - three torpedoes in rapid succession were fired at her by hostile - submarines. But again she avoided them by clever maneuvering and - escaped. Once when guarding or supporting a convoy of thirty or - forty vessels, on the coast of Norway, in mid-winter, a bunch - of hostile "subs" fired six torpedoes at us. Again only our - vigilance and instantaneous maneuvering saved us, but by a very - narrow margin. There were still other attacks by submarines which - necessitated quick action to avoid them. - -Our dreadnaughts were attacked six times by submarines. On February -8, 1918, the _Florida_ and _Delaware_ were off the Norwegian coast, -waiting for a return convoy, when a submarine was sighted. The U-boat -promptly attacked, firing a salvo of torpedoes. Four were aimed at -the _Florida_, two at the _Delaware_. Quick action was required to -avoid the deadly cylinders. Both vessels turned instantly, swerving so -rapidly that the torpedoes swept harmlessly past, neither vessel being -hit. Destroyers dashed at the enemy, dropping numerous depth-bombs, but -the U-boat, which had submerged instantly, apparently left the scene -undamaged. - -The _Texas_ had an encounter with a submarine on April 27th. At 12:47 -p. m. in latitude 56°-56´ north, longitude 0°-40´ west, a periscope -was sighted. The _Texas_ at once brought her guns to bear, firing at -the moving feather. The "sub" submerged, leaving only its tell-tale -wake. Two destroyers which were nearby went to the scene and dropped -depth-bombs in the vicinity where the U-boat went down, but it had -disappeared. - -The _New York_, _Texas_, _Delaware_, _Florida_ and _Wyoming_ were twice -attacked on June 30th. The division was steaming in line abreast, in -open order, when a periscope was reported by the _Wyoming_, and was -also seen by the destroyer _Parker_. The _Delaware_, _Florida_ and -_Wyoming_ opened fire, their shells falling around the spot where the -"scope" was sighted. The "sub" had immediately submerged, and the -destroyers _Salmon_, _Parker_, and _Radstock_ dashed down the wake, -dropping depth-bombs. The battleships moving on, leaving the _Radstock_ -to search the vicinity. An hour later, in latitude 58°-44´ north, -longitude 2°-34´ east, the second attack occurred, the _Delaware_ -opening fire on a submarine reported astern. The escorting destroyers -did not see the periscope, but three of them scouted down the lines and -dropped ten depth-bombs. - -At 9 p. m., on July 28th, while cruising in latitude 57°-55´ north, -longitude 0°-05´ east, the _Arkansas_ sighted a periscope. Opening -fire with her port sky gun, she went to emergency full speed using her -rudder to bring the object fired at ahead. At this moment the wake of a -torpedo running toward the ship was sighted. Swinging to the left, the -torpedo was avoided, and the battleship escaped unscathed. - -The occasion to which Admiral Rodman referred, when his flagship was -rammed by a submarine, occurred when the _New York_ was leading the -division into Pentland Firth. While turning with right rudder, her -stern swinging to port, a heavy under-water blow was felt on her -starboard quarter, followed immediately by another, which damaged -the ship's starboard propeller, breaking off two of its blades. The -water was deep, the channel clear of obstructions. No ordinary force -could have delivered a blow powerful enough to smash propeller blades -and dent the big ship's bottom. After weighing all the evidence, and -examining the vessel's hull when she was docked, the court of inquiry -verified the conclusion of Admiral Rodman, that the _New York_ had -struck a submarine. While there were various theories, the one which -seemed most tenable was that, in attempting to dive under the vessel, -to get in position to attack, the U-boat had struck the _New York's_ -propellers and been smashed as the battleship turned. - -The _New York_ was attacked again on October 16th, at Rosyth, while -en route from a northern base. At one o'clock in the morning, three -torpedoes were fired, all passing ahead of her. Owing to a damaged -propeller, the ship was making only twelve knots. Ordinarily, she would -have been going at the rate of sixteen knots or more. The submarine -apparently misjudged her speed, aiming its torpedoes too far ahead. A -submarine was sighted and reported by a patrol in the vicinity, and it -is believed this was the same one which attacked the _New York_. - -There was joy among the Americans on April 24, 1918, when they sailed -with the Grand Fleet "for active service against the enemy." A large -German force was reported operating in the North Sea, probably planning -to attack the Norwegian convoys. Hoping for action, the British and -American vessels found the Germans had turned back to their home bases. -They had missed the enemy by only four hours. A British flagship -had been attacked by a submarine, two torpedoes being fired at her. -Destroyers had dropped quantities of depth-charges. Some floating mines -had been destroyed by gunfire. But they had missed the big game they -were seeking. - -It was not until the evening of October 12th that any considerable -German force was reported. Three large enemy men-of-war were said to -have been sighted, steering northwest in the direction of a convoy -off the Scotch coast. The American dreadnaughts, a battle-cruiser -squadron and light cruisers, screened by destroyers, sailed soon after -midnight. They were directed to take position to the north and west of -the Orkneys, and to patrol the passage between the Orkney and Shetland -islands, in the hope of intercepting the Germans. But the German ships -must have again turned back, for, though that whole region was scouted, -there was no sign of an enemy vessel. This was only another of the many -disappointments in the constant effort to engage the German capital -ships. - -In that rigorous climate, a latitude as far north as Alaska or -Petrograd, snow and ice are continuous through most of the year. Cold -and sleet and heavy seas made navigation arduous and dangerous. -There was continuous cruising in close formation, without lights, at -high speeds, on winter nights when the darkness lasted for eighteen -hours. The mine-fields, our own as well as those of the enemy, were an -ever-present danger, and battleships had to be always on the alert to -repel attacks by submarines. - -The whole fleet had to be ready to put to sea on almost instant -notice. Officers and men had hardly any liberty or leave. No one was -allowed away from the ships after dark, nor for a period longer than -four hours, and then only in the immediate vicinity of the ship, in -signal or telephone communication, subject to recall. All ships were -completely closed and darkened from sunset to sunrise, as a precaution -against air and other attacks. In winter this meant from fifteen to -eighteen hours per day. - -Some idea of the immense size of the Grand Fleet may be gained from -the statement that, entering or leaving port, the column of ships, -excluding destroyers, averaged 65 miles long. On one occasion, it was -76 miles. - -Hard duty as it was for the officers in that wintry clime, it was even -harder for the enlisted men. Yet our boys bore it with the cheerfulness -that distinguishes the American sailor, who, when hardship comes, -"bears it with a grin,"--not only bears it, but laughs about it. For -a year, every officer and man in the Grand Fleet had been waiting and -hoping for a chance to get at the Germans. And, at last, when that -fleet surrendered without striking a blow, their disappointment was too -deep for words. - -That scene has been graphically described, the feeling of officers and -men so well expressed by Admiral Rodman, that I give in his own words -his account of the German surrender: - - After four years of war for the Grand Fleet, and after we have - been a part of it for the last year, there came the debacle, the - last scene of the great drama. Not as we had all expected, as the - successful termination of a great sea battle, but as an ignominious - surrender without firing a gun. Surely, no more complete victory - was ever won, nor a more disgraceful and humiliating end could have - come to a powerful and much vaunted fleet than that which came to - the German High Seas Fleet. Let me try to describe it. - - The Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet demanded and received - what actually amounted to an unconditional surrender of the whole - German Navy. Under his orders the enemy's ships were disarmed, - ammunition landed, torpedo warheads sent ashore, breech-blocks - and fire-control instruments removed, and every offensive utility - rendered innocuous. Then, with reduced crews, under the command - of a German admiral, in one lone column, the heavy battleships - leading, the Hun fleet sailed for a designated rendezvous, to - arrive at a specified time, just outside of the Firth of Forth in - Scotland, where the Grand Fleet lay at anchor. - - Before daylight the Grand Fleet was under way and proceeded to sea, - heading east, in two long columns, six miles apart, our American - battleship force being in the middle of the northern line. A light - British cruiser was directed to meet the Germans, who were heading - west, and conduct them in between our two columns. - - Let me diverge for a moment and recall to any one who has been in - China or the Philippines the viciousness of and antipathy which - the domesticated carabao has for a white man. How ready they are - to attack, while any native child can, with perfect safety and - impunity, go up to the most savage of them, take him by the nose, - and lead him where he pleases. I was reminded of this when a little - British cruiser rounded to ahead of the much-vaunted German High - Seas Fleet, and hoisted the signal, "Follow me," and led them down - between our columns, where our battle flags were mast-headed, - turrets trained toward the enemy, crews at battle stations, and all - in readiness for any act of treachery that might be attempted. - - At a pre-arranged signal our forces swung symmetrically through 180 - degrees, and, still paralleling the enveloped Germans, conducted - them into a designated anchorage in the entrance of the Firth - of Forth. Then came a signal from the Commander-in-Chief to the - surrendered fleet: "At sundown lower your colors and do not hoist - them again without permission." Surely no greater humiliation could - have befallen them after their frequent and taunting boasts and - threats. - - There is little else to be told. After an inspection by British and - American officers to gain assurance that the ships were disarmed, - they were sent in groups, under guard, to Scapa Flow, in the - cold, dreary, bleak, God-forsaken harbor in the Orkneys where the - Grand Fleet had spent many a dreary month and year, waiting like - ferocious dogs in leash, watching and waiting, to pounce on the - German Fleet, should the opportunity ever occur. Here the Germans - lay at anchor in long, symmetrical lines, helpless, innocuous, - harmless; their sting and bite removed, their national colors - lowered for good and all as a token of submission to the masters. - They were corralled like wild and cruel beasts that had been - hobbled, guarded by a single division of battleships. - - Our mission had been successfully accomplished; the German fleet - is a thing of the past; the seas are safe and free to our own and - our Allies' ships. The value of sea power could have no better - demonstration. - -The British and Americans who served together at Scapa Flow and in the -North Sea were bound together by the strongest ties. Admiral Rodman and -all our officers and men felt they were serving with brothers, and our -British allies felt the same way toward our own forces. - -On their departure, Admiral Sir David Beatty, the British -commander-in-chief, in an address on board the flagship _New York_, -paid this high tribute to the officers and men of the American -battleships which served with the Grand Fleet: - - There is not much that I have to say, but what I do say I hope you - will understand comes from the heart, not only my heart, but the - hearts of your comrades of the Grand Fleet. - - I want, first of all, to thank you, Admiral Rodman, the captains, - officers, and the ships' companies of the magnificent squadron, for - the wonderful coöperation and the loyalty you have given to me and - to my admirals; and the assistance that you have given us in every - duty you had to undertake. The support which you have shown is that - of true comradeship; and in time of stress, that is worth a very - great deal. As somebody said the other day, "The fighting is now - over, the talking is now going to begin;" therefore, I do not want - to keep you here any longer, but I want to congratulate you for - having been present upon a day which is unsurpassed in the naval - annals of the world. - - I know quite well that you, as well as all of your British - comrades, were bitterly disappointed at not being able to give - effect to that efficiency that you have so well maintained. It - was a most disappointing day. It was a pitiful day to see those - great ships coming in like sheep being herded by dogs to their - fold, without an effort on anybody's part; but it was a day that - everybody could be proud of. I have received messages from several - people, offering sympathy to the Grand Fleet, and my answer was - that we do not want sympathy; we want recognition of the fact that - the prestige of the Grand Fleet stood so high it was sufficient to - cause the enemy to surrender without striking a blow. - - I had always certain misgivings, and when the Sixth Battle Squadron - became a part of the Grand Fleet those misgivings were doubly - strengthened, and I knew then that they would throw up their hands. - Apparently the Sixth Battle Squadron was the straw that broke the - camel's back. However, the disappointment that the Grand Fleet - was not able to strike their blow for the freedom of the world is - counteracted by the fact that it was their prestige alone that - brought about this achievement. - - I thank you again and again, for the great part the Sixth Battle - Squadron played in bringing about the greatest naval victory in - history. I hope you will give this message to your comrades: "Come - back soon. Good-bye and good luck!" - -Suppose German battle-cruisers should evade the vigilance of Allied -capital ships and escape from the North Sea and suddenly attack troop -carrying transports! That suggestion phrased in some such terms was -the thought uppermost in the mind of every naval official when troops -began to go over in 1918 by the hundreds of thousands each month. -They recalled the damage inflicted by German raiders in the early -days of the war. To be ready for such daring incursion a division of -dreadnaughts was sent over, supplemented by submarines. They were kept -in readiness to put to sea, and also at times escorted convoys in the -Channel when submarines were reported in that vicinity. This division -was commanded by Admiral Thomas S. Rodgers, and was composed of the -_Utah_ (Captain F. B. Bassett); the _Nevada_ (Captain W. C. Cole); and -the _Oklahoma_ (Captain C. B. McVay). They had their base on Bantry -Bay, Ireland, ready to oppose any German cruisers which might threaten -shipping in the waters to the south of Ireland and England or on the -routes to the ports of Northern France. - -Though the German press, sorely disappointed at the failure of U-boats -to sink transports, demanded that raiders dare every risk and sink -troop-ships, they never ventured away from the protection of home -ports. But the dreadnaughts of Admiral Rodgers kept eyes open and steam -up ready, if they should make the attempt. Like Rodman's squadron, they -did faithful work and deserve to share the commendation accorded to -American dreadnaughts engaged overseas. - -Three-fourths of our first line dreadnaughts saw service in European -waters. All the rest, first and second line, would have been taken over -by Admiral Mayo if their presence had been required. - -[Illustration: FIFTH BATTLE SQUADRON JOINING THE BRITISH GRAND FLEET - -Led by Admiral Rodman's flagship, the U. S. S. New York, the American -ships steamed into Scapa Flow amid an outburst of cheers from their -British comrades. Inset: Admiral Hugh Rodman.] - -[Illustration: - - From the painting by Bernard F. Gribble - - SURRENDER OF THE GERMAN HIGH SEAS FLEET - -Admirals Rodman and Sims, on the deck of the New York, watching the -procession of German ships on their last voyage, to their anchorage in -the Firth of Forth. Then came the signal from the Commander-in-Chief: -"At sundown lower your colors and do not hoist them again without -permission."] - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -"CINDERELLAS OF THE FLEET" - - SUBMARINE CHASERS BORE BRILLIANT PART IN ATTACK ON DURAZZO--SANK - ONE SUBMARINE, DAMAGED ANOTHER, AND "THOROUGHLY ENJOYED - THEMSELVES"--QUEER CODES FOOLED THE GERMANS--OVER FOUR HUNDRED - "CHASERS" BUILT--STAUNCH LITTLE WOODEN CRAFT DID WONDERFULLY GOOD - WORK IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. - - -Cinderella was not the guest first invited, but when she arrived she -became the belle of the ball. The little submarine chasers, originally -designed to protect entrance to harbors, to patrol coasts and keep -close to shore, won fame and admiration by their splendid service -in Europe and America. These "Cinderellas of the Fleet" became eyes -and ears of the anti-submarine forces, hunters rightly feared by -the U-boats, whose commanders had at first looked upon them with -ill-concealed contempt. - -Sub-chasers were particularly valuable as "listeners," the submarine -detection devices with which they were equipped being vastly superior -to those previously in use. Organized in "hunting units"--three to -the unit, the commander in the center, with a "wing boat" on either -side--they were real "chasers" of submarines. - - I am most grateful for the valuable service rendered by twelve - submarine chasers under Captain Nelson, U. S. N., and Lieutenant - Commander Bastedo, U. S. N., which I took the liberty of employing - in an operation against Durazzo on October 2. They screened heavy - ships during the bombardment under enemy fire; also apparently - destroyed definitely one submarine which torpedoed _H. M. S. - Weymouth_, and damaged and probably destroyed another submarine. - - During the return voyage they assisted in screening _H. M. - S. Weymouth_, and in escorting enemy hospital ship which was - being brought in for examination. Their conduct throughout was - beyond praise. They all returned safely without casualties. They - thoroughly enjoyed themselves. - -That was the message sent by the British Force Commander regarding the -attack on the Austrian naval base by British, Italian and American -vessels October 2, 1918. And the Italians expressed their appreciation -in this dispatch from Rome: - - Italian Naval General Staff expresses highest appreciation of - useful and efficient work performed by United States chasers in - protecting major naval vessels during action against Durazzo; also - vivid admiration of their brilliant and clever operations which - resulted in sinking two enemy submarines. - -The exploits of our submarine chasers formed a notable feature of that -brilliant and successful attack. When, on Saturday, September 28, the -British commodore asked Captain Charles P. Nelson, in command at Corfu, -if he could have twelve chasers, with four days' supplies, ready to -leave in twenty-four hours, for "special service," Nelson's reply was -one word: "Yes." - -Sailing Sunday evening, the next morning they reached Brindisi, where -the Allied forces were assembled for the attack, and received their -instructions. It was 1:30 a. m., on October 2nd, that the four units, -under command of Captain Nelson, got under way for the expedition. The -chasers and their commanders were: - - Unit B--Lieutenant Commander Paul H. Bastedo, commanding on S. C. - 215, Lieutenant (junior grade) Wildon A. Ott; S. C. 128, Ensign - Hilary R. Chambers, Jr.; S. C. 129, Ensign Maclear Jacoby. - - Unit D--S. C. 225, Lieutenant (junior grade) Elmer J. McCluen; S. - C. 327, Ensign Walter P. Grossmann. - - Unit G--In command, Captain Nelson, on board S. C. 95; S. C. 95, - Ensign George J. Leovy; S. C. 179, Ensign Erskine Hazard; S. C. - 338, Ensign John M. Beverly. - - Unit H--S. C. 130, Ensign Henry R. Dann; S. C. 324, Lieutenant - (junior grade) Clifford W. Eshom; S. C. 337, Ensign Andrew J. - Kelley. - -At 8:40 they arrived off Durazzo, and stood by six miles from shore to -await the arrival of the bombarding force. Its smoke could be seen on -the horizon, and as the Italian vessels hove in sight, the sub-chasers -moved to their stations. - -Moving along on the flanks of the bombing squadrons, the chasers acted -as a screen for the larger vessels, which poured out a rain of shells -upon the Austrian defenses. Guarding the British Light-Cruiser Force, -the three boats of Unit B had to run in close to shore, only 800 yards -from the enemy batteries. They had a lively experience for fifteen or -twenty minutes, shells falling around them. But, going at full speed -and "zigzagging to beat the band," as the sailors say, they managed to -escape unscathed. - -Suddenly came the cry, "Submarine!" Sub-chaser 129 had sighted the -moving feather of a U-boat about 1,600 yards off her port quarter. -Signaling to S. C. 215, S. C. 129 altered her course to the left to -deliver an attack at right angles. The U-boat was heading south, -apparently getting in position to attack the bombarding forces. In a -moment a second feather was sighted a little farther to westward. As S. -C. 129 reached the supposed path of the undersea boat, a depth-bomb was -dropped. When it exploded, the enemy submerged for almost a minute, and -then reappeared, showing both periscopes. S. C. 129 immediately began -laying a pattern of depth-charges ahead of the U-boat and at right -angles to his course. - -When the seventh bomb exploded, in the water thrown up objects -resembling pieces of metal appeared, and there was another explosion, -seemingly in the submarine. The chaser crew was confident that -submarine was destroyed. - -Sub-chaser 215, sighting another periscope 750 yards away, opened fire -with her three-inch gun and port machine-gun, hoisting signal to form -for attack. The second three-inch shot dropped within two feet of -the periscope, the commanding officer reported, and shattered it, a -column of water six feet high rising into the air. The U-boat seemed -to be turning sharply to starboard in the direction of the British -light cruisers, which were then entering their bombarding sector. S. -C. 215 and S. C. 128 closed in on the submarine and laid a pattern of -depth-charges. As the fourth charge exploded, the executive officer of -S. C. 215 sang out, "That got him!" He had seen what appeared to be a -ship's plate and debris rise to the surface and then disappear. Heavy -oil rose, covering the water in the vicinity, and the chaser crews -concluded the U-boat had been sunk. - -S. C. 215 and S. C. 128 then turned and headed for S. C. 129, which had -first reported sighting a "sub," but which was lying to, repairing her -engines. The unit stood over to capture the Austrian hospital ship, -hoisting the international flag, "Stop instantly!" The British cruisers -_Nereide_ and _Ruby_ were, at the time, astern of the Austrian vessel, -and the _Nereide_ signaled that she would stop and take off the armed -guard crew if the chasers wished to take over the hospital ship. The -chasers, which were north of the Austrian port, replied that they would -take her over when clear of Durazzo. - -The little American craft took charge of the big Austrian vessel, the -British cruisers _Tribune_ and _Shark_, signaling, "Go to Brindisi." -Reaching Brindisi, they released the hospital ship, which had been -taken to port for investigation. Then, with a sense of duty well done, -the chasers dropped anchor in the harbor, and "called it a day." - -While Unit B enjoyed the most exciting experience, all the other units -were busy doing their full share of the work, escorting the bombing -vessels and playing their part in the bombardment. When the British -cruiser _Weymouth_ was torpedoed, Units D, C, and H went to her -assistance, and aided in warding off further attack. Though damaged, -the cruiser was safely navigated to port. The boats of Unit D got close -enough to fire at the houses on Cape Laghi. - -The attack on Durazzo was a decided success. The city was practically -put out of business as a naval base, and was of little further use to -the Austrians who, defeated on land and sea, soon sued for peace. - -The United States naval base at Corfu, where thirty-six of our -sub-chasers were stationed, was established May 24, 1918, by Captain -R. H. Leigh, Commander of Submarine Chasers for Distant Service. The -primary duty of our forces there was to patrol the Straits of Otranto, -the entrance to the Adriatic. That narrow stretch of water, forty miles -wide, from Corfu to the "heel" of Italy, was the only route by which -Austrian and German vessels from Trieste, Fiume, Pola, and Durazzo -could make their way into the Mediterranean. - -There was established the Otranto Mobile Barrage, which, though -comprising mines and nets, depended mainly for its effectiveness on -patrol vessels. There were three lines of these, at some distance -apart, two of British vessels, destroyers and trawlers, and the -third, ten miles below, of our submarine chasers, twelve of which -patrolled this line day and night. While this barrage was by no means -"air-tight," and occasionally U-boats slipped through, it proved very -useful and after its establishment there was a material decrease -in submarine activity in that whole region. After the armistice an -Austrian officer said that six U-boats were lost in that area. - -Four hundred and forty sub-chasers were built, 340 manned by the United -States Navy, and 100 by the French. They operated in the Atlantic, -Pacific and Arctic Oceans, in the North Sea, in the Adriatic, the -Ionian and Aegean Seas, and the Sea of Marmora. After the armistice, -special duties carried them to Russia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, to -Austria, Dalmatia, Greece, and Turkey, and parts of Asia Minor. - -"How are you going to get them across the Atlantic?" foreign naval -attachés asked, when we were turning out chasers by scores. That was -a problem, sending small boats over 3,000 miles of ocean in wintry -weather. Pluck, daring, endurance and good navigation were required, -but the problem was solved with surprising success. - -Crossing the Atlantic and going through the Mediterranean to the -Adriatic under their own power, they weathered storms that distressed -many a big steamship. But these little 110-footers had some thrilling -experiences. Disabled in a terrific gale Sub-chaser 28, manned by the -French, seemed doomed. The other chasers pulled through, but this one -was missing, and after days was given up as lost. A month later we were -surprised and delighted when the news came that it had reached the -Azores. How did that little boat, disabled and alone, manage to make -its way 700 miles to port? - -It was a thrilling story Alexis Puluhen and his men had to tell. -Storm tossed, their engines broke down and the boat began leaking. -Salvoes were fired and distress signals hoisted, but no relief came. -Lubricating oil was exhausted, and all the salad oil and butter aboard -were used in an effort to start up the engines. All motive power gone, -table-cloths, sheets, bed-spreads and blankets were rigged up as sails. -Rationing the crew to the smallest amount of food that could sustain -them, doling out the drinking water, the little boat headed east. With -a favoring breeze, she could sail about four knots an hour. - -For a month the sub-chaser kept plodding along, laying its course for -the Azores. Occasionally a steamer would be sighted far away--four in -all were seen--but only one came close enough to see or hear the S. C. -28, and when seven guns, the distress signal, were fired, that vessel -ran away. At last, after a struggle of thirty-three days, Puluhen -sighted land. It was Fayal, one of the Azores. He hoisted the signal -"YP"--"I need a tug"--and not long afterward a tug steamed out, and -towed him into Horta. The sub-chaser was repaired, continued across -the Atlantic, and took its place with the other American-built chasers -which served on the French coast. - -Three days at sea and three days in port, many chasers steamed an -average of a thousand miles a month. "You people on yachts and cruisers -don't know what it is to live in a sub-chaser," one seaman remarked. -"Tossed about on ocean swells, swept by seas, with decks leaking and -things below wet; gas fumes from the engines filling the interior, -sometimes half the crew were seasick. The destroyers, I know, were no -pleasure palaces, and they had no easy time, but none of you had a -harder job than we fellows on the 110-footers." But they took things as -they came, with unfailing cheerfulness and good humor. - -Some of the sub-chaser squadrons developed codes of their own and got -a lot of fun out of them. "Quack! Quack! Quack!" was one sub-chaser -signal. The first time that queer call was heard over the wireless -telephone in European waters it mystified our English friends quite -as much as it did the Germans. And when the call was answered by an -outbreak of strange words and phrases, listeners at the radio phones in -all that area were plainly puzzled. - -"Quack! Red-white-blue," they could understand, though what it -might mean they could not conceive. But when it came to "Quack! -High-low-jack," the thing was beyond all reason. - -This was something new, probably a German trick. The British naval -officers were concerned about it, and were decidedly relieved when they -found it was no enemy concoction but came from the American sub-chasers -which had lately arrived from across the Atlantic. They wanted to -know what kind of a "quack" game the Americans were playing. And they -were vastly amused when told that it was a new code they had devised -that could be easily remembered by officers and men, but could not be -deciphered by the Germans. - -The commander of one group named his boats in jingles or phrases. Three -boats, as I have stated, constituted a submarine hunting unit. One set -he designated as "red-white-blue," another as "corn-meal-mush," and -a third as "high-low-jack." "Quack! Quack! Quack!" meant "operate at -once." - -The men were fond of making parodies on "Mother Goose" and other -familiar rhymes, applicable to their job of hunting the U-boats. One of -these, paraphrasing "The Spider and the Fly," went this way: - - "Won't you come into my area?" said the chaser to the "sub"; - "I'll treat you just as kindly as I would a tiger cub; - "I will listen to your motors, I will catch you without fail, - "And then I promise I will put some salt upon your tail." - -What do you suppose the Germans thought of all this queer stuff that -was coming over the radiophone? I should have liked to have seen the -U-boat captains under water, and code experts in Berlin searching the -books and racking their brains to find out its meaning, for no boats or -calls or orders were ever phrased in such language before. - -The sub-chasers put the Navy flag signals into words instead of -letters. "Able-Boy!" was the code to "Take hunt formation; distance 500 -yards." They had a word for every letter in the alphabet: Able, boy, -cast, dog, easy, fox, George, have, item, jig, king, love, Mike, Nan, -oboe, pup, quack, rot, sail, tare, unit, vice, watch, X-ray, yoke, zed. - -Almost any necessary order or information could be transmitted by -radiophone by means of this code. Here is a typical instance of how it -worked when a submarine was heard: - - Listener of Boat No. 1 reports: "Submarine, 90 degrees." - - Executive officer; "Submarine, 123 degrees." - - Executive reports: "2 (number of wing-boat) turbine 112 degrees." - - Executive reports: "3 (number of other wing-boat) submarine 130 - degrees." - - Captain orders: "Course 123 degrees." - - Executive to Radio: "Fox-unit; dog-easy-cast!" - - Executive to Listener: "Up tube." - -At the order "Up tube," the listening tube was raised from its position -beneath the vessel; the signal-boy beside the mast hoisted the cone, -the position of which showed the other boats what the engine of this -sub-chaser was doing; the steersman put the wheel over, and the vessel -headed for the estimated locality of the U-boat. All this was done in a -moment or two. - -If the submarine was not located, the captain ordered "Stop!" the -executive called, "Down tube!" The tube, which extends through the -bottom of the chaser, was lowered, and the listener strove again to -hear any sound of the U-boat. - -When the success of our detection devices had been demonstrated, it -was decided that sub-chasers were well adapted to this duty, and were -to be used mainly for this purpose. On May 12, 1918, six arrived at -Portsmouth, England, and with the destroyer _Aylwin_ began training -tests with British submarines, south of the Isle of Wight. Eighteen -chasers soon after reached Plymouth, and this under command of Captain -Lyman A. Cotten was made the chief base, having eventually a force -of 66 vessels. On August 20th, 30 of these chasers were ordered to -Queenstown, where a base had been established under command of Captain -A. J. Hepburn. - -The Plymouth sub-chasers were in an area of considerable submarine -activity, and reported a number of contacts. The S. C. 84, 85 and 86, -Ensigns E. F. Williams, A. B. Baker and Gr. H. Lane, respectively, -were credited with attacking and damaging a U-boat on July 10th. Nine -chasers, Units 6, 2, and 10, were on hunt off the English coast on -September 6th, when the listeners heard a submarine. Unit 2 attacked, -dropped depth-charges, but its flagship was damaged by an explosion, -and Unit 6 took up the pursuit. Located again, the U-boat went down, -and the chasers bombarded her with depth-charges. Her machinery was -evidently badly damaged. Listeners could hear the crew at work on the -motors which would at times turn a few revolutions; but at last they -stopped dead. The U-boat was unable to move. The chasers dropped over -the spot all the depth-bombs they had, and at 6:15 two boats were sent -to Penzance to get a fresh supply. - -[Illustration: AMERICAN SUB-CHASERS AT CORFU, GREECE - -Eleven of these boats took part in the attack on Durazzo, the Austrian -naval base in the Adriatic.] - -[Illustration: A FLOCK OF SUB-CHASERS WITH THEIR MOTHER SHIP - -The _U. S. S. Melville_ with sub-chasers at Queenstown.] - -A water buoy, with 50-fathom wire cable, was dropped near the spot, -lanterns were hung on it; and the chasers got into position for -the night. At times the listeners reported that the U-boat crew made -attempts to start their motors. The next morning a few faint sounds -were heard, and at last there came a noise of firing as if from -revolvers or rifles, first three, then 22 shots. After this, nothing -was heard, though the chasers remained on the scene all afternoon. They -had been there thirty hours from the time the attack began. The chaser -crews firmly believed that the U-boat's crew perished in their steel -tomb, which sank to the bottom, never to rise again. - -The best evidence of the good work done by our vessels at Plymouth is -the fact, shown by official records, that from June 30th to the end -of August, during which time our sub-chasers were covering the area -between Start Point and Lizard Head, not a single Allied or merchant -ship was attacked nor were any mines laid by the U-boats. This was -in a section where some months before sinkings were of almost daily -occurrence. After August, when many of our boats were withdrawn for -duty farther to the westward, several ships were attacked and sunk, and -mine-laying, though on a small scale, was resumed. This is regarded as -conclusive proof that it was our little sub-chasers which made that -area safe for Allied shipping in that important period. - -While at Gibraltar, on their way to Corfu, the thirty chasers under -command of Captain Nelson engaged in several hunts, on May 17, 1918, -locating and chasing a U-boat to a point 12 miles northeast of -Gibraltar. On June 13th, four of them formed patrol line to guard the -commercial anchorage against a submarine which had been sighted. - -Eighteen sub-chasers were sent to the Mediterranean to patrol the -Gibraltar Barrage, and though they were on that duty only from Nov. -6th to 11th, Admiral Niblack reported that they made four contacts and -three attacks, and that one was particularly well conducted and it was -"highly probable submarine was damaged, and possibly destroyed." - -This group closed its war service with two exciting experiences. -On November 10th the S. C. 126, 190 and 353, while on patrol, were -mistaken for enemy submarines and were fired upon by the steamship -_Bahia_. The next day, about the time the armistice went into effect, -a British vessel, without waiting for recognition signals, fired on -the S. C. 214. Luckily the shells missed and the sturdy little boats -escaped unscathed. - -The organization of our sub-chaser service in European waters was: - - At U. S. Naval Headquarters. London--Captain R. H. Leigh, Commander - Sub-chasers, Distant Service; Lieutenant Commander W. R. Carter, - detection devices; Lieutenant Commander E. C. Raguet, communication - officer; Lieutenant Commander R. M. Griffin, sub-chasers; C. F. - Scott, technical expert, devices; E. L. Nelson, technical expert, - radio. - - Sub-chaser Detachment 1, Plymouth--Captain L. A. Cotten, - commanding; _Hannibal_, repair ship; _Parker_, _Aylwin_, - destroyers; 36 to 66 sub-chasers. - - Submarine Detachment 2, Corfu--Captain C. P. Nelson, commanding; - _Hannibal_, repair ship; 36 sub-chasers. - - Submarine Detachment 3, Queenstown--Captain A. J. Hepburn, - commanding; 30 sub-chasers. - -These were the principal bases, though our chasers also did valuable -work from Brest, Gibraltar and other points and at the Azores. - -Twenty-four sub-chasers assisted in sweeping up the mines of the North -Sea Barrage from April to the end of September, 1919, and four were -damaged by exploding mines. - -The sub-chasers played an important part in operations against the -German U-boats off the American coast in the summer of 1918. Scores of -them were on patrol along the Atlantic, and speeded to the vicinity -whenever a submarine was reported. Immediately after the U-151 appeared -off the New Jersey Coast, June 2, a special hunting group was formed -of 33 sub-chasers, headed by the destroyers _Jouett_, _Henley_ and -_Perkins_, and later another group, headed by the _Patterson_, was -organized. These hunters kept on the move, pursuing the "subs" for -months, from the Virginia Capes to Nova Scotia. - -Many were kept busy escorting coastwise convoys, and patrolling -the coast. One group is reported to have escorted from port, with -other naval ships, vessels bearing 400,000 troops. Many chasers were -almost constantly at sea. The Hampton Roads Squadron, in command of -Lieutenant Herbert L. Stone, averaged 75 per cent of the time on duty. -Sub-chasers, under Lieutenant Le Sauvage, in the vicinity of Fire -Island, when the _San Diego_ was lost, were on duty 28 days out of 30. - -Patrolling and listening was dangerous work, for the little boats -lying in the shipping lines, with all vessels running without lights, -might be run down or mistaken for enemy craft. This was the fate of -S. C. 209. Shelled and sunk off Fire Island by the steamship _Felix -Taussig_, two of her officers, Lieutenant Henry J. Bowes and Ensign E. -H. Randolph, and fourteen enlisted men lost their lives. - -Keeping open the shipping lines from Mexican and Gulf oil fields was -an important duty; it was considered probable that the U-boats would -extend their operations to Mexican waters. Consequently we organized -a special hunting squadron of 12 sub-chasers, headed by the _U. S. -S. Salem_ (Captain S. V. Graham), as a part of the American Patrol -Detachment commanded by Rear Admiral Anderson, which patrolled the -waters of the Gulf and Caribbean. - -Twelve sub-chasers served in the Panama Canal Zone, eight being -stationed at the Atlantic entrance, and four at the Pacific entrance to -the Canal, which it was their mission to protect. - -Six chasers were assigned to duty in Nova Scotia, three based on -Halifax, and three on Sydney, Cape Breton. Arriving in May, 1918, they -were engaged in patrol, convoy and guard duty, and conducted a number -of submarine hunts when the U-boats were active in that region. Two -were sent with the _Explorer_ to Alaska, for protection against alien -enemies and disturbing elements which threatened the fish pack and -other industries of that region. Sub-chaser 310, to which was assigned -the section between the Canadian boundary and Petersburg, visited 112 -canneries and other points, covering 6,079 miles. The S. C. 309, which -patrolled the remainder of southeast Alaska, visited 132 points and -covered 8,500 miles. - -Perhaps the most remarkable voyage of these small craft was made by -the group built at Puget Sound Navy Yard, near Seattle. These chasers, -under command of a reserve officer, Lieutenant Roscoe Howard, all -manned by reservists, who were trained at the station while the boats -were building, were brought down the Pacific Coast, through the Panama -Canal and up to New London, and from there several of them sailed -for Europe, reaching the Azores, arriving just as hostilities ended. -Sailing from Bremerton May 6, 1918, this group was joined by others at -San Diego, Magdalena Bay and Pinchilinque until there were fifteen in -the party. August 4th, at 8 p. m., they arrived at New London, where -officers and men began their training in listening and anti-submarine -tactics. They had successfully negotiated a voyage of 7,470 miles; -escorted 2,985 miles, unescorted 4,485. Three of the Pacific coast -boats were in the convoy of 10 American and 19 French chasers which -left New London, October 24th, for Europe, Captain H. G. Sparrow, -in the cruiser _Chicago_, commanding the convoy. They proceeded via -Bermuda, and were only a day off the Azores when the news came that the -war was over. - -After the armistice, sub-chasers were sent on various missions, to -Austria, Turkey, Norway, Sweden, Holland and Denmark. They served from -Northern Russia to the Black Sea. - -When the work abroad was ended and the homeward bound pennant was -flying over these glory-bedecked Cinderellas, the spirit of contest and -mastery of the sea did not permit them to be towed back to the United -States or to come quietly and deliberately under their own power. -Eternal youth and love of victory was in their blood, and ships which -had won world applause at Durazzo decided upon a race from the Bermudas. - -Six which had rendered conspicuous service--the S. C. 90, 129, 131, -217, 224 and 351--were selected for the contest. Starting at 4:21 p. -m., August 16th, their progress was followed with general interest, -being reported by the _Ontario_, their escort, and bulletined all over -the country. - -The race was won by S. C. 131 (Lieutenant Joseph L. Day), which arrived -at Ambrose Channel lightship at 1:17 a. m., August 19, 1919. Her -running time was 56 hours, 56 minutes--8 hours and 43 minutes less than -that made by the _Dream_, which had set the fastest pace in 1914. Four -of the others also beat the best previous record. - -The sub-chasers, after long and wearing service in the war zone, had -excelled the speedy light pleasure craft. - -It was a race of thoroughbreds, and when the winner tied up at the -Brooklyn Navy Yard, there was the same absence of self exploitation -that had signaled the services of the Cinderellas from the first -day they began writing glowing pages of new achievement against new -enemies. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -"DO NOT SURRENDER"--"NEVER!" - - SHIP SHELLED, MEN WOUNDED, NAVY GUNNERS ON "J. L. LUCKENBACH" - FOUGHT SUBMARINE FOUR HOURS--ARMED GUARDS SAILING WAR ZONE BEFORE - WAR WAS DECLARED--HAD 227 ENCOUNTERS WITH SUBMARINES--FIRST IN - SERVICE, THEY WERE FIRST IN SACRIFICE--"HAND IT TO 'EM, JOE!" - - -Navy gunners, manning Navy guns on American merchant ships, were -sailing the war zone before the United States declared war. First -to get into action, these armed guards had more than two hundred -encounters with submarines, many of them long-fought gunfire battles. -First in service, they were first in sacrifice. - -The night President Wilson delivered his war message to Congress, when -I returned from the Capitol to my office in the Navy Department, I was -greeted by this dispatch from the American Ambassador to France: - - Paris, April 2. - Secretary of State, - Washington. - - Urgent: Foreign Office has just informed me that the American - steamer _Aztec_ was torpedoed at nine p. m. last night far out at - sea off Island of Ushant; that one boat from the steamer has been - found with nineteen survivors who were landed this afternoon at - Brest. Twenty-eight persons are still missing and although two - patrol vessels are searching for them, the stormy condition of - sea and weather renders their rescue doubtful. Foreign Office not - informed of names of survivors. Will cable further details as soon - as obtainable. - - SHARP. - -A later dispatch stated that only eleven were missing and that -Lieutenant William F. Gresham and the boys from the _Dolphin_ were -safe. This possessed a personal interest for me, for the _Dolphin_ was -the vessel assigned to the Secretary of the Navy, and had furnished -this first crew for an armed ship. The news that night was reassuring, -but we were saddened to learn, next day, that one of our seamen had -gone down--John I. Eopolucci, of Washington, the first man of the -American armed forces to lose his life in service against Germany. - -The first officer lost was Lieutenant Clarence C. Thomas, of Grass -Valley, California, commander of the armed guard on the _Vacuum_, who, -with four of his men, perished after the sinking of that steamer on -April 28th. - -The _Mongolia_ was first to report a "hit" against a submarine, April -19th, Lieutenant Bruce Ware stating that a shell from his guns struck -the U-boat's conning-tower, knocking off part of the shell-plating, a -cloud of smoke covering the spot where the "sub" disappeared. - -Not long afterward a cablegram was received from Paris announcing that -an American armed vessel had sunk a submarine in the Mediterranean. The -ship was the _Silver Shell_, and the encounter, which occurred off the -Balearic Islands, was thus reported by Chief Turret Captain William J. -Clark: - - May 30, at 5:35 p. m., a submarine was sighted off starboard beam, - flying no flag or marks of identification. Manned and loaded both - guns. Hoisted colors and waited about 10 minutes. Fired after-gun - with sights set at 4,000 yards, scale 49, and fired purposely short - to see what the submarine would do, as she was closing in on the - _Silver Shell_. At the same instant of our flash, the submarine - fired a shot, the shell dropping 100 yards short amidships. The - ship was swung to port to bring the submarine astern. - - Twenty-five rounds were fired at the submarine, the last two of - which appeared to be hits. As the last shot landed the submarine's - bow raised up and went down suddenly. The crew of the submarine, - who were on deck, did not have time to get inside, so it is - believed there is not much doubt about her being hit. The submarine - fired in all 32 rounds, the last four of which were shrapnel and - exploded overhead. - -The master of the _Silver Shell_, John Charlton, was convinced that the -submarine was destroyed, and in his report said: "One shot struck the -submarine flush, hitting the ammunition on the deck. There was a flash -of flame, and within a minute she had disappeared." Captain John R. -Edie, U. S. N. (retired), the naval representative who investigated the -matter and heard all the evidence, made a report, dated Toulon, June 3, -in which he said: "There is no doubt in my mind but that the submarine -was sunk." - -The combats of the _Campana_, _Luckenbach_, _Nyanza_, _Chincha_, -_Borinquen_, _Norlina_, _Moreni_ and a score of others are among the -thrilling incidents of the war. These armed guards of 16 to 32 men, -usually under command of a chief petty officer, served on practically -every American merchant vessel that plied the war zone, and made a -record for bravery and efficiency which would be difficult to excel. - -One of the longest fights on record was that of the _J. L. Luckenbach_, -which began at 7:30 o'clock, the morning of October 19, 1917, and -continued four hours. The submarine, which was disguised as a steamer, -opened fire at long range. The _Luckenbach_ instantly replied with -both her guns. Closing in to 2,000 yards, the U-boat, which was of -large type, with heavy ordnance, began to pour forth a rain of shells. -One shot exploded on the deck, partially destroying the gun-crew's -quarters, bursting the fire-main, and setting afire that part of the -ship. Another shot landed near the stern, putting the after-gun out of -commission. - -Pieces of shell were falling all around the deck. Two shots landed on -the port side forward, striking the oilers' room and blowing a large -hole in the ship's side. One struck on the port side at the water-line, -hitting the fresh-water tank, the water supply pouring out. Another -burst in the petty officers' mess-room, wounding two men. One shot -passed through the weather screen on the bridge, and exploded in the -cargo. Pieces of shell hit V. Louther, of the armed guard, wounding him -in three places. While carrying ammunition forward, a sailor was hit -and severely injured, and a gunner was blinded by fumes. Then a shell -exploded in the engine-room, wounding the first and third engineers, -and putting the engine out of business. - -Struck a dozen times, with exploding shells overhead sending down -a hail of steel, nine men wounded and its engine disabled, the -_Luckenbach_ fought on. Its armed guard was under command of J. B. -Trautner, chief master-at-arms. - -Distress signals had been sent out soon after the firing began, hours -before, and had been answered by the _Nicholson_, 82 miles away. The -destroyer was hurrying to the steamer's assistance at high speed; but -it hardly seemed possible for her to arrive in time. There was a -constant exchange of messages between steamship and destroyer: - - "S. O. S.--_J. L. Luckenbach_ being gunned by submarine." - - "We are coming," signaled the _Nicholson_. - - "Our steam is cut off. How soon can you get here?" - - "Stick to it; will be with you in three hours." - - "Shell burst in engine-room. Engineer crippled." - - "Fire in our forehold. They are now shooting at our antennae." - - "How far are you away?" asked the _Luckenbach_. "Code books thrown - overboard. How soon will you arrive?" - - "In two hours," answered the _Nicholson_. - - "Too late," replied the _Luckenbach_. "Look out for boats. They are - shelling us." - - "Do not surrender!" radioed the _Nicholson_. - - "Never!" answered the _Luckenbach_. - -It was after eleven o'clock when smoke was seen and the ship headed -towards the destroyer to lessen the distance. Then that shell -exploded in the engine-room, and put the engine out of business. -As the _Nicholson_ approached, her guns were loaded and pointed, -the torpedo-tubes made ready, and the crew prepared for action. The -watch-officer in the foretop reported that he could see the ship, smoke -coming out of her hull and shells splashing around her. - -Then he sighted the U-boat far away, but almost dead ahead. "Train -and fire!" ordered the captain. "Boom!" went the gun. The U-boat -risked another shell or two at the steamer. But when the destroyer's -third shot landed close by, the "sub" quickly submerged, and hurried -away. The U-boat had fired 225 rounds, the _Luckenbach_ 202. When the -destroyer reached the scene, the enemy was gone, hidden under water, -leaving hardly a trace. - -The _Nicholson_ sent her surgeon and senior watch-officer to the -damaged steamer. They dressed the wounds of the injured nine. Two armed -guardsmen were found lying under a gun, seriously hurt. The third, hit -in three places by shell fragments, was walking around the deck, his -cap cocked over his ear, proud as a game rooster. Not stopping after he -was first hit, he was carrying ammunition to the gun when he was struck -again in the shoulder. As he laid his projectile on the deck, another -fragment of flying shell hit him. Then he really got mad. Shaking his -fist toward the "sub," he shouted, "No damned German's going to hit me -three times and get away with it." Grabbing his shell off the deck, he -slammed it into the breech, and yelled to the gun-pointer, "Hand it to -'em, Joe!" - -The ship's engineer had two ribs smashed, a piece of shrapnel in his -neck, and part of his foot shot away. He was lying down, "cussing" the -Germans. "Put me on my feet, men," he asked, and two oilers set him -up. For ten minutes more he poured out a steady stream of denunciation -of the "blankety-blank" U-boats. After he had expressed, in all the -languages he could command, his full and free opinion of the whole -German nation, he went to work, repaired the engine, got up steam and -the _Luckenbach_ began to move. - -Some of the men were so seriously wounded that the _Nicholson's_ doctor -was left on the steamer to care for them. Soon afterward he found he -was the senior naval officer aboard, and all looked to him for orders. -He was a doctor, not a navigator. The ship was bound for Havre, going -alone through the submarine-infested zone. Running without lights in -a locality where vessels were numerous was a risky business, which -increased in danger as they neared the coast. The skipper was not sure -of his course. He had never made a port in France before, and knew -nothing of the tides. The mates were equally uncertain. - -The doctor trusted to them until three o 'clock in the morning, when he -found the ship had run aground. Then he took a hand in navigation. The -captain and the mate were examining a chart on deck and wondering how -they had missed the shore light. Studying the charts, the doctor told -them they should have been twenty miles further east, and said, "Now, -I'll take charge." - -Fortunately, it was low tide when the ship went on the beach, and when -the flood-tide came at daylight, the vessel, using her engines, was -backed off. By eleven o'clock they had reached the entrance to Havre. - -Seeing her coming, with the marks of battle upon her, the people -crowded down to the water-front. They cheered the Navy gun-crew, the -sailors, and there were tears for the wounded and cheers for the doctor -as he came down the gang-plank with them. - -Attacked by a submarine off the Spanish coast, a shell exploded in the -gasoline tank of the _Moreni_ and set the ship afire. Chief Boatswain's -Mate Andrew Copassaki and his gun-crew had begun firing as soon as -the "sub" was sighted, but the _Moreni_ was slow and the U-boat had a -decided advantage. Raining shells upon the ship, the enemy shot away -her steering gear, and the vessel, beyond control, began steaming -around in a circle, but the naval gunners kept shooting away. - -Two men were wounded; one lifeboat upset as it struck the water and -two of the merchant crew were drowned. But the armed guard kept up the -fight until the entire ship was in flames. During the contest, which -lasted over two hours, the _Moreni_ fired 150 shots, the submarine 200. -The ship was hit 45 times. When the Spanish steamship _Valbanera_ came -up to rescue the survivors, both the Spaniards and the Germans aboard -the submarine cheered the _Moreni's_ naval gun-crew for the brave fight -they had made. - -After his return to this country, I had the pleasure of congratulating -Copassaki, who came to my office. Tall and bronzed, with a sweeping -black moustache, he was a stalwart figure, modest as he was brave. - -"That must have been a thrilling experience you had," I remarked as I -thanked him. "It must have been terrific for those men at the guns, -with the flames mounting around them." "It was pretty hot," modestly -replied Copassaki, who seemed to think that about covered the subject. - -The first Americans taken prisoner by the Germans were Chief Gunner's -Mate James Delaney, four members of the armed guard and the master of -the _Campana_, which was sunk about 150 miles from the French coast on -August 6, 1917. But they were captured only after a running fight of -more than four hours, during which the _Campana_ fired 170 shots and -the U-boat twice as many. After three hours' firing, the _Campana's_ -captain wanted to stop and abandon ship to avoid casualties, as -the vessel was clearly outranged by the more powerful guns of the -submarine, but Delaney protested, and kept up the fight for an hour and -ten minutes longer, firing until his ammunition was exhausted. - -The submarine, the U-61, headed for the lifeboats, keeping its 6-inch -gun and revolvers pointed at the survivors. They took aboard Delaney -and four of his gunners, and Captain Oliver, the ship's master. - -Believing Delaney was a lieutenant, the U-boat officers grilled him -for hours with questions, but could get nothing out of him. The German -captain congratulated him, and told him that he had put up the longest -fight any merchantman had ever made against a submarine. The U-boat had -not only shot away most of its shells, but had fired two torpedoes at -the _Campana_, and its captain told Delaney he would have to carry him -and some of his gunners to Germany, as otherwise they could hardly make -their authorities believe they had had to expend so much ammunition to -"get" a single ship. - -That evening about six o 'clock, the U-61 encountered a decoy ship. -Coming up on what appeared to be an unarmed vessel, they fired three -shots, and one of the Germans sitting near Delaney remarked, "One more -ship." But she was not the easy prey they thought she was, and the -U-boat had to make a quick dive to escape. "All the sailors rushed down -through the hatch, the submarine seemed to stand on her bow end, and -everything capsized as she submerged," Delaney said. "We went down 62 -meters. Everybody was scared, and they said our Allies were trying to -drown us." - -After seven days' cruising the U-boat arrived at Heligoland, where -Delaney and his men were landed, and then sent to Wilhelmshaven. -After four days in barracks, they were taken to the prison camp at -Brandenburg, where there were 10,000 prisoners, British, French and -Italian. Conditions in the camp, which was built around a small lake -which served as a sewage dump, were almost intolerable, and many -prisoners died. When Delaney protested against the guards stealing -parcels sent to prisoners, he was hauled up and "strafed" by the -officers. He defied them and a sergeant drew his sword, and threatened -to run it through the American sailor. But the others held him back. -The six Americans had many trying experiences, and were not released -until after the armistice; yet all survived and, leaving Germany -December 8, 1918, returned safely home. - -Dodging a torpedo, which missed her by only ten feet, facing a storm of -shells and shrapnel, the _Nyanza_ fought until the U-boat keeled over, -and went down. This engagement occurred thirty miles west of Penmarch, -France, on a Sunday morning, January 13, 1918. At 9:30 a periscope, -silver plated, was sighted 1,000 yards away, and at the same instant a -torpedo was seen, heading for the vessel. The helm was put hard aport, -and the ship swung clear in time to avoid the torpedo. - -The naval gunners opened fire. Falling astern, the submarine came to -the surface and gave chase, zigzagging and firing both her guns, using -shrapnel. Chief Gunner's Mate Benjamin H. Groves, in reporting the -encounter, said: - - At first her shots fell short, but eventually he got our range and - hit us five times. One shot passed through the after-gun platform, - through the wood shelter house, through the iron deck, breaking - a deck beam, exploding in the hold, and passing out through the - side of the ship. One shot exploded in the armed guard's mess - room, wrecking the place completely. Two shots exploded in a steam - locomotive on deck, doing some damage. One shot hit the stern of - the ship, but did not go through. - - About 11:15 the submarine had our range good again. The ship - zigzagged a little, which caused his shots to fall a little to - the right or left of our ship. At the same time, I had his range - and fired four shells quick at 7,800 yards, causing him to come - broadside to and keel over, then suddenly disappeared just as he - had our own range good. This leads me to think he did not quit from - choice, but from necessity. - - The engagement lasted two hours and 30 minutes. I fired 92 rounds, - and the submarine fired approximately 200. - -Admiral Wilson highly commended the _Nyanza's_ master, her second -officer and the armed guard, while Admiral Sims wrote: "The _Nyanza_ -was undoubtedly saved by the prompt work of the ship's personnel and by -the efficient work of the guns' crew." - -The _Navajo_ had a lively encounter with a submarine in the English -Channel July 4, 1917, and the court at Havre, which investigated the -matter, reported to the French Ministry of Marine that "the fight -was very well conducted," the men showing "a very fine spirit, doing -honor to the American Navy," and "the conclusion may be drawn that the -submarine was hit and probably sunk." Describing the engagement, Chief -Boatswain's Mate H. L. Ham reported: - - On July 4, at 9:20 a. m., heavy gunfire was heard to starboard and - shortly afterward the _Navajo_ ran out of the mist and sighted a - submarine firing on a British topsail schooner about two miles - away. The _Navajo_ changed her course, the fog shut down again and - the "sub" was lost sight of. This was about 55 miles northwest of - Cape La Hague, France. - - About 2:55 p. m. the same day the fog lifted and two shots were - heard from a point 1,500 yards distant. Upon observation a - submarine was seen firing with both guns at the _Navajo_. The first - shot dropped 50 yards short on the starboard beam; the second one - went over the ship. The _Navajo_ was swung, bringing the submarine - about three points on the starboard quarter, and opened fire with - her after-gun. - - The submarine fired about 40 shots during the engagement, which - lasted 40 minutes, one of which hit the _Navajo_ underneath the - port counter. This shell exploded before hitting the ship and - displaced some of the plates, causing the _Navajo_ to leak. - - The _Navajo_ in return fired 27 shots, the last two of which were - hits. The twenty-seventh shot struck the submarine just forward of - the conning tower where the ammunition hoist was located, causing - an explosion on board the submarine which was plainly heard on the - _Navajo_. The men who were on deck at the guns and had not jumped - overboard ran aft. The submarine then canted forward at almost 40 - degrees and the propeller could be seen lashing the air. Nobody was - seen coming up through the conning tower and jumping into the sea, - nor were any survivors seen. - -The armed guard commander concluded: "It is my opinion that the -submarine was sunk." - -The men of the _Borinquen_ were also convinced that they sank a U-boat -which they encountered in latitude 56°-32' north, longitude 10°-46' -west, June 4, 1917. Chief Gunner's Mate T. J. Beerman reported: - - Submarine was laying to when first sighted. We think she was - receiving news from her headquarters. After-gun could not bear on - her then and while the trainer was training gun around to bear, - loader fired pistol to wake up men in the shelter house, at the - same time hoisting our colors. Pointer turned on lights and dropped - sights from 500 yards to 100 yards. As soon as after-gun could bear - she opened fire. I did not see the first shot, but petty officer - said it went just over top of submarine's conning tower. I saw the - second shot hit, exploding and carrying away the conning tower. She - was about three points abaft the port beam. - - The ship putting stern to submarine, the third shot was fired about - astern. I saw it hit and explode. After second shot the submarine - seemed to be stopped and lay in trough of sea at the mercy of the - gun. The last seen of her she was going down on swell, listed to - port, with her bow sticking in air and her stern down. She was - going down in an upright position. - -Struck by a torpedo, the _Norlina_, after "abandon ship" was ordered -and its men had taken to the boats, manned its guns and when the U-boat -reappeared, put the enemy out of business. This engagement, which took -place June 4, 1917, in latitude 56°-32' north, longitude 10°-46' west, -was one of the queerest of war incidents. - -At 6:30 p. m., a man on the forward gun platform shouted, "Torpedo!" As -the ship turned the torpedo hit just abaft the beam, glanced off aft -around the stern, and sank. The first mate sounded the "abandon ship," -signal and the crew made for the lifeboats. Lieutenant Commander J. -Foster, captain of the vessel, three of his mates and the armed guard -commander remained aboard. Inspecting the vessel, they found it in no -danger of sinking, and called all hands to return. Chief Boatswain's -Mate O. J. Gullickson, commanding the armed guard, reported: - - As boats came alongside, a periscope was sighted off the starboard - beam. Guns were manned, commenced firing from forward gun, range - 2,000 yards. In the meantime the captain had gotten the engineers - below and we got under way, heading toward periscope. Continued - firing from both guns, all shots coming very close to the - periscope, submarine changing speed. - - Suddenly shot from forward gun hit just in front of periscope, - making it submerge, and a light blue smoke came up from astern of - the submarine. Periscope appeared again, range now 600 yards, when - a shot from the after-gun hit it square on the water line, making - small bits of steel fly, which may have been bursting of shell, and - causing a great commotion of bubbles, etc., in the water. - - In the meanwhile the captain, seeing the submarine getting closer - all the time and expecting another torpedo any second, ordered all - engineers on deck, causing the ship to be absolutely still in the - water during most of the firing. Hoisted in all boats, laying to - from 6:30 until 9:05 p. m., seeing no more of submarine, which was - apparently either sunk or badly damaged. - -"It seems certain that the submarine was either sunk or disabled," -Lieutenant Commander Foster wrote in the ship's log, which gave every -detail of the encounter. - -On June 8, 1917, when the steamship _W. H. Tilford_ was off Spezia -Bay, Italy, a periscope was sighted, 1,500 yards off the starboard -beam. Twenty rounds were fired rapidly from the ship's gun, the armed -guard commander reported; and "the submarine came to the surface and -made for the beach," where an Italian torpedo boat took charge of her. - -Off the Spanish coast, two or three miles from Sabinal Point, the -_Chincha_ at 7:25, the morning of January 18, 1918, sighted an object -like an enormous whale. Chief Gunner's Mate E. E. Nordquist, commanding -the armed guard, had a good look at it and decided it was one of the -latest type submarines. In his report, he said: - - I commenced firing, range 2,200 yards. After third shot all shots - fired were good. Fired 10 shots, when submarine disappeared. At - 8:15 submarine again showed itself about 2,000 yards off our - starboard quarter. Commencing firing fifth shot, which caused an - explosion and a volume of black smoke was seen. Submarine now - turned around and headed away from us. As submarine did not dive, - I continued the fire. Although nearly all shots seemed to hit, but - five exploded. The fourth explosion caused another volume of black - smoke. The submarine did not try to dive, but seemed to be trying - to come up. As I thought she was trying to come up for shell fire - at us, I kept on firing. - - The submarine now headed for the beach about 1-1/2 miles away; - 29 shots had been fired at her the second time. One of the last - shots had hit and exploded close, or at, where her propellers - were churning. As she was heading for the beach and quite a ways - off, I ceased firing. The bow swells of the submarine could still - be seen, but the churn of the propellers had ceased. Shortly all - disappeared, about 4,000 yards away. - -On March 21, the _Chincha_, whose armed guard was then commanded by E. -D. Arnold, chief boatswain's mate, encountered a large type submarine, -which was driven off. But one of its shots struck the vessel, killing -one member of the armed guard, and two of the ship's crew. - -_El Occidente_ had an exciting fight on February 2, the armed guard -commander, Chief Boatswain's Mate Dow Ripley, reporting that the ship -was apparently attacked by two submarines. One discharged a torpedo, -then came toward the vessel with a rush. The Navy gunners got the -range, Ripley reported, and "as their shots were hitting on top of her, -she suddenly disappeared, acting as if in distress." - -When the _Santa Maria_ was torpedoed, February 25, Chief Boatswain's -Mate John Weber and his armed guardsmen stood at the guns until the -water swept around them. Chief Gunner's Mate Joseph E. Reiter and the -gunners on the _Paulsboro_, when that vessel was attacked, held their -posts while shells burst above and shrapnel fell all around them, drove -off the U-boat and saved the ship. - -Twenty-four men--eight of the armed guard, and 16 of the merchant -crew--were lost in the sinking of the _Motano_, which was torpedoed the -night of July 31, 1917, in the English Channel off Portland. The vessel -sank in less than a minute after she was struck. There was no time to -launch lifeboats, and the men on deck were washed into the sea. - -Survivors of merchant vessels sunk far from land, left in open boats -to make their way to shore as best they could, underwent terrible -hardships. When the _Rochester_ was sunk November 2, 1917, 300 miles -from the Irish coast, the second engineer and an oiler were killed by -the explosion of the torpedo. One of the three lifeboats was lost. In -another four of the crew perished before reaching land, and three died -later from exposure. Five men of the armed guard were lost at sea and -one died after rescue. - -After the sinking of the _Actaeon_ (the ex-German _Adamstrum_), -November 24, 1917, a boat containing 19 of the armed guard and 6 of the -merchant crew became separated from the other boats, lost its course, -and rowed, sailed and drifted for eleven days before it reached Cape -Villano, near Coruña, Spain. Four men died before reaching shore, three -of the armed guard and one of the merchant crew. - -The _Armenia_ seemed to afford a special target for the U-boats. She -was torpedoed on two occasions, but, though badly damaged, was, in each -instance, safely taken to port and repaired. The night of December 5, -1917, about 20 miles from Dartmouth Light, England, a torpedo tore a -hole 31 feet long and 15 feet wide in the _Armenia's_ port side. Part -of the crew took to the boats, thinking the ship would sink almost -immediately; but the ship's captain and the head of the armed guard, -Stief Homiak, chief boatswain's mate, remained aboard. Prompt measures -were taken to keep the vessel afloat, the armed guard working with the -crew. The hole in the side was covered with collision mats and other -devices to keep out the water, and though the hold was flooded, the -vessel was successfully navigated into Dartmouth. Two months later, -after repairs were completed, the _Armenia_ left Dartmouth, February -8, 1918, for West Hartlepool. Shortly after midnight, when about -nine miles off St. Catherine's Light, Isle of Wight, she was struck -by a torpedo which opened up a hole 40 by 30 feet, carried away the -stern-post and propeller and broke the tail-shaft. Tugs came from shore -and towed the vessel to Stokes Bay, and she was again repaired. - -The submarines, particularly in the early months of the war, seemed -especially anxious to get one of the American liners, _St. Louis_, -_St. Paul_, _New York_ and _Philadelphia_. Time and again, U-boats -were sighted, evidently lying in wait for these fast steamers. The -_Philadelphia_, on one occasion, sighted a periscope only a few hundred -yards distant and saw the torpedo as it left the tube. By quick -maneuvering, the steamship turned and escaped the missile. The _St. -Louis_ had several experiences with them. Sighting a periscope on the -port beam, she opened a rapid fire and drove off the U-boat. Another -time a torpedo was seen only 200 yards away, and then a periscope -popped up, but by speed and quick maneuvering the liner escaped. Again -a submarine was sighted three miles distant. The _St. Louis_ opened -fire and for nearly half an hour there was a running fight between -"sub" and liner until at last the _St. Louis_ sailed out of range. - -There were many instances in which prompt and effective gunfire -repulsed submarines, and in most cases where the U-boat's guns were not -of superior range, the ship escaped. Thus on July 10, 1917, the _Gold -Shell_ drove off a "sub," as did the _Dakotan_ on Sept. 6, 1917. - -The _Albert Watts_ and _Westoil_, oil tankers, had a thrilling -encounter Nov. 28, 1917, with two submarines which, when first -observed, were within 300 yards. Blazing away with all their guns, -the ships compelled the enemy to dive to escape shelling. Then ensued -a running fight that continued for four hours. Every now and then a -periscope would bob up, in an effort to get in position to launch -torpedoes. But the ships would fire again, and the periscopes -disappear. At 10:30 the _Watts_ struck a mine, and was damaged, but -remained afloat. The rest of the convoy got to port that afternoon, and -a few hours later the _Watts_ arrived, crippled but still in the game. - -The _Westoil_ had another brush with the enemy March 12, 1918, when -a "sub" appeared some distance astern. After a running fight the -submarine gave up the contest, though she was of big type, and her guns -were apparently heavier than those of the _Westoil_. The vessel's fire -was too accurate for her; for the armed guard commander was a "sure -shot," a gun-pointer from one of our dreadnaughts who in five years had -never missed in short-range battle practice. They were "some gunners," -those men of the armed guards! - -I could fill a book with the exploits of these guards, for the Navy -furnished guns and gunners to 384 vessels, and this service at one time -or another employed 30,000 men. Begun March 12, 1917, in accordance -with the President's order, the arming of merchantmen proceeded until -nearly every American ship crossing the Atlantic was provided with this -protection. The Bureau of Ordnance scoured the country for all the guns -of proper calibers that were available, and some were even taken from -cruisers and older battleships, to be replaced later when more could -be manufactured. But crews were always ready and the guns were secured -and installed in record time. Statistics compiled by an officer of the -Armed Guard Section show that: - - The 384 merchant ships armed made 1832 trans-Atlantic trips while - in armed guard status. - - 347 sightings of enemy submarines were reported. - - 227 attacks by submarines were classified as "actual." - - Only 29 ships carrying armed guards were torpedoed and sunk. - - Two ships were sunk by shell-fire, both after long engagements. - - 193 attacks were successfully repulsed. - - 34 attacks resulted in probable damage to enemy submarines. - - Of the 2,738,026 tons of American merchant shipping armed, only - 166,428 tons was sunk by submarines. As a result of attacks - repulsed, 1,400,000 tons of American shipping were saved. - -Could there be better evidence of the success of this undertaking, or -the courage and efficiency of the gunners who protected our merchant -ships? - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -WHEN THE U-BOATS CAME TO AMERICA - - WAR OFF OUR COASTS FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER, 1918--GERMANS SENT - SUBMARINES TO INTERRUPT TROOP AND SUPPLY TRANSPORTATION, BUT - TRANSPORTS WERE SO WELL GUARDED THAT NOT ONE WAS ATTACKED OR - EVEN DELAYED--MANY SCHOONERS AND SOME STEAMERS SUNK, BARGES AND - LIGHTSHIP SHELLED, BUT GERMANS FAILED IN THEIR MAIN OBJECT. - - -Europe was not the only "war zone." There was war off our own coasts -from May to September, 1918, and the Navy had to protect transports and -shipping, to escort convoys and hunt submarines on this side of the -Atlantic as well as off the coasts of Great Britain and France. - -During that period the Navy was as much in active war service in home -waters as it was in Europe. And our methods were quite as successful -here as there, for in the entire four months in which German submarines -operated off our coasts not one convoy was attacked, and not one -transport was delayed in sailing. - -Will you ever forget that Sunday, June 2, 1918, when a German submarine -suddenly appeared off the New Jersey coast and sank six vessels, ending -the day with the destruction of the passenger steamer _Carolina_? - -The first news came at 5:30 p. m., from the Ward Liner _Mexico_, which -radioed that she had picked up three lifeboats containing fifty men -of the _Isabel B. Wiley_ and other schooners that had been sunk. This -message was immediately broadcasted with a warning to all ships along -the coast. Naval vessels were at once ordered to the vicinity and -patrol craft in that region and all along the coast were notified to -keep a sharp lookout for the submarine. - -The passenger steamer _Carolina_, en route to New York from Porto -Rico, was 13 miles from where the _Wiley_ was sunk, when she received -the warning at 5:55 o'clock. Darkening her lights, she steered due -west, putting on full speed. The captain had just got his vessel -steadied on the new course, when he sighted the submarine two miles -away. In a moment or two the U-boat fired three shells, which landed -near the steamer. At the second shot the captain stopped his ship. -He had ordered the wireless operator to send out an "SOS" signal, -stating that the vessel was attacked by submarine. But, realizing, he -said, the uselessness of trying to escape, and fearing if he sent out -radio messages the U-boat might shell the ship, endangering the lives -of those aboard, the captain recalled the order. The radio operator -stated that the submarine had wirelessed to him, under low power, "If -you don't use wireless I won't shoot." That was the reason we were so -long in getting news of the sinking of the _Carolina_. She sent out no -distress signals. - -At his third shot, the submarine bore down on the vessel, which was -flying the signal "A.B."--abandon ship--and was lowering its lifeboats. -"Women and children first," was the rule, and after they had been -placed safely, the men entered the boats. As the captain, the last to -leave, cleared the ship's side, the submarine commander ordered him to -make for shore. The U-boat fired several shells into the vessel, and -she finally sank at 7:55 p. m., with the American ensign and signals -flying. Clouds of fire and steam arose as she went down. - -The _Carolina_ carried 218 passengers, and a crew of 117. All got -safely into the lifeboats, which were moored head and stern, one to -the other, except the motor sailer and boat No. 5, and all headed for -shore, on a westward course. They had smooth seas until midnight, when -a squall came on with heavy rain and lightning. The boats, which were -connected by lines, were anchored until the storm passed. At daylight -they began to proceed singly, to make rowing easier. - -At 11 o'clock the storm-tossed survivors sighted a schooner, the _Eva -B. Douglas_, which took aboard all that were in sight, 160 passengers -and 94 of the crew. But about noon one boat, in attempting to weather -the rough seas, capsized, drowning seven passengers and six of the -crew. There were still three boats to be accounted for. The next day, -19 survivors were picked up and carried to Vineyard Haven, and 18 -were rescued by the British steamer _Appleby_, and taken to Lewes, -Delaware. Lifeboat No. 5 was rowed to shore, and the thousands along -the Boardwalk were amazed when it came in sight and was landed through -the surf at Atlantic City. - -That Monday, June 3rd, was one of the busiest days of the war in the -Navy Department, as it was at naval bases all along the Atlantic. The -fact that the Germans were operating off our shores stirred up not only -Washington but the entire country. - -Plans for submarine defense had been made out long before, and were put -into effect. Our patrol force, all along the line, was on the job. But -hunting a U-boat and capturing it are two very different things. - -News and rumors were pouring in, and when I received the newspaper -correspondents I faced a fire of questions as rapid as that of a -machine-gun: - -"What is the Navy doing to protect shipping?" - -"Why did it let the submarine sink those vessels?" - -"Have you sunk the U-boat?" - -"What naval vessels have you sent out? What methods are they using to -get the 'sub'?" - -"How many boats have the Germans sent over?" - -"Have you got enough vessels to protect our coast and commerce?" - -"Will you recall our destroyers from Europe?" - -As I was doing my best to answer the questions of the gentlemen -of the press, who had a right to know everything that was not of -advantage to the enemy, telegrams were pouring into the Department by -the hundred, and the telephones were ringing without cessation. In -twenty-four hours, 5,000 telegrams, radio messages, 'phone calls and -other inquiries were handled by the Navy. The halls and offices of the -Department were thronged with anxious people, shippers and ship-owners, -friends and relatives of captains and crews. And everybody wanted -information. - -There was alarm along the coast, from Cape Cod to Key West. If one -U-boat was over here, two might be or three or more. That was the -general feeling. - -One of the most persistent questions, which came from the country, as -well as the press, was whether we were going to recall our destroyers -from Europe--and in many cases this was put not as an inquiry but a -demand. - -We could not tell the public what we were doing, what ships were -being sent out, and where. That was just what the Germans wanted to -know. Most of our destroyers and the best of our patrol craft were -in European waters, 3,000 miles away, performing vital duty against -the enemy in England, Ireland, France and Italy. We had no idea of -recalling them. - -Thousands of vessels would have been required to patrol every mile of -our long coast-line, and guard all the boats off our shores. Our duty -was clear. The Germans had sent their U-boats across the sea mainly to -interrupt the transportation of troops and supplies. If they did not -succeed in that, their coming would have no real military effect. - -"Our first duty," I said to the newspaper men that morning, "is to -keep open the road to France, to protect troop-ships and Army supply -vessels. We are doing all we can to protect all shipping and commerce, -but the safety of troops must be our first thought." - -The policy was so well carried out that not one troop-ship or cargo -transport was delayed in sailing, and the months in which enemy -submarines operated almost continuously off our coasts were the very -months in which we broke all records in troop transportation. - -The first submarine that came over in 1918 was the U-151, and the -first craft she sank were three small schooners, the _Hattie Dunn_, -_Hauppauge_ and _Edna_, all sent down by bombs the same day, May -25th. To prevent disclosure of her presence, she kept the crews of -all three, 23 men, imprisoned aboard her, and sailed well out at sea, -submerging whenever a large vessel was sighted, until June 2nd, when -she sank three other schooners, the _Isabel Wiley_, _Jacob M. Haskell_ -and _Edward H. Cole_; a small steamer, the _Winneconne_, and late in -the afternoon attacked the steamships _Texel_ and _Carolina_. All the -_Texel's_ crew were saved, but they rowed to shore and the story of her -sinking was not told until they reached Atlantic City next morning. En -route from Porto Rico to New York, with a cargo of sugar, the _Texel_ -was stopped at 4:21 p. m. by the firing of shells, one of which struck -the vessel, and an hour later was sunk by bombs placed aboard. - -By sinking only small boats which had no radio apparatus, and holding -their crews prisoners, the U-151 had for ten days concealed her -whereabouts. But the Navy had warned shipping to be on the lookout, and -on May 16th had sent this message to all section bases: - - _Most Secret_:--From information gained by contact with enemy - submarine, one may be encountered anywhere west of 40 degrees - west. No lights should be carried, except as may be necessary to - avoid collision, and paravanes should be used when practicable and - feasible. Acknowledge, Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet; Commander - Cruiser Force, Commander Patrol Squadron, Flag San Domingo, - Governor Virgin Islands, Commandants 1st to 8th, inclusive, and - 15th Naval Districts. 13016. - - OPNAV. - -The Department had been notified from London Headquarters early in -May that a large-type submarine had left Germany for American waters, -and on May 15th, the British steamer _Huntress_ reported that she had -escaped a torpedo attack in latitude 34°-28' north, longitude 56°-09' -west, about 1,000 miles east of Cape Hatteras. Four days later the -_Nyanza_ was attacked 300 miles from our coast; the _Jonancy_ was -gunned about 150 miles at sea, and on May 21st the British steamer -_Crenelia_ reported sighting a submarine. - -This information was disseminated to all section bases, coast defense -commanders and forces afloat; and in addition to the regular patrols, -special sub-chaser detachments were organized, and ordered to proceed, -upon the receipt of any "SOS" or "Allo" message, to the vessel attacked -or in distress. - -Comprehensive plans for defense, protection of shipping and combating -the U-boats had been made long previously. Before we entered the war -a general scheme had been adopted, a patrol force and naval districts -organized. From that time on we had maintained a vigilant lookout -for the German craft. A special Planning Board had been created in -February, 1918, to study the situation afresh and recommend any -additional measures that might be adopted for coast defense, and -protection of shipping. These plans, approved March 6, placed -coastwise shipping under the control of district commandants, district -boundaries being, for this purpose, extended seaward and sharply -defined. On May 4 a circular letter was sent to all ship-owners and -masters, detailing the procedure they were to follow. Commandants -were instructed to see that all routing preliminaries and shipping -requirements and military and commercial arrangements on shore were -made and thoroughly understood by all the interests concerned. - -The morning of June 3rd, the order was issued to commandants, "Assume -control of coastwise shipping and handle traffic in accordance -therewith;" and the following warning was sent out: - - Unmistakable evidence enemy submarine immediately off coast between - Cape Hatteras and Block Island. Vessels not properly convoyed - advised to make port until further directed. - -A Coastwise Routing Office was organized in the Navy Department as a -part of Naval Operations. Every naval district had its arrangement for -routing and convoying traffic in and through its areas. The commandant -made up the convoy, outlined its route, and provided escort through his -territory, each district in succession relieving the previous escort. -Thus naval protection was provided for shipping all along the coast. - -Routing offices were also established at Halifax, Nova Scotia; at -Havana, San Juan and all leading West Indian ports; and Tampico, -Mexico--in fact, eventually at every Atlantic port where coastwise -shipping was likely to originate. - -Through the Naval Communication Service full information as to convoys, -rendezvous and other details were sent in code. Each ship's master, -before sailing, was required to go to the routing office and receive -written instructions as to the route to be followed and areas to be -avoided. He was given all the latest submarine information and was told -of the signals and the location of each "speaking station." - -[Illustration: - - From the painting by Frederick J. Waugh - -THE GUN-CREW OF THE LUCKENBACH HAS A FOUR-HOUR FIGHT WITH A SUBMARINE] - -[Illustration: - - From the painting by George Bellows - -CHIEF GUNNER'S MATE DELANEY, OF THE CAMPANA, DEFYING HIS CAPTORS] - -These speaking stations were established at various points along the -coast. Manned by navy personnel, using a simple code of distance -signals, they could communicate with ships not equipped with radio, -call vessels into harbor if necessary, and divert them from -dangerous localities. They performed a valuable function in expediting -the flow of shipping from district to district, as well as, by prompt -action, warning craft in danger. Ships at sea received by radio all -war warnings and orders, and when it was necessary to divert convoys, -orders to change course could be sent at a moment's notice. Far south -were two "reporting" stations. Vessels passing out of the Gulf of -Mexico coastwise-bound were required to report at Sand Key, those -northbound through the Old Bahama passage, to report at Jupiter. - -[Illustration: THE MERCHANT SUBMARINE DEUTSCHLAND IN BALTIMORE HARBOR - -Inset: Gun mounted on the U-155, as the Deutschland was called after -its conversion into a war craft.] - -Thus escort was provided for vessels through all the areas in which -submarines were likely to operate, and a system provided by which the -Navy could keep track of and in touch with them from the time they -sailed until they reached port. Though this necessitated a large fleet -of escorting vessels, of which our best were at work in Europe, by -utilizing all the patrol craft that could be secured and our sturdy -little sub-chasers, we managed to provide sufficient escorts. - -It is a notable fact that, while the submarines sank many schooners -and fishing craft and some steamers proceeding independently, during -the entire four months in which the U-boats operated in the Western -Atlantic not one convoy, coastwise or trans-Atlantic, was attacked off -the coast of the United States. - -The alarm which occurred when the U-boats first appeared quickly -subsided. The details of the comprehensive system the Navy had put -into effect could not then be published. But the naval committees of -Congress knew, for we could impart this information, in confidence, to -them. To find out for themselves whether the Navy was doing everything -possible to protect shipping and repel the Germans, Senators and -Representatives came to the Navy Department, and examined all our plans -and arrangements. - -Senator Lodge well expressed their convictions in his speech in the -Senate on June 6th, 1918, when he said: - - The Navy and the Navy Department have taken every precaution that - human foresight could suggest, so far as I am able to judge, and I - have examined their preparations with such intelligence and care as - I could give to the matter. * * * - - Mr. President, the Navy and the Navy Department have necessarily - anticipated a submarine attack from the very beginning of the war. - They have had it constantly on their minds. They have tried to make - every preparation to meet it. I think they have. It would be most - injurious for me to stand here and follow down the map of the coast - and tell the Senate and the public exactly what those preparations - are--tell them where the submarine chasers are, where the - destroyers are, where the signal stations are, what arrangements - they have made for meeting the danger when it came, as they were - sure it would come. No human mind can possibly tell when out of - the great waste of waters of the Atlantic Ocean a submarine, which - travels by night and submerges by day, will appear. As soon as the - Navy had any authentic news to indicate the presence of submarines - on this coast they acted. They will do everything that can be done. - They have the means to do it. That is all that I feel at liberty to - say in a general way. - - Mr. President, for four years the greatest Navy in the world - has been devoting its strength to the destruction of German - submarines. They were operating in what are known as the narrow - seas, where the commerce of the world, we may say, comes together - in a closely restricted area; and even there, with the knowledge - for years of the presence of the German submarines, it is not - going too far to say that many of those submarines escaped them. - They are diminishing now, with our assistance. A larger control is - being established over the narrow seas, and the work against the - submarines at the point of the greatest danger--what we may call - the naval front of this war--is succeeding more than many of us - dared to hope. It is done by the multiplication of vessels and the - multiplication of methods, and there is the great center of the - fight. - - One or two submarines have appeared suddenly on our coast, as - was to be anticipated. In my judgment, we are doing all that can - be done. I have taken the pains to go to the Department, where - everything has been laid before the members of the Naval Affairs - Committee who cared to investigate the subject, and I am entirely - satisfied that they are doing everything that is possible. But the - chase of the submarine is something like searching for the needle - in the haystack. You can not tell in which particular wisp of hay - it will come to the surface; but that the defense will be effective - I have no sort of question. * * * - - We have a patrol along the coast, which is composed chiefly of - what is known as the Life-Saving Service, or the Coast Guard, as - it is now known. We also have an organized system for procuring - information from fishermen and others on the coast, extending from - Maine to the Gulf. Those sources of information were organized and - in operation through the Navy Department at least two years before - we entered the war, so I believe that so far as our own coasts are - concerned the chances of a base there are almost negligible. * * * - - I did not rise to go into the details to describe to you the - different naval districts of the country and what has been done in - each one of them, but simply to tell you what my own opinion is - after having examined all the arrangements with the utmost care of - which I was capable and with the most intense interest, and I give - my word for what it is worth, that in my judgment the Navy and the - Navy Department, the Secretary and Assistant Secretary, and all the - officers, the Chief of Staff, and every head of a bureau has done - everything that human foresight could suggest. * * * - - I want the Senate also to remember that when newspaper editorials - ask what the Navy is doing I should like to have them consider - why it is that we have sent all the troops we have sent--and we - have sent a great many thousands--why it is that they have gone to - Europe without the loss of a transport, thank God, as I do. How is - it that that has happened? It has happened because of the American - Navy, which furnished the convoys, and no other cause. - - I wish I could go on and tell you what the American Navy has been - doing in the narrow seas. I can not. The Navy has remained largely - silent about its work and its preparation, and it is one of the - best things about it, but it has been doing the greatest possible - work everywhere. It has not failed in convoying the troops. It has - not failed in its work in the Baltic and the Channel and the coast - of France and the Mediterranean, and it will not fail here. It - will do everything that courage and intelligence and bravery can - possibly do. - -In addition to the elusive U-boat, mines laid by the "subs" also proved -a constant danger, quite as much as gunfire, bombs and torpedoes. The -afternoon of June 3, the tanker _Herbert L. Pratt_ struck a mine two -and a half miles off Overfalls lightship, and sank. But she was not in -deep water, and was quickly salvaged and towed to Philadelphia. Late -that evening at 6 o'clock, the U-151, in another locality, overhauled -and sank the _Sam C. Mengel_. The first officer, John W. Wilkins, -stated that when the crew were leaving the schooner, the German -boarding-officer shook hands with them, and exclaimed: - -"Send Wilson out here and we will finish him in ten minutes. Wilson is -the only one prolonging the war." - -Next morning an "SOS" call came from the French tanker _Radioleine_, -"attacked by submarine." The coast torpedo-boat _Hull_ (Lieutenant -R. S. Haggart), rushed to her assistance. Zigzagging and firing her -stern-gun, the steamer was putting up a good defense, though shells -were falling around her. But before the _Hull_ could get within firing -distance, the U-boat dived and scurried off. As the _Radioleine_, -relieved, sailed away, the _Hull_ picked up the crew of the schooner -_Edward R. Baird, Jr._, which had been bombed two hours before, but -was still afloat, though water-logged, with decks awash. - -Moving around from point to point, in the next week the U-151 sank six -steamships, one an American steamer, the _Pinar Del Rio_, and then -headed for Germany. - -Naval vessels were on the lookout all the time. But when the submarine -did attack any craft which had radio, it prevented them, if possible, -from sending out signals or messages of distress. This was a great -handicap to the naval commanders, as it prevented them from knowing -where the U-boat was operating. The moment a periscope was reported, -they speeded for the scene. - -As it departed for home, the submarine attacked two British steamers, -the _Llanstephan Castle_ and _Keemun_, both of which escaped, and -later sank two Norwegian barks, the _Samoa_ and _Kringsjaa_, 150 miles -at sea. Though sighted several times by merchantmen, the U-151 made -no further attacks until June 18th, when she torpedoed the British -steamship _Dwinsk_, far out in the Atlantic. The vessel remained afloat -and two hours later was sunk by gunfire. - -Soon afterward the _U. S. S. Von Steuben_ arrived on the scene and -bore down on the lifeboats. The submarine fired a torpedo at her, but -the cruiser transport avoided the deadly missile, and blazed away -at the "sub's" periscope. She fired 19 shots and dropped numerous -depth-charges. But the U-boat submerged and got away and three days -later, about 200 miles further east, sank the Belgian _Chilier_. The -Norwegian steamer _Augvald_ was sunk June 23. This was the last vessel -sunk, though the submarine made several unsuccessful attacks on British -and American ships. - -The U-151 reached Germany August 1, having left Kiel April 14. In -a cruise of nearly three months she had sunk 23 vessels, of 59,000 -gross tons. Some submarines in European waters had destroyed that much -tonnage in a week or two. - -But this was only the beginning of submarine operations. The U-156, -commanded by Kapitän-Leutnant von Oldenburg, left Germany for America -June 15, and on July 5 attacked, almost in mid-Atlantic, the _U. S. S. -Lake Bridge_, which after a running fight outdistanced her. - -Her first appearance in our waters was on July 21st, when she bobbed -up near Cape Cod, Mass., and attacked the tug _Perth Amboy_ and four -barges in tow. Three torpedoes were fired at the tug, it was stated. A -shell crashed through the wheelhouse, and cut off the hand of a sailor -as he grasped the spokes of the steering wheel. The tug on fire, the -German turned his attention to the barges, and kept firing away until -several men were wounded and the helpless craft went down. Three women -and five children were aboard the barges. They, with the crews, were -reached by boats from Coast Guard Station No. 40, and landed at Nauset -Harbor. - -Seaplanes from the Chatham naval air station flew to the scene and -attacked the submarine, dropping aerial bombs. Though the haze obscured -the view, bombs fell very near the U-boat, and one or two, it was -reported, actually struck her but failed to explode. Not relishing this -attack from the air, the German submerged and started for Canadian -waters. - -Sinking a fishing schooner 60 miles southeast of Cape Porpoise, and -burning another near the entrance to the Bay of Fundy, the raider -turned her attention to the fishing fleet around Seal Island, Nova -Scotia, sinking four American schooners and three Canadians. She -also sank the Canadian tanker _Luz Blanca_ and the Swedish steamer -_Sydland_. On August 11 the British steamship _Penistone_ was torpedoed -and sunk, her master, David Evans, taken prisoner, and the _Herman -Winter_, an American steamer, was attacked, but escaped uninjured. -Sailing southward the U-boat, a week later, sank the _San Jose_, -and Evans was released and allowed to get into a lifeboat with the -Norwegian crew. - -The U-156 then went northward again, and on August 20 captured the -Canadian steam trawler _Triumph_, and armed her as a raider, placing a -German crew aboard. Operating together, they sank a dozen schooners in -Canadian waters. Sinking the Canadian schooner _Gloaming_, on August -26, the U-156 started on her homeward voyage. The only attack she made -returning was unsuccessful, an encounter on August 31 with the _U. S. -S. West Haven_, which drove her off. - -Beginning by attacking barges and tugs, devoting most of her time to -sinking small fishing craft, the U-156 met an inglorious end in the -Northern Mine Barrage. Attempting to "run" the barrage, she struck a -mine and sank so quickly that, apparently, many of her men did not -have time to escape. Twenty-one survivors were landed on the Norwegian -Coast; the fate of the rest of the crew is unknown. It seems like fate -that this raider which destroyed so many helpless little American -vessels should have been sent down by that creation which was mainly -American, the great barrage which, 3,500 miles from this country, -stretched across the North Sea. - -At the same time the U-156 was slaying fishing craft in the north, -another German submarine, commanded by Korvetten-Kapitän Kophamel, the -U-140, was operating in southern waters. Leaving Kiel June 22, only -a week after the U-156, this big undersea boat began work almost in -mid-ocean July 18, gunning the American tanker _Joseph Cudahy_. On the -26th she fired on two British vessels, and later on the _Kermanshah_. -All these attacks were unsuccessful, but she succeeded in sinking -the Portuguese bark _Porto_, and on August 1 the Japanese steamship -_Tokuyama_ was torpedoed 200 miles southeast of New York. - -The U-140 had a long and hot fight, before she sank, August 4th, her -first American vessel, the tanker _O. B. Jennings_, Captain George W. -Nordstrom, master; one man being killed and several wounded, before -the ship was sent down. Then the U-140, sinking a schooner on the way, -headed for Diamond Shoals, on the North Carolina coast, near Cape -Hatteras. - -The _Merak_, a Dutch steamship taken over by the Americans, was sailing -along at eight knots, when, at 1:40 p. m., a shot crossed her bow. -Putting about, the _Merak_ made for shore, zigzagging, the submarine -pursuing, firing a shell a minute. After the thirtieth shot, the -_Merak_ ran aground and her crew took to the boats. The Germans boarded -the steamer, bombed her, and then turned their attention to other -vessels. Three were in sight, the steamers _Beucleuch_ and _Mariner's -Harbor_, and the Diamond Shoals lightship. - -First they turned their guns on the lightship. Unarmed, with no means -of defense, this vessel of 590 tons was of the same type as the other -ships which are stationed at various points along the coast to keep -their lights burning and warn mariners off dangerous points. To destroy -one of these coast sentinels is like shooting down a light-house. But -the Germans evidently thought its destruction would cause a shock and -arouse indignation, if nothing else. So they shot down the sentinel of -Diamond Shoals, while the lightships' crew took to the boats and saved -their lives by rowing to shore. Then the U-140 attacked the Beucleuch, -but the British steamer was too fast for her, and in the meantime the -_Mariner's Harbor_, too, had escaped. - -No more was heard of the U-140 until August 10, when she attacked the -Brazilian steamer _Uberaba_. The destroyer _Stringham_ went at once -to the steamship's assistance and drove off the enemy. The Brazilians -later presented the destroyer with a silk American flag and a silver -loving-cup, to express their thanks for the timely aid given by the -_Stringham_ in saving the _Uberaba_ from destruction. - -After a brush with the _U. S. S. Pastores_, whose gunfire proved too -hot to face, the U-140 proceeded several hundred miles north, keeping -well out at sea, and was not heard from for a week. Then on August 21, -after a gunfire contest, she sank the British steamer _Diomed_, and the -next night attacked the _Pleiades_, an American cargo vessel, whose -shots fell so close around the submarine that it was glad to get away. - -That was the last experience, near our coast, of the U-140, which was -already headed for Germany. She had been damaged, whether by our shells -or depth-bombs, or from some other cause could not be ascertained. Her -passage was slow until she was joined by the U-117, September 9. They -proceeded in company toward Germany, the U-140 reaching Kiel October 25. - -The U-117, a mine-layer of large type, commanded by Kapitän-Leutnant -Droscher, had left Germany early in July, and her first exploit on this -side of the Atlantic was a raid on the fishing fleet, near George's -Bank, a hundred miles or more east of Cape Cod. In one day, August -10th, she sank nine little schooners of 18 to 54 tons. Coming nearer -shore, she torpedoed and sank the Norwegian steamer _Sommerstadt_, 25 -miles southeast of Fire Island. The torpedo made a circle around the -vessel and returning, exploded, her master, Captain George Hansen, -declared, saying: - - The torpedo went about 1,300 fathoms on the starboard side; then - it started to turn to the left. When I saw the torpedo start to - swerve around, I gave orders for full speed ahead. After it passed - the bow it made two turns, making a complete circle, and then - struck our vessel aft on the port side exactly between the third - and fourth holds, right at the bulkhead. - -The next afternoon the _Frederick R. Kellogg_, an American tanker, was -torpedoed 30 miles south of Ambrose Channel lightship. The torpedo -struck in the engine-room, and the ship went down in fifteen seconds, -her master, Captain C. H. White, stated. Two steel decks and a wooden -deck were blown up, and a lifeboat was blown in the air. The engineer, -his third assistant, one fireman and an oiler were killed or drowned. -The ship sank in shallow water, however, and was later raised, towed to -port and repaired. - -The submarine sank the schooner _Dorothy B. Barrett_ and the motor-ship -_Madrugada_, and on the 17th sent down, 120 miles southeast of Cape -Henry, the _Nordhav_, a Norwegian bark, whose survivors were rescued by -the battleship _Kearsarge_. The U-117 had a long combat on August 20, -with the Italian steamer _Ansaldo III_, the steamer escaping after a -gun duel that lasted nearly three hours, and the next day had another -running fight with the British _Thespis_, which was also unsuccessful. - -The final exploit of the U-117 on this side of the ocean was the -sinking of two Canadian schooners on August 30th. She then started -across the Atlantic, ten days later joining the U-140. - -It was not until early in August that the _Deutschland_, which had made -two trips to the United States as a commercial submarine in 1916, left -Germany for American waters. Her operations were mainly far out at sea -or in Canadian waters, and she never came within 200 or 300 miles of -the United States coast. - -Renamed the U-155, the _Deutschland_ began her activities on this -expedition on August 27, 1918, when she attacked the American steamship -_Montoso_ almost in mid-Atlantic. It was at night, about 9 o'clock, -when the _Montoso_ and the _Rondo_ and _Ticonderoga_, which were with -her, opened fire. The submarine fired several shots, but the guns of -our vessels drove it off. - -Five days later the _Deutschland_ attacked the _U. S. S. Frank H. -Buck_, opening fire with two six-inch guns. Firing first with its -3-inch forward gun, then putting into action its six-incher, the _Buck_ -made a vigorous reply. Her shots were falling close to the "sub," but -enemy shrapnel was bursting above the vessel and falling on deck. The -_Buck_ reported that one of her shots apparently hit right at the stern -of the U-boat and another forward of the conning tower, under the water -line. The submarine then disappeared. She seemed to have been damaged, -but not enough to put her out of commission, for on September 2nd she -sank the Norwegian steamer _Shortind_ and on the 7th chased and shelled -the British steamship _Monmouth_. Five days later she torpedoed the -Portuguese steamer _Leixoes_, three of the crew being lost, one going -down with the ship and two dying of cold and exposure in the lifeboats. - -September 13th was an unlucky day for the _Deutschland_, for in a -gunfire contest with the armed British merchantman _Newby Hall_, she -was struck by a shell which exploded and temporarily put out of action -her forward gun. For the next week she seems to have devoted her -attention to mine-laying, off Halifax and the Nova Scotian coast. Then -she sank a small steam trawler, the _Kingfisher_, and on Sept. 29th -unsuccessfully attacked the British steamer _Reginolite_. On October 3 -and 4, she sank the Italian steamship _Alberto Treves_ and the British -schooner _Industrial_. - -At 10 a. m., Oct. 12th, the _Deutschland_ attacked the American -steamship _Amphion_, formerly the German _Köln_. Her second shot -carried away the steamer's wireless. Then ensued a gunfire contest that -lasted more than an hour, the submarine firing some 200 shots and the -_Amphion_ 72. The _Amphion_ was hit time and again, her lifeboats were -riddled, and her super-structure damaged, but she gradually drew off -and the U-boat abandoned the chase. - -The last American steamer sunk during the war was the _Lucia_, known -as the "non-sinkable" ship--and the reports indicate that it was the -_Deutschland_ that sank her. The _Lucia_, a U. S. Shipping Board vessel -used as an army cargo transport, had been fitted up with buoyancy -boxes. There was considerable interest in this experiment, proposed and -carried out by the Naval Consulting Board, accounts of which had been -widely published. These boxes did not render the vessel unsinkable, -but it is a significant fact that she remained afloat twenty-two hours -after she was torpedoed. - -It was 5:30 p. m., October 17, when the torpedo struck in the -engine-room, killing four men. Though the submarine was not seen, -the naval armed guard stood at their guns, which were trained in the -direction from which the torpedo came. The civilian crew took to the -lifeboats as the vessel settled slowly. The gunners remained aboard -until 1:30 o'clock the next afternoon, when the seas were breaking over -the gun platform. The _Lucia_ did not finally disappear beneath the -waves until 3:20 p. m., October 18th. - -After sinking the _Lucia_, the former _Deutschland_ cruised towards the -Azores, and did not reach Kiel until November 15, four days after the -armistice. - -There was one other submarine assigned to operate in American waters, -and which started out from Kiel, late in August, for this purpose. -This was the U-152, a large craft of the _Deutschland_ type, commanded -by Kapitän-Leutnant Franz. Though she never got within hundreds of -miles of our coast, on September 30th she sank the animal transport -_Ticonderoga_, and caused the largest loss of life any of our ships -sustained in action. But this took place in the Eastern Atlantic, -latitude 43°-05' north, longitude 38°-43' west, nearer Europe than -America. It was the U-152 with which the _U. S. S. George G. Henry_ had -a two-hour running fight on September 29th, in which the _Henry_ came -off victor. This was not far from the point where the _Ticonderoga_ -went down. - -The nearest point she came to the United States was on October 13th, -when she sank the Norwegian bark _Stifinder_, in latitude 37°-22' -north, longitude 53°-30' west, 600 miles or more from our coast. - -Next to attacking vessels, the most menacing activity of the U-boats -was mine-laying. They sowed mines at various points from Cape Hatteras -to Nova Scotia and mine-fields were discovered off Fire Island, N. -Y.; Barnegat, N. J.; Five Fathom Bank, near the entrance to Delaware -River; Fenwick Island, off the Delaware Coast; Winter Quarter Shoal and -the Virginia Capes, and Wimble Shoals, near the North Carolina coast. -Single mines were picked up at other points. - -Every protective measure possible was employed against them. A fleet of -mine-sweepers was constantly engaged in sweeping channels and entrances -to harbors, and every point where there was reason to believe mines -might be laid. Fifty-nine vessels were engaged in this duty, most of -them assigned to the districts which handled the largest volume of -shipping. - -Naval vessels and the larger merchantmen carried paravanes, which swept -up mines and carried them off from the vessel, where they could be -destroyed. But even the paravanes were not always effective. - -It was one of these floating mines which sank the cruiser _San Diego_ -July 19, 1918, off Fire Island. The battleship _Minnesota_ struck -one of them at night, September 29th, at 3:15 a. m., twenty miles -from Fenwick Island Shoals lightship. Though the explosion, under her -starboard bow, seriously damaged the hull and flooded the forward -compartments, the _Minnesota_ proceeded to port under her own steam, -arriving at 7:45 p. m. at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she was -docked and repaired. - -The British steamship _Mirlo_ was blown up off Wimble Shoal buoy, near -Cape Hatteras, at 3:30 p. m., August 16th. The ship, which was loaded -with gasoline, took fire, and one explosion after another occurred, -breaking the vessel in two. The _San Saba_, formerly the _Colorado_, -was sunk off Barnegat, October 4th. Struck amidships, the vessel -practically broke in two, and sank in fire minutes. The _Chaparra_, a -Cuban steamer, was blown up ten miles from Barnegat Light, October 27th. - -The U. S. cargo steamer _Saetia_ (Lieutenant Commander W. S. Lynch), -bound for Philadelphia from France, was sunk by a mine on November -9th, two days before the armistice. The ship was ten miles southeast -of Fenwick Island Shoals when an explosion occurred under No. 2 hatch, -which shattered the vessel and sent it down. Besides the crew there -were aboard 11 army officers and 74 soldiers. All were rescued. - -Enemy mines, scattered, as they were, over a thousand miles, would -undoubtedly have taken a much greater toll of shipping if the Navy had -not been so energetic in sweeping mines and destroying them whenever -they appeared. - -Summarizing the entire operations of German submarines which were -assigned to American waters, 79 vessels were sunk by gunfire or bombs. -Of these 17 were steamers, the others being sailing vessels, most of -them small schooners and motor boats. Of the 14 steamers torpedoed, but -two were American, the _Ticonderoga_ and _Lucia_, both of which were -sunk far out in the Atlantic, hundreds of miles from our shores. Of -the seven vessels mined, one, the _Minnesota_, got to port under her -own steam, and another, the tanker _Herbert L. Pratt_, was salvaged, -both being repaired and put back into service. Several vessels sunk or -bombed by submarine were later recovered and repaired, including the -big steamer _Frederick R. Kellogg_. - -Only nine American steamers were lost by submarine activities in -American waters--the _Winneconne_, 1,869 tons; _Texel_, 3,210; -_Carolina_, 5,093; _Pinar del Rio_, 2,504; _O. B. Jennings_, 10,289; -_Merak_ (ex-Dutch), 3,024 tons, all destroyed by direct attack; and the -_San Diego_, 13,680 tons displacement; the _San Saba_, 2,458, and the -_Saetia_, 2,873 gross tons, sunk by mines--a total tonnage of 45,000. - -In their chief mission of preventing transportation to Europe, the -U-boats failed utterly. The flow of troops, supplies and munitions to -France and England was not for a moment interrupted. In fact, it was -precisely this period in which it was increased, and we transported to -Europe over 300,000 soldiers per month. - -Not one troop-convoy was even attacked. So well were all convoys -protected by naval escort that the submarines avoided them. -Furthermore, they avoided all naval vessels and when one was sighted, -the "sub" instantly submerged, usually when the man-of-war was miles -away. This made it difficult for our ships even to get a shot at them. - -They had thousands of miles of water to cruise in, and could choose -their own field of operations. Driven from one point, they shifted to -another, often disappearing for days, then emerging in some locality -hundreds of miles from where they were last seen. If the U-boats were -generally able to elude for months the thousands of British, French and -American patrol and escort craft in narrow European waters, how much -more difficult it was to run down the few, on this side of the ocean, -who could range from Nova Scotia to the Gulf of Mexico. - -Though we needed the best and all the patrol craft we could get, not -one of our destroyers or any other vessel was recalled from Europe. -In fact, more were sent over to reinforce them. Operating for months -with submarines of the largest type, the Germans failed to achieve -any real military success, and while they sank many small craft and a -substantial amount of ocean shipping, and cut a few cables, their raids -on the American coast had no effect whatever upon the trend of the war. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -MARINES STOPPED DRIVE ON PARIS - - THROWN INTO THE BREACH WITH OTHER AMERICANS IN CHATEAU-THIERRY - SECTOR, THEY HALTED GERMANS FIGHTING DESPERATELY FOR DAYS, MARINES - CLEARED BELLEAU WOOD--CAPTURE OF BLANC MONT RIDGE, THE KEY TO - RHEIMS--CROSSED THE MEUSE UNDER HEAVY FIRE THE MORNING OF THE - ARMISTICE--IN GERMANY IN ARMY OF OCCUPATION. - - -Enter the Marines! - -It was the evening of Memorial Day, May 30, 1918, that they were -ordered to the most critical point in the battle lines. Paris was -threatened more sorely than it had been since the Battle of the Marne. -The Germans were only forty miles away. Hurdling the Chemin-des-Dames, -taking Soissons, they had overcome the strongest French defenses, and -were moving on at the rate of five or six miles a day. Capture of the -city seemed imminent. Parisians by thousands were trekking to safer -abodes. Archives were packed; preparations made to move government -offices and set up a temporary capital in the southwest. - -To the rescue came the Americans--the Second Division, which included -the Marines; and elements of the Third and Twenty-eighth Divisions. -"Move at 10 p. m. by bus to new area," was the order received by the -Fifth and Sixth Marine Regiments, and the Sixth Machine-Gun Battalion. -Seventy-five miles from the field, they had to travel in camions, not -even the officers knowing their ultimate destination. But all were in -happy mood, sure they were bound for the front. - -The roads were crowded with French, men, women and children hurrying -away from the battle lines, seeking safety. Only the Americans rode -ahead--always forward. They had no tanks, gas-shells, or flame -projectors. They were untried in open warfare and they had to go up -against Germany's best troops. The French hesitated to risk all to them -in the crisis. - -"Let us fight in our own way," said General Harbord, "and we will stop -them." - -Permission was granted. In their own way they fought and won. Colonel -(later Brigadier General) A. W. Catlin, who commanded the Sixth -Regiment, showed his officers the map, indicating the points to be -held, and the maps were passed around to the men so they would have all -the information available. "I hold," said he, "that men like ours fight -none the worse for knowing just what they are fighting for." One secret -of Marine efficiency in combat is the comradeship between officers and -men. "Theirs not to reason why" has no place in their vocabulary. - -When they arrived, June 1st, the Marines were told to "dig in." As -tools they used bayonets and the lids of their mess-gear. "Say, you'd -be surprised to know just how much digging you can do under those -circumstances," remarked Private Geiger afterwards as he lay wounded -in a hospital. "Bullets and shrapnel came from everywhere. You'd work -until it seemed you couldn't budge another inch, when a shell would hit -right close and then you'd start digging with as much energy as if you -had just begun." - -At ten o'clock, on June 2nd, they were ordered to back up the overtaxed -French. It was the second battalion of the Fifth Marines, and -particularly the 55th Company, which bore the brunt of the assault at -Les Mares Ferme, the point where the Germans came nearest Paris. - -The 55th Company had orders to take position one and a half kilometers -northeast of Marigny. The French, a few kilometers ahead, were reported -falling back, and soon began filtering through. The enemy attack was -launched at 5 p. m. against the French who had remained in front of -Wise's battalion at Hill 165. The Germans swept down the wide wheat -fields. The French, pressed back, fought as they retreated. - -Neville's Fifth Marines opened up with a slashing barrage, mowing -down the Germans. Trained marksmen, sharp-shooters, they calmly set -their sights and aimed with the same precision they had shown upon the -rifle ranges at Parris Island and Quantico. The French said they had -never seen such marksmanship in the heat of battle. Incessantly their -rifles cracked, and with their fire came the support of the artillery. -The machine-guns, pouring forth a hail of bullets, also began to make -inroads in the advancing lines. Caught in a seething wave of scattering -shrapnel, machine-gun and rifle fire, the Germans found further advance -would be suicide. The lines hesitated, then stopped. The enemy broke -for cover, while the Marines raked the woods and ravines in which they -had taken refuge. - -Above, a French airplane was checking up on the artillery fire. -Surprised at seeing men set their sights, adjust their range, and -fire deliberately at an advancing foe, each man picking his target, -not firing merely in the direction of the enemy, the aviator signaled -"Bravo!" In the rear that word was echoed again and again. The German -drive on Paris had been stopped. - -The next few days were devoted to pushing forth outposts and testing -the strength of the enemy. The fighting had changed. Mystified at -running against a stone wall of defense just when they believed that -their advance would be easiest, the Germans had halted, amazed. Put on -the defensive, they strove desperately to hold their lines. Belleau -Wood had been planted thickly with nest after nest of machine-guns. In -that jungle of trees, matted underbrush, of rocks, of vines and heavy -foliage, the Germans had placed themselves in positions they believed -impregnable. Unless they could be routed and thrown back the breaking -of the attack of June 2 would mean nothing. There would come another -drive and another. The battle of Chateau-Thierry was not won and could -not be won until Belleau Wood had been cleared of the enemy. - -[Illustration: LEADERS OF THE MARINES - -Upper row: Major General John A. Lejeune, Brigadier Generals Wendell C. -Neville, and Logan Feland. - -Lower row: Brigadier Generals Smedley D. Butler, A. W. Catlin, Harry -Lee.] - -On June 6, the Americans began the assault on that wood and the -strategic positions adjacent, the towns of Torcy and Bouresches being -the objectives. At 5 p. m. the Marines attacked. It was a desperate -task. Before they started, their officers cheered them. "Give 'em -hell!" was the command Colonel Catlin is said to have given. They gave -it to them, but paid a heavy price in blood. As the Marines advanced, -the German artillery let loose a storm of fire. Men on every hand were -killed or injured. Brave Berry was struck in the arm, but with the -blood streaming from his sleeve, he kept on until exhausted. Just as -daring Sibley's men reached the edge of the woods a sniper's bullet -hit Colonel Catlin in the chest. Severely wounded, he was relieved in -command by Lieutenant Colonel Harry Lee. - -[Illustration: - - Reproduced by permission of the Ladies' Home - Journal from the painting by Frank E. Schoonover - -THE MARINES IN BELLEAU WOOD] - -But the lines never halted or wavered. Fighting 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, the Marines moved ever forward. Passing over the bodies of their -dead comrades, they plunged ahead. They might be torn to bits, but -behind them were more waves, and the attack went on. - -"Men fell like flies," reported an officer writing from the field. -Companies that had entered the battle 250 strong dwindled to fifty and -sixty, 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. They were soon joined by -reinforcements. The enemy made counter attacks, but the Marines held -the town. Leading his men through the machine-gun fire, Captain Donald -Duncan, of the 96th Company, was killed. - -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 victory was complete. Every rocky formation was a German -machine-gun nest, almost impossible to reach by artillery or grenades. -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! Out -of those that charged, in more than one instance, only one would reach -the stronghold. There, with his bayonet as his only weapon, he would -kill or capture the defenders and then, swinging the gun about, turn it -against remaining German positions. - -Fighting in that forest of horror for eighteen days, the Marines on -June 25 began the last rush for possession of the wood. Following a -tremendous barrage, the struggle started. The barrage literally tore -the woods to pieces, but could not wipe out all the nests. They had to -be taken by the bayonet. But in the day that followed every foot of -Belleau Wood was cleared of the enemy. On June 26th Major Shearer sent -the message: "Woods now U. S. Marine Corps entirely." - -In the terrific fighting in that month, the Marine Corps lost 1,062 -men killed, and 3,615 wounded. Hundreds of Germans were captured. In -the final assault, Major Shearer's command alone took 500 prisoners. -General Pershing sent a telegram of commendation on June 9, and, -visiting division headquarters, sent his personal greetings to the -Marine Brigade, adding that Marshal Foch had especially charged him to -give the Brigade his love and congratulations on its fine work. - -Division General Degoutte, commanding the Sixth French Army, on June -30 issued a general order that, henceforth, in all official papers, -Belleau Wood should be named, "Bois de la Brigade de Marine." It was -thereafter known as the "Wood of the Marines." - -General Pershing in his final report said: - - The Second Division then in reserve northwest of Paris and - preparing to relieve the First Division, was hastily diverted to - the vicinity of Meaux on May 31, and, early on the morning of - June 1st, was deployed across the Chateau-Thierry-Paris road near - Montreuil-aux-Lions in a gap in the French line, where it stopped - the German advance. - -Praise and full credit are due the other troops in that sector--the -Third Division whose machine-gun battalion held the bridge-head at the -Marne, and whose Seventh Regiment fought for several days in Belleau -Wood; the artillery and engineers who supported every advance; and all -who were engaged in the Chateau-Thierry sector. Though the principal -honors went to the Second Division and the Marines, all the Americans -in that region fought well and nobly. - -President Wilson said they "closed the gap the enemy had succeeded in -opening for their advance on Paris," and, driving back the Germans, -began "the rout that was to save Europe and the world." Mayors of -the Meaux district, who, as they stated, were eye-witnesses of the -American Army's deeds in stopping the enemy advance, formally expressed -their admiration and gratitude, and Mayor Lugol, in transmitting the -resolution, June 26th, wrote: - - The civilian population of this part of the country will never - forget that the beginning of this month of June, when their homes - were threatened by the invader, the Second American Division - victoriously stepped forth and succeeded in saving them from - impending danger. - -After personal investigation, and study of the area, Melville E. -Stone, manager of the Associated Press, declared that in spite of -heavy losses, the Americans engaged in the operations at and around -Chateau-Thierry did three things: - - 1. They saved Paris. - - 2. They seriously injured the morale of the best German troops. - - 3. They set a standard for American troops that none others dared - to tarnish. - -General Omar Bundy, commanding the Second Division, in General Order -No. 41, issued July 10, said: - - You stood like a stone wall against the enemy advance on Paris.... - You have engaged and defeated with great loss three German - divisions, and have occupied the important strong-points of the - Belleau Woods, Bouresches, and Vaux. You have taken about 1,400 - prisoners, many machine guns and much other material. - -General Petain, Commander-in-Chief of the French Armies of the -North and Northeast, issued a general order citing and commending -the Marines, mentioning by name Brigadier General James G. Harbord, -commanding the Fourth Brigade; Colonel Wendell C. Neville, commanding -the Fifth Regiment; Colonel A. W. Catlin, commanding the Sixth -Regiment, and Major Edward B. Cole, commanding the Sixth Machine Gun -Battalion. Colonel Neville commanded the Fifth through all these -operations, fighting with his men in Belleau Wood. When Colonel Catlin -was wounded, he was, as I have stated, succeeded in command of the -Sixth by Lieutenant Colonel Harry Lee, who continued to command that -regiment to the end of the war. When, leading his machine-gunners, -Major Edward B. Cole fell, mortally wounded, on June 10th, Captain -Harlan E. Major took charge. A day or two later he was relieved by -Captain George H. Osterhout, and on June 21st Major Littleton W. T. -Waller, Jr., took command of the Sixth Machine-Gun Battalion. - -The real beginning of the great series of offensives which finally -routed the German armies and brought complete victory to the Allies, -was when Marshal Foch, on July 18, with picked troops made a vigorous -thrust at the Germans near Soissons, with overwhelming success. The -First and Second U. S. Divisions and the French Moroccan Division were -employed as the spearhead of the main attack. - -At a single bound they broke through the enemy's infantry defenses, -overran his artillery, and cut the German communications. The Second -Division took Beaurepaire Farm and Vierzy in a rapid advance, and at -the end of the second day was in front of Tigny, having captured 3,000 -prisoners and 66 field-guns. "The story of your achievements," said -General Harbord, "will be told in millions of homes in all Allied lands -tonight." - -"Due to the magnificent dash and power displayed by our First and -Second Divisions, the tide of war was definitely turned in favor of the -Allies," said General Pershing. Soissons was relieved, and the Germans -began a general withdrawal from the Marne. General Harbord was in -command of the Second Division, Colonel Neville of the Marine Brigade; -Colonel Logan Feland of the Fifth Regiment, Colonel Lee of the Sixth, -and Major Waller of the Machine-Gun Battalion in this operation, known -as the "Aisne-Marne offensive." - -General John A. Lejeune, U. S. Marine Corps, on July 29, assumed -command of the Second Division, which he commanded with marked -distinction to the end of hostilities, during its service with the Army -of Occupation in Germany, and until the Division, on its return to -America in August, 1919, was demobilized. - -Of the six Allied offensives designated as major operations on the -Western Front in 1918, the Marines, with the other units of the Second -Division, took part in three. In the battle for the St. Mihiel salient, -the division on September 11th took up a line running from Remenauville -to Limey, and on the morning of the 12th attacked. Overcoming the enemy -resistance, they romped through to the Rupt de Mad, a small river, -crossed it on stone bridges, occupied Thiaucourt, scaled the heights -beyond and pushed on to a line running from the Xammes-Jaulny ridges to -Bonvaux Forest. Then they rested, having occupied two days' objectives -before 3 p. m. of the first day. The Division's casualties were about -1,000 men, 134 killed. It had captured eighty German officers, 3,200 -men, 120 cannon and a vast amount of stores. - -The taking of Blanc Mont Ridge, the key to Rheims, was one of the most -effective blows struck by the Allies. Determined to break through the -powerful German defenses in the Champagne, Marshal Foch asked for an -American division. The Second was selected, and General Lejeune, on -September 27th, was summoned to French headquarters. - -Pointing to a large relief map of the battlefield, General Gouraud, -who directed the operations, said to General Lejeune: "General, this -position is the key of all the German defenses of this sector including -the whole Rheims Massif. If this ridge can be taken the Germans will -be obliged to retreat along the whole front 30 kilometers to the river -Aisne. Do you think your division could effect its capture?" - -Studying the map closely, General Lejeune said with quiet assurance -that he was certain the Second Division could take it. He was directed -to propose a plan for the assault, which would be begun in a few days. -He did so. The battle of Blanc Mont Ridge was fought and won by the -Second Division as a part of the French Fourth Army, and that signal -victory was due largely to the military genius of Lejeune. - -Setting forth on October 1st, the Americans that night relieved French -troops in the front line near Somme-Py. Charging over desolated white -chalky ground, scarred and shell-pocked by years of artillery fire--a -maze of mine craters, deep trenches and concrete fortifications, the -Second Division cleaned up Essen Hook, and captured Blanc Mont Ridge -and St. Etienne--all in the days from October 3 to 9. "This victory," -the official report stated, "freed Rheims and forced the entire German -Army between that city and the Argonne Forest to retreat to the Aisne." - -Writing to Marshal Foch, General Gouraud proposed a special citation of -the Division, stating: - - The Second Infantry Division, United States, brilliantly commanded - by General Lejeune, played a glorious part in the operations of - the Fourth Army in the Champaigne in October, 1918. On the 3d of - October this Division drove forward and seized in a single assault - the strongly entrenched German positions between Blanc Mont and - Medeah Ferme, and again pressing forward to the outskirts of St. - Etienne-a-Arnes, it made in the course of the day, an advance of - about six kilometers. - - It captured several thousand prisoners, many cannon and - machine-guns, and a large quantity of other military material. This - attack, combined with that of the French divisions on its left and - right, resulted in the evacuation by the enemy of his positions on - both sides of the River Suippe and his withdrawal from the Massif - de Notre Dames des Champs. - -Ordered to participate in the Argonne-Meuse operation, the Second -Division marched ankle deep in mud more than a hundred kilometers, -four days with but one day of rest. On November 1st, following a day -of terrific barrage, the Division "jumped off" for its final operation -of the war, which did not end until the morning of the armistice, when -it was firmly established on the east bank of the Meuse. "It was so -placed in the battle line," said the General Headquarters orders, "that -its known ability might be used to overcome the critical part of the -enemy's defense." The salient feature of the plan of attack was to -drive a wedge through Landres-et-St. Georges to the vicinity of Fosse. -If successful, this would break the backbone of the enemy and compel -retreat beyond the Meuse. The Second Division accomplished the desired -result on the first attack. "This decisive blow," said the official -report, "broke the enemy's defense and opened the way for the rapid -advance of the Army." The commander of the Fifth Army Corps wrote: - - The Division's brilliant advance of more than nine kilometers, - destroying the last stronghold on the Hindenburg line, capturing - the Freya Stellung, and going more than nine kilometers against not - only the permanent but the relieving forces in their front, may - justly be regarded as one of the most remarkable achievements made - by any troops in this war. - -During the night of November 3rd, in a heavy rain the division passed -forward through the forest eight kilometers in advance of adjoining -regiments, and within two days again advanced and threw the enemy in -its front across the Meuse. The next morning at 6 o'clock it attacked -and seized the German defense position on the ridge southeast of -Vaux-en-Dieulet. On the night of November 10th heroic deeds were done -by heroic men. In the face of heavy artillery and withering machine-gun -fire, the Second Engineers threw two bridges across the Meuse and the -first and second battalions of the Fifth Marines crossed unflinchingly -to the east bank and carried out their mission. "In the last battle -of the war," said an order of the Second Division, "as in all others, -in which this division has participated, it enforced its will on the -enemy." Of this achievement the commanding general of the Fifth Army -Corps said: "This feat will stand among the most memorable of the -campaign." - -"On the eleventh hour, the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the -year 1918," Brigadier General Neville, commanding the Marine Brigade, -in an order reviewing its great record closed with these words: "Along -the fronts of Verdun, the Marne, the Aisne, Lorraine, Champagne, and -the Argonne, the units of the Fourth Brigade Marines have fought -valiantly, bravely, decisively. It is a record of which you may all be -proud." - -Shortly after the armistice, General Lejeune was ordered to proceed -to Germany. Stationed at Coblenz, for months his division was a part -of the Army of Occupation. I had the honor of reviewing the division -on the heights of Vallendar, near the junction of the Moselle and -Rhine rivers, and to note that its discharge of duty in Germany was in -keeping with the glorious record it had made in war. "Your brilliant -exploits in battle," said General Pershing in a general order to the -Second Division, "are paralleled by the splendid examples of soldierly -bearing and discipline set by your officers and men while a part of the -Army of Occupation." - -The Marines and their comrades of the Second Division were received -with distinguished honor upon their return to the United States, -President Wilson reviewing the men as they passed the White House to -receive the heart-felt applause of a grateful people. The Secretary of -War in a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, upon their return, wrote: -"The whole history of the Brigade in France is one of conspicuous -service. Throughout the long contest the Marines, both by their valour -and their tragic losses, heroically sustained, added an imperishable -chapter to the history of America's participation in the World War." - -This mere outline of the outstanding fighting history of the Marines -in France, tells only a small portion of what was done by the "Devil -Dogs," as these Soldiers of the Sea were called by the Germans. -Overseas the largest army concentration camp was Pontanezen at Brest. -It was placed under the command of Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler, -who organized, trained and carried over the Thirteenth Regiment of -Marines. Approximately 1,600,000 men passed through that camp. It was -one of the biggest jobs in France and General Butler performed the -difficult duty with ability and satisfaction. The citation for an Army -Distinguished Service Medal said of him: "He has commanded with ability -and energy Pontanezen Camp at Brest during the time in which it has -developed into the largest embarkation camp in the world. Confronted -with problems of extraordinary magnitude in supervision, the reception, -entertainment, and departure of the large numbers of officers and -soldiers passing through this camp, he has solved all with conspicuous -success, performing services of the highest character for the American -Expeditionary Forces." After his return to America General Butler was -made commandant of the chief Marine training camp at Quantico, Va. - -Thirty thousand Marines were sent overseas to join the American -Expeditionary Forces. When, in May, 1917, I tendered the Marines for -service with the land forces abroad, there was objection on the part of -some high ranking officers of the Army. But Secretary Baker, with the -breadth that characterized him in the conduct of the war, accepted the -tender, and the Fifth Regiment, under command of Colonel (afterwards -Brigadier General) Charles A. Doyen, sailed on June 14 with the first -expedition sent to France. The Sixth Regiment and Sixth Machine Gun -Battalion followed later, and the Fourth Brigade of Marines was -organized in October, as a part of the Second Division, which General -Doyen commanded until relieved by Major General Omar Bundy, on November -8. General Doyen continued at the head of the brigade until ill health -compelled him to relinquish his command on May 9, 1918. - -The fighting ability which distinguished the Marines in France was the -natural result of training and experience, the "spirit of the corps" -with which they were instilled. When war was declared there were only -511 officers, commissioned and warrant, and 13,214 enlisted men in the -Marine Corps, which eventually contained 2,174 commissioned and 288 -warrant officers, 65,666 enlisted regulars, 6,704 reserves and 269 -female reservists--a total strength of 75,101. - -Recruiting, training, equipment and supply of this large force was a -task without parallel in the history of the Corps. It was conducted -with an energy and ability that reflected the utmost credit upon -Marine Corps Headquarters--Major General George Barnett, Commandant; -the Assistant Commandants, first General John A. Lejeune, afterwards -Brigadier General Charles G. Long; Brigadier General Charles H. -Lauchheimer, Adjutant and Inspector; Brigadier General George Richards, -Paymaster; Brigadier General Charles L. McCawley, Quartermaster; and -others on duty at posts and in the field. - -What they did in France was only one phase of the operations of the -Marines. They were employed in practically every area in which the Navy -operated--on battleships in the North Sea, on cruisers in the Asiatic; -in Haiti, Santo Domingo and Cuba, and the isles of the Pacific. In -fact, they claim the honor of firing the first shot of the war in the -far distant island of Guam, where a Marine fired on a motor-launch -which was trying to get to the German ship _Cormoran_ with the news of -the declaration of war before an American naval officer could reach -that vessel and demand its surrender. That was the only German vessel -in our territorial waters which we did not get. Her crew blew her up, -and a number of her officers and men went down with the vessel. - -Wherever they were, these Soldiers of the Sea, upon whom Uncle Sam -has called so often when he had a duty to perform anywhere in the -world--these men who, in many conflicts, have been the "first to land -and first to fight"--served well and added fresh laurels to those so -often won in the long history of the Corps. They may be pardoned for -singing with a will their marching song: - - If the Army and the Navy ever look on Heaven's scenes, - They will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -THE ANSWER TO THE 75-MILE GUN - - GERMAN LONG-DISTANCE FREAK STOPPED BOMBARDING PARIS WHEN NAVAL - RAILWAY BATTERIES ARRIVED--MANNED BY NAVY CREWS, HUGE 14-INCH - GUNS OPERATED WITH FRENCH AND AMERICAN ARMIES--ADMIRAL PLUNKETT - IN COMMAND--MOST POWERFUL ARTILLERY USED BY ALLIES ON THE WESTERN - FRONT. - - -"Paris bombarded!" was the news that shocked the world on March 23, -1918. Two days before the Germans had begun their great drive for the -Channel ports. Their armies to the north were breaking through the -Allied defenses, taking one position after another. But their nearest -lines were nearly seventy miles from Paris. No gun known would shoot -half that distance. How could they be shelling the French capital? - -That was what mystified the Parisians. Falling out of a clear sky, the -missiles fell, bursting in the streets. Aeroplane bombs, was the first -thought, for Paris was used to aerial raids. But these were undeniably -shells, not bombs, and there were no aeroplanes in sight. And they -continued to fall with painful regularity. Arriving at 15-minute -intervals, it was found that at least 21 shells had fallen that day. -They were not huge, weighing about 260 pounds, but they were large -enough to do considerable destruction, and to kill people in streets, -squares, and markets. - -For a week they kept falling, and then occurred a tragedy that shocked -not only Paris but the whole Christian world. It was Good Friday, -and the cathedrals and churches were crowded with worshipers. As the -congregation--women and children, and men too old to fight--prayed in -the Church of St. Gervais, a shell crashed through the roof of the -building, and exploded. Seventy-five persons were killed, of whom -54 were women--and five of these were Americans. Ninety others were -injured. - -In all Christian lands people were aghast at this slaughter of the -defenseless. Indignation was stirred all the more by the knowledge that -this bombardment was wholly without military value. Its entire object -was to terrorize the civilian population. It was only another example -of German frightfulness. - -After long search by aircraft it was discovered that shells were coming -from the forest of Gobain, near Laon, nearly 75 miles from Paris. -There, inside the German lines, was located this new instrument of -warfare, the latest surprise sprung by the Germans and one of the most -sensational of the whole war. Worst of all, the Allies had no effective -reply. Aeroplane bombing proved ineffective, and the Allies had no guns -which could reach it. - -For five months Paris endured this menace. No one knew where the shells -would fall next, or who would be the victim. The city, however, went -about its business and kept up its courage. But here in America there -was being prepared the Nemesis of the Teuton terror. - -The United States Navy was at that very time building long-range guns -that, while not capable of firing such great distances as the German -cannon, were far more powerful and effective in action. Germany's gun -was a freak, merely able to hurl comparatively small shells seventy -miles or more. Huge projectiles weighing 1,400 pounds were fired by our -guns, and wherever they hit, everything in the vicinity was smashed. - -Elaborate emplacements were required for the German gun, taking -considerable time to construct. Their cannon could be fired from only -one point. The American guns were on railway mounts, and could be -rapidly moved from place to place, wherever they were needed. Only -a few hours were required to get them into position. In fact, if -necessary, they could fire from the rails. - -Five of these immense naval railway batteries were built and sent to -France. When the first battery arrived, on its way to the front, the -Germans stopped shelling Paris. Their long-distance gun was hastily -withdrawn, and it never fired another shot. - -What these batteries saved us from can be judged from Admiral Sims' -statement that, encouraged by the shelling of Paris, the Germans were -preparing to conduct long-distance bombardments at various points -along the front. They were taking large guns from battle cruisers, to -be mounted where they could bombard Dunkirk, Chalons-sur-Marne, Nancy -and other cities. Sixteen huge rifles, it was reported, had left Kiel -for this purpose. But, so far as known, they never got into action. -The Germans never carried out their plan to scatter that terror to the -cities of France. - -These railway batteries, the largest ever placed on mobile mounts, -proved an effective answer to the Germans. They were distinguished not -only by what they prevented, but what they accomplished in action. -Engaged with the French and American armies from September 6th until -hostilities ceased, this was the most powerful artillery used by the -Allies on the western front. - -The guns were of the largest type on our dreadnaughts--14-inch, 50 -caliber, capable of throwing a 1,400-pound projectile 42,000 yards, -nearly 25 miles. In action, the firing was usually from 18 to 23 miles. - -Operating at various points along the lines from Laon to Longuyon, -these batteries tore up enemy railways, cutting important lines of -communication; blew up ammunition dumps and bases, and scattered -destruction far in the rear of the German trenches. Manned entirely by -Navy personnel, the force was under command of Rear Admiral Charles P. -Plunkett. - -Each battery comprised an entire train of 15 cars, made up as follows: - - 1 Locomotive - 1 Gun car - 1 Construction car - 1 Construction car with crane - 1 Sand and log car - 1 Fuel car - 1 Battery kitchen car - 2 Ammunition cars - 3 Berthing cars - 1 Battery headquarters car - 1 Battery headquarters kitchen car - 1 Workshop car - -Thus each battery was self-sustaining, carrying not only its own -ammunition, fuel and food, but also machinery and mechanics for making -repairs. The total weight of the gun-car was about 535,000 pounds, -the gun, breech mechanism, and yoke weighing 192,500 pounds. The -five batteries, including the staff train of eight cars, comprised 6 -consolidation locomotives and tenders (tractive power 35,600 pounds), -5 gun-cars and 72 auxiliary cars. - -The first mount, complete with its huge gun, rolled out of the shops -on April 25, 1918, less than a month from the time of the Good Friday -slaughter in the Paris church. Tested at Sandy Hook, N. J., five days -later, it proved a complete success, hurling its immense projectiles -more than twenty-five miles. - -If our guns had been built in Paris we could have had them at the front -in three days. They were made to move by rail, and to be ready for -almost immediate action. But they had to get to France first, and the -difficulties of fighting a war 3,000 miles away were impressed upon -us by this necessity for transporting them. No ship was big enough -to carry one of them set up. Each had to be taken to pieces before -loading. The last of the mounts was completed May 25--a new record for -quick construction. But getting a ship to take them over was no easy -task. - -The first ship assigned was so badly battered up on the incoming voyage -that it had to go into dock for repairs. The second ship, the _Texel_, -was sunk by a U-boat near our coast. It was June 29 before the first -of the battery transports, the _Newport News_, heavily laden with -material, sailed for France, arriving at St. Nazaire July 9th. - -Setting up these immense batteries was a trying job. Facilities at -St. Nazaire were very limited for the work of assembly. Lieutenant -Commander D. C. Buell, an officer of railroad experience, who as -inspector had watched the building of the mounts, was sent to France. -Admiral Plunkett and his force were on hand when the major part of the -material arrived. All set to work, and in a little more than two weeks -the first train was assembled. - -Then arose another complication. When the French saw the size of these -mounts, they were afraid their immense weight would crush the rails -and probably break through or weaken bridges. The railroad authorities -were unwilling for them to move over their lines. For a time it seemed -as if they would never get to the front. But Admiral Plunkett and his -aids had more confidence than did the French. The first train, which -had been completed a week before, left St. Nazaire August 17th. It -proceeded slowly and all doubts were removed when it rode the rails and -passed over bridges without the slightest trouble. - -The news of its coming had somehow spread through France and its -progress toward Paris was like a triumphal procession. All along the -route crowds assembled, cheering the American naval gunners "going to -land," and girls decorated the gun with flowers. A second battery was -on the way before the first arrived. Camouflage was no concealment. -Everybody knew the big American cannon were on the way. And the Germans -must have learned it, too. For, when the battery got near the front, -the German long-distance gun was hurried away. - -These two batteries were to proceed to Helles-Mouchy, and from there -search out the hidden enemy in Gobain. But when the batteries reached -this position, it was found that the German terrifier was gone, leaving -only its emplacement to mark the spot at which it had so long operated. - -Battery No. 1 proceeded to the French proving ground at Nuisemont, -where firing tests were made with complete success. Battery No. 2 -proceeded to Rethondes, in the forest of Compiegne, to fire upon an -ammunition dump at Tergnier, but after one shot, fired September 6, -ceased firing, as the French captured the village. Battery No. 1 was -taken to Soissons where, on September 11, position was taken near St. -Christopher Cemetery. No. 2 proceeded to Fontenoy-Ambleny. - -While these two batteries were operating, work was continuing on the -remaining three. Trains No. 3 and 4 left St. Nazaire September 13, -followed by No. 5 on the 14th. They arrived at the railroad artillery -base, Haussimont, on September 23rd, 24th and 26th, respectively. - -Weather conditions preventing observation by aeroplane or balloon, -it was decided to proceed without observation, so on September 14th -Battery No. 2 fired ten rounds at an ammunition dump in Besny-Loisy, -just west of Laon. No. 1 on September 28th fired into the German lines -at Laon, putting over 47 rounds between 1 and 5:30 p. m., at a range -of 34,000 yards. The target was the railroad yards. One hundred and -twelve rounds were fired against this objective between September 28th -and October 2nd. Battery No. 2 fired twelve rounds into Besny-Loisy on -September 15th. - -The Germans began retreating from Laon while this long-range -bombardment was in progress, leaving these targets in the hands of the -Allies. It was found that, though the batteries had only maps to use -in directing the firing and without aeroplane observation, the shots -in nearly all cases were effective hits. One 14-inch shell wrecked -a three-track railroad line, making a gap of 100 feet, tearing up -rails, shattering ties and blowing a crater in the road-bed. Another -projectile struck a moving picture theater during a performance, -killing 40 men outright and severely wounding sixty. Two other shells -struck this theatre, completely demolishing it and several other -surrounding buildings. A freight train on a siding had been struck, and -one of the cars was lifted from the tracks and thrown a distance of -thirty feet. - -Time and again enemy aeroplanes bombed the vicinity of these batteries. -Shells were continually passing overhead. On October 5th, at 4:30 p. -m., a shell burst directly over Battery No. 1, followed by three other -high bursts. A succession of shells followed. One struck only 16 feet -from the gun, fragments hitting the sideplates and breaking the casting -of the gas engine support, but doing no further damage. - -Battery No. 2 was taken to Flavy-le-Martel, arriving October 8th. No. 1 -remained at Soissons until October 24th, firing in all 199 rounds from -the same pit foundation. After the capture of Laon, the target was, on -October 2, shifted to a point northeast of that town, where 87 rounds -were fired at ranges from 28,000 to 36,660 yards. - -Having performed so satisfactorily in the vicinity of Soissons with the -Tenth French Army, Batteries No. 1 and No. 2 were ordered to join the -First American Army. They arrived at Nixeville, just south of Verdun, -October 28th. Batteries 3, 4 and 5, already in that region, had fired -several rounds at open fields in the German lines near the targets -selected, in order to obtain aviation photographs and correct the -range. On the 30th and 31st six rounds per gun were fired each day, the -two guns at Thierville firing at an aviation field south of Longuyon -and the two batteries at Charny firing at points near Montmedy. Battery -No. 2 bombarded the railroad yards at Montmedy with 43 rounds on -November 1st and 2nd. - -As General Foch was preparing for a big offensive east of Metz, the -French requested that two of the naval batteries be assigned to take -part in this operation. Accordingly Nos. 1 and 2 were assigned to the -French, while the remaining three remained at Thierville and Charny -to keep up the bombardment of Montmedy and Longuyon. No. 1 proceeded -via Champigneulles, arriving at its firing position, in the forest of -Velor, November 6th, its objective being Sarrebourg. Leaving Charny -November 3rd, Battery No. 2 reached Moncel-Lunéville, in the forest -of Mondon, November 9th, having orders to fire on Bensdorf. Both -targets were important German railroad centers. But the signing of the -armistice, on the 11th, put an end to the French offensive for which -huge preparations had been made. - -Battery No. 3, which was shifted from Thierville to No. 2's position at -Charny, on November 1, fired at the Longuyon railway yards. No. 4 fired -23 rounds into Montmedy, and No. 5, 44 rounds at the transportation -centres of Longuyon. The next day Nos. 3 and 5 each fired 25 rounds -at Longuyon and No. 4, 20 rounds at the Montmedy railroad. On account -of the enemy's activities at Louppy and Remoiville, No. 4 November 3, -fired 25 rounds at a large ammunition dump and at the lower railroad -dump at Montmedy. On November 4, Battery No. 4 again took up position -at Thierville. No. 3 opened fire on Louppy and Remoiville on the -morning of November 4, firing 44 rounds at the two targets. Twelve -rounds were also fired at Montmedy. - -The naval guns were last fired on November 11th, batteries 4 and 5 -sending five shells each into Longuyon. The last shot was fired by No. -4, from Charny, at 10:58:30 a. m., ninety seconds before hostilities -ceased. - -While direct observations could not be obtained in the Verdun sector, -there was evidence from the enemy of the effectiveness of these -guns. On November 5, the southern part of Montmedy, which was under -bombardment, was reported on fire. Later a German prisoner stated that -the firing on Montmedy had caused a great deal of damage, one shell -which landed in the railway yards, killing all the Germans in two -coaches. - -[Illustration: NAVAL RAILWAY BATTERY FIRING FROM THIERVILLE UPON -LONGUYON - -Insert: Rear Admiral Charles P. Plunkett, commanding the Naval Railway -Batteries in France.] - -The batteries at Charny and Thierville were repeatedly shelled and -bombed. On October 30th, when the enemy was shelling crossroads -between No. 2 gun and its berthing cars, three American engineers -working on the track near by were killed, and the headquarters car and -one berthing car derailed. On the same day five soldiers were killed -and others wounded by shells which fell around Battery No. 4 at Charny. -Three men of Battery 4 were wounded by shell fire on October 28th, one -of these, A. P. Sharpe, seaman first class, dying the next day in the -hospital at Glorieux. - -[Illustration: ON THE TURRET PLATFORM OF A BATTLESHIP - -A naval airplane is mounted, on the turret platform, ready for the call -to the sea.] - -One of the most important services rendered by the naval batteries was -the shelling of the railroad running through Longuyon and Montmedy, -the only line (except one running far to the north through Belgium), -by which the Germans could bring troops to Sedan. Though some shots -fell several hundred yards beyond the ranges calculated from the range -table, the railroad line and yards were struck frequently, and traffic -stopped completely, not only during the actual firing, but from six to -ten hours each day after the firing ceased. - -General Pershing, in his report of November 20, 1918, said: - - Our large caliber guns were advanced, and were skilfully brought - into position to fire upon the important lines at Montmedy, - Longuyon, and Conflans. On the 6th a division of the First Corps - reached a point on the Meuse opposite Sedan, 25 miles from our - lines of departure. The strategical goal which was our highest hope - was gained. We had cut the enemy's main line of communications, - and nothing but surrender or an armistice could save his army from - complete disaster. - -Though these batteries fired a total of 782 rounds and were under enemy -shell-fire repeatedly, there was no material damage to guns, mounts or -equipment, which met every condition imposed. The total rounds fired -per gun were: No. 1, 199; No. 2, 113; No. 3, 236; No. 4, 122; No. 5, -112. - -In France the naval railway batteries operated as five separate and -independent units, all under command of Admiral Plunkett. His principal -assistants were Lieutenant Commanders G. L. Schuyler and J. W. Bunkley. -The commanders of the batteries were: No. 1, Lieutenant J. A. Martin; -No. 2, Lieutenant (junior grade) E. D. Duckett; No. 3, Lieutenant W. G. -Smith; No. 4, Lieutenant J. R. Hayden; No. 5, Lieutenant J. L. Rodgers. - -The use of these guns at the front was first proposed in November, -1917. Impressed by the Allies' lack of long-range artillery, the Chief -of the Bureau of Ordnance pointed out that a number of 14-inch guns at -the Washington Navy Yard were available and suggested that they might -be mounted on the Belgian coast to reply to the powerful artillery the -Germans were using against Dunkirk. Upon consideration, it was decided -that it was practicable to place these naval guns on railway mounts, -though they were heavier than any mobile artillery that had been built -by any country. On November 26, 1917, I instructed the Bureau of -Ordnance to proceed with the building of five of these mounts, with -complete train equipment. Though many problems had to be solved, the -naval gun factory completed the designs within two months, and the 136 -standard drawings and 36 sketches required were ready to submit to -bidders on January 26, 1918. - -With the numerous other war requirements, which taxed steel and -locomotive plants to their capacity, it seemed, at first, almost -impossible to secure the building of the mounts, locomotives and -cars required. But bids were secured, accepted on February 13, 1918, -and the contractors pushed the work so energetically that the first -mount was completed 72 days from the award of the contract. Scheduled -for delivery on May 15, it was completed April 25. The last mount, -scheduled for June 15, was completed May 25. The first gun and mount -complete arrived April 27 at Sandy Hook, N. J., where it was subjected -to severe firing tests. The locomotives and auxiliary cars were -completed June 1, and shipment overseas was begun. Credit for this -speedy construction is due contractors as well as naval officers, -and particularly Mr. Samuel M. Vauclain, president of the Baldwin -Locomotive Works, who took an intense personal interest in the whole -undertaking. - -While construction was under way, the Navy had been selecting and -training the personnel, 30 officers and 500 men, required to man -and operate the batteries. Men were carefully chosen--some 20,000 -volunteered for this detail--and were given an intensive course of -training. - -The approximate cost of the five mounts, locomotives, cars, spare parts -and ammunition was $3,337,970. - -As other artillery could accomplish with less expenditure of -ammunition and expense the results desired at the shorter ranges the -naval guns were used entirely for strategical purposes and were fired -at ranges between 30,000 and 40,000 yards, shelling objectives that -less powerful guns could not reach. The ammunition supply which was -gauged by the estimated "life" of the gun--that is, the number of times -it could fire with accuracy--consisted of 300 rounds for each gun, and -this quantity proved adequate. Battery No. 3 made a record for guns of -this size in firing 236 rounds without serious deterioration. - -From beginning to end, this entire enterprise was so well planned and -carried out, that we may well consider it one of the most successful -operations in which the Navy ever engaged. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -THE NAVY THAT FLIES - - NAVAL AVIATION WATCHED OVER SHIPS AND SEARCHED THE SEAS--FIRST - OF U. S. ARMED FORCES TO LAND IN FRANCE--FOUGHT ENEMY AIRCRAFT - FROM HELIGOLAND TO POLA--ATTACKED U-BOAT BASES IN BELGIUM--NAVAL - AVIATORS, IN TRAINING AND SERVICE, FLEW FIFTEEN MILLION MILES. - - -The first of the armed forces of the United States to land in France -were naval aviators--seven officers and 123 men, under command of -Lieutenant Kenneth W. Whiting. One group, sailing on the _Neptune_, -arrived June 5, 1917, at Pauillac, the port from which Lafayette -sailed for America to join the struggling colonists in their war for -independence. The other, on the _Jupiter_, reached St. Nazaire June 9, -sailing through the very waters in which John Paul Jones operated in -the Revolution. Eight miles up the river Loire lies Paimboeuf, where -Jones in the _Ranger_ arrived November 30, 1777. Fifteen miles away -is Quiberon Bay, where the French, February 14, 1778, fired the first -foreign salute to the American flag. - -Naval aviation stations were erected at both Pauillac, which is on the -Gironde river near Bordeaux, and at Paimboeuf, so the operations of -America's flying navy in the World War were over the very waters where -the name and fame of the first American navy were established 140 years -before. - -We had stations all along the coast of France--at Dunkirk, St. -Ingelvert and Autingues, headquarters of the Northern Bombing Group; -L'Aber Vrach, Brest, Ile Tudy, Le Croisic, Fromentine, St. Trojan, -Treguier, Arcachon, La Trinite, La Pallice, Le Fresne, Oye, Guipavas, -Paimboeuf, Pauillac, Rochefort, St. Ingelvert, and Gujan, with a -training school at Moutchic. - -[Illustration: ASSEMBLING NAVAL AIRPLANES AT BREST] - -In Ireland we had stations at Queenstown, Berehaven, Lough Foyle, -Whiddy Island and Wexford; in England at Eastleigh and Killingholme. -We aided Italy in fighting the Austrians, with our training school -at Lake Bolsena and an operating station at Porto Corsini, on the -Adriatic, across from the Austrian naval base at Pola. Our aviators -flew across the Alps and the Adriatic sea; they patrolled the waters -along the French coast, protecting the vast Allied shipping going into -and out of the French ports, and guarding the convoys of American -troops, munitions and supplies. Our Northern Bombing Group bombed the -German submarine bases and ammunition and supply depots in Belgium. -Operating with their British comrades, our aviators flew over the North -Sea and battled with German aircraft over Heligoland Bight, almost -within sight of the home bases of the German fleet. They took part in -the North Sea patrol in connection with the movements of the British -Grand Fleet, and those assigned to the British stations at Felixstowe -and Portsmouth had a part in the famous Dover Patrol that kept clear -the road from England to France. - -[Illustration: NAVAL AVIATION HANGARS AT GUIPAVAS] - -[Illustration: A NAVY "BLIMP" LEAVING HANGAR AT GUIPAVAS, FRANCE] - -The United States Navy had 44 aviation stations and units in Europe, -with a record of 5,691 war flights, covering a distance of 791,398 -miles. This does not include 18,000 flights that were made in training. -Forty-three submarines were attacked from the air, our aircraft being -credited, according to the records of Naval Aviation, with sinking two -U-boats, with probably sending down two more, and damaging others. An -even more striking evidence of efficiency was the fact that during -the last ten months of the war no surface craft convoy protected by -American naval aircraft in the war zone was successfully attacked by an -enemy submarine. - -Attacking the German U-boat bases, Bruges, Zeebrugge, Ostend, and the -airdromes and air stations and other enemy establishments in Flanders, -the Northern Bombing Group, which operated in connection with the -British Royal Air Force, dropped more than 155,000 pounds of bombs, -destroying hangars and other structures, blowing up ammunition dumps -and now and then bringing down a kite balloon, spreading such havoc -that it shook the nerve of the German crews that handled the Teuton -aircraft in western Belgium. - -Our first naval "ace," Lieutenant David S. Ingalls, was attached -to this Northern Bombing Group, being first assigned to Royal Air -Force Squadron No. 213. His spectacular performances began on August -11, 1918, when, in company with a British officer, he shot down a -two-seater machine in a running flight over the German lines. The -night of the 13th, flying over the German airdrome at Varsenaere, and -dropping to a point where his plane nearly touched the ground, he -sprayed 450 rounds from his machine-gun into the wondering Teutons, who -were making desperate efforts to get him with their anti-aircraft guns. -Swinging in a wide circle, he again swooped down on the hangars and let -loose four bombs in the midst of the camp, putting out searchlights, -scattering Germans and mussing up things generally. At the Uytkerke -airdrome he repeated the stunt he worked at Varsenaere, firing 400 -rounds into the German hangars, and dropping bombs upon the Fokkers -grouped on the field below. - -On this raid, which occurred September 15, Ingalls led a formation of -five in a wing of twenty biplanes. Returning from Uytkerke, he sighted -an enemy two-seater Rumpler going west from Ostend. With Lieutenant H. -C. Smith, of the British Air Force, Ingalls turned out of formation, -swung in over the shore, and attacked. The Rumpler turned and dived -toward Ostend, the Camels following. Firing 400 rounds from ranges of -fifty to 200 yards, they chased the enemy plane to the Ostend piers, -when the Rumpler went down out of control, burst into flames and -crashed just off the beach. - -Three days later Ingalls made one of the most spectacular flights on -record. In company with two English pilots, he sighted a kite balloon -at 3,500 feet elevation near La Barriere. Crossing the coast line, -they attacked. The German kite reeled under the rapid fire, and as it -fell, its two observers opened up their white parachutes and jumped. -Ingalls gave the balloon another spraying with bullets and it burst -into flames. Falling, the blazing balloon landed on a hangar. There was -an explosion, followed by a fire that destroyed the entire station. The -flames were visible as far as Nieuport. - -On September 22, in company with four other machines, Ingalls flew -all over Flanders, committing depredations on German hangars, and -ammunition trains. Four bombs were dropped on the ammunition dump at -Handezeame, blowing up a string of wagons loaded with shells. Flying -over Wercken, bombs were landed on a hut filled with explosives, -setting it on fire. Swinging around over the railway station at -Thourout, where the Germans had an enormous supply dump, two more hits -were made. On the way back, his fourth trip for the day, he bombed a -horse transport, and he and his companions by bombs and machine-gun -fire killed or wounded some twenty-five Germans and thirty-five horses. - -With three other machines, Ingalls was, on September 24, flying over -the lines at 16,000 feet elevation, when twelve Fokkers were seen -approaching. Though outnumbered, the speedy Allied planes quickly broke -up the German formation. The famous British Captain Brown, of Squadron -No. 213, swung into and gunned a Fokker after a thrilling high bank, -and the German fell to earth three miles below. Another Fokker had got -on the tail of one of the Allied machines and by a well-aimed shot -punctured its gasoline tanks. Ingalls came to the rescue, fighting off -the enemy and in a few minutes shooting him down. The fourth plane was -hard at it, too, succeeding in shooting down another Fokker, after -following it down to within a few feet of the ground. Thus three -Fokkers were accounted for in a few minutes. - -On another occasion, Ingalls, single handed, attacked six biplanes, -driving down one of them and eluding the five pursuers. The first of -October he engaged in three successive raids in one day. His second -point of attack was a large farm building at Cortemarck, used as a -shelter for troops. More than 200 Germans were gathered there. Crashing -through the roof, a bomb dropped by Ingalls exploded in their midst, -dealing death and destruction. - -I wish it were possible to recount all the daring deeds performed by -our Navy and Marine Corps aviators, who with the British and on their -own engaged in constant attacks on the German bases in Belgium, but -Ingalls' exploits are enough to give an idea of the work performed -by this Northern Bombing Group. And all this was "land duty," a task -seldom assigned to navies. - -The Navy's "regular job," far the greater part of its work, was -patrolling the long coast lines, watching for submarines, and -furnishing aerial escort for the convoys of troop, supply and merchant -ships that moved in a constant stream to and from European ports. -Covering vast areas of water, they flew hundreds of thousands of miles, -and they were always on the job. - -Though the U-boats usually "ducked" when a seaplane or dirigible -balloon was sighted, aircraft often managed to spot them, and took part -in some exciting encounters. One remarkable engagement, a gunfire fight -between seaplane and submarine, took place off Dunkirk on August 13, -1918. - -Four seaplanes left their station for a routine flight in connection -with the Dover Patrol. Eight miles off the coast, between Calais and -Dunkirk, Ensign J. F. Carson, one of the pilots, sighted a large -submarine, with no identification marks, speeding on the surface in -the direction of Holland. Carson challenged it by firing a recognition -signal. The U-boat opened fire on the seaplane with shrapnel from its -forward gun, firing five shots. - -Carson nosed his plane down, his machine-gunner firing on the -submarine. As it came into bombing position, he dropped a bomb which -hit the vessel, and as it exploded two of the gun crew fell, apparently -badly wounded. The U-boat cleared its decks and dived. Just as it -plunged beneath the surface, another seaplane came into position and -dropped two bombs. One exploded in the splash where the submarine -plunged, and the second slightly forward of that point in the curving -line of the descending boat. Four minutes later the submarine again -came to the surface. But before Carson could get his plane in position -for bombing, it again submerged, sliding beneath the waves stern -foremost. - -Carson unloaded his bombs on the moving wake, and put back to the -station for more ammunition. When he returned oil covered the water and -a lone life preserver floated near the spot where the submarine went -down. - -The value of coöperation between aircraft and vessels was strikingly -demonstrated in the sinking of the U-boat called "Penmarch Pete," which -was, according to reports received, destroyed by American seaplanes -from the Ile Tudy Station and the U. S. destroyer _Stewart_, on -April 28, 1918. Two planes left Ile Tudy that morning, one piloted -by Ensign K. R. Smith, the other by Ensign R. H. Harrell, on convoy -duty. Zigzagging along the coast nearly due west, at 11:30 o'clock -they picked up a convoy of twenty ships heading south, six miles -northeast of the Pointe de Penmarch. Heavy fog kept the planes at a -low altitude and in the course of maneuvers about the convoy, a stream -of air bubbles, denoting the wake of a submarine, was sighted by both -planes. Smith descended close enough to the surface to distinguish a -large oil patch. He dropped two bombs, the first being apparently a -direct hit, and the second within ten feet of it. Dropping a phosphorus -buoy to mark the location, Harrell sent down a correspondence buoy in -the vicinity of the _Stewart_, then off the flank of the convoy. The -_Stewart_ speeded to the spot, sighted a dark object in the water, and -dropped a succession of depth-bombs. "These bombs were dropped so close -to the submarine, one on each side and within fifty feet of it, and the -force of the explosion was so great," reported Lieutenant Commander -Haislip, her commanding officer, "that it seems impossible that the -submarine could have survived." For days there rose to the surface -quantities of oil, which spread for miles down the coast. The U-boat -was later identified as "Penmarch Pete," which had operated off the -Pointe for months, and had destroyed over 100,000 tons of shipping. - -Working with the British in the early stages of participation, our -aviators made numerous flights over the North Sea, flying as far as -the German coast. One of the first lost in action, Ensign Albert D. -Sturtevant, of Washington, a Yale man, was second pilot of a machine -that was attacked by ten German planes. Fighting against overwhelming -odds, he went down in flames. - -The first enemy plane destroyed by an American aviator was shot down in -Heligoland Bight, almost in sight of the great German naval base, by -Ensign Stephen Potter, of Detroit, March 19, 1918. His machine was one -of a group sent out on long-distance reconnoissance. Nearing the German -coast, they were attacked by Teuton planes, and a lively combat ensued. -By dashing fighting, Potter succeeded in bringing down an enemy plane, -which, set afire, fell to the water and burned up. Putting to flight -other German machines, the force returned. It had travelled so far that -six and a half hours steady flying were required to reach the base on -the British Coast. Six weeks later, April 25, Potter lost his life in a -thrilling but unequal encounter over the North Sea. - -While on patrol near Hinder Light, Potter and his companion sighted two -German planes and, diving, closed in on them, firing at close range. -Two more hostile planes appeared overhead, attacking vigorously. Four -more enemy planes now appeared in V formation. Of seven Germans in -action, four were attacking Potter, whose gun had jammed. Handicapped -as he was, Potter began to zigzag. Again and again he dodged them, but -at last the enemy machines got him on their broadside, and poured their -fire into him. Bursting into flame his machine crashed down. Potter was -last seen on the surface of the water in his burning plane, from which -arose a cloud of smoke. Two of the enemy circled over, then joined the -other five. When the smoke cleared away, there was not even a splinter -of wreckage to show where this brave young aviator had gone down. - -Lost in the English Channel, given up as drowned, Ensign E. A. Stone, -of Norfolk, Va., was rescued after such an experience as few men -survive. With his observer, Sub-Lieutenant Eric Moore, of the British -Air Force, he clung for eighty hours, from Saturday morning to Tuesday -night, without food or drink, to the underside of a seaplane pontoon. - -Going out on patrol at 9 a. m., at 11:30 the engine "went dead," and -the plane was forced to descend to the water in a heavy sea. At 2:30 -the plane turned over, and the two men climbed up to the capsized -pontoons. With no food or water, soaked and lashed by the waves, there -they hung for nearly four days. They saw convoys in the distance, but -none came to their assistance. Sunday night a mast-head light was -sighted and the ship headed straight for the crippled plane. But when -it got within a hundred yards, she put out her lights and turned away. - -"She thinks we are Huns," said Moore. - -"I hope she does," said Stone, "Then they'll send patrol boats out to -get us. We couldn't be worse off if we were Germans." - -A seaplane flew near them, on Monday afternoon, but, after circling -around, departed. It was not until 6 p. m., Tuesday, that they were -rescued by a trawler which had been chasing a submarine. - -Every machine from their seaplane base and those from a station on the -French coast had searched continuously for the lost aviators as had all -the patrols and destroyers in the area. - -Ensigns K. W. Owen and J. Phelan, of our Killingholme station, had a -somewhat similar experience May 16, near Flamborough Head. Disabled but -still afloat, by both getting on one wing they swung the tail of the -plane into the wind and managed to head her northwest, and coast about -two knots an hour. Four days they kept this up, and then were drenched -by a thunderstorm which damaged the wings and carried away their -rudder. It was not until one o'clock that night that they sighted what -seemed to be a boat in the distance. Using up their last cartridges, -they sent a stream of "fireworks" from a Very pistol, but this did the -work and in a few minutes a British destroyer drew alongside and took -them aboard. They had had nothing to eat during the entire time, their -only "provender" being thirty cigarettes. They had drifted 180 miles. - -With an excellent training camp at Lake Bolsena and an operating -station at Porto Corsini, on the Adriatic Sea, across from the Austrian -naval base at Pola, our aviators did splendid service in Italy. -Patrolling the Adriatic and bombing Austrian bases was their "regular -job." But when, in the later months of the war, we began scattering -over Austria American and Allied propaganda, to convince the Austrians -of the hopelessness of their position, and which had a powerful effect -in inducing Austria to give up the fight, aeroplanes were utilized to -drop these thousands of leaflets and papers over cities. It was while -on one of these flights that our aviators had an exciting experience -and narrow escape. - -On August 24, 1918, at 10:30 a. m. a group of five chasse and bombing -machines left Porto Corsini for Pola, with a load of "literature." -Formed in a flying wedge, the American machines soon came in sight of -the high hills back of the Austrian coast, and a few moments later -swept over Pola. At 11:20 the planes, at an altitude of 12,000 feet, -unloaded their propaganda material over the city while the inhabitants, -in response to the siren and bell alarms, sought cover from the bombs -they supposed were about to fall upon their heads. Anti-aircraft -ordnance filled the air with bursting shrapnel and incendiary -explosives, but the aim of the gunners was poor and none of our planes -was hit. - -No sooner had the documents been dropped than Ensign G. H. Ludlow, the -leading pilot, saw five Austrian chasses and two seaplanes rise to give -battle to the five Americans. Giving the signal to attack the Austrian -machines, Ludlow dived toward them, immediately followed by Ensign -Austin Parker and Ensign Charles H. Hammann. - -The fight started at an elevation of 7,500 feet while the American -planes were still in range of the anti-aircraft defenses. The Austrian -planes were much faster than the bomber, which was in the direct line -of fire. High explosives, shrapnel, pom-poms and incendiary shells -burst all around it, and as the American chasses flew down to give aid, -they in turn were subjected to the heavy rain of projectiles. But the -Austrian planes were also in the range and the anti-aircraft gunners, -fearing they would bring down their own machines, ceased fire, allowing -the American bomber to make good its escape. - -In less time than it takes to tell, Ludlow singled out the center -machine of the enemy formation, giving it bursts from his machine-gun, -while handling his controls with his knees. He then swung to the left -after the second Austrian, Parker continuing the fight with the first. -Hammann, in the meantime, engaged two other Austrians which had swung -into action. At this juncture Parker's gun jammed, and he was obliged -to pull out of the melee. - -Ludlow had riddled one of the enemy, which fell to the harbor in a -sheet of flame, but his own machine was badly damaged. The right -magneto was shot away; the propeller shattered; the engine crank-case -punctured, letting out the oil, which was ignited by a spark from the -exposed magneto, and the plane burst into flames. Ludlow immediately -slipped into a tail-spin, and the rush of air luckily extinguished the -fire. One pursuer was thrown off the track, but the other followed him -down to 1,500 feet above the water, the last burst from the Austrian -completing the wreck of Ludlow's engine, while two bullets passed -through his leather helmet and grazed his scalp. Ludlow then went into -another spin and, straightening out, made a safe landing on the water -three miles west of Pola. - -Then occurred a daring exploit. Hammann, by generalship and fighting -ability, saved the whole squadron from further loss. With terrific -bursts, he drove at the enemy, firing first on their tails and then on -their flanks, and finally, with head-on drives, forced the remaining -Austrian planes to their base. This gave the slow-going bomber an -opportunity to make its final escape, allowed Parker and Voorhees to -make good their distance and start for Porto Corsini, and relieved -Ludlow from further immediate attack. - -During a lull in the fighting Hammann swooped down on the surface -alongside of Ludlow and his crippled plane. Austrian destroyers were -on their way from the harbor to gather in both planes, and another -squadron of Austrian aircraft was taking off for pursuit. Ludlow opened -the photographic port of his machine, allowing the boat to flood, -kicked holes in the wings to destroy buoyancy, and slipping overboard, -swam to Hammann's waiting plane, and climbed up on the fuselage. The -machine, a single seater, was so small that he had to sit under the -motor, grasping the struts to keep himself from being swept off when -it gathered speed. The extra load forced the hull into the choppy sea, -where the bow, already damaged by gunfire, was broken in and one of the -wing pontoons smashed. - -The crippled and overloaded little plane at last managed to rise from -the water. Hammann, by gunfire, sank the wreck of Ludlow's machine and, -putting on all speed, made for Porto Corsini just in time to escape the -leading Austrian destroyer and a squadron of seaplanes coming around -the southern end of Brioni Island and making for him. - -The plane made the sixty mile flight without mishap, but in landing -the smashed-in bow took in enough water to nose the plane over, and, -catching a wing tip in the heavy chop, the machine turned over on its -back. The aviators extricated themselves from the wreckage, and were -rescued by a motor boat from the station. Ludlow had a bad gash in his -forehead, in addition to the scalp wounds received in the fight, and -Hammann was badly bruised and strained. But both soon recovered and -took part in numerous subsequent actions, including raids over the -front during the drive just prior to the Austrian collapse. - -Before hostilities ended, U. S. Naval Aviation had 18,736 officers and -men in service in Europe. The long flights along the British, French -and Italian coasts, the patrols far out to sea, the combats with enemy -aircraft and submarines form one of the most brilliant chapters of the -war. - -On this side of the water 24 naval aviation units were in operation, -patrolling the coast from Nova Scotia to the end of Florida, with -stations on the Pacific and Gulf, and one unit stationed in Panama -guarding the canal. The Azores, that half-way station between America -and Europe, was guarded by a detachment of Marine Corps aviators. -In America our fliers on patrol flew 2,455,920 nautical miles; and -advanced training flights, many of which were in the nature of patrols, -reached the grand total of 10,949,340 nautical miles. The total flying -by our naval aviators in America, the Azores and Europe was more than -15,000,000 miles, for a nautical mile is longer than a mile as measured -on land. - -Naval Aviation grew, during the war, to a force of approximately -40,000, as follows: - - Officers--Qualified aviators, 1,656; student aviators, 288; ground - officers, 891; student officers under training for commission, - 3,881. - - Enlisted men--Aviation ratings, 21,951; general ratings - assigned to aviation duty, 8,742. - - Marine Corps--Aviation officers, 282; Enlisted men, 2,180. - -This force was equipped with 1,170 flying boats, 695 seaplanes, 262 -land planes, ten free balloons, 205 kite balloons, and 15 dirigibles. -Of this equipment 570 aircraft had been sent abroad, before the -armistice. - -Captain N. E. Irwin was Director of Naval Aviation, with offices in -the Navy Department. Captain H. I. Cone was in general charge of our -aviation activities in Europe. Construction and operation of air -stations in France were under his supervision until August 1, 1918, -when he moved to London, as head of the Aviation Section of Admiral -Sims' staff. Then all our forces in France, except the Northern Bombing -Group, which was commanded by Captain D. C. Hanrahan, were placed -under command of Admiral Wilson, Captain T. T. Craven, as aide for -aviation, on his staff, being charged with all aviation matters. - -Building more than forty stations in Europe, some of them of huge -extent, was a big task in construction. Its accomplishment, under -many handicaps and difficulties, reflects the utmost credit upon -all concerned. Constructors and aviators displayed such energy and -resource, that it was a current saying that, "Naval Aviation can do -anything that comes to hand." - -They created in a few months stations that, under ordinary -circumstances, would have required years to build. Let me give one -example illustrative of others. At the big air station at Killingholme, -England, contracts for the buildings had been made, but it became -evident soon after the arrival of our aviation personnel that unless -we did the work ourselves that station would never be built in time to -permit active operations or house the men in comfort. But Lieutenant M. -E. Kelly, with a detail of 200 American blue-jackets, built in thirty -days twenty-eight barrack buildings of brick and concrete, each twenty -feet wide and sixty feet long. That is only one instance of hundreds of -things done by this force in Europe. - -The Navy erected its own aircraft factory at the Philadelphia Navy -Yard, which was producing and shipping planes to Europe in the spring -of 1918. This immense plant was of inestimable value in carrying out -the program of aviation construction, which was pushed all along the -line. - -Though there was no specific appropriation for erecting an aircraft -factory, this was considered so essential that an allotment of -$1,000,000 was made for the purpose. I signed the order authorizing the -erection of the plant July 27, 1917. Within ten days the contract was -let. Naval Constructor F. G. Coburn was detailed as manager. Under his -energetic direction, construction was pushed so rapidly that by October -17 the first buildings were up, considerable machinery installed and on -November 2 the keel of the first flying boat was laid. The building was -pronounced complete on November 20, only 110 days after the contract -was awarded. That factory was enlarged until it covered forty acres, -with buildings having 888,935 square feet of floor space. At the time -of the armistice, there were 3,642 employees engaged in constructing -aircraft of the latest type. The value of its war-time output was more -than $5,000,000. - -Not only did the Navy build and put into operation hundreds of -seaplanes, flying boats and other aircraft, but it originated and built -the largest seaplanes in existence, the "NC" type, the first of which -was completed before the armistice. - -Few people seem to realize that these huge "NC" planes--the "Nancys" -they were called--which became famous in the first flight across the -Atlantic in May, 1919, were built for war use, and that the work of -developing this new type was begun only five months after we entered -the war. It takes a long time to develop a new type of such magnitude. - -All nations recognized the need of larger seaplanes, able to cruise -hundreds of miles and return without refueling. Shipping space was so -valuable that taking to Europe the large numbers of planes the Army and -Navy had contracted for was a serious problem. - -The Chief Constructor of the Navy, Admiral Taylor, had often discussed -these problems with me. One day in September, he sent for Naval -Constructors G. C. Westervelt and J. C. Hunsacker. "I want a plane -designed that will fly across the Atlantic," was the surprising task -he assigned them. Admiral Taylor's daring idea aroused my warmest -enthusiasm. He and his force began work at once. No flying boat of -anything like that size and power had ever before been produced. There -were all kinds of problems to be solved; numerous experiments had to be -made concerning every detail. By the end of 1917 all the main elements -of the design had been formulated, and early in 1918 the work of -construction was begun. The NC-1 was completed by the first of October, -and the first test flight made three days later. This was so successful -that, on November 7, just before the armistice, she flew to Washington, -where she was inspected, going thence to Hampton Roads and back to -Rockaway. - -Our dream of building a plane that would fly across the Atlantic had -been translated into reality. Six months later the NC-4 made the first -flight from America to Europe, from Rockaway, Long Island, to Nova -Scotia, the Azores, Portugal and England, landing at Plymouth, the -port from which, three centuries before, the Pilgrims had set sail for -America. - -[Illustration: PAUILLAC, NAVAL AVIATION STATION - -Pauillac, on the Gironde River near Bordeaux, was one of the great -assembly and repair bases maintained by the Navy.] - -[Illustration: FLIERS WHOSE EXPLOITS BROUGHT PRESTIGE TO NAVAL AVIATION - -At the left, in his seaplane, is Lieutenant G. H. Ludlow, who was -rescued, after his plane was disabled by enemy fire, by Ensign C. H. -Hammann (inset). At the right is Lieutenant David S. Ingalls, first -naval ace.] - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -THE FERRY TO FRANCE - - "N. O. T. S.," THE WORLD'S LARGEST CARGO FLEET--OPERATING 450 - STEAMERS, NAVY HAULED MILLIONS OF TONS OF MUNITIONS, FOOD, FUEL - AND SUPPLIES TO FORCES ABROAD--ONLY EIGHT SUNK BY U-BOATS OR - MINES--"TICONDEROGA" TORPEDOED--DISAPPEARANCE OF "CYCLOPS" MYSTERY - OF THE WAR. - - -"N. O. T. S." You may not recognize those initials, but every sailor -on the Atlantic was familiar enough with them in 1918, for they stood -for the largest cargo fleet on earth, under a single management--the -Naval Overseas Transportation Service. No one had ever heard of it a -year before. But before the end of hostilities 490 vessels, 3,800,000 -deadweight tons, had been assigned to this service, and 378 were in -actual operation, the remainder being under construction or preparing -to go into commission. - -If the war had continued through 1919 we would have needed, according -to the estimates, at least 20,000 officers and 200,000 men for this -service alone. The number might have gone well over a quarter-million. -The Shipping Board and American yards were building ships at a rate -never before approached. The schedule for 1918-19 contemplated the -delivery of 1,924 vessels, the large majority of which were to be put -into war service and manned by the Navy. Officers and men had to be -recruited and trained months in advance, and this we were doing, to -have the crews ready to get to sea as vessels were completed. They -manned, in all, 450 cargo ships. - -"N. O. T. S." was "The Ferry to France," carrying millions of tons of -munitions, guns, food, fuel, supplies, materials to our army and naval -forces abroad. Remaining in port only long enough to discharge their -cargoes, make necessary repairs, and fill their bunkers with coal, its -vessels plied steadily across the Atlantic, to and from Europe, with -the regularity of freight trains. Five tons of supplies a year were -required for each soldier. Vast quantities of munitions, mountains of -coal, millions of gallons of fuel oil; enormous quantities of steel, -timber, concrete and other materials; food for civilian populations; -locomotives, guns,--all these and a thousand other things were -required, and it was "up to" the N. O. T. S. to get them to Europe. And -that is what it did. - -Sailing from New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, -Newport News, Charleston and other ports, they took their cargoes to -Bordeaux, to Pauillac and Bassens, to St. Nazaire and Nantes, to Havre, -Cherbourg, Brest, La Pallice, La Rochelle and Marseilles. Docking and -unloading facilities in French ports were very inadequate. Americans -had to build vast piers and wharves and warehouses. Channels were -tortuous, and nearly every harbor overcrowded. In spite of these -drawbacks, notable records were made in quick turn-arounds. - -Incomparably greater were the difficulties and dangers faced at sea. -Suppose some vessel owner had stepped into a group of his ship captains -and told them that they were expected to navigate their vessels 3,000 -to 4,000 miles, not singly, where they could give other craft a wide -berth, but in formation with a score of other vessels, hugging them -as closely as possible. Furthermore, that at night they would have no -lights to guide them or indicate the position of other ships in the -convoy, but must sail at full speed, changing course every fifteen -minutes. And finally, warned the ships' masters that at any moment they -might be attacked by submarines, torpedoed and sent to the bottom. -Wouldn't that have been enough to make the most hardened seadog throw -up his hands and resign his job? - -Yet that was what every captain and crew of the N. O. T. S. had to -face. They did not fear the submarine half as much as they did the -perils of war navigation, the possibilities of collision. One was -problematical; they were willing to take chances and eager to get a -shot at a "sub." The other danger was constant and might mean the loss -of other vessels as well as their own. Under the circumstances, it is -remarkable that collisions were so infrequent, and so few vessels were -lost or damaged. - -Consider the record of the steamship _George G. Henry_. That will give -some idea of the work these ships did, and the perils they faced. -Having made seven round trips to Europe, averaging 76 days--a splendid -record for a cargo steamer--the _Henry_ sailed from France for New -York. When she was far out at sea, alone, footing her way under full -speed, a submarine was sighted 5,000 yards away. This was at 6:50 a. -m., September 29, 1918. "Full left wheel" was ordered, general quarters -rung in, and the guns went into action. - -The "sub" opened fire, some of his shells falling a little short, -others going over the vessel. Twenty-one shots from the after-gun made -the U-boat keep his distance and get out of range, but he still kept up -the chase. After two hours the "sub," which had guns of considerable -power, was still pursuing and now and then firing. At last, at nine -o'clock, the Germans scored a hit. A six-inch shell struck the _Henry_, -piercing the after-deck, plunging diagonally downward, breaking the -exhaust pipe of the steering gear and exploding against a magazine -filled with powder and shells. - -The ammunition exploded, spreading destruction, and starting such a -blaze that the whole after-part of the ship was soon in flames. Its -powder destroyed, fire raging around it, the after-gun, the one bearing -on the enemy, was useless. The crew turned to fighting the fire. Smoke -bombs were exploded, and a dense smoke-screen overhung the stern. -Thinking he had crippled the ship, the U-boat sailed past the weather -end of the smoke-screen, redoubling his fire, using shrapnel and solid -shot. Though the vessel was not hit again, the shrapnel exploding over -it descended in a rain on the decks and fourteen men of the crew were -struck by flying fragments. - -By steering obliquely, the _Henry_ brought its forward gun to bear, -but the "sub" ran out of range. At 10:15 the fire having been got -under control, two shells were fired from the after-gun, both striking -extremely close to, if not hitting the U-boat. Clouds of yellowish -smoke rose from the submarine, which ten minutes later ceased firing -and submerged. It had given up the fight. - -The enemy disposed of, the N. O. T. S. ship proceeded on its way. -Plunging along, with all lights out, five days after its encounter -with the submarine, the _Henry_ was nearing the American coast. An -outbound convoy, shrouded in darkness, was proceeding from New York. -It was midnight, pitch dark, and before either the group going east -or the single ship sailing west, knew of each other's presence, the -_Henry_ ran into the convoy. In a moment, before there was time even -to switch on running lights to keep clear of the convoy vessels, the -_Henry_ crashed into the _Herman Frasch_, cutting into her well below -the water line. The _Frasch_ had received a mortal wound, and sank in a -few minutes right under the bow of the _Henry_. - -Three days afterwards, on the other side of the ocean, the steamship -_American_ collided with the _Westgate_, sending the _Westgate_ to the -bottom. - -Sailors have a superstition that "luck runs in streaks," and it does -seem so, for, with the hundreds of N. O. T. S. vessels running back and -forth, only four were sunk by collision, and two of these accidents -occurred within three days. Of the 450 vessels actually sailing for -the N. O. T. S., only 18 were lost--eight were victims of torpedoes or -German mines, four were sunk as the result of collisions, and six were -lost from other accidents, such as fire or stranding. - -One of these cases was the most mysterious thing that happened during -the war--the disappearance of the _Cyclops_. - -Sailing from Bahia, Brazil, the _Cyclops_, carrying a cargo of -manganese, was bound for Baltimore. She was proceeding steadily, with -no indication of any doubt as to her seaworthiness. Though she reported -having some trouble with one of her engines, her captain felt confident -that he could easily reach port, even if using only one engine might -somewhat reduce his speed. On March 4th the collier put into Barbados, -British West Indies, to take aboard coal for the rest of the voyage. -While in that port, there was no indication of anything unusual. Among -officers, crew and passengers there seemed to be no apprehension or -foreboding of trouble or disaster. After coaling, she sailed away. Many -persons saw her sail, other vessels hailed her as she passed out to sea. - -After that no one ever saw the _Cyclops_ again, or heard one word, or -ever found any trace of her. Almost invariably, when a vessel is sunk, -bodies of the drowned are found, and a mass of floating wreckage. But -never a soul of all those on the big 19,000-ton collier, never a stick -of wreckage or one thing from the lost ship was ever discovered. - -The whole area was searched for weeks, scores of vessels joined in the -hunt, rewards were offered for the discovery of anything concerning -the missing collier. Nothing was ever found. She had disappeared -completely, leaving not a trace. - -In this connection this last message, the last word received from the -_Cyclops_ is of melancholy interest: - - From: U. S. S. _Cyclops_, Barbados. - - To: Opnav. - - Arrived Barbados, West Indies, 17303 for bunker coal. Arrive - Baltimore, Md., 12013. Notify Office Director Naval Auxiliaries, - Comdr. Train (Atl), 07004. - - Class 3 U. S. S. CYCLOPS. - DNAS 1145AM 3-4-18. - -Three hundred and nine men perished when the _Cyclops_ went down. In -addition to her officers and crew, she was bringing north some 72 -naval personnel who had been serving on United States vessels in South -American waters, as well as a few civilians returning from Brazil, -among them Mr. Maurice Gottschalk, United States consul at Rio de -Janeiro. - -What happened to her? There were many theories, most of them wild and -untenable; none that seemed to fit the case thoroughly. Many people -jumped to the conclusion that she was sunk by a submarine, but, so far -as known, there was no submarine anywhere near that region. Others, -seizing upon the fact that her captain, Lieutenant Commander G. W. -Worley, was a native of Germany, and that a number of the crew had -German names, thought captain and crew had turned traitors and taken -the ship to Germany. Her captain had come to America as a boy. He had -been employed in the Naval Auxiliary Service for nearly twenty years -with no evidence of disloyalty. But this belief among some outside the -Navy, that the ship had been taken to Germany, persisted until the -armistice, when there was undeniable proof that no such vessel had been -captured, turned over or sighted, and the Germans knew no more about -her fate than we did. - -The only theory that seems tenable is that the _Cyclops_ was caught -in a sudden West Indian hurricane; that her cargo shifted, listing -the vessel, which turned turtle and went down. This is the only way -in which seamen account for the absence of wreckage. Our colliers of -that type have high steel beams like cranes, with chains of buckets -to load and unload coal. If she went down bottom-side up, these huge -steel fingers may have pinned down everything on deck, allowing nothing -to float to the surface. But, like everything else connected with the -case, that is all conjecture. - -"Fate unknown," is the inscription beside the name of the _Cyclops_ -on the Navy list. The waves that sweep over the spot where she lies -conceal the secret. Her fate will probably remain a mystery until that -Last Day when the waters are rolled back and the sea gives up its dead. - -The most serious loss of life, next to the _Cyclops_, sustained by -the N. O. T. S., was in the sinking of the _Ticonderoga_. This animal -transport, manned by Navy personnel but with soldiers aboard to care -for the cargo, was almost in mid-Atlantic, though nearer Europe than -America, the night of September 29, when her engines broke down and she -fell behind her convoy. At 5:30 the next morning she was attacked by -the U-152. Though the steamer was riddled by shells, and most of her -men were killed or wounded, she fought on for two hours until both her -guns were disabled. Lifeboats had been smashed by shell-fire, and there -were not even enough rafts left to accommodate all the men. They were -hundreds of miles from the nearest land, the Azores, with little hope -of getting to shore. - -The wounded were given the preference in getting into the boats. Of the -237 men aboard only 24 were saved, the majority of them wounded. Two -of the officers, both junior-grade lieutenants, F. L. Muller and J. H. -Fulcher, were taken prisoners and carried to Germany by the submarine. - -One of the few survivors, Ensign Gustav Ringelman, officer of the -deck, said the submarine was sighted only 200 yards off the port bow; -the captain put his helm hard to starboard and came within 25 feet -of ramming the U-boat. The submarine fired an incendiary shell which -struck the ships' bridge, killing the helmsman, crippling the steering -gear and setting the amidships section ablaze. Lieutenant Commander -J. J. Madison, captain of the _Ticonderoga_, was severely wounded by a -piece of this shell. But, wounded as he was, he had himself placed in a -chair on the bridge, and continued to direct the fire and maneuver the -ship until the vessel had to be abandoned. - -Six shots were fired at the _Ticonderoga's_ 3-inch forward gun, killing -the gun crew and putting the gun out of commission. Then the U-boat -drew away some distance, both ship and submarine keeping up the firing. -"During this time most everybody on board our ship was either killed -or wounded to such an extent that they were practically helpless from -shrapnel," said Ringelman. "The lifeboats hanging on the davits were -shelled and full of holes, others carried away. However, we kept the -submarine off until our fire was put out and our boats swung on the -davits, ready to abandon the ship with the few men left on board. -Possibly fifty were left by that time--the rest were dead." - -The submarine still continued to shell the ship and then came alongside -and fired a torpedo, which struck amidships in the engine room. The -ship slowly settled. - -There was one life-raft left on top of the deck house. The wounded men -were gathered together and lashed to the raft, which was then shoved -off from the ship. Three or four minutes after that the _Ticonderoga_ -took the final plunge. The submarine picked up the executive officer -out of the water and took the first assistant engineer, Fulcher, -off the life raft. As Muller, whom Captain Franz, of the submarine, -supposed to be the captain of the _Ticonderoga_, was picked up, Franz's -first questions were: - -"Where's the chief gunner? Where's the chief gunner's mate?" - -"Dead," replied Muller. - -Alicke, a machinist's mate of German descent, already hauled aboard the -submarine, interpreted for Fulcher. Franz was ordering him to the raft -alongside. He pleaded to be kept on board. "Speak for me," he begged -his officer, but the German captain replied: "Get back on the raft. -What do you mean by fighting against us, against your country? Only God -can save such as you now!" - -Wounded men on the raft pleaded: "Won't you please take, us? We have -no food or water; no chance." But Franz answered, "We have room for no -more," and cast them adrift. - -All on board that raft were lost. The lifeboat, containing mainly -wounded soldiers, was threatened by the Germans, who went aboard it in -their search for the ship's commander. They failed to discover Captain -Madison, who lay, badly wounded, almost under their feet. The Captain -and 21 men were in that boat for four days before they were rescued by -the British steamer _Moorish Prince_. - -The two officers made prisoners found that the submarine was the U-152, -which had left Kiel September 5, ordered to operate in American waters. -The submarine, Muller and Fulcher said, received on October 11 the -order from Berlin, "Engage men of war only; merchant war has ended," -and on October 20 the radio, "All submarines return to Kiel." - -The U-152 arrived at Kiel November 15, four days after the armistice. -The two _Ticonderoga_ officers stated that the executive officer of -the _Kronprinz Heinrich_, the mother ship of the submarines, formally -released them as prisoners, saying, "Naval officers have no more power -over you." He blamed the collapse of Germany upon the entry of the -United States into the war. "You have ruined our country," he added. -"See what you have done!" - -He told them that they were free to go ashore and the next day the -lieutenants left for Copenhagen, from which they made their way to -America. - -Only eight N. O. T. S. vessels were lost by enemy action, and six -from other causes during the war period. Though the Naval Overseas -Transportation Service was not formally organized under that name until -January 9, 1918, naval vessels had been performing such service from -the beginning of the war. Commander Charles Belknap was the director -of this service from its inception until January 17, 1919, when he -was succeeded by Rear Admiral Hilary P. Jones. Six million tons of -cargo were carried by Navy vessels from May, 1917, to December, 1918, -following being the principal items: - - For the Army in France 3,102,462 tons - For the Navy (exclusive of coal) 1,090,724 tons - Coal shipped from Norfolk 1,348,177 tons - Coal from Cardiff to France for Army 96,000 tons - Food for the Allies 359,627 tons - --------- - 5,996,990 tons - -Five hundred million pounds of meats, butter, etc., were carried to our -forces overseas, only 4,000 pounds being lost on voyage. - -In addition to 1,500,000 tons of coal carried overseas or from England -to France, 700,000 tons of fuel oil and gasoline were taken to Brest, -Queenstown, the Mediterranean, and the Adriatic. The N. O. T. S. also -operated the mine-transports, which carried across the Atlantic 82,000 -complete mine-units for the North Sea Barrage. - -When rail transportation broke down in the cruel winter of 1917-18, -threatening to close down New England's industries and cause widespread -suffering, the Navy released large quantities of coal stored at supply -bases, and naval vessels hauled to Boston and other ports the fuel -which brought relief to that section. - -During the war, when there was not enough merchant shipping for -commerce in the western hemisphere, N. O. T. S. ships carried American -goods, manufactures and other cargoes to and from the West Indies, -Mexico, and the ports of Central and South America. - -The activities of the N. O. T. S. did not end with the armistice. For -many months the Navy continued to haul supplies and fuel to our forces -abroad, took commercial cargoes wherever needed, and carried food to -the distressed regions of Europe. Its vessels plied to nearly every -quarter of the globe--to Russia, Germany, Holland, England, France, -Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Turkey and Arabia; to South -America; to Hawaii, the Philippines and China, going as far as Burma, -Ceylon, and the Dutch East Indies. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -RADIO GIRDLED THE GLOBE - - IF GERMANS HAD CUT EVERY CABLE, WE COULD STILL HAVE TALKED TO - EUROPE--FROM ONE ROOM IN NAVY DEPARTMENT FLASHED DESPATCHES - TO ENGLAND, FRANCE AND ITALY--CAUGHT GERMAN AS WELL AS ALLIED - WIRELESS--QUEER "NEWS" FROM BERLIN--U. S. NAVY BUILT IN FRANCE - RADIO STATION WHOSE MESSAGES ARE HEARD AROUND THE WORLD. - - -If the Germans had cut every cable--and their U-boats did cut some of -them--we would still have been able to keep in touch with Pershing and -the Army in France, with Sims in London, Rodman and Strauss in the -North Sea, Wilson at Brest, Niblack at Gibraltar, Dunn in the Azores, -with all our forces and Allies. - -A spark, flashing its wave through the air, would in an instant cross -the Atlantic. Caught by the Eiffel tower in Paris or the Lyons station, -by the British at Carnarvon, by the tall Italian towers in Rome, it -could be quickly transmitted to any commander or chancellery in Europe. -That was the marvel wrought by radio. - -President Wilson and Secretary Baker in Washington were, so far as -time was concerned, in closer touch with Pershing and his forces -than President Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton were with the -battle-fields a few miles away in Virginia, during the Civil War. It -was infinitely easier for me to send a message or hear from our vessels -3,000 or 4,000 miles distant than it was for Gideon Welles, when he -was Secretary of the Navy, to communicate with the Federal ships at -Charleston or with Farragut at Mobile. - -Vessels at sea could be reached almost as easily as if they had been at -their docks. Submarine warnings, routings, all kinds of information and -orders were sent to them, fifty or sixty messages being transmitted -simultaneously. At the same time radio operators were intercepting -every word or signal sent out by ships. Sometimes, as the operators -remarked, "the air was full of them." - -"ALLO! ALLO! SOS!" When that call came naval vessels went hurrying -to the scene, for it meant that a ship was attacked by submarines. -Sometimes in the war zone the air seemed full of "Allos," for ships -approaching the European coast could catch the wireless for hundreds -of miles, hearing signals one moment from a vessel off Ireland and the -next from some craft being attacked in the Bay of Biscay. - -From one room of the Navy Department--the "Trans-Ocean Room," we called -it--we communicated with all western Europe. Messages went direct to -the high-power sending stations at Annapolis, Sayville, Long Island; -New Brunswick and Tuckerton, N. J., which flashed them overseas. At the -same time dispatches were pouring in at receiving stations, coming into -Washington from abroad without interfering with the volume going out. - -Stations at San Francisco, San Diego, Pearl Harbor, and Cavite spanned -the Pacific, keeping us in touch with the Far East, with China, Japan, -the Philippines, and Eastern Russia. North and south from Panama to -Alaska were wireless stations, from Darien, on the Isthmus, to far -up into the Arctic. These were the "high-powers." At various points -along the coast were shore-to-ship stations that communicated with -shipping several hundred miles from shore. And there were radio compass -stations, which could determine a ship's position at sea. - -The United States Navy not only built up this vast system in our own -territory, but it erected in France the most powerful radio station in -existence. Located near Bordeaux, at Croix d' Hins, it is named the -Lafayette, and a tablet on the main building bears the inscription: - - Conceived for the purpose of insuring adequate and uninterrupted - trans-Atlantic communication facilities between the American - Expeditionary Forces engaged in the World War and the Government of - the United States of America. - - Erected by the United States Navy in conjunction with and for the - Government of France. - -Planned in 1917, in response to the earnest desire of our military -authorities that steps be taken to insure ample wireless communication, -in case cables should be cut or otherwise interrupted, and to -supplement the inadequate cable service, this immense plant was fast -approaching completion when the armistice was signed. Then work was -suspended for a time, but on agreement with the French government was -resumed, and pushed to completion. - -When, after elaborate tests, the plant was put into operation, on -August 21, 1920, I received this radiogram: - - This is the first wireless message to be heard around the world, - and marks a milestone on the road of scientific achievement. - - LAFAYETTE RADIO STATION. - -The Navy takes a just pride in having brought into being that great -plant with its eight towers, each 832 feet high, nearly 300 feet higher -than the Washington Monument--the first station to girdle the globe by -wireless. - -During the war the Navy controlled all radio in the United States and -its possessions, taking over and operating 59 commercial stations. -These fitted easily into the extensive system which the Navy itself had -developed, for on January 1, 1917, it owned and operated 55 stations -at various points from Panama to Alaska, and from our Atlantic coast -across the continent and the Pacific to the Philippines. This had been -the work of years. - -In August, 1914, immediately after the outbreak of war, Commander -S. C. Hooper was sent to Europe to study the latest developments in -radio and war communications, and spent six months in England, France, -Ireland, Holland and Belgium. His report proved of decided value. A -special board, headed by Captain Bullard, was appointed, and this led -to the expansion of Navy Radio and the creation, in 1916, of the Naval -Communication Service. - -Nearly a year before we entered the war, May 6th to 8th, 1916, -naval communications, wire and wireless, of the entire country were -mobilized, under the supervision of Captain (later Rear Admiral) W. -H. G. Bullard, Superintendent of Radio Service. All the apparatus -necessary for country-wide communication by radio or telephone was -provided, by the Bureau of Engineering, specially marked, and placed in -readiness for operation on twenty-four hours' notice. - -Inaugurating war service was, therefore, comparatively simple, and, -under the supervision of Captain D. W. Todd, Director of Naval -Communications, was easily accomplished. Trans-ocean service with -Europe was improved by increasing the power of Tuckerton, N. J., and -Sayville, L. I., the German-built stations we had taken over, and -placing improved apparatus at New Brunswick, N. J. Work was pushed on -the big new station at Annapolis, Md. - -At Otter Cliffs, near Bar Harbor, Maine, a receiving station was built -that more than doubled the capacity of the existing ones at Chatham, -Mass., and Belmar, N. J. Sending and receiving stations were connected -by wire with the Navy Department, and use of high speed apparatus, -automatic senders and receivers enabled us to handle an immense amount -of traffic. Speed in transmission increased from 30 to 100 words a -minute in actual practice, and 300 words in pre-arranged tests, and -there was almost as marked progress in receiving. - -In 1916, experts considered it a very creditable record when 125,000 -dispatches were transmitted or received. In the twelve months following -April 6, 1918, when traffic was at its height, a million dispatches, -averaging 30 words each, were handled from the Navy Department alone. -The Naval Communication Service in a single year handled, by wire and -wireless, 71,347,860 words. - -American merchant ships, as well as naval vessels, were equipped with -modern apparatus and furnished competent operators. Thousands of radio -operators were required, and 7,000 were enlisted and trained. At -Harvard University we established the largest radio school that ever -existed. Beginning with 350 students in 1917, the number grew to 3,400 -and operators were graduated at the rate of 200 a week. - -Air, surface and undersea craft were linked by radio, easily -communicating with each other at long distances. Battleships received -four messages and transmitted three simultaneously. - -During the flight of the Navy planes across the Atlantic, in May, -1919, a message was sent from the Navy Department to the NC-4 far out -at sea. An immediate reply was received from the plane, and this was -transmitted to London, Paris, San Francisco and the Panama Canal Zone, -and its receipt acknowledged by these stations, thousands of miles -apart, all in three minutes after the original message left Washington. - -When President Wilson went to France on the _George Washington_ to -attend the Peace Conference in Paris, we kept in touch with the ship by -wireless all the way across the Atlantic. On the return voyage we made -a test with the wireless telephone and from an instrument much like the -'phone in your home or office, I talked with the President when he was -1,700 miles at sea. - -The radio compass, used first for locating enemy submarines, became -a most important aid to navigation. Any ship out of its course or -uncertain of its reckoning has only to transmit the signal, "Give me my -position." The operator at the radio compass station turns the wheel -now this way, then that, until he finds from what point the wireless -comes strongest. At the same time other stations along the coast are -doing the same thing. Triangulating the directions reported, the -master out at sea is told the position of his vessel, the latitude and -longitude and, if in danger, is told what course to steer to get out of -his predicament. - -The saving in life and property has more than compensated for the cost -of this system. Beginning with a few on the Atlantic, there are now -some 75 of these compass stations all along our coasts. - -The necessity of a single control of wireless was shown by an instance -that occurred one night in the Navy Department. A message was being -received from Darien, in the Panama Canal Zone, when some one broke in -on its wave-length and mixed up words and letters in a hopeless jumble. -The operator had to stop Darien until he could find out where the -trouble was. At last they found it was a station in Nova Scotia, that -was testing its apparatus. It had unintentionally "broken" into the -wave-length our operators were using, and caused interference clear to -Panama. - -American news was spread throughout the world by Navy radio. Every -night the "Navy Press" was broadcasted, and received by ships far out -at sea. Our boys in the army were quite as eager to hear the news -from home, and a complete service, compiled by the Committee on Public -Information, was sent to Europe each night, and distributed through the -Allied countries, including Russia. Regular reports were sent to South -America and the Orient, the latter being distributed throughout China, -Japan and Siberia. - -Germany had a big Cryptographic Bureau in Berlin, with experts -in deciphering languages and codes, which often secured valuable -information from intercepted radio messages. With the assistance of -able civilians, we built up a corps of code and cipher experts who -compared well with those of any country. Frequent changes in codes kept -Germany guessing, and afforded a high degree of secrecy to our official -communications. - -"Listening in" on Nauen, the largest of German stations, Navy operators -in America took down nightly the latest news from Berlin. And the -"news" the Germans sent out for home consumption and foreign effect was -weird and startling. One night in July, 1918, the Germans announced: - - Vaterland sunk! Largest German vessel used by Americans as troop - transport, named by them "Leviathan," was torpedoed and sent down - today by German submarines! - -By wireless, telegraph, bulletins and newspapers, the report was spread -all over Germany, and there was general rejoicing throughout the empire. - -I did not believe the report and felt it could hardly be true, but I -must confess that the dispatch gave me a start. Our latest reports -showed that the big transport had sailed from Brest three days previous -and was nearly half way home. My anxiety was not relieved until we -got positive assurance of her safety. The British radio next day -broadcasted the following statement: - - The German wireless and German newspapers have asserted that the - former German liner the _Vaterland_, now in use as an American - transport, had been torpedoed and sunk. The statement is false. - The _Vaterland_ has not been sunk. The Vossische-Zeitung says that - the Americans had intended to bring over a dozen divisions in the - course of a year in this ship. If so the intention may be carried - out, for the _Vaterland_ is afloat and is in the finest possible - condition. - -There was bitter disappointment in the "Fatherland" when the German -Government gradually broke the news that it was not the _Vaterland_, -but another steamer, "almost as big," which had been sunk. It was, in -fact, the _Justicia_, a British vessel which had been carrying troops, -but was returning empty--and she was nothing like so large as the -_Leviathan_, not by 20,000 tons. - -That report was only one of the thousand queer things we heard from -Germany. - -There was laid on my desk every morning a daily newspaper--I suppose -it was the only "secret" daily ever gotten out in America--which, -compiled and mimeographed by the Naval Communication Service and marked -"confidential," was sent in sealed envelopes to officers and officials -whose duties compelled them to keep in touch with all that was going on -abroad. This contained not only all that Germany was sending out, but a -digest of all that was sent out by the British, French and Italians. - -We certainly heard some strange "news" from Berlin--things that were -news to us. One report, received July 25, 1918, when our troops were -proving their valor in Foch's great drive, informed us: - - The American army is lacking in the one essential, the will to - fight. In any case, it will not be numerous enough to play any - important part until 1920, and then only provided the transport - difficulty is got over and the munition industry developed from its - present nursery stage. Our submarines will see to the transports, - and America will find it impossible to create a gigantic industry - and a gigantic army at the same time. Ammunition perhaps, but guns - cannot be cast in sewing-machine factories. At present the American - soldiers are without either rifles or artillery. - -At that moment there were a million American soldiers in France and we -were turning out munitions at a rate the Germans could not believe was -possible. - -[Illustration: THE STATION WHOSE MESSAGES ARE HEARD AROUND THE WORLD - -The Lafayette radio station, the most powerful in the world. Inset: a -radio operator at work.] - -The more evident it was that U-boat warfare had failed, the more -vehement were the German naval authorities in asserting its success. -Admiral Holtzendorff, head of the Admiralty, announced on July 29, that -they were taking into consideration the counter measures--(that meant -the mine barrage, the destroyers, patrol boats and all the things we -were using to defeat them); that the Germans were building many more -submarines, and that "final success is guaranteed." - -[Illustration: THE TABLET ON THE MAIN BUILDING OF THE LAFAYETTE RADIO -STATION] - -After submarine crews had mutinied and U-boat warfare had ended with -the recall of their submarines in October, the German chiefs were still -bluffing their own people. As late as November 5, less than a week -before the armistice, we caught this bulletin from Berlin: - - English wireless service reported, and this report was circulated - also in neutral newspapers, that German submarines had passed - Norwegian coast on their way home with a white flag at the - mast-head. This is a pure invention. English wireless has thus - again circulated a lie. - -At that very time the U-boats were all hurrying home, some of them -passing so close to the Norwegian coast, to avoid mines and destroyers, -that they could be plainly seen from shore. - -When the French and Americans by terrific attacks drove the Germans -across the Marne, Berlin announced: - - The excellent execution of the movement for changing to the - opposite bank of the wide River Marne, which took place unnoticed - by the enemy, demonstrates today the splendid ability of the German - command and troops. - -When the Americans won their notable victory at St. Mihiel we heard -from Berlin that the Germans had only "evacuated" the "bend" there to -improve lines, and that on the whole, the French and American attacks -had failed. And General Wrisberg assured the trusting Teutons back in -the fatherland: - - The American army also can not terrify us, as we shall settle - accounts with them. - -Even in November, with total collapse only a few days away, they were -still talking of the failure of the Americans and the "victorious -repulse" of the French. - -After the mutiny at Kiel and other ports, where sailors took possession -of the ships and started the revolution, they sent out this bulletin, -on November 7: - - Concerning situation in Kiel and uprisings in other harbor towns; - military protection of Baltic has been carried out without a break - by navy. All warships leaving harbor fly war flags. Movements - among sailors and workmen have been brought back to peaceful ways. - -The surrender of the German High Seas Fleet was gently termed, the -"carrying out of armistice conditions at sea!" - -But through the secret service of the Allies, we were kept well -informed of all that was going on in the German navy. - -The denials of mutinies and revolts were merely amusing to us. We knew -the facts. We knew their morale was shattered, that the Allies had "got -their nerve." - -I do not know any dispatch that amused me more than the one we picked -up from Berlin November 16. This showed that the U-boat crews had to be -reassured that their lives were safe, even after the armistice; that -they had to be coaxed and bribed before they would venture out to take -the submarines to England for surrender. Here it is: - - Pr. 143. W522--Trans-ocean Press. Berlin, November 16. - - German armistice commission has directed to Chancellor Ebert for - immediate communication to all submarine crews letter in which it - states that English Admiral Sir Roslyn Wemyss has given unreserved - and absolute assurance that all crews of submarines to be handed - over will be sent back to Germany as soon as possible after their - arrival in the harbor appointed by England. Commission therefore - requests crews to hand over in good time the submarines. - - In connection with this, workmen and soldiers' council of - Wilhelmshaven states that all men of ships which are brought into - an enemy port are insured for 10,000 marks in case of death. A - corresponding special pension has been provided for accidents. - Besides, the married men who are concerned in bringing the - submarines receive a premium of 500 marks, and finally are to be - immediately discharged after their return home. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -A SURPRISE FOR COUNT VON LUXBURG - - "HERR DOCTOR BRECHT," SPEAKER AT HIS BANQUET IN BUENOS AIRES, - WAS U. S. NAVAL AGENT--NAVAL INTELLIGENCE FRUSTRATED PLOTS OF - GERMANS--FRENCH EXECUTED TWO WOMEN SPIES CAUGHT NEAR ST. NAZAIRE, - GIVING GERMANS INFORMATION REGARDING AMERICAN TROOPS. - - -Everyone recalls the Count von Luxburg, German Minister to Argentina, -and his famous "spurlos versenkt" dispatch advising his Government -that Argentine steamers, if not spared by the U-boats, be sunk without -leaving a trace. But there is one incident in connection with that -worthy which may, even yet, be news to the Teutons. - -One of the speakers at the last big banquet by the Germans in Buenos -Aires, over which Luxburg presided--one of the orators they applauded -vociferously and patted on the back as the cries of "Hoch der Kaiser!" -rang round the festive board, was an agent of the United States -Government. And thereby hangs a tale. - -When this country broke relations with Germany, German activities in -South America were redoubled. The large German population in Brazil -not only planned to keep that country from joining the Allies, but -talked boldly of "uprisings," and joining in action with the Germans -in neighbor countries. We needed to find out more about Teuton -activities in that region. An American of varied accomplishments, who -spoke Portuguese and Spanish, as well as German, offered his services -to the Navy. He had spent years in Germany, and though of a Colonial -American family, was a doctor of philosophy of Leipzig University, and -intimately acquainted with German conditions and German character. He -had volunteered to act as a secret agent, in which capacity he had -served the Navy in Spain itself during the Spanish War. - -In February, 1917, he was accepted by Naval Intelligence, and on March -3, a month before we declared war, sailed for Brazil. He was no amateur -in securing information, and he welcomed the chance of going to Brazil -and Argentina, the danger to him rather adding zest to the task. - -When he reached southern Brazil as a German emissary coming from -Switzerland, he was taken into their clubs and councils, and told what -they planned and plotted. He was with the optimistic Teuton singers as -they roared out "Die Wacht am Rhein" and "Deutschland über Alles," and -toasted "Der Tag"--the day when Germany would gather in its spoils in -South America. He attended the secret meetings of German intriguers and -learned their secrets. But, suspected at last, he was attacked by burly -Teutons and emerged with a broken head and a badly hurt arm. - -Departing for Argentina, he appeared there as "Dr. Ernst Brecht," -bearing tidings from the Germans in Brazil, which had just declared -war. He was taken into their inner circles, their plots and purposes -were poured into his ears. Not once did they have the faintest -suspicion that he was an American, much less a Government agent. - -Members of the German legation staff conferred with him. Plotting -and intriguing there, as they did in the United States, they were -pretending the greatest friendship for Argentina, giving officials and -people to understand that, while the U-boats might be sinking vessels -of other nations without warning, Argentinian shipping was exempt. If -any of its ships were sunk, it was only a regrettable mistake. And -at the very time Luxburg was talking this dear friendliness, he was -sending "spurlos versenkt" messages to the German Government. - -"Doctor Brecht" had many adventures, but the most picturesque was the -role he played in Buenos Aires. Joining at once the German "Bund," -which had branches all over the Argentine, the "Doctor" formed one of -the group of well-known Austrians and Germans which gathered at the -famous round-table in the Bismarck restaurant. - -At the annual banquet of the Deutscher Bund, the German event of the -year, Count von Luxburg presided. "Herr Doctor Ernst Brecht" was -called upon to speak on behalf of the Germans of Brazil. Giving a -touching account of the situation of the Brazilian Teutons and their -determination and devotion to the cause of the "Vaterland," he ended -by quoting a bellicose poem written by a well-known German poetess who -lived at Blumenau, the hotbed of Teutonism in Brazil. - -He was cheered and applauded enthusiastically, and Count von Luxburg -himself unbent far enough to thank the speaker for his inspiring words -and express the hope that his sojourn in the hospitable Argentine would -prove pleasant and profitable. It certainly did--but in a way that the -Count never suspected. - -There was general regret when "Doctor Brecht" announced that he felt -compelled within a few weeks to return to Europe. He had found that -the German officials were planning to send important dispatches they -would not entrust to the mails, and they planned at first to make him -their messenger. But before this was arranged, Luxburg's code messages -regarding the U-boat warfare were published by the United States. The -Count was amazed. - -Sent in a complicated code known only to himself and the Berlin Foreign -Office, five thousand miles away; cabled by the minister of another -country among his own private dispatches, he could not understand how -those messages could be captured and deciphered by the Americans. It -was evident that they were not so stupid as he and Captain von Papen -thought they were. - -Luxburg's dispatches, when made public, led to uprisings against the -Germans, making it impossible for him to remain in Argentina. The day -the Count got his passports, September 12, 1917, "Doctor Brecht" had -left the Bismarck restaurant and was on his way home with a German -acquaintance when they saw a fire in the distance, and found the German -Club was burning. It had been mobbed and set on fire by pro-Ally -students and others. Seeing the club half destroyed, the Doctor and -his companion returned to the Bismarck to inform their confreres. -But they found that the restaurant had been completely gutted by a -mob, the tables and dishes smashed, and every portrait of the Kaiser, -Hindenburg, and other "heroes" slashed to pieces. - -Germany had been astonished a few months before by the publication of -Foreign Minister Zimmerman's note to the German Minister in Mexico, -proposing an alliance of Germany and Mexico to make war against the -United States. There was nothing the Germans guarded more closely than -that. - -Yet before Bernstorff reached Europe, that secret dispatch was -published, and the first thing the German Ambassador to Sweden demanded -to know when the Count reached Christiania, was how the Americans ever -managed to get hold of it. The Foreign Office was stunned. Not only had -its plot been exposed, but the exposure had shown that the Allies could -decipher the most secret and puzzling code they could devise. - -Captain von Papen, who once called us "those idiotic Yankees," might -have told them that we were more alert than he had supposed, for the -exposure of his dealings in every detail; of the activities of Wolf -von Igel, his aide; of Doctor Albert, of Fritz von Rintelen; of the -ship-bomb plots; the plan to blow up the Welland Canal locks, and -various other German intrigues, must have by that time convinced him -that the Americans had some secret service of their own. When, on -December 4, 1915, our Government demanded the recall of Papen, who was -military attaché of the German embassy, and Captain Boy-Ed, the naval -attaché, it was merely stated that the cause was "improper activity in -military matters." Both protested, declaring that they had done nothing -illegal. But later we published a full account of Papen's activities, -with photographs of his checks, the exact amounts paid to his tools who -did the dirty work, to whom they were paid and for what purpose. It was -shown that Boy-Ed had transactions amounting to millions with German -steamship lines whose officials were, through false manifests, sending -out ships laden with coal and other supplies for German raiders. - -Boy-Ed, at that, did not seem to be so deeply involved as Papen was. He -protested that he had no part in conspiring with Huerta, and had never -seen the Mexican "ex-President." But it was known that Rintelen had had -dealings with Huerta, and that Rintelen had received from Boy-Ed at -least half a million dollars. The dealings of Captain von Papen with -Huerta were too thoroughly disclosed to admit of denial. - -Germany, beginning years before, had built up in this country an -extensive spy system, which kept it informed not only of military -developments, but of what was done in every branch of industry. When -the European war began they used every possible means of preventing the -manufacture of munitions or supplies for the Allies. Nearly every large -factory or plant had in its employ workmen who were paid agents of the -German Government. That they could secure information of what was going -on was not so menacing as what they might do, for one or two men could -damage machinery so as to retard work for months. There were explosions -in munition plants, machinery was at times mysteriously wrecked, -shells were damaged; and while the cause seldom could be definitely -determined, it was the general belief that many of these "accidents" -were the work of German agents. - -The Office of Naval Intelligence, whose function in peace times is -to gather naval information from all parts of the world, had a more -difficult task to perform when war came. An Investigation Section was -formed to seek out and take into custody persons who were, by sabotage, -explosion, fomenting strikes or other means, seeking to prevent or -retard the manufacture of munitions; to discover and thwart any attempt -to damage vessels, shipyards, bases or factories; to counteract German -propaganda and, in general, restrain the activities of Germans and -German sympathizers. - -In each naval district there was an Aide for Information, reporting -to Rear Admiral Roger Welles, Director of Naval Intelligence, at -Washington. Each district was further sub-divided into sections with -representatives working under the district aid. The activity of these -aides was tremendous, especially in our large ports of entry, New York, -Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Norfolk. Arrests of suspects sent -fear into the hearts of any who might be plotting sabotage. In one day -I ordered the arrest of more than a score in one plant. - -Ships from countries near Germany were examined from truck to keel for -contraband, or papers or literature that might convey secret messages. -Passengers and crews were carefully scrutinized. Close inspection and -censorship of mails and cables prevented Germany from communicating -with its agents in this country, and also prevented them from sending -out military information. - -Outgoing ships were carefully inspected to prevent them from taking -supplies or materials to Germany. Some neutral vessels had been -carrying from America quantities of spare machinery and electrical -parts, especially those composed of copper, brass and zinc. There was -reason to believe much of this was smuggled to Germany and used in the -manufacture of parts for U-boats. Radio apparatus was purchased in -quantities. Ships leaving for Holland or Sweden sometimes sailed with -enough lubricating oil to take them around the world. Much of it must -have "leaked" into Germany. This traffic was greatly reduced, and that -in contraband practically ended. - -Military guards were placed around piers, no enemy or suspected aliens -were allowed to work around shipping, and all dock workers were -required to carry identification cards. Vessels were under government -supervision during their entire stay in port. - -Not only navy yards and shipyards were kept under surveillance, but -all plants engaged on naval work were constantly inspected. Thus -all sources of production were protected from enemy activity. For -this purpose a Plant Division was created, which also reported any -undesirable working conditions or lack of fire protection. This led -later to the creation of the Fire Prevention Section of the War -Industries Board. - -Admiral Welles kept in close touch with the Director of Military -Intelligence, the State and Labor Departments, and the Department of -Justice. Naval attachés abroad obtained a large amount of information -regarding "trading with the enemy" as well as military activities, and -this was transmitted to the War Industries Board, the State and War -Departments. The Bureau of War Trade Intelligence coöperated with the -Navy in holding up undesirable imports and exports. - -Information regarding foreign navies and ships and war developments was -compiled and disseminated, in confidential publications, to all our -forces afloat. Fleet, Force and Division commanders were kept informed -of the activities of all fleets, Allied and enemy, of ships sunk, and -tonnage destruction; of the number and tracks of submarines in the -Atlantic and Mediterranean; and of all efforts made by the Allied and -associated powers. - -The British had a remarkably complete system which constantly improved, -so that, in the latter part of the war, it was said that they were -informed of the sailing of every submarine sent out from Germany, and -its probable destination. We had the advantage of this, as well as the -information obtained by France and Italy. We had our own agents in most -foreign countries, and maintained quite a force in France. - -The most important of these activities was along the coast around -Brest and St. Nazaire, the centers of troop and supply traffic. German -agents, it was reported, were using Belle Ile as a signal station to -advise their submarines. - -Convoys reported suspicious lights, and it was believed that these were -informers on shore signaling to U-boats. The submarines used various -disguises. One, submerged with its periscope showing, lay hidden for -hours in the midst of a fishing fleet. Yet the fishermen paid so -little attention to it that the French semaphore station, only a few -kilometers away, was not notified. A Greek merchantman hove in sight, -the U-boat fired a torpedo and the steamship was sunk. - -The French authorities welcomed our intelligence officers, and together -they set about developing an efficient service all along the coast. A -U. S. Naval Reserve officer who spoke French fluently was attached to -the staff of the French commander-in-chief in Brittany. That coast is -rugged and bold, with groups of small islands. The most important is -Belle-Ile-en-Mer, twelve kilometers from shore, the first land sighted -by convoys going to St. Nazaire, and the last seen on their way home. -At the northern end is the famous "Passage de la Tenouse," leading to -the bay of Quiberon. Once through this passage and in the bay, ships -were considered safe from submarines. One group of our first troop -convoys was attacked three miles west of the Point des Poulin, the -entrance to this passage, and several shells fired by the transports -ricocheted and exploded on the rocky bluffs of the island. West-bound -convoys were assembled in Quiberon Bay. Every effort was made to -conceal their departure, but the information that enemy submarines -seemed to obtain at times was startling. When the merchant convoy -system was inaugurated, ships were instructed to anchor off Le Palais, -in the lee of Belle Ile. Two days later a submarine laid mines in the -roadstead. The next night ships were anchored two miles to the north, -but within twelve hours mines were laid there. - -Lights and signals were not the only means of enemy communication. Some -fisherman, seeing the transports in the bay, might go out at night and -inform a submarine, which could radio the news to all the U-boats in -the vicinity. - -These were the conditions that had to be met. Every report of -suspicious happenings had to be investigated, and the French were quite -willing that the American Navy assume this task, as it was responsible -for most of the convoy work through these waters. - -With the greatest care and secrecy, forty-five of the most intelligent -fishermen who had boats of their own were selected, and formed into a -patrol service. Proceeding with their fishing, they were instructed to -watch for any sign of submarines or mines and report it immediately. -Furthermore, they were to report any mysterious behavior of fishermen -or strangers in boats, and any lights or suspicious happenings along -the coast. Experienced detectives were employed, with headquarters at -Nantes, to investigate all reports. A flood of them came in from the -population who, like the French officers, seemed anxious to aid the -Americans. - -Hundreds of investigations were made, fishermen and residents ashore -were aroused to the necessity of reporting everything that seemed -likely to aid the enemy, and an intelligence system was built up that -was no small factor in making safe the coast of France. - -Women spies were found, now and then; quite as dangerous as the men in -enemy pay. The most remarkable and pathetic instance, perhaps, was the -"Alvarez Case," handled by the French from its beginning to its tragic -end. - -In the spring of 1917, French agents in Barcelona, Spain, reported -that two women known as the Alvarez sisters, were associating with a -man strongly suspected of being in the German secret service. Soon -afterward they disappeared, and for two months their whereabouts was -unknown. The Paris authorities directed that all regions in France, -particularly the American zone, be searched for them. They were at -last discovered in the seacoast town of Sables d'Olonne, thirty -miles south of St. Nazaire, where our troop convoys landed. They were -closely watched and when they boarded a train for Bordeaux, evidently -attempting to get back to Spain, they were arrested. Upon trial it -proved that they had come under the influence of German agents in -Spain and had been induced by an offer of 50,000 francs to obtain -information, among other things, concerning the American troops -disembarking in Brittany. - -By this trial the mystery of the blowing up of the French destroyer -_Enseigne Roux_ was cleared up. It turned out that the condemned -sisters had been closely associated with a French sailor named Gaitton, -and evidence pointed to him as having mixed dynamite with the bunker -coal on the destroyer. This was not conclusively proved, but Gaitton -had enough counts against him to be sentenced to twenty years in a -naval prison. - -The Alvarez sisters were convicted, and were sentenced to be shot. -The execution took place at daybreak in the courtyard of the ancient -Chateau of Anne de Bretagne, at Nantes. In the courtyard were assembled -the officers in charge of the execution, government officials and -witnesses. - -The women were led to two posts near the wall of the chateau, and the -last words were spoken to them by the priest. At their trial they had -confessed all, so there was little left to say. One was in a fainting -condition, but the elder of the two proved unusually courageous. She -refused to be blindfolded, and stood her ground. - -An army officer read the sentence. There was a volley of musketry, and -the blindfolded woman dropped to the ground. But the sister who had -shown such courage, though mortally wounded, remained erect, and had to -be despatched by a shot from a revolver. - -The Naval Intelligence officer who gave Admiral Welles the account of -this pathetic case, from which are taken the particulars recited above, -wrote: - - "For years to come, when the American tourists visit the now - historic ports of the American Expeditionary Forces, they will - see, if they look carefully, a few scars on the thick wall of the - Chateau courtyard at Nantes. These are the marks of bullets which - ended the careers of two poor deluded women who attempted to betray - the Allies. * * *" - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -AMERICAN ADMIRAL SAVED KOLCHAK - - HEAD OF RUSSIAN FLEET RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER GLENNON'S ADDRESS - TO MUTINOUS SAILORS--AFTER MISSION TO WASHINGTON, BECAME HEAD OF - OMSK GOVERNMENT--KILLED BY BOLSHEVIKI--UNITED STATES VESSELS IN - NORTHERN AND WESTERN RUSSIA--KNIGHT AT VLADIVOSTOK--MC CULLY AT - MURMANSK AND ARCHANGEL. - - -When revolution swept Russia in 1917, the sailors of the Baltic Fleet -mutinied, assassinated their commander-in-chief, and murdered a hundred -officers. The Black Sea Fleet for the time remained loyal, but in June -revolted and deposed its commander. - -The American mission headed by Elihu Root, of which Admiral James H. -Glennon was the naval representative, had just arrived in Petrograd. -The sailors at Sebastopol on June 20th voted to remove Admiral Kolchak, -send him to prison and elect a commander-in-chief from their own ranks. -When the Admiral was notified, he appeared on the quarter-deck of his -flagship and addressed his men. Appealing in the name of Russia and -the cause for which she was fighting with the Allies, he urged them -to remain loyal. But the sailors refused. They were bent on taking -control. There was nothing for the Admiral to do but to give up his -command, and leave the fleet to be managed by a committee. - -They demanded his sword, but he would not give it. Drawing it from -its scabbard, he saluted the Russian flag, and threw the shimmering -blade into the sea. Turning upon his heel sharply, the former -commander-in-chief came down from the quarter-deck, climbed over the -side of the flagship into a waiting boat, and was taken to Sebastopol, -where he was put in prison along with Smirnoff and other officers. -Kolchak might have met the same fate as the commander-in-chief of the -Baltic Fleet. "Execution by order of the Sailors' Soviet" is quite as -deadly as assassination. - -Unaware of the serious situation that had developed, Admiral Glennon -set out for Sebastopol to visit Kolchak and the Black Sea Fleet. -With him went Admiral Newton A. McCully, naval attaché, a master of -the Russian tongue and a great admirer of the Russian people, whose -affection and confidence he has held through all events. - -The first intimation the American admirals had that they were about -to face unusual circumstances was when, on reaching the station in -Sebastopol, they found a reception committee awaiting them composed -wholly of workmen and sailors. There were no officers. Kolchak was -not there, nor had he sent any members of his staff to greet them. -Glennon and McCully were quick enough to catch the significance of -this unexpected welcome, and to accommodate themselves to its peculiar -character. - -"They wore no swords," said Admiral Glennon, "so the American officers -left their swords in the train." - -The American officers were taken to the flagship, from which Kolchak -had been deposed the day before. Standing on the quarter-deck, where -Kolchak had stood in his final appeal, Admiral Glennon spoke to the -sailors on the meaning of democracy. He paid a generous tribute to -their ships. He spoke of Russia's bravery, and urged the sailors to -stand by the cause for which the Allies were fighting. Referring -feelingly to the cordial relations which had always existed between -Russia and the United States, he made much of the argument for the -continued friendship and coöperation of these nations, now the two -biggest republics in the world. But not a word did he say of the -deposed officers. - -Admiral Glennon is a big man, of commanding appearance, but with a -kindly and genial bearing. His speech made a deep impression on the -sailors. Evidently they talked over the things he had said and decided -to show their appreciation in some way. When the American admirals -and other officers were boarding their train to return to Petrograd, -representatives of the sailors came on board and told Admiral Glennon -that they had voted to restore the arms to all the deposed officers -except Kolchak and Smirnoff. These two, they said, they would probably -keep in prison and bring to trial. Admiral Glennon saw his chance. -Manifestly these sailors wanted to please the Americans. They were a -little afraid of Kolchak and Smirnoff, so they felt obliged to keep -them in prison, but probably, if the Russian admirals were to leave -Sebastopol and the region of the Black Sea, the sailors would be -satisfied. So Admiral Glennon, smiling down from his towering height -upon the shorter Russians, made a proposal. In effect he said: "Release -Smirnoff and Kolchak, and we will take them to Petrograd with us." -Petrograd was far away. Moreover the authority of Petrograd was still -recognized, so the sailors agreed. Kolchak and Smirnoff were taken from -prison and put on board the train with the Americans. For them it was -deliverance from almost certain death. It is little wonder that Kolchak -regarded Glennon with the greatest affection and gratitude. A few weeks -later he came to the United States at the head of a Russian naval -mission, and his renewal of acquaintance with Admiral Glennon was like -the meeting of brothers. - -I had a chance to see a good deal of Kolchak while the mission was -here. He was said to be of Tartar descent. Of medium height and very -dark complexion, he had piercing eyes and a determined expression. He -admired Farragut greatly, and made a special trip to his tomb to place -a wreath upon it. He was also a great admirer of our Arctic explorers, -probably because of his own Polar service. I remember the dinner -Admiral Kolchak gave at a Washington hotel to the Secretary of the Navy -and prominent naval officers just before he took his departure in 1917. -It was about the gloomiest, most funereal occasion I experienced in all -my eight years in Washington. News had just arrived of a German victory -over the Russians in the Baltic. The Kerensky government was in a -perilous position. The depressing situation was reflected in the solemn -faces of the banqueters. I did my best to cheer Kolchak, predicting a -wonderful future for a democratic Russia when the Allies and America -had won the war. - -"Do you really believe Russia can again have peace?" he asked me, and -the tone of his question spoke his own despair. The premonition of -tragedy must have been in his soul. At the end of October he sailed -from San Francisco, intending to return to European Russia by Siberia. -When he reached Japan he found the Bolsheviki had seized power and -Kerensky was a fugitive. The Bolshevik government offered him and -his officers safe journey to Petrograd, if they would recognize its -authority and swear allegiance. Kolchak refused. - -Gathering together the forces opposing Lenine, he became leader of -the anti-Bolshevik movement in Siberia. In the spring of 1919, when -the Admiral was head of the Omsk government, the world thought he was -going to succeed in his great effort to overthrow Lenine and Trotzky. -Then the tide turned. He was driven back. His retreat became a rout. -When he reached the region of Lake Baikal, his forces disintegrated -and fled, leaving him alone. One day in January, 1920, a revolutionary -group raided the village of Innokentieskaya, near Irkutsk, and found -Kolchak. They took him prisoner, and turned him over to the Bolshevik -commissairs. There was a perfunctory court-martial, which passed the -predetermined sentence of death. - -In the early dawn of February 7, he was led from his cell to the -courtyard of a building in Irkutsk, where he was stood with his back -to the wall. It was too dark to see his face distinctly, the stories -that came to us stated; so a soldier held a lighted lamp near it to -guide the firing squad. When the command to fire was given, the squad -failed to obey. Angered at their soft-hearted reluctance, the Bolshevik -commissair who was supervising the execution pushed the squad aside, -strode up to Kolchak, and shot him down. - -Thus the famous Russian admiral met his fate. - -The debacle in Russia profoundly disturbed America. It was due -primarily to the failure of communication and transportation. Russia -was shut off at the Dardanelles by the Turks and at the Danish Sound -in the Baltic by the Germans. When the Kerensky government was -organized there was hope by the oldest republic in the New World for -the success of the newest republic in the Old World. The coup d'etat -of the Bolshevists, who soon made the treaty of Brest-Litovsk with -the Germans, gave pause to the Allied forces, who felt it necessary -to take steps on what had been the "Eastern front" to prevent the -use of Russian man-power against them. Fifty million dollars of -their supplies were piled up at Archangel, which the Bolshevists were -undertaking to confiscate and move into the interior. The Germans were -seeking a submarine base on the Murman coast in order to gain access to -the sea which they had been so long denied. - -These dangers drew Allied forces into Northern Russia. In May, 1918, -the _U. S. S. Olympia_, which won fame as Dewey's flagship at Manila -Bay, arrived at Murmansk with Lieutenant General Poole, of the British -army, and a small detachment of troops. They drove off an attack at -Pechenga. A small group of Russian naval officers, who could not -reconcile themselves to Bolshevik rule, spent the winter on a sealing -trip. They believed themselves safe when in sight of the Murman coast -with their cargo of skins worth $35,000. Without warning a German -submarine came up alongside and sank their vessel, few of the crew -escaping. - -The Murmansk Soviet could not retaliate because, by the treaty of -Brest-Litovsk, the Russian navy could take no further part in the -war. So they turned over their navy, consisting of three destroyers, -one to the British, one to the French, and one to the _Olympia_ when -she arrived. I dare say few people, even in the Navy, knew that we -possessed a destroyer named the _Karitan Yurasovsky_. Its crew was half -Russian and half American. It was a queer sort of arrangement, but -Admiral McCully, in command of Naval Forces in Northern Russian Waters, -said "It worked remarkably well, there never being the least sign of -friction, and the destroyer always ready for duty." - -Not much has been heard of the U. S. flotilla on Lake Onega. When the -Allied forces, including a small detachment from the _Yankton_, were -on the line of march within 300 miles of Petrograd, there was need -of water transportation. Our small naval contingent was equal to the -emergency. Two motor boats, each with a short one-pounder in the bow -and a machine-gun on the beam, were transported by rail down to near -Lake Onega, then hauled miles through the woods, and launched in the -lake on May 27, 1919. Three times they were engaged with Bolshevik -gunboats at long ranges. - -In June, 1918, the _Olympia_ sent a detachment 150 strong to Kandalaska -to assist in guarding that point. When the Murmansk government broke -with the Bolsheviki, Allied troops landed in Murmansk. In August a -detachment from the _Olympia_ under Captain Bierer took part in the -successful expedition against Archangel. This same detachment under -Lieutenant Hicks bore their share in the pursuit of the retreating -Bolshevists to the interior, having some hard fighting. Under Colonel -G. W. Stewart, the 339th Infantry Regiment and 310th Engineers, about -5,600 men, having just completed their training at Aldershot, reached -Northern Russia September 4th, and they remained all winter. They were -immediately put in the front line, doing practically all the fighting -that was done, and during this time losing more men in action than all -the other Allies combined. The small detachment of Navy men privileged -to fight with their army brethren in Northern Russia, regard them as -among the noblest of all fighting forces. - -The Asiatic Fleet, under command of Admiral Austin M. Knight, -coöperated with the Japanese and other Allied forces in the Far -East, and the flagship _Brooklyn_ or some other vessels were almost -constantly at Vladivostok, where Admiral Knight took a prominent part -in the conferences and operations to check enemy and hostile activities. - -In June, 1918, Vladivostok and nearly all of Siberia fell into the -hands of the Bolsheviki. Assisted by German and Austrian prisoners -of war, they were resisting the advance of the Czecho-Slovaks who, -fighting their way for thousands of miles through Russia, were -endeavoring to reach the eastern coast, where Allied vessels might -take them home. Vladivostok was their destination, but they had hard -fighting before they could enter. On June 29 they took the city after -a three-hour battle with the Bolsheviki. There were 12,000 of the -Czecho-Slovaks, but only 2,500 of them were armed and equipped. The -city was still in an uproar, with desultory firing at various points. -In the afternoon Admiral Knight ordered ashore Marines and sailors to -guard the American consulate, and to act as part of a patrol force -composed of British, Japanese, Chinese and Czecho-Slovaks who patrolled -the city, preventing destruction and preserving order. - -Marines from the _Brooklyn_ in July guarded the German and Austrian -prisoners of war on Russian Island, five miles from Vladivostok. Our -Navy had a radio station there. Men from our ships formed a part of -the force of British marines, Japanese and Chinese blue-jackets and -Czecho-Slovak soldiers organized to guard the Russian navy yard at -Vladivostok, and prevent disorder in the city. - -The United States Asiatic Fleet performed a valuable function in the -Far East. Guarding American interests and coöperating with the Allied -forces, its vessels operated from the Philippines to the Russian coast. -They exerted, as always, decided influence in China, supporting the -Chinese Government in its stand with the Allies. Though the Japanese -had long before taken Kiao-Chau, the German stronghold, and the Teuton -strength was broken, constant efforts were required to prevent the -German propaganda and agitation from causing trouble. A sharp lookout -was maintained for German raiders. One, the famous _Seeadler_, sank two -American vessels in the Pacific. But after it was run down and disposed -of, no more raiders appeared. - -Our vessels in the Pacific were of material assistance to the Army when -American troops were sent to Russia to protect the Siberian railway, -and again when they were being returned from Russia. Admiral William -L. Rodgers succeeded to the command of the Asiatic Fleet in the latter -part of 1918 and continued until late in 1919, when he was succeeded by -Admiral Gleaves. Some of our vessels were at Vladivostok practically -all the time. One of the first suggestions made by the British when -we entered the war was that we maintain our force in Asiatic waters, -and while the vessels were few in number, they performed excellent and -necessary service. - -[Illustration: EAGLE BOATS AT ANCHOR IN THE ICE OF THE WHITE SEA - -Insets: Rear Admiral James H. Glennon (left); Admiral Kolchak.] - -[Illustration: THE HALF-WAY HOUSE - -The harbor of Ponta Delgada, the naval base in the Azores. Inset: One -of the 7" guns at Ponta Delgada manned by U. S. Marines.] - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -THE HALF-WAY HOUSE - - AZORES VITAL IN NAVAL OPERATIONS--"ORION" CELEBRATED FOURTH OF JULY - BY DRIVING OFF U-BOAT THAT WAS SHELLING PONTA DELGADA--HUNDREDS OF - AMERICAN SHIPS STOPPED THERE ON THE WAY ACROSS--DUNN IN COMMAND OF - BASE--MARINES MANNED GUNS, MAINTAINED AERIAL PATROL--SUBMARINES - KEPT OFF SUBMARINES. - - -The Fourth of July, 1917, was ushered in by the booming of American -guns, not in the United States, but in the far-away Azores. - -Bright and early, at 4:45 a. m. (not long after midnight in this -country), a German submarine began bombarding Ponta Delgada, the -principal city in the islands. The U-boat was one of the largest type, -with powerful guns, and she poured a rain of shells that crashed into -stores and residences, and exploded in the streets. People were panic -stricken. The antiquated forts were no defense. Their guns were not of -sufficient caliber to cope with the enemy. Knowing this, the Germans -thought they would have a picnic, without any risk or interruption, -shelling an undefended city and terrorizing its helpless inhabitants. - -But relief came from an unexpected source. The United States naval -collier _Orion_ was in port, and three minutes after the enemy began -operations, her guns were in action. This was a surprise for the -submarine. When the shells began to fall around her, the Germans -could not imagine where they came from. The _Orion_ was at a dock -2,000 yards away on the other side of a point of land that juts out -into the harbor. She could not sail out immediately, as her stern had -been hoisted to make repairs. But she promptly turned her guns on -the intruder, and in a few moments the enemy found he was faced by a -formidable foe. - -The _Orion's_ fire was too hot for the Germans. Its shells were falling -uncomfortably close; its gunners rapidly getting the range. Not many -minutes later the U-boat, baffled and disappointed, disappeared. The -submarine, it was discovered later, was the famous _Deutschland_, the -U-155. - -Proclaiming that the American collier had saved the city, the whole -town joined in a spontaneous celebration. The captain of the _Orion_, -Lieutenant Commander J. H. Boesch, was cheered and fêted, as was his -whole crew. Officials tendered him their formal thanks, and he became -a hero in the Azores. All kinds of honors were paid him, and later he -was presented with a handsome gift, expressing the gratitude of the -Delgadans. They even named brands of cigars for him, with his picture -on the boxes--and I know no more conclusive evidence of popular favor -than that. - -These islands--the "half-way point between America and Europe"--were -vitally important in our naval operations, and soon after war was -declared, we began negotiations with Portugal for permission to -establish an American naval base at that strategic point. U-boats of -large type were already operating in that region. Had the Germans -succeeded in establishing a base there or in utilizing the islands for -supplying or refueling submarines, they could have seriously menaced -our troop and cargo transportation, and trans-Atlantic lines of -communication. - -The necessity of protecting this locality was emphasized in a dispatch -from our London headquarters on July 13, and letters of July 30, 1917, -in which we were informed that England had sent a mystery ship and two -submarines to the Azores, and the hope was expressed that the United -States would do the same. "The advisability," said the report, "of the -United States sending one of the older battleships with perhaps two or -three auxiliary craft to the Azores to prevent the use of these islands -as a base during the coming winter should be considered." The Germans -had, about that time, sent out the former _Deutschland_ to cruise in -the vicinity of the Azores. - -Early in August, 1917, the _U. S. S. Panther_ and five coal-burning -destroyers arrived at Ponta Delgada "to operate against enemy vessels, -to assist torpedoed vessels and rescue survivors, and to deny the -island to enemy submarines which might try to use them as a base." In -September the _Wheeling_, with two destroyers, arrived, relieving the -_Panther_ and destroyers, which had been ordered to French waters. The -_Wheeling's_ captain was acting base commander. - -On October 28, a division of U. S. submarines, the K-1, K-2, K-5 and -K-6, arrived, and later the E-1. These submarines and our destroyers -patrolled the waters around the Azores, and from the time operations -began there was practically no enemy submarine activity around the -islands, although the German Government had declared this a "barred -zone." - -As a result of the Allied Naval Conference at London, in September, -1917, it was decided to establish a British naval intelligence center -in the Azores and to build a radio station eight miles west of Ponta -Delgada. Our Navy mounted a seven-inch gun on a high bluff for its -protection. This radio station was of great value, for prior to its -construction communication from the Azores was by cable to the United -States and thence to Europe. By arrangement, all British naval units -served under the general direction of the United States senior naval -officer. - -As soon as the diplomatic negotiations with Portugal were completed, I -directed Admiral H. O. Dunn to proceed to Ponta Delgada and establish -a regular naval base. He embarked on the _Hancock_, with a complete -advance base outfit, and a detachment of Marine aviators with aircraft. -Guns were mounted at Ponta Delgada to defend the harbor, and nets and -other torpedo defenses were stretched across the entrance. - -The First Marine Aeronautic Company, 12 officers and 133 men, operated -an anti-submarine patrol of ten R-6 and two N-9 seaplanes, and six -HS-2-L flying boats. Major Francis T. Evans was in command to July 18, -1918, when he was succeeded by Major David L. S. Brewster, who was in -command of these Marines until they were ordered home January 20, 1919. -Submarines and destroyers as well as aircraft, operated from Ponta -Delgada. The establishment of a hospital afforded treatment and comfort -not only to the personnel on duty there, but alike to men and officers -passing through, and to the people on the islands, who suffered greatly -during the influenza epidemic. Large warehouses, filled with stores, -furnished supplies to ships stopping at Ponta Delgada. - -In addition to the value of this base to our own operations, -its potential value is seen from the fact that never after its -establishment did German submarines appear off the island. Several -operated in that region but were careful not to approach within reach -of our guns. - -"The occupation of the Azores," said Admiral Dunn, "was of great -strategic value from the mere fact that had it been in possession of -the enemy, it would have formed an ideal base for submarines, and as -our convoy routes passed north and south of the islands an enemy base -would have been a very serious obstacle for the successful transport -across the ocean of troops and supplies." - -All our submarine chasers, tugs and small craft sent to Europe stopped -at the Azores for fuel, provisions and repairs. Our repair ship and -station were found invaluable, particularly during the stormy winter -when many merchant vessels broke down in the vicinity. Tugs were sent -out to tow them in, repairs were promptly made, and they were sent -on their way. In several instances, merchant vessels were rescued at -distances of 400 to 500 miles from the islands. The relations between -the American naval officers and Portuguese authorities in the Azores -were most cordial, and this coöperation strengthened the ties between -the United States and Portugal. - -If Portugal had not been in the war as an ally, it would have been a -tremendously difficult problem to have gotten across any of the yachts -and sub-chasers, and a large portion of our destroyers, because they -did not have the steaming radius to cover the more than 3,000 miles -of ocean between us and the coast of Europe. But for the base in the -Azores and Portugal's coöperation, we would have lacked a place to -re-fuel in mid-ocean. Before the Azores was open to us we were forced -to establish a mobile oil base at sea, moving the oilers secretly to -fuel our destroyers as they went across. Discovery of such an oil base -by the Germans would have been fatal to us, as sinking tankers and -oilers was a task at which their U-boats were most proficient. - -On May 20, 1919, the people of Ponta Delgada again did honor to men of -the American Navy. On that day ships in the harbor were dressed, the -town decked in flags, and there was general rejoicing at the arrival -of the aviators on the first trans-Atlantic flight. A salute of -twenty-one guns was fired by the Portuguese battery, and the Governor -of the Azores and the Mayor of Ponta Delgada gave official welcome to -Commander J. H. Towers and the officers and crews of the "Nancys," as -those famous planes were called. - -The Azores formed the central point in the flight from the United -States to Europe. It was the evening of May 16, 1919, when the three -giant planes swung out from Trepassy, Newfoundland, on the long "jump" -to the Azores, a distance of 1,380 miles. When the goal appeared to be -near, the worst foe of navigation appeared. A dense fog all but blinded -the pilots, endangering the success of the flight and putting the lives -of the flyers in peril. The NC-4 managed to ascend above the fog, and -15 hours and 13 minutes after leaving Newfoundland arrived at Horta, -the emergency stop in the Azores, and after a delay of three days, due -to bad weather, flew to Ponta Delgada. The NC-1 was forced to descend -to the water 45 miles from the island of Flores, and half an hour later -the NC-3 also descended not far from Fayal. Disabled by heavy seas, the -NC-1 sank. Nothing was heard from the NC-3 for more than two days. Many -people feared that she was lost, and there was general rejoicing when, -after fifty-three hours on the water, drifting and taxiing 209 miles, -she reached Ponta Delgada. - -Early in the morning of May 26th, Commander Albert C. Read and his crew -departed on the NC-4 for the 891-miles flight for Lisbon, carrying -the good wishes of the people of the islands. Lisbon did honor to the -fliers, who had made a new world record. Bells rang, whistles blew, and -the guns of the shore batteries boomed as the thousands lined the water -front to welcome the aerial voyagers. Portuguese in Lisbon as well as -in the Azores took the deepest pride in the achievement of the great -adventure. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -TO VICTORY ON A SEA OF OIL - - ABILITY TO SECURE OIL AND TRANSPORT IT TO EUROPE WAS ESSENTIAL TO - SUCCESS--OUR NAVY PATROLLED CARIBBEAN AND GULF COASTS--TRANSPORTED - MATERIAL AND FURNISHED PERSONNEL TO LAY PIPE LINE ACROSS - SCOTLAND--AMERICA FURNISHED EIGHTY PER CENT OF OIL FOR ALLIED - FORCES. - - -"The Allies floated to victory on a sea of oil," was the epigrammatic -way in which Lord Curzon expressed the truth that oil was essential -for success in the World War. This was true particularly of the Navy's -part in the war, for most of the naval force and the Shipping Board's -ships were oil burners. That oil was necessary also for the army was -emphasized when General Foch warned that "interruption of the petroleum -supply would necessitate an entire change of campaign and if long -continued might result in the loss of the war." - -Long before 1914, Great Britain had felt dependence upon Mexican -oil for its increasing oil-burning navy, and had made provision for -securing it through acquisition of Mexican oil fields. American -captains of industry had likewise large oil fields in Mexico. From the -minute war was declared in 1914, Allied dependence was upon Mexican -and American oil. Tampico and Port Arthur were strategic points in all -Allied plans of campaign on sea or land. If this supply of oil had been -interrupted, the war might have gone on much longer. - -From the day the first German raider sank a British ship or a submarine -fired at an Allied vessel, the British and French were zealous to -protect the oil supplies in Mexico. They maintained patrol vessels in -that region and kept ceaseless vigil of sea routes to protect this -priceless agency of war. However great their need of ships on their -own coast, they knew that if the oil supply failed at Tampico they -would lose the only adequate available source of oil for all their -operations. - -The question has sometimes been raised why the Navy Department did not -immediately upon the declaration of war send every patrol ship into -European waters. One answer is Oil. - -Before the United States entered the war, sensing, as the authorities -did then, that oil might determine the outcome, a naval squadron, first -under Admiral Wilson and afterwards under Admiral Edwin A. Anderson, -was organized for patrol service in the Gulf and Caribbean as well as -in the North Atlantic. Why? Again the answer was Oil, with a big O. -The United States was importing millions of barrels of oil from Mexico -for its own ships and industries. It could not permit any danger of -cessation of this supply. Our dependence would be heightened when we -entered the war. Gasless Sundays and other methods of conservation were -practiced later in order that the Army and Navy in Europe might be well -supplied. - -At one time the sinking of the tankers was serious enough to alarm the -Allied navies. The maintenance of fleets of Great Britain and America -in the North Sea was dependent upon oil supplies, and always the -U-boats were on the watch to torpedo oilers. They were so successful -and the number of tankers was so small, compared to the need, that the -American and British naval administrations decided to construct a pipe -line across Scotland as the best new way to lessen the danger of losing -tankers and to hasten the delivery of oil to the Allied fleet in the -North Sea. - - The Bureau of Navigation will enroll a force to lay the pipe line - (Glasgow, Scotland) to consist of seven officers and one hundred - men experienced in pipe line work. All material expense to be - borne by British Government and personnel expense by United States - Government. - -That was the order I signed, April 5, 1918, in pursuance of which the -Navy undertook to furnish the personnel, and, coöperating with the -British, lay a pipe line across Scotland, thirty-six miles in length, -following the course of the Clyde and Forth Canal, extending from Old -Kilpatrick (St. Patrick's birth-place), to Grangemouth, Firth of Forth. -Directions were also given that pipe and other material should be -transported in American naval vessels. Priority orders were given by me -for the material in order to expedite shipment and construction, and -as soon as the necessary material was ready the naval force embarked -and carried out the work under Commander W. A. Barstow. The pipe line -was laid out by Mr. Forrest Towl, president of the Eureka Pipe Line -Company, New York, and the naval personnel was able to complete the -work in four months. - -There were two intermediate pumping stations, and fuel oil could be -pumped in a cold state at the rate of 100 tons per hour. At the Old -Kilpatrick terminal sixteen large tanks were constructed, each with -a holding capacity of 8,000 tons. At the opposite end the oil was -pumped into large reservoirs, easily accessible to oil-burning ships at -Grangemouth and Forth ports. - -The U-boats seemed, as I have stated, to have some uncanny way of -finding and sinking tankers carrying oil to Europe. When unable to -hit transports and cargo ships, their aim at tankers seemed unerring, -particularly when the ships were going around the north of Scotland -to carry oil to the fleet in the North Sea. And oil was more valuable -to the fleet than radium. In fact it was the prime essential. The -construction of the pipe line became a pressing war need for three -reasons: - -1. To reduce the sinkings of tankers proceeding around the north of -Scotland or up the English channel. - -2. To secure quicker trans-Atlantic voyages by eliminating the -necessity of the tankers going into the North Sea. - -3. To increase the flexibility in the distribution of reserve stocks -between the west and east coasts, and vice versa. - -Its completion secured a continuous and adequate supply of fuel oil -for the naval vessels operating in the area it served. The building of -this pipe line appealed to the Navy Department. As soon as the plans -were ready, the order, "Push it!", was sent to every bureau which could -assist in hastening construction and furnishing the officers and men. -The order was obeyed. - -When the formal opening of the line was celebrated a telegram of thanks -was sent to American Naval Headquarters at London. Admiral Tothill, -the British Fourth Sea Lord, who turned on the steam that started the -pumps going, in his speech stated that this line, the longest in Great -Britain, had been completed in about six months time from placing of -order in the States, and that the U. S. Navy had in that time enrolled -a special unit to lay the pipe, and completed the work in a much -shorter time than had been expected. - -In his report Commander Barstow said that "during the past year the -Allied governments' requirements amounted to 2,900,000,000 gallons, -of which large total the United States has furnished 80 per cent, -or about 2,320,000,000 gallons." The fact that eighty per cent. of -the oil required had to be transported across the Atlantic shows the -importance of the pipe line across Scotland which our Navy had a large -part in constructing, and equally proves the value of the patrol of the -Caribbean and Gulf Coast by our squadron in those waters. - -In March, 1913, in answer to a letter from the Navy Department as to -whether the Navy would be justified in constructing all its ships as -oil burners, the Secretary of the Interior advised that the Geological -Survey's estimates of the available source of oil showed that it was -ample. The policy of "all oil-burners" was adopted by the Navy in 1913 -and, when it was organized, the Shipping Board adopted the same policy. -It was found that four ships burning oil will do the work of five ships -burning coal. From the coal mine to the fireroom the use of oil saves -fifty men per ship. Oil is the super-fuel. It does effectively and -economically all that coal can do, and more. Its use makes possible the -highest service of the two hundred and seventy-five destroyers built or -contracted for during the war. - -Foreseeing the larger use of oil for naval purposes, in the latter -part of 1912, President Taft withdrew certain lands in California from -public exploitation and set this land aside as Naval Reserves, No. 1 -and No. 2. On April 30, 1915, President Wilson issued an order setting -aside Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 3, in Wyoming. The preservation -of these reserves intact for naval use is of such importance that -the Government has fought the many adverse claims and refused the -persistent applications of claimants and others to open wells on these -reserves. It will soon be recognized that the nation which controls the -oil supply of the world has an advantage in naval operations and in the -carrying of water-borne commerce which will give it supremacy. The Navy -Department appreciated this fact in 1913. After the war it recommended -that this Government take steps not only to keep a large reserve of -American oil stored in the ground but also to acquire wells in every -part of the world where oil is produced. - -The contest for oil is a contest for supremacy of the sea traffic and -naval superiority. Naval need of oil and the need for a large merchant -marine, demand that the United States Government shall adopt a new -policy touching oil and other national resources. We have been so -wasteful of resources as to endanger national strength. It required the -World War to teach us the importance of large production of oil, and of -tankers and storage in all parts of the world. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -EDISON--AND 100,000 MORE - - FLOOD OF SUGGESTIONS AND INVENTIONS OFFERED, MOST OF THEM TO DOWN - THE U-BOATS--"FIND THE SUBMARINE" WAS THE PROBLEM--BEST DETECTION - DEVICES DEVELOPED IN AMERICA--NEW WEAPONS OF WAR--THE NAVAL - CONSULTING BOARD AND ITS GREAT WORK--SOME AMUSING SUGGESTIONS. - - -One hundred thousand suggestions and inventions were offered the Navy -for winning the war. Four-fifths of them were designed to down the -submarine. They poured in upon the Department in floods, evidence that -American genius was mobilized along with man-power. Letters came in by -the thousand, plans and models by the hundred. All were examined, and -those that gave promise were tested. - -The creation of the Naval Consulting Board, headed by Thomas A. Edison, -in 1915, made the Navy the natural center for war inventions. While -many did not prove practical and others were in process, a considerable -number of important inventions were completed and proved of the highest -value. A notable instance was the development of means for detecting -submarines. In this America led the world. - -When these devices had been perfected and thoroughly tested out on this -side of the water, Captain R. H. Leigh was sent to England with a staff -of naval officers and civilian experts; and ten tons of apparatus, to -be tried out in British waters. Three trawlers, the _Andrew King_, -_Kunishi_, and _James Bentole_, were equipped at the Portsmouth dock -yard, and on December 30, 1917, accompanied by a speedy "P" boat, they -steamed out for "listening patrol" in the English channel. Mr. C. F. -Scott, one of the civilian engineers who accompanied Captain Leigh, -said: - - The day after New Year's we received a wireless from an airship - that a submarine had been sighted. We steamed over, got our devices - out, but couldn't hear a thing. Another message from the airship - changed the "sub's" position, so we altered our course and obtained - a clear indication from the listening devices. The Hun was moving - slowly up the Channel, submerged. - - We gave the "P" boat a "fix" (cross bearing) on the spot where our - indication showed the submarine to be. She ran over the place, - dropping a "pattern" of depth charges, and soon we began to see - tremendous amounts of oil rising to the surface. Evidently our - first experience was to be successful. How successful we did not - learn until afterward. - - A trawling device had been developed which indicated whether - contact with a submarine had been made. After the oil came up, we - got out our trawling device and ran over the area for about an hour - and finally got an indication. - - We threw over a buoy to indicate the spot and anchored for the - night, as it was getting dark. Next morning we trawled again and - got another contact within a hundred yards of the buoy. We had - destroyed a submarine in our first test, and the "sub" was given - out by the Admiralty as a "probable." [That is, probably sunk.] - -Many detection devices had been tried out and proved failures, but -the American apparatus was so successful that the British ordered -them for their own vessels. Thousands were manufactured, and our -sub-chasers sent abroad were equipped with them. In December, 1917, it -was estimated that at times two to five U-boats had passed through the -English Channel in a day. After July 1, 1918, when patrol ships were -equipped with the improved listening devices, only one enemy submarine -is known to have passed through the Channel. Blocking the entrances to -Zeebrugge and Ostend, the Dover patrol and the better mine defenses are -to be credited with the larger part of this. But considerable credit -is due to these "listeners," whose ability to locate under-water craft -greatly increased the hazards of U-boats, especially in narrow waters. - -The listeners also proved decidedly effective in high waters, off the -French coast, in the Adriatic, the Mediterranean, and wherever they -were used. They compelled the U-boats to change their tactics, and -remain motionless for hours, fearing that the slightest movement of -their propellers would disclose their presence. - -Our submarine force began listening tests off Pensacola, Fla., in -January, 1917, using privately-invented apparatus which gave such -promise that an experimental station was established at Nahant, Mass., -the General Electric, Submarine Signal, and Western Electric companies -coöperating with the Navy Department and Naval Consulting Board. - -The Consulting Board had created a special Experimental Committee -headed by Mr. Lawrence Addicks, and on March 3 held a "Submarine -Defense Conference" at New York, which was addressed by Admiral Sims, -then president of the Naval War College; Captain J. K. Robison, of the -Newport Torpedo Station, and Commander Yates Stirling, Jr., in charge -of our submarine base at New London, Conn. - -Scientists and naval officers engaged in this work held a conference -in my office in the Navy Department on May 9, and two days later I -created a Special Board on Anti-submarine Devices, with Rear Admiral A. -W. Grant as chairman, and representatives of the electrical and signal -companies, and the National Research Council as advisory members. -Extensive experiments were carried on at our submarine station at New -London, as well as at Nahant. - -Magnetic, electrical and other apparatus having proved impracticable, -attention was concentrated on listening devices. The British had -been experimenting with various inventions of this nature, but none -had proved very effective. The first successful listening device -produced in America was the "C" tube, an application of the binaural -principle--that is, hearing through both ears--which was developed by -Dr. William D. Coolidge. Next was the "K" tube, developed at Nahant, -an adaptation of the rotary compensator devised by Prof. Max Mason at -New London, with microphones, enabling the device to be towed several -hundred feet astern of the listening vessel. Subsequently the combined -work at Nahant and New London resulted in production of the "Y" tube, -"Delta," "O S," and "O K" tubes, all modified forms of the "K" tube, -for installation on vessels of different types. - -Submarine chasers were equipped with these tubes, the first of which -was developed by August, 1917, and a thorough test was made with -American submarines, which were easily located. But much depended on -the acuteness of the operator, and a school to train "listeners" was -established at New London. Phonograph records of the sound made by -various craft were prepared, and used in the school for listeners, who -soon became experts in determining direction, distance, type of vessel -and speed at which it was moving. - -"Find the submarine," was the problem when we entered the war, and this -was the purpose of the listening devices. Once located, the "sub" could -be destroyed or damaged by the depth-bomb. Before its advent there was -no way of reaching the U-boat, once it submerged. The story is told -that a British vessel chased down a "sub," which dived and remained -stationary right under its pursuer. Down below them in the clear water, -the Britishers could see the enemy plainly. "If we only had some sort -of bomb that we could shoot down into the water, we could blow that -Fritzie to Kingdom-come," an officer remarked. The general idea of -the depth-bomb had long been known, and was then given its practical -application. - -The first ones, designed by an officer in the Admiralty, were crude -affairs, metal cylinders like ash-cans. They were, at first, not very -reliable, but by development they became the most effective weapons -used against under-water craft. - -The United States Navy developed depth-bomb tactics vastly superior -to any before in use. Instead of half a dozen bombs, our destroyers -carried fifty. The old method of releasing from the stern was -superseded by the "Y" gun, which hurled the huge charges with greater -accuracy and less risk to the vessel firing. Instead of dropping one -or two, the depth-charge barrage was devised, bombs being fired in -"patterns" all around the vicinity of the submerged boat, as well as -over the spot where it was believed to be. That was one reason the -destroyers proved such a terror to the "subs," which, as a rule, on -sighting one of these swift warships ducked or ran away. - -[Illustration: THE NAVAL CONSULTING BOARD AND THE NAVY DEPARTMENT CHIEFS - -Front row, left to right: Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt, -Hiram Maxim, Thomas A. Edison, Secretary Daniels, Peter Cooper Hewitt, -William LeRoy Emmett, Arthur Becket Lamb.] - -Gunfire, tellingly effective against submarines as long as they were -on the surface, was ineffective the moment they submerged, as the -ordinary sharp-nose shells were deflected and ricocheted as they struck -the water. Our ordnance experts had already devised a non-ricochet -shell, a "flat nose" projectile which could be fired with considerable -accuracy at a target under water. The first contract for this type of -projectile was placed June 19, 1917, and deliveries began the next -month. Rapidity in firing was increased by a twin-gun produced for -destroyers, two barrels on a single mount, both aimed at one time and -firing alternately. - -[Illustration: SECRETARY DANIELS AND THOMAS A. EDISON - -Inset, Secretary Daniels and Mr. Edison with Mr. William L. Saunders -and Professor Max Mason, inventor of a submarine detection device, at a -test experiment at New London.] - -Thus we had bombs and projectiles and quick-firing guns which would -"get" the undersea enemy, once it was located. - -The paravane, an English invention, proved of great value in protecting -ships from mines. Its "wings," spread out in the water, picked up -mines; and its wires bore them away from the ships, where they could be -exploded without danger to the vessel. - -Mines played a big part in naval warfare. The Germans sowed the seas -with them, and if the Allied mine-sweepers had not been so energetic -and skillful, they might have been as destructive to shipping as the -U-boats were. Our Bureau of Ordnance led in mine development, and the -new mine, called "Mark VI," which it produced in 1917, was decidedly -superior to any of its predecessors, and was the type used by us in the -North Sea Barrage. - -Better guns for aeroplanes was a vital need. Machine-guns were made -more effective; but for anti-submarine warfare there was needed -something of larger caliber, with sufficient power to penetrate the -hull plating of the U-boat. An aeroplane "cannon," the Davis non-recoil -gun, was produced. - -A 37-millimeter automatic cannon was being developed, as well as a -three-inch gun for the larger type of dirigibles. Aerial bombs were -improved and enlarged until they reached a weight of 550 pounds, -with 190 pounds of explosive, the largest type being 15 inches in -diameter and over 62 inches in height. Various experiments were made in -launching torpedoes from planes, and torpedo planes were designed to -accompany the fleet. - -Night firing, naval experts realized, could be made much more effective -by some method of illuminating the area around enemy ships without -disclosing the position of our own. This was solved by "star" shells. -Fired at long distances and exploding high in the air, these shells -light up a considerable area, bringing out in bold relief the vessels -beneath. - -Range-finding and fire-control devices were improved, increasing -the efficiency of large and medium caliber guns. "Smoke boxes" were -manufactured by the thousand and placed aboard merchant as well as -naval vessels, so that in case of attack they could make smoke screens. - -So many new devices were developed that it would take volumes to -tell of them all. Though thousands of the suggestions made were -impracticable, not a few were of decided value, and the result as a -whole was fresh proof of the never-failing inventiveness and genius of -Americans. - -When the Navy Department, in 1915, was planning its large program of -construction, and seeking for new weapons and new strategy to combat -the submarine, I was convinced that it would be of great assistance if -civilian scientists and inventors could be induced to give the Navy the -benefit of their experience and ability. This resulted in the creation -of the Naval Consulting Board. On July 7, I wrote Mr. Edison inviting -him to become the head of the Board, saying: - - One of the imperative needs of the Navy, in my judgment, is - machinery and facilities for utilizing the natural inventive genius - of Americans to meet the new conditions of warfare as shown abroad, - and it is my intention, if a practical way can be worked out, as I - think it can be, to establish, at the earliest moment, a department - of invention and development to which all ideas and suggestions, - either from the service or from civilian inventors, can be referred - for determination as to whether they contain practical suggestions - for us to take up and perfect. - - We are confronted with a new and terrible engine of warfare in the - submarine, to consider only one of the big things which I have in - mind; and I feel sure that with the practical knowledge of the - officers of the Navy, with a department composed of the keenest and - most inventive minds that we can gather together, and with your own - wonderful brain to aid us, the United States will be able, as in - the past, to meet this new danger with new devices that will assure - peace to our country by their effectiveness. - -Upon Mr. Edison's acceptance--he was the first American chosen by -selective draft--each of twelve leading scientific societies was asked -to name two representatives to compose the membership of the Board. -Most of them were eminent in scientific research or the development of -useful apparatus. This was the first civilian organization of a war -character which was created. Because of the personnel of its members, -it aroused wide interest. - -The Board was composed of Thomas A. Edison, president; William L. -Saunders, chairman; Benjamin B. Thayer, vice-chairman; Thomas Robins, -secretary; Lawrence Addicks, Bion J. Arnold, Dr. L. H. Baekeland, -D. W. Brunton, Howard E. Coffin, Alfred Craven, W. L. R. Emmett, -Peter Cooper Hewitt, A. M. Hunt, M. R. Hutchison, B. G. Lamme, Hudson -Maxim, Spencer Miller, J. W. Richards, A. L. Riker, M. B. Sellers, -Elmer A. Sperry, Frank J. Sprague, A. G. Webster, W. R. Whitney, and -R. S. Woodward. Admiral William Strother Smith was named as special -representative of the Navy Department. All bureau chiefs and other -naval experts worked in coöperation with the Board. - -With its technical talent, the Board began at once a survey of the -industries of the country, having effected an organization in every -state, with five technical men in each as advisory members. These -field aids, giving their services free, went into industrial plants -throughout the country, listing all machinery and machine tools -suitable for war service, and the men competent to serve in shops. That -gridiron organization functioned perfectly. This information of the -manufacturing resources of the country for public service in case of -emergency was the first that had been collected. The Navy had taken a -census of the ships and the Army knew of munition plants, but it was -this survey of industrial material and services which later formed the -basis for the big production work of the two military departments and -the War Industries Board. This was real preparedness--and it was begun -in 1915. Before England went into the war, it had prepared no record -of skilled labor suitable for war work. The result was that many men -hastened to the front whose services were far more valuable in munition -plants. The inventory taken by the Naval Consulting Board, completed -in five months, enabled our country to avoid that mistake. It made it -comparatively easy, when war came, to retain skilled men where they -counted most, and enabled factories to swing from their regular line of -production to Army and Navy work. - -The card indexes, prepared with thoroughness, showed the concerns -that were working on military orders for foreign governments. It was -ascertained that 35,000 concerns in the United States could manufacture -war material, and the names, location and facilities of these plants -were docketed. The Board pointed out, what afterwards became generally -recognized, that the manufacture of munitions was a parts-making -business. Parts made in Toledo, Ohio, must fit those made in Portland, -Oregon, or Augusta, Georgia, and all these parts must fit each other -to the hundredth part of an inch. Over 500 concerns manufactured -parts of the Mark VI mine. When the Council of National Defense was -established, it took over the data and organization, and requested the -Naval Consulting Board to act as the official Board of Inventions for -the country. - -After the experiments at Nahant, which followed the March meeting, in -1917, in company with Mr. Edison, Mr. William L. Saunders and others -of the Consulting Board, I visited New London. We took a sea trip on a -submarine-chaser equipped with listening devices. It was a matter of -gratification to both civilians and naval men to witness personally -the success of submarine detection, and to feel that their faith and -experiments had been rewarded. - -Ship protection was the subject of constant study, and various -methods--camouflage, armament, smoke-boxes, submarine and torpedo -detection, plans to prevent and withstand attack and increase -buoyancy--were studied by the Consulting Board. It was through that -board that the naval research and experimental laboratory, now under -way on the Potomac, below Washington, was established and the money -provided through Congressional appropriation. - -Mr. Edison spent most of his time during the war--practically all of -it--either on board the _Sachem_, which had been fitted up for his -special use, or in his office in the Navy Department at Washington. -I was in intimate touch with him. It was a revelation to go into his -chart-room and talk to him about his study of the lanes of the sea; to -see his maps studded with pins pointing out where sinkings were most -frequent, and to obtain his advice as to the routing of ships to lessen -the probability of attack. An authority on many other subjects, he -learned much about troop transportation, the routing of merchant ships -and their quick turn-around, and avoiding U-boats by changing routes. - -One of his most successful and yet least known of his experiments -was in the detection of torpedoes. The Wizard of Menlo Park was most -modest in his claims. To a lady, enthusiastic over what she called -his inspiration, Mr. Edison is reported to have said, "Madam, it is -not inspiration, but perspiration." In a letter to a sub-committee -of the Senate, when some one had attributed the success in detecting -submarines to Mr. Edison, he wrote: - - I never worked or pretended to work on the detection of submarines. - All of my work in this general direction was confined to the - detection of torpedoes and to the quick turning of cargo boats - ninety degrees in order to save the boat from being torpedoed. - - I was successful in both. With my listening apparatus, and while - my boat was in full speed, I could hear a torpedo the instant it - was fired nearly two miles away, and with my turning device, a - 5,000-ton cargo boat, fully loaded going at full speed, was turned - at right angles to her original course in an advance of 200 feet. - -Along with the hundred thousand suggestions of how to win the war, -there were not wanting incidents out of the ordinary. One day as I was -discussing department business with a bureau chief the telephone rang, -and a clerk said "long distance" was calling. He did not catch the -name clearly, but thought it was Mr. Ford. I found in a moment that it -was not the famous Detroit automobile maker, for the man at the other -end of the line began talking a blue streak, starting out with the -declaration: "I've invented a thing that will wipe out the submarines; -I've got something that positively will end the war." He seemed quite -excited about it. I asked him what it was. He said he could not tell me -over the phone, or entrust the secret to mails or telegraph. - -"Send it to our Inventions Board," I suggested. - -"Not on your life," he replied. "They might steal it, and I'd never get -the credit for it. It's worth millions, millions!" - -He would never show it to but three people, he said, the President, Mr. -Edison and myself, and all three must give the pledge of secrecy. - -"There's not a moment to be lost, and I want to bring it to Washington -myself," he exclaimed. "But I must be careful. If the Germans knew I -had this, their spies would murder me." - -"All right, bring it on," I remarked, hoping to end the conversation -before he had bankrupted himself with telephone charges. - -"Send me $5,000 by telegraph this afternoon, and I'll start tomorrow," -he demanded. Used as I was to queer propositions, this did rather -startle me. "No, no," I replied emphatically; "I cannot do that." - -"Do you mean to say,"--he seemed to be surprised--"that you won't send -me a measly little $5,000 when the thing I have is worth millions, and -will end the war?" - -"That's correct," I said, rather sharply, I fear. "We will not send -anybody a dollar of Government money until we know what it is for." - -"Well, that's the smallest piece of business I ever heard of," he -snapped. "I thought you were some Secretary, and now I believe all the -mean things some newspapers have said about you." - -One of my office aids figured out that this irate citizen had spent -about $20 in telephone tolls. We never heard from him again, and the -invention that would end the war was lost to the world. - -The sturdy police that guarded the portals of the State, War and Navy -building stopped at the entrance a tall, lean man who was lugging a box -about as big as two suitcases. They ordered him to open it, and found -inside a concern that looked as if it might go off at any moment. He -wanted to see somebody in the Navy Department, and one of my aids went -down to investigate. The fellow did not look like a spy or plotter, and -the Navy man asked him what his contraption was. - -"It's a porcupine boat," he said, "a boat that'll keep off them -torpedoes that the submarines are firin'." - -It was a model of a boat, its wooden sides thickly studded with long -spikes. - -"What's the idea?" he was asked. - -"Well, you see, the torpedoes can't sink a ship unless they hit her," -he explained; "and if you put these long spikes all along the side, -they can't get to her. The spikes will stop 'em; the torpedoes are -stuck before they hit the boat--there you are." - -It was a great idea; certainly no one else had thought of it. But as -the spikes would have to be about forty or fifty feet long to hold off -the torpedoes, and each ship would have to have a thousand or two of -them, we could not very well adopt the invention. - -A Southern inventor brought forth a plan that would have brought joy -to the Sunny South, if it could have been adopted. This was to sheathe -all ships with an armor of thick cotton batting. He evidently got his -inspiration from the battle of New Orleans, where doughty old Andrew -Jackson erected a barricade of cotton bales which the British shells -could not penetrate. So a century later this Jacksonian figured that -a ship swathed in cotton would be immune from shell or torpedoes. The -Germans could fire away, and do no more harm than if they were throwing -rocks at a mattress. But unfortunately the naval experts seemed to have -their doubts about the efficacy of cotton-batting armor, preferring to -stick to steel. - -"Lick the enemy before he lands!" was the slogan of an earnest soul who -was designing a submarine that would carry from 200 to 400 torpedoes. -If necessary, in the midst of a foreign fleet, he told us, they could -"unload the whole 400 in from four to eight minutes, according to the -number of men on duty to let them loose." - -He also had "some very good ideas for warships," one of which was to -turn our old battleships into floating forts with 16-inch disappearing -guns. Attached to each vessel would be a sloping steel shelving running -into the water, a great plough that would turn the other fellow's -shells and scoop up torpedoes as if they were watermelons. "You could -just sit up on deck," he said, "and laugh at a hundred of them sending -torpedoes." - -An airship that would sail from here to Germany, blow up Berlin, and -keep right on around the world, manufacturing its own fuel as it went -along, was another suggestion. - -One citizen had a remarkable mine-catcher which, he said, "misses none; -it sees and feels for you and catches all, if the sea is strewed with -mines." He offered to sell his model for only $250,000. - -We were offered an automatic field-gun that, placed in Washington, -could be operated by electricity from Texas. One man could operate a -thousand of them, the inventor claimed. Placing these guns all along -the German lines in France, the operator, seated at his switch-board in -Paris, could play on the keys like a typewriter, spraying the Teuton -lines with deadly missiles from Ypres to Verdun. - -Another scheme was to put guns on top of all the skyscrapers in New -York to ward off aerial attack; and to build a machine that would -gather all the electricity in the metropolis, and project it by -wireless far to sea, sinking hostile vessels as if they had been struck -by lightning. - -Mobilizing the dogs of America, sending them to France and "sicking" -them on the Germans was a proposition that might not have appealed to -dog-lovers so much as to the ferocious fighting men who wanted to bite -the Germans and "eat 'em up." - -Mechanical soldiers capable of marching, fighting and capturing -man soldiers were proposed. You would only have to fill them with -ammunition, wind them up and let them go. - -The German fleet at Kiel could have been easily destroyed, if the -floating torpedo suggested had been a success. Its originator proposed -to launch them in channels when the tide was going in, let them float -into the German harbors and blow up everything afloat. - -These absurdities gave a touch of humor to the arduous task of -developing new methods and inventions--a task well performed by the -naval experts, civilian scientists and inventors who so patriotically -devoted their time and talents to the winning of the war. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -BUILDING A THOUSAND SHIPS - - SIX HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR DESTROYERS--"WARD" LAUNCHED 17-1/2 - DAYS AFTER KEEL WAS LAID--"REID" COMPLETED IN 45 DAYS--GREAT - DESTROYER PLANT BUILT AT SQUANTUM--PATRIOTS IN OVERALLS--WHY WERE - NOT MORE DESTROYERS BUILT BEFORE THE WAR?--NEW NAVY WILL SURPASS - ALL OTHERS--REDUCTION OF ARMAMENT. - - -"Destroyer _Ward_ launched seventeen and a half days after laying of -keel," was the message from Mare Island Navy Yard that announced a new -world's record in ship construction. - -In pre-war days from twenty months to two years had been required to -build a destroyer. Now they were being completed in a fraction of -that time. All the yards were working at top speed, far excelling any -previous accomplishments, but Mare Island had set a new pace hard to -equal. - -"Liberty Destroyer," the _Ward_ was designated, and the way in which -she was put through was like a continuous Liberty Loan rally. "This -destroyer is needed to sink Hun submarines; let all hands help sink -them," was one of the numerous placards posted around her. Each day's -progress was marked on the big canvas banner stretched above the bow. -In twenty-four hours she began to assume shape. In two weeks they were -putting the finishing touches to the hull, and the banner read: - -[Illustration: - - +---------------------------------+ - | LIBERTY DESTROYER No. 139 | - | | - | Keel Laid May 15th 14 DAYS | - | Will be Launched OLD | - | June 1st TODAY | - | | - | SHE'S SOME BABY | - +---------------------------------+] - -Three and a half days later, she was sent down the ways. As she slid -into the water, officers and workmen cheered as they had never cheered -before. - -This was the quickest time in which a vessel had ever been launched. -But the record for completion--the _Ward_ was commissioned in 70 -days--was later bettered at the great Victory Plant at Squantum, Mass., -where the _Reid_ was finished and made ready for her trials in 45-1/2 -working days. - -Before war began we ordered scores of destroyers, and soon afterwards -contracted for all that American yards could build. But we wanted more. -The question was how to get them. The Navy Department, after conferring -with one of the leading shipbuilders, determined on a bold stroke. -All the contractors, those building engines and machinery as well as -hulls, were summoned to Washington, and met with the Chief Constructor -and Engineer-in-Chief of the Navy in my office. "One hundred and fifty -more destroyers must be built," they were told. That proposition was -a "stunner." They had already contracted to build every one for which -they had facilities. And here was a demand that more than as many again -be constructed. Some shipyards would have to be enlarged, some new ones -built. The same was the case with engine manufacturers, and producers -of forgings; for producing enough engines was quite as difficult as -building hulls. Where companies could not finance additions, we agreed -that the Government would build them, as well as the new factories -or yards. Even at that, it was a staggering proposition. But the -contractors were game and patriotic. They promised every coöperation -and with the Navy experts began working out the thousand details -involved. - -Congress was asked to appropriate $350,000,000 more for destroyers, to -build new plants required, as well as for ship construction. When the -bill was passed, October 6, 1917, the plans were ready, contracts were -signed, and the enlarged program was under way. Ground was broken at -Squantum the next day, October 7. Thousands of laborers were at work, -dredging, draining, making roads, driving piles, erecting buildings, -transforming that marsh into a fit habitation and working-place for -10,000 men. Buildings sprang up like magic. One concrete, steel and -glass structure three stories high and 200 feet long was finished in -two weeks. When winter came on, the laborers had to use picks and -shovels to dig through the frozen clay to lay foundations, and all the -workmen were handicapped by the bitter cold. Concrete poured hot--and -thousands of tons were used--had to be protected by masses of hay and -sheets of canvas, with heated air circulating inside to keep it from -freezing. But the work never halted, and in spite of all handicaps, was -completed in record time. - -There were eighteen acres of shipyards covered by one continuous roof; -the arrangements being so complete that raw material went in at one end -and destroyers slid out at the other. There were hundreds of buildings, -not a few of them covering one to three acres. There were enough ways -for ten destroyers, and a score could have been under construction at -the same time. - -Six months after ground was broken I had the privilege of witnessing -there the laying of the keels of five destroyers in one day. - -The building of Squantum was rivaled by the erection of the big plants -at Erie, Pa., to make forgings for destroyer shafts and turbines; the -plant at Buffalo and by other feats of construction that would be -difficult to excel. All were erected and in operation in half the time -they could have been completed under ordinary conditions. - -Our construction program embraced practically a thousand vessels--275 -destroyers, 447 submarine-chasers, 99 submarines, 100 eagle boats, 54 -mine-sweepers, and a number of gunboats and ships of other types. All -these in addition to the capital ships and scout cruisers authorized -in the three-year program. Though some contracts were cancelled -after the armistice, all but 100 or so of these vessels were built, -nearly 500 completed before the end of hostilities. In addition 1,597 -privately-owned vessels, ranging from small patrol craft to huge -transports, were converted by the Navy for war purposes. - -Over 2,000 vessels were in naval service before hostilities ended--six -times as many as were on the Navy list when war was declared. How was -it possible, in a country where shipbuilding had declined until it was -"a craft and not a trade," to build and alter and repair all these -ships, and also to provide munitions and build great establishments -ashore on both sides of the sea? - -It was made possible by the foresight of Admirals Griffin and Taylor -and their associates, who before the war had made designs for building -various types of ships and for converting the ex-German vessels and -privately-owned craft suitable for war service. I wish the whole -country could know the true value of the work of these able officers -and their naval and civilian assistants. But for their forehandedness -and ability, our Navy would not have been able to have rendered such -prompt and valuable service. Great credit is due, alike, to the -shipbuilders who carried their plans into effect, devoting their -talents and untiring efforts to further warship construction. - -It was also because the 100,000 mechanics and workers in navy yards and -naval plants, and the many more in private plants, who, with patriotic -naval and civilian experts, worked as never before. Many of these -"patriots in overalls" sacrificed their desire to enlist when told -that they could do more to win the war by driving rivets, fashioning -guns or making munitions. Labor was whole-heartedly in the war, and -would not tolerate slackers in production or in service. In the heat of -summer and the cold of winter, they rushed construction and astonished -the world by the celerity with which American skill and industry -turned out ships, weapons and supplies. On every war board labor had -its representative--in the Cabinet as well--and its patriotism and -unity made for a united and efficient America. The Navy and other war -agencies found the militant spirit and wise counsel of Samuel Gompers -worth a regiment of fighting men. - -The Navy did not wait for war to begin building ships. When the program -for 156 vessels was proposed in 1915, without awaiting congressional -action, work was begun on plans so that on the very day that the -bill became a law the plans and specifications were issued for 20 -destroyers, 27 submarines, 4 dreadnaughts and 4 scout-cruisers. -Contracts were placed for their construction as soon as the bids were -received. "Such speed," said Admiral Taylor, "was without precedent in -the history of the Navy Department. It was the result of the persistent -insistence by the Secretary of the Navy that work should be pushed and -his loyal support in this respect by bureaus concerned. There was no -procrastination or dilatoriness in the largest undertaking ever entered -into by the United States Navy, and the most important from the point -of view of preparation for any eventuality. While the large vessels -of the program had to be suspended during the war, the destroyers were -pressed." - -Completion of the destroyer program gives the United States Navy 267 -destroyers of the latest pattern, in addition to those of older type, -which, in the emergency of war, rendered such good service. These -destroyers have an aggregate of 7,400,000 horse-power, and they cost -approximately $600,000,000, counting $40,000,000 spent for new plants -and building ways. This sum is greater than the cost of all the ships -of the Navy available for service when we entered the war. The record -of our destroyers overseas won the admiration of Allied navies, and -reflected credit upon Congress, the naval administration and the -country. - -But, in view of the need of thousands to patrol the seas in 1917-18, -where we only had scores, it has been asked, "Why did not the Navy -Department build hundreds of destroyers in 1915 and 1916 and have them -ready in 1917?" Looking backward, all of us admit that was the thing -that should have been done. No naval experts, however, either in Europe -or America, recommended in pre-war days such a building program. - -All European admiralties, as well as our own, regretted that they -had not built more destroyers against the day when they were so much -needed. In reply to an inquiry made by a United States senator, Admiral -Sims said: - - If we could have imagined that the Germans would do what they did - do we could have prepared for it and built destroyers galore, if - we could have persuaded Congress to give us the money. Nobody had - any experience with this kind of war at all, and nobody could be - savage enough in his disposition to know what the Germans would do, - and therefore to prepare for it; so that I would advise you to be a - little gentle in criticisms of naval officers in general, because - they were not prepared for this war, because we are a more or less - civilized people. - -After ruthless submarine warfare began, we contracted, as we have -shown, for 275 destroyers, many more than any nation had ever attempted -to build in anything like so short a time. - -But destroyers were by no means the only anti-submarine craft we -built. Realizing the usefulness of small craft, the Navy Department, -in 1916, turned its attention to the utilization of motor yachts and -other small power-driven vessels. Assistant Secretary Roosevelt -conferred with owners and builders, and an inventory of such craft was -taken. He started a campaign to interest owners of yachts and motor -boats and induce them to design their boats so that they could readily -be converted to war uses. Naval architects and their clients were -encouraged to submit their designs to the Navy Department. To give -further impetus to the movement, two small boats were constructed as -models. - -Early in 1917, before war was declared, the Department's construction -experts, under the leadership of Captain J. A. Furer, naval -constructor, in coöperation with Mr. A. Loring Swazey, who later -enrolled as lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve, submitted to -the General Board, in February, a design for those wonderful boats -which became known as submarine-chasers. They were to be 110 feet long, -with a speed of 14 knots and a cruising radius of 800 miles, armed -with 3-inch guns, Y-guns for firing depth-charges, machine-guns and -depth-bombs. The shortage of structural steel and of labor required for -steel construction, necessitated building them of wood. - -On March 19, 1917, orders were issued for building sixty chasers at -the New York navy yard and four at the New Orleans yard. On March 21st -orders were placed with private firms for 41 boats. Ten days later -contracts were placed with private builders for 179 additional boats, -and orders given for 71 more to be constructed at the navy yards at -Norfolk, Charleston, Mare Island and Puget Sound, a total of 355, all -ordered before war was declared. Fifty of these were, after completion, -turned over to the French government. The French were so pleased with -them that they ordered fifty more. A total of 447 chasers were ordered, -and 441 were completed. Their service far surpassed expectations of -designers and builders. Originally constructed for use in rivers -and harbors and near home coasts, they crossed the ocean and became -a reliance not only for patrol work but for offensive against the -U-boats--chasing submarines. - -In the three-year program, there was provision for 58 coast submarines, -of which appropriations were made for thirty. On March 4, 1917, 20 -additional submarines were provided for, and their construction was -begun. The Portsmouth (N. H.) navy yard had been made a submarine -construction yard and the orders were divided between that yard and -private contractors. Forty were completed before the armistice. We -sent several submarines to the Azores and a number to British waters, -where they operated from Bantry Bay. They gave an excellent account of -themselves, one, the AL-2 being credited with causing the destruction -of the German UB-65. - -Having ordered all the destroyers and sub-chasers that could be built, -other sources were sought to produce more anti-submarine craft. On -December 24, 1917, I received a letter from Mr. Henry Ford proposing -quantity production of fabricated boats, suggesting that at least 500 -could be built, and saying: "We will undertake the construction of -these boats with all possible speed, and deliver them to the United -States Government without profit to us." I telegraphed him, suggesting -that he send his engineers and construction men to confer with our -designers. Captain Robert Stocker and his associates in the Design -Division completed the plans and specifications in a few days, and -they were submitted to Mr. Ford. On January 15 he made a definite -proposal to build 100 to 500 of these vessels. I consulted with the -General Board, and two days later telegraphed him to proceed with -construction of 100. Later twelve additional were ordered for the -Italian Government. They were to be of 500 tons displacement, 200 feet -long, speed 18 knots, with a cruising radius of 3,500 miles. They were -to be armed with two 4-inch 50 caliber guns, discharge projectors, -anti-aircraft and machine guns. - -These "eagle boats," as they were named, were built specifically to -hunt submarines. For their construction Mr. Ford erected a special -plant on the River Rouge near Detroit. Though only a few were in -service before the armistice, sixty in all were built. The completion -of 23 in one month in 1919 indicated that Mr. Ford was not far wrong -in his original estimate that it was possible, when his plant got into -quantity production, to turn out 25 per month. - -"Eagles" went from New York to Inverness, Scotland, over a 4,500-mile -course, and after they had steamed 11,500 miles officers confirmed -their seaworthiness and their fitness for the task for which they -were built. Several sailed to Arctic waters, through fields of -ice. They were used to maintain dispatch service between ports in -Northern Russia, in which duty Admiral McCully reported they were very -successful. - -Orders for many mine-sweepers were placed early in 1917, their design -permitting their construction by certain companies without interfering -with the building of naval or merchant craft. Some were built at the -Puget Sound and Philadelphia navy yards. The new mine-sweepers proved -exceptionally seaworthy. Thirty-six were employed in sweeping the mines -in the North Sea. In addition to the vessels designed and built for -this purpose, we employed a fleet of privately-owned ships of all sorts -and sizes, which were fitted out and used first as patrol and then as -mine-sweepers. - -While war was on, construction had to concentrate on destroyers and -other anti-submarine craft. However, we completed two battleships, the -_Mississippi_ and _New Mexico_, and practically finished the _Idaho_; -but work was suspended on capital ships that were not already far -advanced. - -Hostilities ended, attention was turned to the completion of the -program authorized in 1916. Should we proceed with the dreadnaughts and -battle-cruisers on the pre-war plans; or modify the plans, but still -build two distinct types; or abandon the plans altogether and build -a single type to do the work of both battleship and battle-cruiser? -These were questions that addressed themselves to naval administration. -Officers were debating them. From London came the information that the -British Admiralty had built a capital ship, the _Hood_, a composite -of the dreadnaught and the cruiser, which was said to combine the -advantages of both. - -After consultation with leading members of the Naval Affairs Committee, -and upon their advice, accompanied by Admirals Griffin, Taylor -and Earle, heads of the Bureaus of Engineering, Construction and -Ordnance, I went to Europe to learn, at first hand, what changes, -if any, war experience taught should be incorporated into the new -ships to be constructed. An examination of the _Hood_ by our expert -officers disclosed that this new ship had more speed than earlier -battle-cruisers, though less than that of our design; a heavier -battery, though of only about half the power of that of our projected -battleships; and had protection much greater than that of earlier -battle-cruisers. - -[Illustration: FITTING OUT FOR DISTANT SERVICE - -New destroyers built and equipped at a privately owned ship yard in -Camden, New Jersey.] - -[Illustration: HANGING UP A RECORD - -The launching of the destroyer _Ward_ at the Mare Island Navy Yard -17-1/2 days after her keel was laid established a new record.] - -Upon our return from Europe all the information gathered was laid -before the General Board. Admirals Mayo and Rodman, who had recently -returned from Europe, where they had been interested in the question, -were invited to act with them. The General Board made a unanimous -recommendation that the twelve battleships should be "completed -as expeditiously as possible on present lines of development in -battleship construction." In view of the importance of protection -as indicated by experience at the Battle of Jutland, where thinly -protected battle-cruisers were unable to stand up under heavy fire, -the Board recommended that "the six battle-cruisers now authorized be -completed as expeditiously as possible, but with additional protection, -particularly to turrets, conning towers, magazines and communications, -at the expense of a small reduction in speed." The recommendations were -approved, and directions given to press their construction. - -The new battleships under construction will be 660 feet long, with -displacement of 43,200 tons, with an extreme breadth of 105 feet and a -mean draft of 33 feet. Engines developing 60,000 horse-power will drive -them at a speed of 23 knots. Their twelve 16-inch guns will be mounted -in four turrets, which revolve so that all can be fired simultaneously -to either side of the vessel. In a single salvo these guns will throw -25,000 pounds of projectiles. In every way they outclass any ships of -the line ever built. - -The six battle-cruisers will be larger than any warships heretofore -constructed. Each will have 43,500 tons displacement, practically the -same as the battleships, but will be longer by over 200 feet, their -length being 874 feet, and they will be ten knots faster, making -33-1/4 knots, 38 miles an hour. No less than 180,000 horse-power is -required to drive these immense vessels through the water. Their -engines will develop as much electric power as is required to supply a -good-sized city. The six battle-cruisers will have a total of 1,080,000 -horse-power. Each will be armed with eight 16-inch guns, firing 16,800 -pounds of projectiles. The weight of metal is not, however, nearly as -important in gunfire as is the range. The guns of our battle-cruisers -will easily outrange those of any ships now afloat. Both battleships -and battle-cruisers will be propelled by electric drive, the new method -which, first installed on the _New Mexico_, proved its superiority, and -was adopted for all our later major vessels. - -With the completion of these eighteen capital ships, together with the -scout cruisers and other types under construction, the Navy of the -United States will be at least "equal to the most powerful maintained -by any other nation of the world." That was the goal in view when the -big three-year program proposed in 1915 was adopted by Congress in the -act of August 29, 1916, to which, when this program is completed, the -Navy will owe its supremacy. - -It is a matter of gratification that the United States, which -brought forth the steamship, the ironclad monitor, the torpedo boat, -the aeroplane, the flying boat, has again taken the lead in naval -construction and will soon have the most powerful of all armadas. - -This country should keep that position for all time until--and -unless--with a powerful navy and great national wealth, the United -States succeeds in securing an international agreement to reduce -armament. The very act making possible our supremacy on the seas, -declared it to be the "policy of the United States to adjust and -settle its international disputes through mediation and arbitration"; -authorized the President to invite a conference of all the great -governments to formulate a plan of arbitration and "consider the -question of disarmament"; and declared that the ships authorized but -not already under contract were not to be built if international -reduction of armament could be secured. - -That statement of policy in the naval appropriation act of 1916--"a -most unusual place," said the President in an address at Seattle--was -in line with the policy of the Government from the day of Wilson's -inauguration. It was the authorization for the international -agreement looking to a reduction of armament contained in the Treaty -of Versailles. The Bryan treaties, ratified by every European -country except Germany, which insured cooling time and opportunity -for discussion in a world forum, were a long step toward settling -international differences by reason rather than by resort to war. It -was about the time those treaties were proposed that Winston Churchill, -First Lord of the British Admiralty, suggested a "naval holiday." In -my first report in 1913, reiterated in every subsequent report, I -declared: "It is not a vacation we need, but a permanent policy to -guard against extravagant and needless expansion." I recommended then -that "the war and navy officials, and other representatives of all -nations, be invited to hold a conference to discuss whether they cannot -agree upon a plan for lessening the cost of preparation for war" and -added this observation: - - It is recognized that the desired end of competitive building, - carried on under whip and spur, could not be effective without - agreement between great nations. It ought not to be difficult to - secure an agreement by which navies will be adequate without being - overgrown and without imposing over-heavy taxes upon the industries - of a nation. - -Long before the match was struck by the assassination of the Archduke -Ferdinand, President Wilson, Ambassador Page and Colonel House were -taking steps which, if Germany had been willing and Great Britain and -France had sensed the coming conflict, might have averted the World -War. To that end in the early part of 1914, President Wilson sent -Colonel House abroad with letters to the Kaiser and the heads of the -British and French governments, with whom earnest conferences were -held. President Wilson and his associates in 1913-14, as this shows, -had the vision of world agreement for peace to secure which he and the -representatives of other free nations signed the treaty in Paris in -1919. - -"The last thing Germany wants is war," said the Kaiser to Colonel -House, just three months before he precipitated the conflict. The -Kaiser was obsessed at that time, so Colonel House reported, with the -thought of what he called "the Yellow Peril." The Kaiser said: "The -white nations should join hands to oppose Japan and the other yellow -nations, or some day they will destroy us." That fear, or simulated -fear, and his statement that Germany could not hastily join a peace -pact so long as 175,000,000 Slavs threatened his empire, furnished the -excuse for brushing aside the suggested agreement to prevent war. - -Did he fear that President Wilson's tentative move early in 1914 toward -a League of Nations for world peace would be successful? Was the Kaiser -convinced that he must strike in that year, or surrender his mad -ambition for world domination? - -As these lines are written a conference of five nations, called by -President Harding, is in session at Washington, where the discussion -of reduction of naval armament was given first place in a proposal to -scrap all pre-dreadnaughts and also the incompleted great dreadnaughts, -and not to build or complete the battle-cruisers under construction. -The plan presented by the American representatives is to adopt the -ratio of capital ships for the United States, Great Britain, and Japan -at five for the United States, five for Great Britain, and three for -Japan. Such a program, if followed by scrapping all submarines and -placing them in the category of outlaws, would, with reduction of land -armament and regulation of aircraft, carry out the hopes of those -responsible for the naval program authorized in 1916. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -MAKING SAILORS OUT OF LANDSMEN - - HALF A MILLION RECRUITED AND TRAINED IN EIGHTEEN MONTHS--"ONE OF - THE MOST STRIKING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE WAR," SIR ERIC GEDDES - DECLARED--NAVY'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM PAVED THE WAY--EVERY OFFICER A - TEACHER--NAVAL ACADEMY GREATLY ENLARGED--NO SHIP KEPT WAITING FOR - OFFICERS OR MEN. - - -Half a million men and thirty thousand officers were enlisted and -trained by the United States Navy in eighteen months. No navy in the -world ever had as large a personnel, or ever attempted to raise and -train as large a sea-force in so brief a time. Sir Eric Geddes, First -Lord of the British Admiralty, said: - - The dauntless determination which the United States has displayed - in creating a large, trained body of seamen out of landsmen is one - of the most striking accomplishments of the war. Had it not been so - effectively done, one would have thought it impossible. - -When the Archbishop of York, Honorary Chaplain-in-Chief of the -British Navy, visited Great Lakes, Ill., he was amazed quite as much -by the spirit of the personnel as he was by the vast extent of the -establishment, the largest naval training station in the world. The -Archbishop reviewed the cadets in the administration drill hall, a -structure large enough for three entire regiments to maneuver. Thirty -thousand blue-jackets were assembled in the hall, with three full -regiments, nine thousand men, and a band of three hundred pieces in -light marching order. After the preliminary ceremony "to the colors," -they passed in review before the Archbishop, playing and singing "Over -There." The thousands massed in the center of the hall, sang "Columbia, -the Gem of the Ocean." Profoundly moved, the Archbishop turned and said -to Captain W. A. Moffett, the commandant, "Captain, now I know that we -are going to win the war." - -When, a few days later, he visited Washington, the Archbishop told me -that the outstanding thing he had seen in America was the Great Lakes -Training Station. "If I had not seen it," he said, "I could not have -believed it possible that such a training camp for seamen could be -conducted a thousand miles from the ocean." - -Like expressions came from members of the various missions and naval -officers who came to the United States. That station, situated in -the heart of the country, far from the ocean, trained and sent into -the navy during the war over one hundred thousand men. It was the -vitalizing spirit of the Navy in the Middle West; a center of the -patriotic inspiration which swept like a prairie fire and brought -young men into the Navy more rapidly than we could house them. Two -thousand five hundred enlisted men were under training there when war -was declared and in that month 9,027 recruits were received. But Great -Lakes never was swamped. No matter what strain was put upon it, the -authorities were equal to any emergency. - -Between April 6, 1917, and March 11, 1919, 125,000 men were received; -96,779 trained and sent to sea duty, and 17,356 graduated at its -special schools. The camp grew to 1,200 acres, with 775 buildings. -Nine great drill halls were built in which thousands could maneuver in -regimental formation. But bigger than the number of men enrolled or -the buildings erected or the great schools conducted was the spirit -of the place. From the inspiring leadership of Captain Moffett, who -was a genius at organization, to the youngest boy fitted out in naval -uniform, pride in the station and the naval service was so contagious -that it reached back into the homes from which the youths had come and -stirred the whole Middle West with enthusiasm for the Navy. - -In the early days of the war, Captain Moffett, who had come to -Washington to discuss plans for enlarging the station, said to me: "Mr. -Secretary, I have here a requisition for $40,000 for instruments for -the Great Lakes band." - -It had not been very long since $40,000 was the entire appropriation -for the station. The captain's request seemed to me like extravagance. - -"Do you expect to win the war, as the Israelites did?" I asked, "by -surrounding Berlin and expecting the walls to fall as every man in your -band blows his trumpet?" - -I demurred at first, but he pleaded for it with such eloquence that I -signed the requisition. This enabled John Philip Sousa, enrolled as a -lieutenant in the Reserve Force, to train fifteen hundred musicians, -the largest band in the world. Bands were not only sent to ships and -stations overseas, but toured the country, giving the greatest impetus -to the Liberty Loan campaigns. These bands were an inspiration to the -entire service. I found later that a British commission had reported -that only three things were more important than music. These were food, -clothing and shelter. - -The three other great permanent training stations, Hampton Roads, Va., -Newport, R. I., and San Francisco, were animated by the same spirit as -Great Lakes. Their officers and men vied with each other in efficient -training of recruits. The same was true of the temporary stations along -the coast which came into being to give quarters and instruction to -youths who enlisted so rapidly that provision had to be made for them -at every available point. - -Approximately 500,000 men and 33,000 officers were in the Navy when -hostilities ended, and nearly nine-tenths of them had been trained -after war was declared. Naval administration did not wait until -hostilities began to increase its force. Recruiting was pressed in -the closing months of 1916, immediately after Congress authorized a -substantial increase, and 8,000 men were enlisted. In January 1917, -enlistments went up to 3,512, and there was a larger increase the -next month. In March, when the President signed the order raising the -Navy to emergency strength--87,000 regulars, plus 10,000 apprentice -seamen, and hospital attendants and others, a total of 97,000--we began -a vigorous campaign that covered the entire country. When war was -declared there were in the Navy 64,680 enlisted men and 4,376 officers, -commissioned and warrant. Some 12,000 reserves had been enrolled, the -10,000 Naval Militia were mustered into service and 590 officers and -3,478 men of the Coast Guard were placed under the Navy. This gave us a -total force of approximately 95,000. - -Within little more than a month after war was declared there were -100,000 regulars, and by June 1st the total force had grown to 170,000. -By January 1, 1918, there were 300,000 officers and men on the rolls, -including reserves and the Coast Guard. By August we had passed the -half-million mark, and when the armistice was signed there was a naval -personnel of approximately 533,000. The actual figures of the Bureau -of Navigation for November 11, 1918, were 531,198, and for December -1, 532,931. But practically all those shown in the latter report had -been enlisted before hostilities had ended. Figures of various branches -varied slightly before and after the armistice, but there were in the -naval service at its maximum: - - Officers Men - Regulars 10,590 218,251 - Reserves 21,618 278,659 - Coast Guard 688 6,101 - ------ ------- - Total 32,896 503,011 - -It is interesting to compare the above enlistment for the World War -with those who served in the Navy in previous wars: - - War of 1812 20,000 - Mexican War 7,500 - Civil War 121,000 - Spanish-American 23,000 - -The Navy was called upon to perform many new tasks--to man troop-ships -and cargo transports, to furnish guards for merchant ships, to maintain -forces ashore, in Europe as well as this country, and to render -other services that no navy had previously contemplated. All this -required personnel in large numbers. But no matter what the service or -requirement, when the call came the Navy was ready with officers and -men, regulars or reserves. - -During the entire war "we never had a delay of a vessel on account -of not having the officers and men," said the Chief of the Bureau of -Navigation. "The personnel were actually ready at seaports to put on -vessels before the vessels were ready." - -Few of the recruits had any previous sea experience. Most of them were -from the interior, many had never seen the ocean. But the enthusiasm -and energy of teachers and pupils would have surprised Dana, who in -his "Two Years Before the Mast," said: "There is not so helpless and -pitiable an object in the world as a landsman beginning a sailor's -life." They knew they were woefully ignorant of the sea, but they had -a stimulus Dana's landsmen lacked--the eager desire to fit themselves -to fight. That sharpened their capacity so that in a few weeks they -learned more than, without such incentive, they could have mastered in -a twelve-month. - -At training stations naval terms were used for everything. The barracks -building was the "ship"; the floor was the "deck"; offenders were tried -at the "mast"; requests for leave were to "go ashore," and returning -the men "reported aboard." Meals were "chow" and there was slang for -every article of food--stews being known as "slumgullion," salt as -"sand," coffee as "Java," and bread was called "punk." Recruits soon -picked up the lingo of the sea, and found their "sea legs." - -Every feature of life at sea was simulated as closely as possible in -the stations, and when sent into service, the men felt at home aboard -ships. It was no new experience for them to sleep in hammocks. They had -slept in them while under training. "Hit the deck, boys," was always -the morning order in station as it is on shipboard. Before they had so -much as seen a man-of-war or transport, their motto was, "for the good -of the ship." - -"Do your bit," never found favor in the Navy; we had a better term. As -the commanding officer of one station passed a squad at drill, he heard -ringing out the words: "Don't just do your bit. The men on this station -do their best." - -Serious as was the work, recruits, with the spirit of eternal youth, -enlivened it by fun, humor and pranks. This was always in evidence. -No hardship could dispel it. A story is told of a young Texan, just -enlisted and being inspected at Great Lakes. All the recruits were -ordered to fall in line and strip for inspection. Sans shoes, sans -shirts, sans pants, in fact sans everything in the way of clothing, -the boy marched past the doctor. The Texan, with utter lack of the -awe which a gold-striped surgeon is supposed to inspire, had secured -a paper stencil, used to mark clothing, and using black paint had -lettered his bare stomach with the words, "Good morning, doctor." - -The grave surgeon saw the joke was on him, and led the hearty laughter -at this original greeting. Another recruit from a Western state, -hearing of the various detentions and occasional surgical operations -supposed to precede acceptance, hung over the place where he supposed -his appendix was located this placard: "I have had my appendix -removed." He probably thinks to this day that this saved him from an -operation. - -"I never knew what patriotism meant before I learned it by service in -the Navy." - -That remark was addressed to me by an upstanding, clear-headed youth in -naval uniform as the mine-sweepers were welcomed back to New York after -they had finished the worst job assigned to the navy, that of sweeping -up the mines in the drab days after the armistice. - -He was bronzed by the wind and the sun of the North Sea. His muscles -seemed made of steel. Exposure had given a vigor of body that made you -feel that he could do anything. - -"Tomorrow," he went on, "I am going back to my job in civil life, but -I am a different man. Before the war I think I loved my country and -I suppose the flag meant something to me. But I felt no passion of -patriotism. It was a matter of course. But the Navy has taught me such -reverence for the flag that I have a thrill every time it is raised, -and somehow my country became something more than land and water and -houses. It seems something holy to me. And that's what my naval service -did for me," he added as he passed to his place at the banquet table. - -Such inculcation of love of country was the best by-product of the war. - -How was it that the regulars in the Navy were able to train so rapidly -the recruits that poured in after war was declared? How did they attain -the efficiency which led to the promotion of ten thousand of them to -warrant or commissioned officers? - -The answer is that the Navy had been organized as an educational and -industrial, as well as a fighting, institution. Officers and men had -gone to school, they were subjected to frequent examinations, and -promotions were given from ascertained fitness rather than from the -outgrown policy of seniority. Post-graduate schools enabled officers to -qualify as experts. Vocational and grammar schools for enlisted men -had kindled ambition and given mental as well as physical and naval -training. The war, therefore, found the Navy not only fit to fight, -but its officers and men equipped to train quickly the half-million -young men who enlisted in 1917-18. The Navy had years before instituted -educational preparedness--professional, vocational, elementary--as a -part of its policy. And the test of war proved that no other form of -preparedness produced better results. - -In 1913 I issued orders which established a school on every ship in the -Navy, the officers instructing the men in reading, spelling, writing -and arithmetic, geography, grammar and history, as well as in naval and -technical subjects. Nearly every enlisted man who availed himself fully -of this instruction afloat received promotion, and all of them became -more proficient. - -The war proved that vessels manned by seamen having trained minds as -well as trained hands are superior to ships with uneducated crews. -Neither speed nor armor wins battles. It is intellect, education, -training, discipline, team-work, courage. - -As a logical result of the schools afloat, Congress later authorized -the appointment of one hundred enlisted men annually as midshipmen at -the Naval Academy. In the first class after this law made it possible, -the honor graduate at Annapolis came from the enlisted personnel. -Others have since attained high standing in their class and in the -service. The day will come when all appointments to the Naval Academy -will be made from the ranks. - -The educational system, adopted in the Navy in 1913, became part of -the army system of training before the American Expeditionary Force -returned from France, and Secretary Baker made such instruction an -integral part of the training for men enlisting in the Army. - -With the advent of war the educational work of the Navy was greatly -enlarged and changed to meet war conditions. In addition to many -technical schools the fleet at Yorktown was utilized for intensive -training, and prepared over 45,000 officers and men for important and -varied duties afloat. The older type of battleships became virtual -training schools, devoting particular attention to gunnery, navigation -and engineering, qualifying men for various duties requiring -experience. When ordered to sea the men who had enjoyed this special -training gave full proof of the practical schooling through which they -had passed. - -It required war to bring appreciation of the school as a necessary part -of military instruction. The Navy had started schools for sailors in -1914, but it was not until 1919 that the Army and Marine Corps felt -the necessity of such schools, which they then established, though in -1913 General Butler, in command of the Marines at Panama, was teaching -them Spanish. "It opened my eyes to what might be done," said Judge -Garrison, then Secretary of War, upon his return from an inspection -trip, "and I am going to advise Army officers to go down to Panama and -learn from General Butler how to teach men in the Army." Upon their -return from France General Lejeune and General Butler established -schools for the teaching of Marines at Quantico, a plan which is being -extended to all Marine bases and attracting a superior type of recruits. - -In 1866 General Lew Wallace outlined a plan of education for soldiers, -approved by Charles Sumner, declaring that the "military system as -respects the rank and file is founded on egregious errors." The chief -error was that no system of giving the rank and file the same character -of instruction as imparted at West Point was at that time offered in -order that they might win commissions. He urged that the hours of -service of a private soldier be "so divided as to give him time for -study and meditation without interference with his routine of duty." -The "proverbial idleness of military life" which then prevailed was -due to lack of schools and proper instruction. By the addition of the -education and promotion policy suggested, General Wallace said, we -would "not only get better military service, but as an act of wisest -statesmanship you offer in a constitutional way the coveted opportunity -for education to every youth in the land." - -The Navy, having given trial to the policy, found that all that General -Wallace claimed for it was true, and now that the Army and Marine Corps -have established like schools, educational advantages as a part of -military duty have become the accepted American policy. - -The war emphasized the worth of education for military efficiency. -While excellent officers were obtained from every source possible, -the main dependence for all-around naval officers was upon the Naval -Academy graduates. In the test of war they more than justified what -was expected of them. In order to secure more officers with Annapolis -training, the course for midshipmen was reduced, during the war, to -three years and made more intensive, upon the recommendation of Rear -Admiral Edward W. Eberle, the able and resourceful superintendent of -the Naval Academy. He and his associates, anxious to get into the -active fighting, were doing more by the instruction of the increasing -number of midshipmen and the zeal with which they inspired all who came -under their influence. - -Before the war, plans had been adopted and appropriations made for -greatly increasing the Naval Academy. A new Seamanship and Navigation -Building that cost $1,000,000 was constructed. Four million dollars was -expended in enlarging Bancroft Hall, which was more than doubled to -accommodate the increased number of midshipmen. In 1912 there were 768 -midshipmen at Annapolis. Legislation adopted before the war increased -the number to 2,120 in 1917. The enlarged facilities will accommodate -2,400. - -Two special courses were established at the Naval Academy in the spring -of 1917, one for line officers and the other for men of the supply -corps. A total of 1,622 were graduated as ensigns for line duty and 400 -as supply officers. They went right into the fleet, and though they had -received only a few months' drill, they carried the Annapolis spirit -into the service--a spirit of valor and invincibility. The institution -at Annapolis, the pride of America and the admiration of all visitors -to our country, is easily the greatest naval school in the world. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX - -THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND STRONG - - VAST OPERATIONS COULD HARDLY HAVE BEEN CARRIED ON WITHOUT NAVAL - RESERVES AND NATIONAL NAVAL VOLUNTEERS--MANNED HUNDREDS OF VESSELS - PLYING TO FRANCE--SERVED ON TRANSPORTS, DESTROYERS, SUB-CHASERS - AND EVERY KIND OF CRAFT--NAVAL AVIATION COMPOSED MAINLY OF - RESERVISTS--THIRTY THOUSAND MADE OFFICERS. - - -"We are coming, Uncle Samuel, three hundred thousand strong!" That -was the spirit if not the song of the reservists who besieged the -recruiting stations and flocked into the Navy at the call of war. - -They came from every walk of life--mechanics and millionaires, farm -boys and college students, clerks and merchants, yacht owners and -boatmen, fishermen and firemen. There was hardly a trade, profession -or calling that was not represented. Ninety-nine out of every hundred -were landsmen, knowing nothing of the sea. But they took to the naval -service like ducks to water, and the rapidity with which they learned, -and the efficiency with which they served, amazed the old sea-dogs. - -Never again will men dare to ridicule the volunteer, the reservist, -the man who in a national crisis lays aside civilian duty to become a -soldier or sailor, to shoulder a gun or take his place in the turret. -The splendid body of young men from civil life who quickly adapted -themselves to military service astonished the old timers, who believed -that long service was absolutely necessary to make one efficient. - -On every ship in the Navy were found young men who, without previous -training, had enrolled for the war, and in a short time were performing -well the duties of naval service. Moved by a zeal and patriotism which -quickened their ability to learn, the ambitious young men who responded -to the call in 1917-18 mastered military knowledge so rapidly as to -astonish naval officers, as well as the country. The most capable were -placed in command of small naval craft, and the commendation of older -officers was hearty and enthusiastic. - -Before 1917, responsible naval officials knew that the chief need -when war came would be trained leaders. There was never any doubt -that patriotic young men would enroll by the thousands and tens of -thousands. But you cannot make a naval officer in a day. It is easier -to secure good officers on land than on sea. It was leadership, a -quality indefinable, that the Navy needed. - -There was need for many more officers. After promoting many capable -regulars, we turned for officer material to the apt and alert young men -in colleges and schools, in shops, in professions and on the farms. -Most of them were given their intensive training on board ship, but -the Navy was able to give 1,700 a special course at the Naval Academy. -Securing that assignment by competition with all other reservists, they -came with the imprimatur of approval from ships or shore stations. -After the thorough course at Annapolis they went immediately to -service afloat, and from admirals and captains I received reports that -gave proof of their efficiency. Some did so well that they were keen -competitors, in the special duties they performed, with those who had -enjoyed a full four-year course at the Naval Academy. - -Over 30,000 reservists were made commissioned or warrant officers, -nearly three times as many as the total, 10,590, in the regular Navy. -They served on vessels of every type, from submarine chasers to -battleships. On the transports the larger percentage of the officers -were reservists. The usual plan was to have the duties of the captain, -executive officer, chief engineer, gunnery officers, senior supply and -medical officers performed by regulars, the others being of the reserve -force. Out of a total of, say, thirty officers on board a transport, -twenty-four of them would be reservists. They were on duty on deck, in -the engine room, in the sick quarters, in the supply office, and in -practically every part of the ship. - -The idea of some who thought in the early days of 1917 that family or -political influence would get them a commission was the subject of not -a little good natured ridicule in the service, which found expression -in verses like these: - - I never thought I'd be a gob-- - You see, dad owns a bank-- - I thought at least I'd get a job - Above a captain's rank. - - But woe to me, alack, alas! - They've put me in white duds; - They don't quite comprehend my class-- - They've got me peeling spuds. - -It was not easy work, this learning to be a seaman and studying to -be an officer. But it made men of those youngsters. The fact that -promotion depended on their own efforts, that there was a fair field -and no favor, inspired them to effort as nothing else could have done. - -Men of all trades and professions were in the reserve. Millionaires -from New York and graduates of Princeton served alongside young fellows -who a year before had been plowing behind Missouri mules. An heir of -one of the country's largest fortunes was a seaman gunner, and his mate -in the same crew was a strapping youngster who had been working in a -factory. - -An officer who went out for a run on a sub-chaser from Brest thought -there was something familiar about the grimy seaman who was testing the -forward gun. As the man turned the officer recognized him. - -"Well, of all things!" exclaimed the officer. "You're the last man in -the world I'd ever expect to find here. The last time I saw you, you -were the ladies' favorite, engaged in photographing every debutante and -stage celebrity in New York. How did you get into the Navy?" - -"Well, it is funny, even to myself," he laughed, and told his story. - -He had made a picture of a well-known actress and her baby, and was on -his way back to the studio when he struck a recruiting party holding a -meeting in the street. Aroused by the enthusiasm, he felt he ought to -do his part. He enlisted on the spot, turned over his studio to others, -and in a month was shooting a gun on a sub-chaser instead of a camera. -He stayed on that boat until the last horn blew, and the boys were -ordered home. One of his mates at the gun was a former actor, another a -clerk in a store. - -[Illustration: - - © Great Lakes Recruit - - THE LIVING FLAG - -Ten thousand blue-jackets, at Great Lakes, the largest naval training -station in the world. Inset: Captain William A. Moffett, Commandant.] - -[Illustration: PANORAMA OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY AT ANNAPOLIS - -Inset: Rear Admiral Edward W. Eberle, Superintendent, who guided the -destinies of the Naval Academy during the trying days of the War.] - -One day in New York four young fellows suddenly walked out of a -motion-picture studio and enlisted. Two of them were high salaried -photographers, but they said nothing about that and went in as seamen. -Several months afterwards a call was sent out for a few men experienced -in photo work. One of these four was found shoveling coal at Pelham. He -had been for three years the photographer for Sidney Drew, but he was -plugging along at coal passing, and doing a good job until found fitted -for other work. - -"Captain, I'd like to get a transfer," was the request a young -reservist made of his commanding officer in 1918. The captain was -surprised. The youngster had rendered service in the armed guards and -was doing well on a cargo transport. - -"What is the trouble with your present duty?" the Captain asked. - -"Well, sir," he answered, "I've been going across on merchantmen. I -have been torpedoed three times, but I'd like to get on a destroyer or -a submarine-chaser, where I can see a little real action." - -That was the spirit of the reservists. Willing to perform any duty, -they wanted to get into action, to be sent where the fighting was. - -Naval aviation was made up largely of reservists, and the Naval Reserve -Flying Corps grew during the war into a force of more than 26,000, with -1,500 qualified pilots and 4,000 student officers in training. Not only -were hundreds of bright young men enrolled as prospective aviators, but -thousands of skilled mechanics were enlisted in the ground personnel. - -Looking over the list of officers of the Cruiser and Transport Force, -I find that eight reservists were on Admiral Gleaves' staff, eighteen -on that of Admiral Jones. Of the 166 officers who served on the -_Leviathan_, the largest of all transports, 93 were reservists. On the -_George Washington_ there were 63 out of the total of one hundred. -Thirty-five served on the _President Lincoln_, 46 on the _President -Grant_, 69 on the _Mount Vernon_, 51 on the _Great Northern_, 43 on the -_Orizaba_, 28 on the _Pastores_, 33 on the _Pocahontas_, 24 on the -_Powhatan_, 30 on the _Princess Matoika_. Of this large force, there -was not a transport or cruiser which did not have a large proportion of -reservists in its officers and crew. In carrying the American Army to -France and bringing it home, the reservists did their full share of the -work. - -They played an even larger part in the Naval Overseas Transportation -Service. Five thousand officers and thirty thousand men were required -to man this vast fleet of cargo ships carrying munitions and supplies -to France. Of the officers all but twelve were reservists, as were a -large majority of the enlisted men. Thousands more were in training to -furnish crews for the hundreds of vessels being built by the Shipping -Board which the Navy was preparing to man. - -Of our 350 submarine chasers, which were on patrol duty in French and -English waters, in the Adriatic and all along the American coast, the -large majority were manned by reservists, who performed this hard and -often monotonous duty with a cheerfulness that was unfailing. These -sturdy little 110-foot boats stayed at sea in all kinds of weather, and -braved storms that even the largest vessels did not relish. - -The record shows that the reservists could have done anything required -at any time anywhere. At the aviation assembly and repair base at -Pauillac, France, during an inspection by members of the Naval Affairs -Committee, one of the party, Congressman Peters, of Maine, remarked: - -"My watch is broken and I have tried both in Paris and at Bordeaux to -get it repaired, but was told that it would take two weeks to do so." - -Lieutenant Commander Briscoe, in command of the repair base, told the -Congressman that it could be fixed right there at the station. - -"But," said Mr. Peters, "I have only an hour to spend here." - -"All right," said Briscoe, "we can do it." - -An instrument repair man was sent for. He took the watch, and fifteen -minutes later handed it back to the astonished Congressman, who found -it running and set at the correct hour. - -"Well, well, I didn't think that you had such skilled mechanics in the -service." - -"That's nothing," said Briscoe. "We can build a locomotive here--and -run it, too." - -It was a fact. The mechanical personnel of the Flying Corps was -competent to manufacture, overhaul, repair and operate almost any -mechanical device made in America. - -The United States had no naval-reserve legislation until Congress -authorized the creation of a reserve in 1915. It did have the nucleus -of a naval militia prior to the act of February 16, 1914, when Congress -coördinated these distinct and scattered branches into a cohesive real -naval militia organization, subject in time of war to the call of the -President. In pursuance of that act a division of Naval Militia was -organized in the department, and a board named by the Secretary of the -Navy to formulate standards of professional examinations for officers -and enlisted men, and also to strengthen the militia as an effective -arm of naval power. That board, which pioneered the organization so -well that it met the test of war with credit, was composed of Captains -W. A. Gill, Edward Capehart, and Harold Norton, and Commanders J. J. -Poyer and F. B. Bassett, of the Navy, and Commodore R. P. Forshew, -Captain C. D. Bradham, Captain E. A. Evers, Commander J. M. Mitcheson, -and Lieutenant J. T. McMillan, of the Naval Militia. - -Cruises covering several weeks in the summer were organized for -training and were continued until 1917, when these short cruises merged -into war service. In encouraging and training these reserves we were -carrying out the wise counsel of Jefferson given in 1807: "I think it -will be necessary to erect our seafaring men into a naval militia and -subject them to tours of duty in whatever port they may be." The act -of August 29, 1916, provided that the militia in Federal service be -designated as "National Naval Volunteers." The force grew to twelve -thousand by 1917, and when war was declared this body of men, who had -enjoyed practical training, were at once available for duty. They were -given important assignments, ashore and afloat, in the fighting zone on -ships of all types, in administrative positions; and, as leaders and -instructors of newly enlisted reserves they rendered timely and useful -service. During the war the National Naval Volunteers and Reserves were -amalgamated along lines largely worked out by naval militia officers. - -But for the naval reserve legislation of 1916, I do not see how we -could have promptly provided naval personnel for the war. It will -always be a monument to the wisdom of the then Chief of the Bureau of -Navigation, Admiral Victor Blue, who was again called to that post -after serving as captain of the _Texas_ under Rodman in the North Sea -Fleet, that the legislation was made ready and prepared against the -day which we hoped would never come, but which did come, with all -suddenness, upon us. - -It was the act of August 29, 1916, that created a Naval Reserve Force -of six classes--the Fleet Naval Reserve, of former officers, and -enlisted men who had completed as much as sixteen years' service in -the Navy; the Naval Reserve of men of seagoing experience; the Naval -Auxiliary Reserve, men employed on merchant vessels suitable for naval -auxiliaries; the Naval Coast Defense Reserve, in which civilians -without previous sea experience could be enrolled; the Volunteer Naval -Reserve, whose members obligated themselves to serve in the Navy in -any of the various classes without retainer pay or uniform gratuity in -time of peace; and the Naval Reserve Flying Corps, composed of officers -and student flyers and enlisted men qualified for aviation duties. At -the same time a Marine Corps Reserve of five classes was authorized, -corresponding to the Naval Reserve Force. - -This was the basis upon which was built up the vast reserve force of -more than 300,000 which was enrolled, trained and put into service -during the war. Beginning with a few hundred the force grew rapidly -after the break with Germany. Upon the declaration of war the Naval -Militia were mustered in, and from 977 officers and 12,407 enlisted -militiamen and reserves in service April 6, 1917, the reserves grew in -six months to 77,000, in a year to 123,000, and eventually reached a -total of 355,447--30,358 officers and 305,089 men. - -Except for a few thousand ex-service men and merchant seamen, this -immense force was made up of men who had had no seagoing experience, -men who had to learn the game from the beginning. And the rapidity -with which they were turned from landsmen into sailors reflected great -credit on instructors and apprentices. - -There is no page of the war more illustrative of what the colleges -did, in addition to the college spirit of lofty patriotism which sent -educated youths into the service by the thousands, - - "Who took the khaki and the gun - Instead of cap and gown," - -than preparing students for all branches of the service. The college -campus became a national training ground. Institutions of learning were -converted into naval schools where young men were given instruction -in branches fitting for service in the Navy. Harvard became a radio -school; Massachusetts "Tech" taught aviators, Princeton specialized -in cost accounting, Yale's units were commanded by a retired admiral, -Stevens Institute had its engineering school. Scores of other colleges -and universities in all parts of the country extended their facilities -in whatever way was most needed. There was not a rating in the Navy, -from the new duty in connection with listening devices to the oldest -calling of cook, without special schools. Intensive courses sent men -afloat with the best instruction possible in the brief period allotted. - -College men did everything from peeling spuds to commanding ships. -Trained minds, plus work and courage in the test of war, forever -answered in the affirmative the question whether college education is -worth what it costs. The college man mastered navigation more rapidly -because he had mastered mathematics. His ability to learn readily -paid his country a large dividend upon its investment in educational -institutions. - -Though colleges and universities were giving instruction and nearly -all our ships and stations engaged in training reserves as well as -regulars, the typical reserve camp was at Pelham Bay. We needed a -training station near New York. We had to have a good waterside -location with plenty of space, well drained and wholesome, and we found -it in the park at Pelham, which the municipal authorities generously -tendered for temporary use. Ten miles from the heart of the city, with -water on two sides, Pelham Bay was an ideal location, and there we -built a station capable of providing for 25,000 men. It was efficiently -commanded by Captain W. B. Franklin, a former officer in the regular -Navy, and a fine type of the reservist of mature years. - -I made it a habit during the war, whenever my duties called me to New -York, to run over to Pelham. Being myself in the reserve class, called -from civilian life to service with the naval forces for a period, the -chance to touch elbow to elbow with these men was always embraced, and -after every visit I returned to Washington with new inspiration and -new zeal. Many young reservists trained there won promotion--I say -won, because commissions were not handed out. They were awarded by -demonstration of fitness. The course was so thorough that the reserves -called Pelham the "Reserve Naval Academy." - -Eighteen reservists were commended for acts of personal bravery, 110 -for courageous and heroic action. Four Medals of Honor were awarded -reservists; eleven received Distinguished Service Medals; the Navy -Cross was awarded to 265 officers and 50 enlisted men, and special -letters of commendation for exceptional performance of duty were sent -to 171 officers and 20 men of the Naval Reserve Force. - -This is the record that glorified all the reservists, not alone those -marked for special distinction but the thousands who were of the same -stuff and spirit. They fought well. They died well. They have left -in deeds and words a record that will be an inspiration to unborn -generations. As illustrating their spirit I recall a legacy left by a -valorous young aviator for whom I named a destroyer. - -Kenneth MacLeish, of Glencoe, Ill., was enrolled in the Reserve Flying -Corps in March, 1917. In October he went to France and became a member -of the bombing group, taking part in many air raids over the enemy's -lines. While on a raid his squadron was attacked by a dozen enemy -airplanes. Fighting desperately, to enable his fellows to escape, -MacLeish's plane was shot down and he was killed. His daring, his -fortitude, his Christian spirit were a trinity which make him immortal. -Writing to his parents, just before he was killed, MacLeish penned this -classic that will live in the annals of the Naval Reserves: - - In the first place, if I find it necessary to make the supreme - sacrifice, always remember this; I am firmly convinced that the - ideals which I am going to fight for are right, and splendid - ideals, that I am happy to be able to give so much for them. I - could not have any self-respect, I could not consider myself a - man, if I saw these ideals defeated when it lies in my power to - defend them. * * * So you see, I have no fears, I have no regrets. - I have only to thank God for such a wonderful opportunity to serve - Him and the world. * * * And the life that I lay down will be my - preparation for the grander, finer life that I take up. - - I shall live! * * * you must not grieve; I shall be supremely happy - * * * so must you--not that I have "gone west," but that I have - bought such a wonderful life at such a small price, and paid for it - so gladly. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI - -WOMEN IN THE NAVY - - MORE THAN ELEVEN THOUSAND REGULARLY ENLISTED--THEY CONSTITUTE THE - ONLY WOMEN ENTITLED TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE AMERICAN LEGION--NO LACK - OF WOMAN'S NURSING--GIRLS WORKED IN TORPEDO FACTORY AND MUNITION - PLANTS--THE INSPIRING LEADERSHIP OF MRS. ANNA HOWARD SHAW, HEAD OF - WOMAN'S COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. - - -The Navy was long regarded as an institution for men only. It was the -only place where there was no opening for women. To be sure no sailor -would have felt comfortable going to sea in a ship which had not been -sponsored by a woman's breaking the bottle as it slid into the waters -at the launching. A ship, feminine in all our language, demanded a -woman's benediction as the assurance of favoring winds and prosperous -voyages. But men alone wore the naval uniform prior to 1917. - -It is true that before that time it had been found that the naval -establishment could not get along without women, and they had been -admitted to hospitals and dispensaries ashore, where they were found -indispensable. - -In March, 1917, after the break with Germany, the Navy stood in -great need of clerical assistants in Washington and at all the shore -stations. There was no appropriation to pay civilians for the work -that was immediately necessary. Every bureau and naval establishment -appealed for clerks and stenographers. How could they be secured at -once? The Civil Service Commission could not furnish a tithe of the -number required, even if there had been the money to pay them. - -"Is there any law that says a yeoman must be a man?" I asked my legal -advisers. The answer was that there was not, but that only men had -heretofore been enlisted. The law did not say "male." - -[Illustration: YEOMEN (F) IN LIBERTY LOAN PARADE, NEW YORK CITY - -The Yeomen (F) were regular yeomen, and they did yeomen service. Inset: -Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, chairman of the Woman's Council, Council of -National Defense, under whose direction the women of the United States -were mobilized for war work.] - -[Illustration: U. S. S. CYCLOPS, THE COLLIER WHICH DISAPPEARED WITHOUT -LEAVING A TRACE] - -"Then enroll women in the Naval Reserve as yeomen," I said, "and we -will have the best clerical assistance the country can provide." - -It was done, and they were given the designation Yeomen (F)--not -"Yeomanettes," but regular yeomen, the F indicating female. They were -truly yeomen and did yeoman service. In the Marine Corps they were -equally efficient, and were known as "Marinettes" or Lady Marines. - -"I do not wish to enroll as a Naval Reservist," said an independent -young woman to the enrolling officer at the Washington Navy Yard, -"until I know what ship I am to serve on." - -It was explained to her that women yeomen were not to go to sea. - -"But I want to go on the _Nevada_," she said, in tones of -disappointment. - -These women yeomen, enlisting as reservists, served as translators, -stenographers, clerks, typists, on recruiting duty, and with hospital -units in France. Too much could not be said of their efficiency, -loyalty and patriotism. - -Eleven thousand Yeomen (F), 1,713 nurses, and 269 Marinettes were -enrolled. They were, I am informed, the only women serving during the -war who were on the same footing as men with all allowances and pay -and clothing outfits, and the only women eligible to membership in the -American Legion. Those who made up the four companies in Washington -became proficient in military drill. They made a handsome appearance -when, upon the return of the Rainbow Division, they were the guard -of honor to the President, having previously taken part, with other -military units, in the welcome to President Wilson when he returned -from Paris. They made a notable showing as they formed in double lines -of spotless white uniforms as the presidential party passed through the -Union Station at Washington to receive the enthusiastic welcome given -by the multitudes. - -The uniforms of the Yeomen (F) and the Marines (F) were natty and -beautiful, were worn with pride, and are preserved by them as the -honorable token of service during the great war. They were both -becoming and suited to the duty assigned. As a designer of woman's -uniforms the Navy Department scored a distinct success, for these -uniforms were copied by women all over the country. - -The last drill of these Yeomen (F) was held on July 31, 1919, upon -their demobilization. They had saved the day in war, and the Navy -regretted the legislation which compelled the disbanding. I do not -know how the great increase of work could have been carried on without -them. I voiced the thanks of the Navy in expressing "gratitude and -appreciation of their splendid service and patriotic coöperation," as -they were mustered out. They are organized in posts in the American -Legion, and have carried into civil life the spirit of devotion to -country which they displayed in the days of the war. - -I issued an order early in the war that women be given preference in -appointments to clerical positions in the Navy. This released men for -military duty. The war taught that the Navy was dependent upon woman's -deftness not only to prevent "lack of woman's nursing," but also in -multifarious duties, including assembling parts for torpedoes and other -war munitions. Upon a visit to the Newport Torpedo Station, I found -women in overalls at work, putting together parts of torpedoes made -there. They were so capable and showed such skill that scores were -enabled to do, and to do excellently, a character of work formerly -done exclusively by men. Not a few of them were school teachers, who, -feeling the compulsion for war-work, shared the feeling of the wealthy -woman in Washington, who, applying for a position in the gun factory at -Washington, said: - -"I can knit at night. If I cannot fight, I wish something to do where I -can feel I am really in the war, helping to make guns or torpedoes or -other real instruments of war--a job that is hard, and where labor in -the heat and burden of the day taxes all my strength." - -She was a sister in spirit of the many women who worked in munition -plants, fashioning rifles, dressed in overalls, faces begrimed, proud -that they were thus helping on with the war. If there had been need, -many more would have gone into the shops, glad to tax their strength -for the cause in which their very souls were enlisted. - -Not only does the world owe a lasting debt of gratitude to women -who served, in shops, in the Navy Department, in factories making -naval aircraft, at navy bases, in work for the Army, but likewise the -larger number, who in their homes and communities and in welfare work -at home and abroad, dedicated their hands and spirit to the varied -war activities. Their most notable organized duties were in the Red -Cross and the Young Women's Christian Association. A story of the -benefactions of the Red Cross is chiefly the story of woman's work and -woman's ministrations. With the mothers of our fighting forces, they -constituted in truth the irresistible first line of defense and offense -which would have held to the last against all odds. They furnished the -basis of what, for lack of a better name, we called morale--the will to -win--without which ships and guns and fighting machinery never yet won -a battle. A Woman's Advisory Committee on Naval Auxiliaries to the Red -Cross War Council rendered patriotic and useful service. - -The Government early found the necessity for the organization and -direction of women in war work, and the Council of National Defense -set up a Woman's Council, headed by that great woman of statesmanship -and vision, the late Dr. Anna Howard Shaw. The women who composed this -Council, in addition to Dr. Shaw, were Mrs. Philip N. Moore, Mrs. -Josiah E. Cowles, Miss Maude Wetmore, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, Mrs. -Antoinette Funk, Mrs. Stanley McCormick, Mrs. Joseph R. Lamar, Miss -Ida M. Tarbell, Miss Agnes Nestor, Mrs. Ira Couch Wood, secretary. -Under the direction of this Woman's Council the women of America were -mobilized for war work in all parts of America. Women were found, -wholly enlisted, with their counsel and labors and sacrifice, wherever -men planned or fought or died. Some gave their lives, many gave their -health, all gave complete consecration. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII - -COAST GUARD WON DISTINCTION - - ESCORTING CONVOYS BETWEEN GIBRALTAR AND ENGLAND, CUTTERS MADE - NOTABLE RECORD--"TAMPA" SUNK, WITH ALL HER GALLANT OFFICERS AND - MEN--"SENECA" SAVED SURVIVORS OF "COWSLIP" AND "QUEEN"--COAST AND - GEODETIC SURVEY AND LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE DID FINE WORK. - - -The Coast Guard automatically came under control of the Navy when -war was declared. Its vessels, its trained officers and men proved -a valuable addition to our forces, and rendered notable service in -various areas and in many lines of activity, at home and abroad. - -They formed a very important part of our forces at Gibraltar, -which included six Coast Guard cutters, the _Seneca_, _Yamacraw_, -_Algonquin_, _Ossipee_, _Manning_ and _Tampa_, constantly engaged in -escorting convoys. - -The splendid service they performed was commended in Admiral Niblack's -letter of September 5, 1918, to Captain Charles Satterlee, commanding -officer of the _Tampa_, in which, after detailing her record, under -way more than 3,500 miles each month since October 1, 1917, "never -disabled, ready whenever called on," he said: - - This excellent record is an evidence of a high state of efficiency, - an excellent ship spirit, and organization capable of keeping - the vessel in service with the minimum of shore assistance. The - squadron commander takes great pleasure in congratulating the - commanding officer, officers and crew on the record which they have - made. - -Three weeks after notable service had evoked this commendation, every -officer and man of the _Tampa_ met sudden and mysterious death. The -night of September 26, 1918, the _Tampa_, having escorted a convoy from -Gibraltar, was proceeding toward Milford Haven, Wales. At 8:45 p. m., -a loud explosion was heard by vessels of the convoy, but the night -was so dark that the _Tampa_ disappeared before her companions could -see what had happened. American destroyers and British patrol craft -searched the vicinity. - -Nothing was found except a small amount of wreckage and the bodies -of two men in naval uniforms. It is believed that the _Tampa_ was -torpedoed by a submarine. The German U-53 claimed to have sunk a United -States vessel of her description. "Listening-in" stations on shore -reported that they detected the presence of a submarine near the spot -where the _Tampa_ was destroyed. But no one knows how she met her fate. -Every soul on board the vessel perished, 115 in all, of whom 111 were -Coast Guard personnel. The officers lost were Captain Satterlee, First -Lieutenants Archibald H. Scally and John T. Carr, Second Lieutenants -Roy A. Bothwell, James M. Earp and John F. McGourty, and Third -Lieutenant James A. Frost, Jr. - -It must, indeed, be a matter of solemn pride to the Coast Guard to -know that the _Tampa_, lost with all her gallant officers and men, was -distinguished by such service and sacrifice that it will always be -remembered in the naval annals of our country. It was my pleasure to -name one of the modern destroyers of the Navy for Captain Satterlee, -and on April 16, 1921, a new cruising vessel of the Coast Guard was -launched at Oakland, California, named the _Tampa_. - -Few instances that occurred during the war are more indicative of -devotion to duty than the gallant attempt of the _Seneca_ to salvage -the steamer _Wellington_, torpedoed September 16, 1918. Though damaged, -its officers thought that the vessel would probably float, but the crew -refused to remain on board. - -Lieutenant F. W. Brown (U. S. Coast Guard), the _Seneca's_ navigating -officer, asked permission to take a volunteer crew and endeavor to -work the _Wellington_ into port. Nearly all the _Seneca's_ complement -volunteered for this duty. Lieutenant Brown made a hasty selection -from the many volunteers, taking Acting Machinist William L. Boyce and -eighteen men. En route to the torpedoed vessel, lookouts and gun's -crew were detailed. Upon boarding the ship, ammunition was broken -out, the gun's crew was assigned, and lookouts posted. It was highly -probable that the submarine would make another attack. Soon a second -boat, containing the master, first and second officers and eleven -of the _Wellington's_ crew came on board. The _Seneca_ had to leave -at once to protect the remainder of the convoy, and could only send -out radio calls for assistance. There followed an heroic and all but -successful effort on the part of Lieutenant Brown and his men to save -the steamship. - -Within half an hour, the _Wellington_ was started at slow speed, -heading for Brest. Men took turns in passing coal and firing, coming -out on deck when relieved and taking a gun-watch. One of the men from -the _Seneca_ was a cook, Russell Elam, who disappeared into the galley, -and in a short time announced that dinner was served for all hands. -When he appeared on the bridge with Lieutenant Brown's dinner, he was -clad in an immaculate white serving jacket and had omitted no detail of -service. And this on a torpedoed steamer in imminent danger of sinking! -Cook Elam met a heroic death with others of this gallant party. - -During the afternoon all went well, but at sundown the wind increased, -seas crashed over the bow, and all on board were in danger. The ship -listed sharply, rolling so that the davit heads threatened to force -the lifeboat under. Those aboard were ordered to get into the boat, -and hold on to the _Wellington_ by use of a long rope, a sea painter. -Seven of the _Wellington's_ crew got into the boat with one _Seneca_ -man detailed to unhook it, the other Coast Guardsmen standing by to -lower it. The radio operator, M. S. Mason, remained at his instruments -to keep in touch with the destroyer _Warrington_, which was proceeding -to their assistance, and three men kept the pumps going. Just after -the boat was lowered, someone cut the painter, and the boat drifted -away. The _Seneca's_ party and some of the collier's men were left on -board with nothing to rely upon except a small raft which they had -constructed. - -At 11:35 p. m., the _Wellington's_ position was sent to the -_Warrington_ (Lieutenant Commander Van der Veer). To aid the destroyer -in her search, rockets were sent up at fifteen-minute intervals, and at -2:30 a. m., answering rockets were seen. The men in the lifeboat were -gotten aboard the _Warrington_, but the boat was crushed. Lieutenant -Brown found some long, heavy planks; from these three rafts were -improvised, which were lowered and lines let down so the men could -reach them in the darkness. The lights of the destroyer were now -in sight. The _Wellington_ listed rapidly. With a hand flashlight, -Lieutenant Brown signaled that he had to abandon ship immediately, -and asked the destroyer to work in close and pick up his men. As the -collier settled by the head, at the same time turning over, Brown -crawled out over the railing and flashed his last appeal, "My men are -in the water." - -At that moment the boilers exploded, the vessel seemed to rise up, and -as she lurched into her final plunge, Brown sprang into the water. This -was at 4 a. m., in pitch darkness, a raging gale and tempestuous seas. - -After swimming awhile, casting about for something to cling to, and -finding nothing, Brown heard a cry for help. Swimming towards the man, -he saw that he was clinging to a plank, and told him to hold on and -keep his mouth closed, so as not to take in water. Finding two calcium -lights burning, he extinguished them so no one should be misled into -thinking they marked a raft. As he approached the destroyer, Brown -called out repeatedly: "I had eighteen men." His sole thought was that -the men committed to his charge should be saved. - -Running close to the _Wellington_, the _Warrington_ floated down -three life-rafts and all available buoys, well lighted. It was still -very dark, but from a few hundred yards to leeward the men on the -_Warrington_ watched the black hull turn turtle, slowly settle in the -water, and then disappear. When dawn broke, they began to see men in -the water, some on rafts and buoys, some on floating wreckage. Eight -men were finally picked up, one of whom died on board. One of the first -rescued proved to be Lieutenant Brown. A heaving line was flung to him -and he grabbed it, but said he did not remember having been hauled -on board. Apparently he lost consciousness, and his identity was not -discovered until he awoke. - -Three of the _Warrington's_ crew had jumped into the heavy sea, with -lines made fast to their waists, in attempting to save life. Seaman -James C. Osborne, of the Coast Guard, supporting a shipmate, Coxswain -Peterson, swam through the heavy seas and placed Peterson, who was only -half conscious, on a raft. Several times both were washed off, but each -time Osborne went to his shipmate's assistance and replaced him on -the raft. Finally Osborne semaphored, "I am all right, but he is gone -unless you come right away." The _Warrington_ rescued them both. - -Lieutenant Brown and eight men of the _Seneca_ were saved, Machinist -Boyce and ten Coast Guardsmen were lost, besides five belonging to -the _Wellington's_ crew. But for the heavy gale and rough sea that -developed, Brown and his volunteers would probably have won out and -saved ship and cargo. They upheld to the fullest the high traditions of -the Navy and Coast Guard. - -Another example of readiness to assume responsibility and act as the -necessities of the occasion require, is that of Captain William J. -Wheeler (U. S. Coast Guard), commanding the _Seneca_, which rescued -the survivors from the British patrol sloop, _Cowslip_. After dark -on April 2, 1918, the danger zone escort from Gibraltar, including -the _Cowslip_, joined the convoy which the _Seneca_ had escorted -from England. A loud explosion was heard and the _Cowslip_ displayed -distress signals. The _Seneca_ immediately headed for her, although -the sloop flashed the signal, "Stay away! Submarine in sight, port -quarter." Circling the _Cowslip_ in search of the submarine, the -_Seneca_ and the destroyer _Dale_, which had also come up, began to -search for the enemy. The established doctrine then was that, when a -vessel was torpedoed, other vessels in the vicinity should not risk -their own destruction by endeavoring to go to her relief and that -rescue of survivors should be considered as a secondary duty. But -American officers could not witness a disabled and sinking ship without -making every effort to save her people. - -Three times the _Seneca_ approached, stopping to lower her own boats -and take off survivors from the British sloop. One enlisted man and all -the wardroom officers of the _Cowslip_, except the officer-of-the-deck, -had been killed by the explosion. The _Seneca_ rescued all the -survivors, including the commanding officer, another commissioned -officer, and 79 enlisted men. For this courageous and meritorious act, -Captain Wheeler was commended by Admiral Niblack, Admiral Sims, and the -British admiral commanding at Gibraltar. - -[Illustration: LOST WITH EVERY MAN ON BOARD - -The Coast Guard Cutter Tampa was lost on the night of September 26, -1918, sunk, probably by a submarine, before any of her companions -in the convoy could see what had happened. Inset: Captain Charles -Satterlee, commanding the Tampa.] - -[Illustration: THEY SAVED SURVIVORS OF TORPEDOED VESSELS - -At the risk of their own destruction, the crew of the Coast Guard -Cutter Seneca repeatedly rescued survivors of torpedoed vessels, -although it was an established rule that when a vessel was torpedoed -other vessels in the vicinity should not go to her aid because of the -almost certain destruction which would await the rescuers. Inset: -Captain William J. Wheeler, commanding the Seneca.] - -On June 29, 1918, the _Seneca_ was acting as ocean escort to a -convoy, when at 6:45 a. m., the British steamer _Queen_ was torpedoed -and sank in five minutes. As in the case of the _Cowslip_, Captain -Wheeler boldly approached the _Queen_. Dropping depth charges and -firing his guns to keep the submarine down, he picked up the survivors. - -[Illustration: GALLANT OFFICERS OF THE COAST GUARD - -Left to right: Commodore E. P. Bertholf, commandant of the Coast Guard -from 1911 to July, 1919; Lieutenant F. W. Brown, navigating officer of -the Seneca, who volunteered to work the torpedoed Wellington to port; -Boatswain John A. Midgett, of Coast Guard Station No. 179, who led the -rescue of survivors of the torpedoed Mirlo under extraordinary danger -from fire.] - -It was work like this, calling for daring and quick decision, that -distinguished the vessels of the Coast Guard, which, operating in the -Navy, performed such signal service for the Allies and the commerce of -the world. - -On this side of the Atlantic, the main contribution by the Coast -Guard was as part of the patrol service under Admiral Anderson in the -Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, protecting the oil supply that went -in large volume from Texas and Mexico to British and other Allied naval -ships and for the necessary uses by the Allied armies in France. - -In the great disaster that followed the blowing up of a munition ship -at Halifax, the U. S. Coast Guard cutter _Morrill_, in command of -Lieutenant H. G. Hemmingway, and its crew gave first aid to the injured -in that stricken city. Coast Guard men supervised, without accident -or loss of life, the landing of 345,602 tons of high explosives in -New York and the loading on 1,698 vessels. The total value of the -explosives on these ships was more than five hundred million dollars. - -When the tug _Perth Amboy_ and four barges were shelled by a German -submarine on July 21, 1918, within sight of Coast Guard station No. -40, at East Orleans, Mass., Keeper Robert F. Pierce, with his crew, -launched their surfboat, and while the shelling was continuing, -proceeded out to assist the tug and her tow and aided in safely landing -the crew and treating the wounded. - -A very gallant action was that of the keeper and crew of Coast Guard -Station No. 179 at Chicamacomico, North Carolina, in rescuing life -under extraordinary circumstances following the destruction of the -steamship _Mirlo_, on August 16, 1918. At 4:30 p. m. the lookout -reported seeing a great mass of water shoot into the air. It seemed -to cover the after portion of a steamer that was about seven miles -away. At the same time a quantity of smoke rose from the steamer. Fire -was seen, and heavy explosions were heard. The Coast Guard boat went -to the rescue. Five miles off shore they met one of the ship's boats -with the captain and six men in it, who informed them that the ship -was a British tank steamer and that she had been torpedoed. Keeper -John A. Midgett directed the captain where to go. The Coast Guard boat -was headed for the burning mass of wreckage and oil. On arrival the -sea was found to be covered with burning oil and blazing gas for a -hundred yards, with two masses of flames about a hundred yards apart. -In between these, when the smoke would clear away a little, a lifeboat -could be seen, bottom up, with six men clinging to it. Heavy seas -washed over the boat. - -The Coast Guardsmen made their way through that inferno of smoke, -thrashing wreckage and blazing oil. They evaded the perils of floating -debris, fire, and wave. Lifting the six men on board, all that survived -of the sixteen who had been in that lifeboat, the Coast Guard rescuers -sought the safety of clear water. Thirty-six men of the _Mirlo_ were -rescued. - -The first United States vessel to pass the German fortifications -at Heligoland and through the Kiel Canal after the signing of the -armistice was the _Aphrodite_, commanded by a Coast Guard officer, -Captain F. C. Billard. While passing through the North Sea, the -_Aphrodite_ struck a German mine, but escaped destruction and was able -to proceed to Germany. - -The danger to American shipping by a submarine base on our coast, -not to speak of the violation of neutrality which such action would -involve, necessitated a patrol of the coast to make sure that there was -no such base and to prevent U-boat operations. These requirements were -admirably met by the coöperation of the Coast Guard. There were on the -Atlantic and Gulf coasts 199 stations. - -On April 6, 1917, one message, "Plan One. Acknowledge," incorporated -the Coast Guard as an integral part of the Navy during the war. That -service had 138 line officers, 70 engineer officers, 13 district -superintendents, and 2 constructors, a total of 233 commissioned -and 257 warrant officers, and 3,478 men--a valuable addition to the -naval forces. The professional ability of the Coast Guard officers -is evidenced by the fact that twenty-four commanded combatant ships -operating in European waters, five vessels of the patrol force in the -Caribbean Sea, and twenty-three combatant craft attached to naval -districts. Five Coast Guard officers commanded training camps, six -performed aviation duty, two being in command of air stations, one of -these in France. The Navy Department, naturally enough, assigned to the -command of combatant ships only officers whose experience and ability -warranted such detail and only those officers in whom the Department -had implicit confidence. - -Commodore E. P. Bertholf, then commandant, and Commodore W. E. -Reynolds, later commandant of the Coast Guard, and other officers were -assigned important administrative duties. Ashore and afloat, officers -and men discharged their duties with such efficiency that at the close -of the war I strongly recommended to the President and Congress that -the Coast Guard be continued permanently as a part of the Navy. - -Not only was the Coast Guard an integral part of the Navy during the -war, but the Lighthouse Service added 1,284 men to the naval personnel -and fifty vessels to the naval force. These vessels did a large part of -the work on the defensive entrance areas, laid mines, and were employed -as patrols. The light vessels and lighthouses served as lookouts and -reporting stations. The Diamond Shoal Light vessel, off Cape Hatteras, -was sunk by a German submarine, but not until after it had given -warning and saved a number of vessels. The larger light-house tenders -were almost continuously in the danger-zone and were employed to buoy -the wrecks of torpedoed vessels. - -The transfer of forty-one commissioned officers of the Coast and -Geodetic Survey gave the Navy additional officers who, from their -previous training and experience, immediately assumed important duties. -In addition to commanding patrol boats and auxiliaries and other -service afloat, their scientific attainments made them particularly -useful. For example, one officer, by his experience in developing the -wire-drag method of searching for hidden rocks and dangers, was well -fitted for research work on the anti-submarine problem. His services -were so valuable that he was ordered to London to coöperate with the -British Admiralty in further study of anti-submarine devices. Officers -of this service at the Naval Observatory, among other contributions, -designed a new type of submarine compass binnacle and new type of -aircraft compass. One of the ships of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, -the _Surveyor_, did excellent service at Gibraltar and shared with the -_Wheeling_ and the _Venita_ the credit for a successful attack on a -submarine. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII - -WINNING THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE WAR - - THE WAR AGAINST DISEASE FOUGHT AND WON BY MEDICAL - DEPARTMENT--GENERAL ORDER NO. 99--SAFETY ZONES - ESTABLISHED--HOSPITALS OVERSEAS--SKY PILOT LEADERSHIP--COÖPERATION - OF VOLUNTEER WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS--NAVAL OFFENDERS HELPED TO FIND - THEMSELVES. - - -The death rate in the Navy by disease in 1917-18 was the lowest in the -history of wars. Sickness, until the influenza epidemic, was less than -in peace time. The loss of days by immoral disease decreased below the -rate prevailing before the war. Preventive medicine, and war against -disease and vice gave a record to the Navy Medical Corps which is a -tribute alike to them and to the profession to which they belong. - -No branch of the military service was more forehanded and no officer -saw more clearly the possible needs that war would entail or made -ampler provision for them than the Surgeon General of the Navy, Admiral -William C. Braisted, who in recognition of his distinguished service -was given the privilege of retirement by a special act of Congress. He -was later elected president of the American Medical Association. - -"The first battle of the war, that against disease, was won by the -Medical Department of the Navy," reported the House Naval Affairs -Committee. - -When I was pressing for large appropriations for the Medical Department -of the Navy, the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee asked -me: - -"Mr. Secretary, do you really think there is proof of the absolute need -for the whole of the large amount asked for by the Surgeon General?" - -"I do not," was my reply. - -"Then why are you here urging the appropriation of so large a sum?" he -asked. - -"For the same reason," I replied, "that will cause you to appropriate -it." - -He looked at me with some astonishment and I added: - - I have not the information that justifies so large an expenditure; - nobody has. The Surgeon General, who is a wise and economical - administrator, has estimated that under certain contingencies this - money will be required. I cannot see into the future. If there are - no unforeseen casualties and no epidemics, we will neither need nor - spend the money. But if the possible in war happens, and some great - disaster or far-reaching epidemic befalls us, what could I say to - the fathers and mothers of the Republic if I had disapproved the - recommendation of the Surgeon General, and what would they say of - you and the Congress if you refused to vote the appropriation? The - sum may seem too large to you or to me. It is, if past experience - can be depended upon. But in war, in matters of battles and wounds - and death and possible epidemics, our duty is to make large - provision in the hope that it may not all be needed. - -The Chairman, zealous to win the war and to give every aid, led the -fight for the large appropriation. - -The administration at Washington, charged with the conduct of the war, -early realized that health was the foundation of military efficiency, -that health was dependent upon clean living, and that protection of men -in uniform from drink and disease was the prime duty owed to them, to -their parents, and to the world dependent, in the last analysis, upon -their fitness to fight. Ignorance, intemperance and indifference were -the first foes to be faced in 1917. - -The war broke precedents. The first broken was to override the ancient -theory that Government has nothing to do with the private life of a -fighter and no duty to protect him from immoral surroundings. Our -Government recognized that "the single man in khaki ain't no plaster -saint." As the youths poured into the training camps, harpies set up -their joints hard by. For the first time in history the Government said -to them: "Thou shalt not." It drove them and their establishments from -the vicinity of stations and camps. - -Authority was given by Congress for the Chief Executive to establish -zone systems for protection of camps. President Wilson established -zones wherever sailors, soldiers, or marines were undergoing training. -Appeals were made to state and local authorities for assistance. -Writing early in 1917 to the Governor of Rhode Island, where military -efficiency was jeopardized by failure to enforce laws, I said: - - There lies upon us morally, to a degree far outreaching any - technical responsibility, the duty of leaving nothing undone to - protect these young men from that contamination of their bodies - which will not only impair their military efficiency but * * * - return them to their homes a source of danger to their families and - the community at large. - -Seeking his hearty coöperation, I reminded this executive that these -dangers were bad enough in ordinary times, but were multiplied manifold -in times of war when great bodies of men are necessarily gathered -together away from the restraints of home and under the stress of -emotions and reaction which tend to dislodge the standards of normal -life. - -A Commission on Training Camp Activities, headed by Mr. Raymond -Fosdick, led in the welfare work, extending from the home to the -trenches and turrets. The other members were: - - John J. Eagan, Vice Chairman, Clifford W. Barnes, Lieutenant - Richard E. Byrd, U. S. N., Walter Camp, Selah Chamberlain, Lee F. - Hanmer, Joseph Lee, Lieutenant Commander Claude B. Mayo, U. S. N., - E. T. Meredith, Barton Myers, Charles P. Neill, Mrs. Helen Ring - Robinson, Mrs. Finley J. Shepard, Mrs. Daisy McLaurin Stevens, Mrs. - Edward T. Stotesbury, John S. Tichenor, Dean C. Mathews, Secretary, - Marion M. Jackson, Field Secretary. - -The multitude of religious and social agencies, anxious to serve, made -it necessary for the Government to give its imprimatur to certain -organized forces whose benefactions justified such recognition. I refer -to the Red Cross, Young Men's Christian Association, Young Women's -Christian Association, Knights of Columbus, Young Hebrew Association, -Salvation Army and American Library Association. They coöperated -cordially with Army and Navy authorities. - -The inspiration and leadership of the religious and welfare work of -the Navy came from its corps of chaplains. There had been no addition -to the number of the corps for forty years before 1914. The increase -gave a "sky pilot" for every great ship and every important station. -Additions in the regular and reserve corps when war came enabled the -Navy to supply religious direction by consecrated men of every creed. -They went with the Marines into Belleau Wood, with Rodman's fleet in -the North Sea, guided the new recruits on sea and shore--faithful, -devoted spiritual leaders in days when men unafraid looked death in the -face. These soldiers of the cross were comrades in battle, shipmates in -storm, and comforters in death. - -In 1914 an order was issued known as "General Order 99" prohibiting the -introduction of intoxicants as a beverage on any ship or station in the -Navy. That temperance order was in these words: - - _General Order No. 99_ - - Navy Department - Washington, D. C., June 1, 1914. - - On July 1, 1914, article 827, Naval Instructions, will be annulled, - and in its stead the following will be substituted: - - "The use or introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors - on board any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station, - is strictly prohibited, and commanding officers will be held - responsible for the enforcement of this order." - - JOSEPHUS DANIELS, - Secretary of the Navy. - -This was recommended by the Surgeon General of the Navy. If not -universally popular when it was promulgated, when war came it was -recognized that it had contributed to the fitness of the naval -personnel. The zone system of excluding drink and houses of ill fame -from training places, laws prohibiting the sale of liquor to any man -in uniform, war-time prohibition, and finally the ratifying of the -national prohibition amendment to the Constitution evidenced the -progressive steps taken for protection of men in uniform. - -With the coming of war, plans made long before were put into effect. -Permanent hospitals were enlarged and temporary hospitals built to make -ready for the large expansion in personnel. The bed capacity within -eight months was increased from 3,850 to 15,689, and before the end -of the war to over 19,000. Four hospitals were established in Great -Britain. One was at Strathpeffer, Scotland, in easy communication -with the Grand Fleet and the bases established by the North Sea -mining groups. It was magnificently located and splendidly equipped, -and proved of great service to the British Navy as well as our own. -Another at Leith was near one of the North Sea bases, and a third was -established at Queenstown, the chief base of our destroyers operating -with the British. Early in the war two base hospital units were sent to -Brest. Dispensaries and hospitals were established in the Mediterranean -at Corfu, in Italy, France, Gibraltar and the Azores. Three hospital -ships were in service commanded by medical officers, who, as President -Roosevelt wisely said, should always be in command of hospital ships. - -When the armistice was signed the Navy was ready to bring back from -France 30,000 sick and wounded men per month. Wherever men of the Navy -and Marine Corps were on duty in Europe, naval medical officers were -with them with all equipment needed. The personnel of the Medical Corps -increased from 353 doctors to 3,093; from 34 to 485 dentists; woman -nurses from 160 to 1,713; members of the Hospital Corps from 1,585 to -16,564. Into the Medical Reserve came many of the ablest men in the -profession. To the regulars and the reserves, the woman nurses and the -hospital corps, went out the gratitude of the men wounded and ill to -whom they administered unselfishly. Private John C. Geiger, a Marine, -who lost his right foot as a result of a wound in Belleau Wood, voiced -the feeling of all fighting men when he said: - - But I want to give credit to those hospital corps men of the Navy, - who worked with the Marines. Those fellows deserve a gold medal qr - the highest award they can receive. Why, before we could reach our - objective, they were right out on the field picking up and tagging - the wounded. They didn't mind the danger and did their duty without - protection of any kind. They were unarmed and could not shoot a - German if they did run across one. - -With the arrangements by which the Navy was to man the transports, a -new and unexpected duty, it became necessary for the Medical Corps -to expand its personnel and undertake a service that called for -discretion and judgment as well as medical skill. Never in the history -of troop movements have troops been so well taken care of, their -health protected in every possible manner, the sanitary precautions -provided, and such attention and elaborate provision made for the care -of the sick and wounded. The larger transports were indeed combined -transports and hospital ships. - -This transport work was taken over and performed entirely by the -Medical Department of the Navy without extra appropriation and without -expense to the Army. Every contingency was met. The provisions were -ample for the care of sick troops in transit, and there were returned -on naval transports, 151,649 Army sick, wounded and insane; 4,385 Navy; -and 3,625 Marines from the expeditionary forces in France. - -The Navy always put the man before the gun. If a member of the Navy did -wrong, we sought to save him. Two thousand men, punished for offenses -committed, were restored during the war, and most of them made good. -This was possible by the restoration of morale through the Mutual -Welfare League organized in naval prisons. It was an experiment that -contravened all former military methods, and was inaugurated by Thomas -Mott Osborne. Desiring to substitute modern penology for the methods -in vogue, I requested Mr. Osborne to become head of the naval prison, -and he was commissioned as lieutenant commander in the Reserves. In the -League he gave a large measure of self government to prisoners. He used -discipline as a means of helping young men to find themselves, and its -success was most encouraging. Too much honor cannot be given him. - -"Treat men as pawns and nine-pins," said Emerson, "and you shall suffer -as well as they. If you leave out their heart you shall lose your -own." It was that spirit, as well as the disuse of bread and water and -solitary confinement and other ancient punishments, which made naval -discipline the pattern for dealing with military offenders. - -There was no "hard boiled" discipline tolerated in the Navy. -Courts-martial were reviewed in a spirit of meting out justice, with -consideration and discrimination, as well as mercy. Admiral George R. -Clark, Judge Advocate General during most of the war, set new standards -of military court procedure and lessened the rigors of punishment. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV - -FIGHTING THE PROFITEERS - - MANY MILLIONS SAVED BY REFUSING TO PAY EXORBITANT PRICES--"NAVY - ORDER" PREVENTED EXTORTION--OVER THREE BILLION DOLLARS EXPENDED - WITH NEVER A HINT OF GRAFT OR EXTRAVAGANCE--COMPETITION ADHERED TO - IN WAR--FEEDING AND CLOTHING 500,000 MEN A BIG TASK, ACCOMPLISHED - WITH SIGNAL SUCCESS--SAVING IN HUGE SHORE CONSTRUCTION. - - -The Navy spent over three billion dollars for war purpose without a -suggestion of extravagance or graft. To be exact, Congress appropriated -$3,692,354,324.71. Of the amount $334,360,000 were returned to the -Treasury, in February, 1919, and additional sums later by the sale of -excess supplies and vessels that were no longer needed. - -The rule of the Department, "A dollar's worth of Navy for every dollar -spent," was adhered to in war as well as in peace. Early in 1917 steel -was contracted for at 2.90 for Navy ships when the price was soaring -in the market. Coal and oil and copper were purchased at reasonable -prices or commandeered. Manufacturers of torpedoes and smokeless powder -and other makers of munitions were held to reasonable profits. Where -munition or supply dealers wished more than a fair profit, a "Navy -Order" was placed. - -The history of the "Navy Order" should be told, for it was the weapon -that saved the Navy from profiteering. Competition prevailed through -the war in all purchases except where the supply was inadequate for war -necessities. In some cases the exigency of war demanded commandeering -orders. Such orders were sometimes required because excessive prices -were quoted, but often because the only private concerns which could -manufacture the article needed were under contract for all their -output. If they furnished the government of their own will, they were -liable to the parties who had contracted for their product. In such -instances, a commandeering order was necessary both to obtain a war -necessity and to protect the manufacturers. - -In the naval appropriation act a provision was early inserted, drawn by -Chairman Padgett, giving the power, when agreement could not be reached -as to the price for something essential, to commandeer it--whether -ships or land or munitions or supplies--and pay 75 per cent of the -appraisement, leaving to the owner the right to contest in the courts -the reasonableness of the compensation so fixed. That provision later -became applicable to all war agencies of Government. It was not often -invoked. The knowledge that the power was there and the declaration by -the Secretary of the Navy that he would invoke it when any excessive -price was demanded, and its use in some notable instances, made -profiteering on the Navy not easy, and it was seldom undertaken. - -"Certain coal operators are demanding excessive prices for coal," said -an officer of the Supply Department when coal was necessary to bring -back soldiers and munitions from Europe and carry on naval operations. - -"Place a Navy Order" was the direction, and the Navy secured its coal -from mines that produced Navy coal at prices that were not excessive. - -At another time some oil operators, while selling oil to foreign ships, -were refusing to deliver any oil to our ships on a naval order. - -"What shall we do?" asked the officer in charge. - -"Order the Marines to seize the oil," was the direction. - -The Marines had the reputation for carrying out orders. It was not -necessary for them to take the oil by force, but they were ready to do -it if the oil had not been furnished otherwise. - -These two cases were exceptional and they occurred after the armistice. -As a rule, manufacturers and business men and bankers, as well as -farmers and mechanics, showed from the moment war began that they, like -our soldiers and sailors, had forgotten all selfish interests, all -class interests of every kind. While the fighting men in the field gave -the world a new conception of democracy, men of affairs were given the -opportunity which, with few exceptions, they embraced, of showing to -the world that the American's idea of his money, like his idea of his -life, was something which was to be freely and ungrudgingly given for -his ideals and his country whenever his country called. - -One of the early supplies that had to be husbanded was coal. At a -conference of coal operators held in Washington in the spring of 1917, -an agreement was made for Navy coal at reasonable prices, all operators -to furnish their fair proportion to meet the needs. - -In 1916 a board of officers in the Navy Department was named which was -an important step in preparedness. Its duties were to get together at -frequent intervals, to compare notes, to place on record probable needs -and then to find out definitely where the necessary supplies could be -obtained, in what quantities and how soon. Its work was most helpful -in securing active coöperation all along the line and also in pointing -the path--in a very modest way--toward the successful accomplishment of -the task which was soon to be faced by the War Industries Board. This -commodity-section plan, according to which the War Industries Board -effected its own first successful internal organization, originated for -naval uses in the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, and, while the War -Industries Board rendered most useful and invaluable service to the -Navy, such help as was received related solely to priorities and to -items of supplies and services of which there was a shortage. So long -as supply exceeded or equalled demand and the usual orderly processes -of business could consequently function, the Navy's long-established -methods of procedure stood the test of war unchanged and unscathed. - -The Navy, as did all other war agencies, leaned upon the War -Industries Board which, by priority orders, saw that war material -was furnished where most needed. Admiral Frank F. Fletcher was the -Navy's representative on the Board. He showed the same ability in that -important position which he had demonstrated when commander-in-chief of -the Atlantic Fleet. - -The War Industries Board, which rendered invaluable service, was -made up of men who won national approval by their masterful handling -of the big tasks committed to them. Its membership was: Bernard M. -Baruch, chairman; Andrew Legge, vice-chairman; Robert S. Brookings, -Hugh Frayne, Rear Admiral F. F. Fletcher, Brigadier General Hugh S. -Johnson, Judge Edwin B. Parker, George N. Peek, J. L. Replogle, -L. L. Summers; H. P. Ingels, secretary; Albert C. Ritchie, general -counsel; Herbert Bayard Swope, associate member of the board, assistant -to chairman. Admiral C. J. Peoples was the Navy representative on -priorities. - -All supplies for the Navy, except such as were regulated by priority -orders, were obtained throughout the war by formal contracts entered -into after the widest possible public competition in the open market, -the only restriction being that--as required by Section 3722 of the -Revised Statutes of the United States--no person was allowed to bid -unless he was a manufacturer or regular dealer. - -Throughout the war, all formalities attendant upon the opening of -bids were strictly adhered to. The proposals were opened every -day--sometimes far into the night--and read out publicly, each bidder -having ample opportunity to know his competitors' offers and also to -be sure that his own were not overlooked. Even in the few cases where -military secrecy was obligatory, there was still genuine competition. -The eight bidders, for instance, on the mines for the North Sea Barrage -were invited to meet each other and the purchasing officials in a -locked and guarded room, even these confidential bids being strictly -competitive. - -The idea in all business dealings by the Navy was that every single -transaction--indeed every part of every transaction--must not only be -right but look right. - -It is scarcely to be wondered at that by following this rule and also -by giving prompt inspections and making immediate payments, the Navy -throughout the war maintained most cordial relations with a business -public which well knew that every contract was awarded to the lowest -responsible bidder whose goods were up to the standard required by -specifications and fit for the use for which they were intended. It -was largely for this reason that the purchasing machinery was able to -expand so enormously without confusion or delay. In one day during -the war the purchases amounted to over $30,000,000, as compared with -$19,000,000 during the heaviest pre-war year. - -Looking back at it now, the mere suggestion of waiving competition--and -thereby striking at the very foundation of the system--brings a smile -of incredulity. But it was no joke at the time. Scarcely had war been -declared when requests came from a number of quarters for authority -"to cut red tape" by doing away with competition, the argument being -advanced that deliveries could thereby be expedited and important -work accelerated. The idea was not easy to suppress, because its -many advocates really believed they were right and insisted upon -convincing superior authority. The answer was that competition was -bound to speed things up rather than retard them and that, in any -event, the responsible officials in Washington had given the matter due -consideration and decided definitely and finally that competition must -continue uninterruptedly, as to everything except where the demand so -largely exceeded the supply as to compel priority orders. - -The record of the commissary branch--and this applies to the hundreds -of thousands of soldiers transported overseas and back as well as -the half-million men within the Navy itself--was one of unqualified -success from first to last and one of which the service has good reason -to be proud. Never were men in uniform so well fed or was so much -attention paid to a balanced and abundant ration. "Only the best (with -no substitute said to be 'equally as good'), is good enough for our -fighting men," was the motto of Rear Admiral Samuel McGowan, Chief of -the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, and his capable assistants, who -took the greatest pride in seeing that men in the service never even -knew, except by reading in the papers, that Government restriction was -put upon the quantity and kind of food for civilians. - -With respect to the forwarding of supplies of every description to -the forces abroad, an intra-bureau order issued by Admiral McGowan in -July, 1917, directed that every wish of the senior naval officer in -European waters should be complied with on the same day that it became -known--indeed that the discretion vested in the Chief of the Bureau of -Supplies was already exercised when the needs of European forces were -made known. - -When the armistice was signed and demobilization followed, there was -on hand a quantity of supplies in excess of prospective needs. The -same supply officers, who had so capably provided for the Navy's wants -during hostilities, promptly inaugurated a selling campaign; and, on -the first $70,000,000 worth of surplus thus disposed of, the Government -realized a net profit of more than three millions. - -Throughout the entire ordeal--preparation, operation, -demobilization--the Navy's business organization functioned in all -its various branches with full one hundred per cent effectiveness. -So much so, in fact, that an investigating sub-committee from the -House Committee on Naval Affairs officially reported to Congress that -the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts "has won and well deserves a -nation-wide reputation for business efficiency." - -In appreciation of the service rendered by Admiral McGowan, Congress -passed an act authorizing his retirement earlier than the usual time -prescribed. This recognition was limited in its terms, applicable only -to the Paymaster General, the Surgeon General and the Chief Naval -Constructor. And no special distinction was ever more deserved. - -Sound business principles were adhered to when it became necessary to -give navy orders and provide funds for enlargement or construction of -plants. Reference has been made to the methods of securing munitions of -all characters. When it was necessary to take over an optical plant, -for example, expert ordnance officers carried on its operation without -injury to the rights of its owners, and expert accountants kept all -transactions in accordance with the most approved business practice. - -Most of the great construction was done under contract, as for example -the giant armor plate and projectile plant at Charleston, W. Va., and -the big dry-docks at Philadelphia and at Norfolk. - -[Illustration: A GENERAL VIEW OF BANTRY BAY - -At Berehaven, in Bantry Bay, the Americans maintained a large submarine -base.] - -[Illustration: A CLOSE-UP VIEW OF AMERICAN "SUBS" AT BEREHAVEN] - -When the demand for new and larger training stations and other shore -establishments, which ran into hundreds of millions of dollars, made -it impossible to secure fixed price contracts, the supervision of the -work was so efficient in the few cost-plus contracts that the cost -was less than if undertaken under contract at a fixed price. This was -notably true of the two mammoth office buildings occupied by the Navy -Department and certain divisions of the War Department. The story of -these two buildings--the largest office structures in the world--is -interesting. The need for more space by the two war departments of -the Government was recognized, even after temporary modern structures -had been completed. Congress was asked for relief, and plans were -presented. The Navy urged upon the Chairman of the House Appropriations -Committee the construction of fire-proof concrete buildings instead -of the flimsy wooden fire-traps built in the hurry of the outbreak of -the war. The suggestion met with favor, and the Navy was authorized -to proceed with the construction of both buildings, the one for the -Army as well as the one for the Navy. Under the direction of Captain -A. L. Parsons, U. S. N., these structures were completed within five -months at a price lower than the sums estimated by most contractors. -They stand today as the best arranged office buildings in Washington, a -monument to naval business methods and construction efficiency and to -the wisdom of Congress. - -[Illustration: RODMAN AND BEATTY - -Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman, who commanded the American battle squadron in -the North Sea, and Admiral, the Earl Beatty, commander-in-chief of the -British Grand Fleet.] - -The vast shore construction program, involving more than $300,000,000, -was carried out with the greatest energy and efficiency by the Bureau -of Yards and Docks, under the direction, first, of Admiral F. R. Harris -and, later, of Admiral Charles W. Parks. The civil engineers, permanent -and reserve, who directed shore construction in this country and in -Europe, more than measured up to war demands. - -The Board of Compensation, of which Admiral Washington Capps was -made chairman, rendered service beyond computation in protecting the -government in all "Navy order" contracts. Millions of dollars were -saved by the thoroughness and efficiency with which this important -board performed its manifold and difficult duties. - -The only criticism of the Navy voiced during the war was that it was -too insistent upon holding on to peace-time competition and economies. -One officer complained that I "held up an order for torpedoes." He was -correct. It was held up long enough to secure a conference with the -makers. By a few days' delay on one order, $5,000,000 was saved, and -we always had an abundant supply. In one order for shells $200,000 -was saved. Such instances could be multiplied many times. Insistence -upon competition, where possible, and strict inspection in other -cases, enabled the Navy to close the war with the assurance that naval -expenditures were as free from extravagance as they were untainted by -graft or favoritism. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV - -"SIRS, ALL IS WELL WITH THE FLEET" - - TWO THOUSAND VESSELS IN SERVICE--200,000 MEN OVERSEAS OR - TRANSPORTING TROOPS AND SUPPLIES ACROSS ATLANTIC--373 SHIPS, 81,000 - OFFICERS AND MEN IN EUROPEAN FORCES--VISITS OF ROOSEVELT, BENSON, - MAYO AND CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE--PERSHING'S TRIBUTE. - - -With more than two thousand vessels in service and 533,000 officers -and men, the largest personnel ever possessed by any Navy, our naval -operations in the World War literally belted the globe. Operating with -the Allies from the Arctic to the Adriatic, from Corfu to the Azores, -we manned and operated the vast fleet of American transports carrying -troops, munitions and supplies across the Atlantic, and furnished -man-of-war escort to protect them. - -Patrolling our own coasts and the Western Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico -and the Caribbean Sea, our vessels also kept watch in South American -waters and guarded the approaches to the Panama Canal. Our ships in -South American waters, commanded by Admiral W. B. Caperton, coöperated -with the naval forces of our sister republics and gave insurance -against possible raiders and submarines. Ships under Caperton, the -squadron under Anderson in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, and -Mayo's ships further north maintained the patrol throughout the war on -this side of the Atlantic. - -Guarding against raiders and German activities in the Pacific, our -operations extended from our west coast to Hawaii, Guam and the -Philippines, and our vessels in the Orient coöperated with the -Japanese and other Allied naval forces from Manila to Vladivostok. -The destroyers sent from Cavite, which voyaged twelve thousand -miles through the Straits, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the -Mediterranean, met at Gibraltar the forces from the other side of the -world. - -Eight hundred and thirty-four vessels and two hundred thousand men -of the United States Navy were either serving in European waters -or engaged in transporting troops and supplies to Europe, before -hostilities ended. This was more than twice as many ships and nearly -three times as many officers and men as were in naval service before -the war. - -Four hundred vessels were assigned to the Naval Forces Operating in -European Waters, 373 being present at the time of the armistice--70 -destroyers, 5 gunboats, 5 Coast Guard cutters, 120 submarine chasers, -27 yachts, 12 submarines, 13 mine sweepers, 10 mine planters, 8 -battleships, 3 cruisers, 16 tugs, 4 cross-channel transports, 55 -vessels carrying coal for the army, 18 tenders and repair ships, and 7 -vessels of miscellaneous types. In addition three Russian destroyers -were manned by United States naval personnel. Eighty-one thousand -officers and men of the Navy were in service in Europe. Thirty thousand -Marines were sent overseas for service with the Army and 1,600 for -naval duty ashore. - -But that by no means covers all the service performed for the Allies -and our own forces in Europe. The entire Cruiser and Transport Force, -with its 83 vessels, 3,000 officers and 41,000 men; and the Naval -Overseas Transportation Service, with 378 vessels in operation, manned -by 4,692 officers and 29,175 men, were in trans-Atlantic service, -carrying troops and supplies. Practically all the 384 merchant ships -which had naval armed guards and navy guns were carrying food, -materials and other articles to allied armies and peoples. Thirty -thousand of the naval personnel were, at one time or another, engaged -in this service. Thus, a total of 834 vessels and more than 200,000 -officers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps were engaged either in -European service or in trans-Atlantic service to and from Europe. - -Our forces in Europe operated in forty-seven different localities, -extending from the Arctic Ocean all the way around to the Adriatic Sea. -The extent of our operations is seen from this list of the principal -naval bases, and the United States naval vessels on duty at each of -them on November 11, 1918: - - Queenstown (2 tenders, 24 destroyers, 30 chasers, 3 tugs) 59 - - Berehaven (3 battleships, 1 tender, 7 submarines, 1 tug, - 1 oiler) 13 - - Brest (1 gunboat, 16 yachts, 3 tenders, 38 destroyers, - 9 tugs, 1 station ship, 4 steam barges, 4 barges, - 9 mine sweepers) 85 - - Cardiff (1 tender, 1 refrigerator hulk, 55 colliers) 57 - - Gibraltar (2 cruisers, 4 gunboats, 5 Coast Guard cutters, - 9 yachts, 1 tender, 6 destroyers, 18 chasers) 45 - - Genoa (2 tugs) 2 - - Azores (2 yachts, 1 tender, 1 oiler, 2 mine sweepers, - 5 submarines, 1 tug) 12 - - Grand Fleet (5 battleships) 5 - - Murmansk (1 cruiser, also 3 Russian destroyers) 1 - - Mine Force (1 tender, 10 mine layers, 2 mine sweepers) 13 - - Southampton (4 transports) 4 - - Plymouth (1 tender, 2 destroyers, 36 chasers) 39 - - Corfu (1 tender, 36 chasers) 37 - - Liverpool (1 oiler) 1 - -Naval aviation activities were almost as extensive as those of our -ships, extending from England, Ireland and Northern France to eastern -Italy. There were thirty aviation bases, the Northern Bombing Group -considered as one base: - - Ireland--Queenstown (2 stations, seaplane, and assembly and - repair); Whiddy Island, Wexford, Lough Foyle, Berehaven. - - England--Killingholme, Eastleigh. - - France--Dunkirk, Northern Bombing Group; Treguier, L' Aber Vrach, - Fromentine, St. Trojan, Arcachon, Pauillac, La Trinite, La Pallice, - Moutchic, Paimboeuf, Rochefort, Gujan, Brest, Guipivas, Le Croisic, - and Ile Tudy. - - Italy--Lake Bolseno, Porto Corsini, Pescara. - - Azores--Marine Corps aviators. - -Two divisions of our submarines operated in European waters--seven at -Berehaven, Ireland, with the _Bushnell_ as tender, and five at the -Azores. Twenty-one sightings of enemy submarines and four torpedo -attacks were reported by the Berehaven division. The AL-2 (Lieutenant -P. F. Foster, commanding) had a remarkable encounter on July 10, 1918. -Shaken by a terrific explosion, evidently that of a torpedo, the -AL-2 discovered the periscope of a submarine apparently injured and -attempting to get to the surface. The only chance to get the U-boat -was to ram it submerged, and the AL-2 executed a crash dive, which -carried it down a hundred feet. It barely missed the German, who was -trying to slip under the American submarine. Swinging around, the AL-2 -started again after the enemy, which was trying to rise. But it never -came to the surface. Radio calls from another U-boat were unanswered. -The lost submarine was the German U-B-65, known to be operating in -that vicinity. "Known sunk," was the verdict of the British Admiralty, -and for this the AL-2 was given the major part of the credit. Our -submarines did excellent and faithful service, and proved their -usefulness in that new and strange phase of undersea warfare where "sub -hunts sub." - -Our vessels in European waters were employed in so many regions that -they did not operate together as one fleet, but constituted a "task -force" of the Atlantic Fleet. In British waters our ships usually -operated with British forces under the direction of British officers. -Elsewhere they remained under the direction of American officers, -always coöperating freely with Allied naval forces. At the United -States Naval Headquarters at London there was a force of 1,200. The -200 commissioned personnel included a number of the ablest officers -in the Navy, with Captain (later Rear Admiral) N. C. Twining as chief -of staff, and Captain W. R. Sexton as assistant chief of staff. -It embraced experts whose daily association with officers in the -Admiralty, under the leadership of Admiral Sims, brought about complete -understanding and perfect team-work. Those at the head of important -divisions were: - - Intelligence Department, Commander J. V. Babcock, who also acted - as aid; Convoy Operations, Captain Byron A. Long; Anti-Submarine - Section, Captain R. H. Leigh; Aviation, Captain H. I. Cone, and - afterward, Lieutenant Commander W. A. Edwards; Personnel, Commander - H. R. Stark; Communications, Lieutenant Commander E. G. Blakeslee; - Material, Captain E. C. Tobey; Repairs, Captain S. F. Smith, and - afterward, Naval Constructor L. B. McBride; Ordnance, Commander - G. L. Schuyler, and afterward Commander T. A. Thomson; Medical - Section, Captain F. L. Pleadwell, and afterward, Commander Edgar - Thompson; Legal Section, Commander W. H. McGrann; Scientific - Section, Professor H. A. Bumstead, Ph. D. - -This large establishment in Grosvenor Gardens had been built up from -the small beginning in 1917 when Admiral Sims, accompanied by his aid, -arrived just after war was declared. Entrusted first with the duty of -conferring with the British Admiralty and reporting the naval situation -with his recommendations, Admiral Sims was soon designated as commander -of our forces in European waters with the rank of vice admiral, and -before the armistice was promoted to admiral. Keeping in constant -touch with the British and other Admiralties, representing our Navy -upon the Allied Naval Council, the information he secured, with that -furnished us by Allied naval officers stationed in Washington, enabled -the Navy Department to keep pace with all naval activities, and his -recommendations were taken into consideration in important decisions -that were made. Serving with zeal and ability, he won the regard and -confidence of his associates of the allied navies, and received high -honors from European governments. - -In addition to the daily exchange of messages between London -headquarters and Washington, information from special Government -missions, and the intimate intercourse of officers of all the Allied -navies, high ranking officials of our Navy from time to time went to -Europe for conferences and inspection of our forces and activities, -among them Assistant Secretary Roosevelt and Admirals Benson, Mayo and -Gleaves. The Assistant Secretary, going over in the destroyer _Dyer_, -spent six weeks abroad in the summer of 1918. He had conferences with -the Allied naval authorities in London, Paris and Rome, and inspected -our bases and mine depots, and witnessed the work of laying the North -Sea barrage. Reporting that our personnel there had done well under -hazardous and difficult circumstances, he advised a like mine barrage -across the strait of Otranto. - -Admiral Benson, going abroad in 1917, took part in the organization -of the Allied Naval Council, and urged a more vigorous offensive, -which we had favored from our entrance into the war. Months before, -Admiral Benson had prepared, and I had approved and sent to the British -Admiralty, "proposed measures to prevent German submarines from -operating against Allied commerce in the Atlantic," which pointed out -the following courses which were open to us: - - We may attempt to-- - - (a) Reduce the Heligoland region and close exits for submarines. - - (b) Reduce the Zeebrugge region and close exits for submarines. - - (c) Enter the Baltic and close exits for submarines from the - Baltic bases. - - (d) Prevent Danish and Dutch territory being used for submarine - bases. - - (e) Construct and maintain mine barriers about the Heligoland - area. - - (f) Construct and maintain a mine barrier in the Skagerrack or - Kattegat. - - (g) Construct and maintain mine barriers in the Zeebrugge region. - - (h) Construct and maintain a mine barrier across the North Sea. - - (i) Close Dover straits to submarines by a mine barrier and - surface patrol. - -These matters were discussed by Benson with officers of the British -Admiralty, and the methods and the difficulties of carrying them out -were considered. Speaking, sometime after the war, of the offensive -plans he advocated, Benson said: - - I think that the bases of the German submarines should have been - attacked, and I so urged when the war was in progress; and one of - my conferences with the British Admiralty in London in 1917 was to - urge more active operations against the bases of the submarines. - But it was an operation that had to be not only a concerted action, - but the principal part of it would have been necessary to be taken - by the Allies, we simply to add our part to it; and all during the - summer of 1917, I urged active operations of that kind and could - never understand why we did not get definite plans from the other - side as to how such operation should be carried out. - - While in London I agreed with Admiral Jellicoe on a plan, a very - confidential plan, that was to be carried out later on, in which I - not only volunteered to place our ships but insisted that our ships - should be placed there. - -During Benson's absence from Washington, Captain (later Admiral) W. -V. Pratt in both 1917 and 1918 acted as Chief of Operations. In the -discharge of that duty, as well as Assistant Chief of Operations, -succeeding Captain Volney Chase, who died in the summer of 1917, -Admiral Pratt demonstrated ability unsurpassed by any officer serving -in any important position during the World war. When Captain Pratt -later was ordered to sea, Admiral Josiah S. McKean, who had served with -marked ability as Chief of Material during the war, became Acting Chief -of Operations and added to his well-earned reputation. - -Admiral Mayo, in his capacity of commander-in-chief of our ships in -European as well as home waters, made an official visit to Europe in -September, 1917, inspecting bases and forces, and conferring with naval -leaders of Great Britain, France and Italy. He was on duty again in -Europe in 1918. Attending the Allied Naval Conference in London, he -urged the construction of the North Sea Barrage, which was shortly -afterwards approved. - -Visiting the famous Dover Patrol, he witnessed a bombardment of Ostend -by British monitors, and had the experience of being under enemy -fire. The flotilla leader _Broke_, in which he embarked with Sir John -Jellicoe, First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, and other British officers -of high rank, flew the flags of both Mayo and Jellicoe. - -The monitors, armed with 15-inch naval guns, were accompanied on these -expeditions by spotting aircraft and destroyers. The party accompanied -the _Terror_. Soon after she began to fire, the German shore batteries -got the range. Firing with precision and accuracy, some of the German -shells fell within a short distance of the _Broke_. Admiral Reginald -Bacon gives this interesting account of the incident: - - On Tuesday, September 25th [1917], Sir John Jellicoe, Admiral Sir - Henry Oliver, and Admiral Philpotts arrived at Dover and came - with Admiral Mayo and his staff up the patrol line. It was a - quaint experience for them. Half an hour after leaving Dunkirk in - the _Broke_ we lost sight of the shore. After an hour's steaming - we sighted the _Terror_ and destroyers in the open sea, and the - motor-launches just starting their smoke-screen. Nothing else was - in sight except a small monitor five miles away right out at sea, - burning her searchlight for an aiming mark. Really our visitors - must have thought we were humbugging when the _Terror_ opened fire - and fired single rounds at fixed intervals. - - A few seconds afterwards while steaming about in the _Broke_--we - had altered course three points--a splash came from a Tirpitz shell - about 300 yards off. It fell very near the spot where we would have - been if we had kept on our original course. I apologized to the - American Chief of the Staff for not having kept on and brought the - shell nearer. His reply was quaintly American in humor: - - "Don't mention it, Admiral; by the time we get to New York that - shell will have been close alongside right enough!" - - The result of the _Terror's_ shooting was most successful, as - all the rebuilding in the dockyard done by the Germans was again - demolished. On October 19th, the _Terror_ was torpedoed, and had - to be docked. On the following day the _Soult_ fired at Ostend and - destroyed a high explosive magazine. One German craft was sunk, and - two more damaged. - -Upon his return, Admiral Mayo made detailed reports covering the -entire naval situation, with important recommendations as to plans -and measures. When war began it was expected that the time would come -when the entire Atlantic Fleet would be sent abroad, and Admiral Mayo -would command all our forces in the looked-for great naval battle with -the German fleet. Our vessels in Europe were, therefore, considered our -advance forces, a "task force" assigned to special duties until the -whole fleet should be united for action. But the character of the war -called for wide dispersion of its units, and it was not until after -hostilities ended that they were reunited under the commander-in-chief, -who was in command when the dreadnaughts sailed from Brest in December, -1918. - -No navies in all history ever worked together in such close coöperation -as did ours with the British, French and Italians. The cordial -relations between the civilian populations, as well as the naval -personnel, will be a lasting tie. I wish it were possible to put -on record the sentiments expressed, the appreciation felt by all -Americans in the Navy for the gracious courtesies and friendly offices -shown to our men serving a common cause far from their homes. The one -regrettable incident at Cork, where an unruly element attacked some of -our sailors, was recognized as an exception. It was confined to the few -engaged in the trouble, the people of that city and country having no -relation to it and not affected by it in their feeling of friendship -for our sailors and our country. It left no resentment towards -the great Irish people, who received us with open arms and showed -hospitality and cordiality towards our forces domiciled in that country. - -One of the services which the people of Lille, France, will long -remember is the voluntary act of men of the Navy in turning carpenters -for the time, and building with their own hands scores of houses for -the homeless people. That act, together with the generous gift by -American sailors of their own rations to needy peoples, illustrates the -spirit that actuated our men. At one place, so moved were they by the -lack of food for women and children, the sailors denied themselves to -such an extent that the captain was forced to issue an order limiting -their generosity to prevent a shortage of food for the sustenance of -the crew. - -Cardiff does not bulk large on the war maps. Mention of it recalls no -such adventure as at Zeebrugge, no such achievement as laying the -mine-barrage in the North Sea, or sinking of submarines at Durazzo -or on the high seas. But it spelled coal for our forces, and meant -hard work and called for efficient management. The limited number of -colliers, the time for making voyages to American coal fields, and the -hazard from U-boats suggested obtaining coal from Wales for the needs -of the army in France. The Army requested the Navy to release colliers -for that service, and at first to operate twenty "lake" and other -chartered boats and undertake the carrying of coal from Great Britain -to supplement the steady flow from America. Admiral Philip Andrews, -with headquarters at Cardiff, directed this work, which required a -naval personnel of 4,101, operated 65 ships, and delivered 30,000 to -45,000 tons of coal each month. - -There is no glamour about the work of repairing ships. Even in peace -times it is a hard overalls job, but our nine European bases with -eleven repair ships and tenders, kept our ships in condition. If I were -a poet I would immortalize the skilled men, working in the dark, often -flat on their backs, to keep our ships fit and to repair the ravages of -U-boat attacks. Not counting the 500 ships going and coming from the -United States to Europe, often calling for first aid, we had nearly 400 -ships on duty in European waters. Though taxed by their own needs, the -facilities of our Allies were freely at our disposal, but the fact that -it was possible to make our forces so nearly self-sustaining is a high -tribute to the officers and men charged with that duty. Allied navies -expressed admiration for the ability of a ship's force to do much of -their own repairing, and marvelled at the efficiency of the repair -ships--the _Melville_, _Dixie_, _Panther_, _Prometheus_, _Bridgeport_, -_Black Hawk_. - -Our own Shipping Board voiced its thanks for naval assistance abroad -as well as at home. In fact, in all ship construction and repair work -as well as plans for operation and navigation undertaken by that -organization the Navy furnished constructors and other experts, and was -ready upon call with its entire facilities. - -Little has been heard of the _Scorpion_, which was interned in Turkish -waters during the war. The crew of that ship, whose base had long -been at Constantinople, protected the American and British embassies, -one regular duty of the vessel being to act as despatch boat to our -Ambassador to Turkey. After America entered the war, some of them, -eager to get into the fray, made their escape over land and joined the -American forces in France. - -From the outbreak of the European conflict the _Scorpion's_ men had a -"front seat at the show," and witnessed many interesting sights. From -the deck of their ship they saw the thrilling finish of the race of the -German cruisers _Goeben_ and _Breslau_, which made their sensational -escape from British pursuers and then interned in the harbor of -Constantinople. They saw the Teutonic crews of the erstwhile ships -of the Germany Navy, hastily doffing their German caps and donning -Moslem fezzes to camouflage their nationality, as the Turkish flag was -hoisted to the mastheads. They observed, from their point of vantage, -the gallant sweep of the harbor by a British submarine which bobbed -up in the Bosporus as the Turks were preparing to send reinforcements -to Gallipoli, torpedoed a Turkish vessel at its dock, and caused such -consternation that the Turks, at the quays ready to sail with 40,000 -troops, did not dare venture out with their transports. One single -daring British submarine caused all the troops to be disembarked, and -the sea expedition to the Dardanelles was abandoned. - -The "Scorpions," as they called themselves, brought one story home with -them which, if verified, is worthy of the best French epic. The Turks, -as the story was told in Constantinople, captured a French submarine, -the _Turquoise_. Not one of the captors who boarded the ship understood -how to operate its delicate mechanism. Therefore, the French engineers -were ordered to start the engines. Nothing loath, the orders were -obeyed. The sub dived, carrying with it Turkish captors and French -engineers, never to return. Whether or not that particular act can be -confirmed, the war produced many men of the navies with the spirit -which the incident illustrates. - -The _Scorpion_ was truly a ship of mercy. First, under the direction of -Ambassador Morgenthau and afterwards of Ambassador Elkus, it carried -hundreds of refugees to places of safety, was the almoner of many in -distress and gave asylum to Americans, who were heartened in that -harbor, crowded with ships carrying the flags of many nations, to see -the glorious Stars and Stripes floating from the mainmast. - -No story of the Navy's preparedness and efficiency would be complete -without recognition of the wisdom of the Council of National Defense, -authorized by Congress and appointed by the President in 1916. That -Council had large responsibility, and measured up to its great duties -before and during the war. The Council was thus constituted: Secretary -of War Newton D. Baker, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, -Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of Agriculture -David F. Houston, Secretary of Commerce William C. Redfield, Secretary -of Labor William B. Wilson. - -The Advisory Commission of the Council was composed of these men: -Daniel Willard, Howard E. Coffin, Julius Rosenwald, Bernard M. Baruch, -Dr. Hollis Godfrey, Samuel Gompers, Dr. Franklin Martin, Walter S. -Gifford, director, Grosvenor B. Clarkson, secretary. - -Eight months before the Armistice, March 11, 1918, the House -Sub-Committee, composed of men of both parties--W. B. Oliver, chairman, -W. W. Venable, Adam B. Littlepage, James C. Wilson, Fred A. Britten, -John A. Peters and Frederick C. Hicks--which had made a thorough -investigation of the Navy and naval administration, unanimously -reported: - - First. All appropriations have been expended or obligated with - judgment, caution and economy, when you consider that haste was - necessary to bring results and abnormal conditions obtained in - reference to all problems of production or operations. - - Second. The Navy, with limited personnel and material, was suddenly - called to face many difficult and untried problems in sea warfare, - and has met the situation with rare skill, ingenuity, and dispatch - and a high degree of success. - - Third. The efficiency of the Navy's pre-war organization, the - readiness and fitness of its men and ships for the difficult and - arduous tasks imposed by war were early put to the acid test and - thus far in no way have they been found wanting, and we feel that - the past twelve months presents for the Navy a remarkable record - of achievement, of steadily increasing power in both personnel and - material, of rapidly expanding resources, and of well-matured plans - for the future, whether the war be of long or short duration. - -They could say at the close of hostilities, as they said then: "Sirs, -all is well with the fleet." - -The immense scope and signal success of our operations in Europe -surprised even those familiar with the Navy, and the great work of the -war. Leading members of the House Committee on Naval Affairs--Chairman -Lemuel P. Padgett, Representative Thomas S. Butler, the present -Chairman, and Representatives Daniel J. Riordan, Walter L. Hensley, -John R. Connelly, William B. Oliver, William W. Venable, James C. -Wilson, William J. Browning, John R. Farr, John A. Peters, Frederick C. -Hicks and Sydney A. Mudd--in July and August, 1918, made an inspection -of our naval activities in Europe. Chairman Padgett, for the committee, -on his return, said: - - The magnitude of our naval operations overseas, on the water and in - the air, reflects credit upon the American people, and commands the - respect and admiration of our Allies. When the war is over and the - full history of our naval operations abroad may be given in detail, - it will be a source of pride and honor to the American people, and - the fidelity, patriotism and devotion of our naval officers and - enlisted men, embracing as a part of the Navy the Marine Corps - officers and men, will form a bright part in the world's history. * - * * - -The record speaks for itself. "Hindsight is better than foresight," and -if it was to be done over again, the Navy, with its war experience, -might do it better. But when all is said as to errors and achievements, -this is the imperishable record: - -_The Navy performed successfully every task with which it was -entrusted. In not one did it fail._ - -_If it made mistakes--(and some were made)--not one of them had any -serious or disastrous result._ - -_If there were delays--(and there were some unavoidable ones)--not one -of them had any material effect upon the trend or duration of the war._ - -_If all the criticisms, of whatever kind or character, that have been -made be lumped together, they would not tilt the scales one degree, if -balanced against the Navy's achievements._ - -After the war was all over and the men were returning home, with time -and opportunity to assess the value of the service rendered, General -John J. Pershing, in command of the American Expeditionary Forces, -wrote on April 21, 1919: - - We fully realize that had it not been for the Navy, who kept watch - and guard night and day over our transport fleet, the American - effort in France would never have been successful. The Navy's - assistance was whole-hearted and arduous, and was always given in a - most generous spirit of coöperation. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVI - -AFTER THE ARMISTICE - - NAVAL DIPLOMACY PREVENTED CLASH IN FORMER AUSTRIAN TERRITORY - AND STABILIZED CONDITIONS IN DISTURBED AREAS--ANDREWS IN THE - ADRIATIC--BRISTOL AT CONSTANTINOPLE--MC CULLY'S CONFIDENTIAL - MISSION TO RUSSIA--MISSIONS OF ROOSEVELT AND BENSON--SHIPS AND MEN - SERVED AS ALMONERS TO THE STARVING. - - -Men in the fighting line were full of solemn thanksgiving the day the -armistice was signed. At home we built bonfires and rejoiced. In Paris -the celebration was a jubilee. It meant home to the Americans, with -eyes turned toward our shores, coming back to firesides with the sense -of a hard duty finished with honor. - -Much has been heard since November 11, 1918, of regret that war was not -continued until Berlin was captured. There was no such feeling on the -front line on that glad day in November. The Allies could have gone on -to Berlin, but the victory would have been no greater, only costlier -in lives. Those who think that the troops should have been ordered "On -to Berlin," instead of accepting the victory through the terms of the -armistice, ought to recall the statement by Marshal Foch. When the -terms had been drawn up, one of the American Peace Commissioners asked -General Foch whether he would rather the Germans would reject or accept -the armistice that had been drawn up. The commander of the Allied -armies answered: - - The only aim of war is to obtain results. If the Germans sign an - armistice on the general lines we have just determined we shall - have obtained the result we seek. Our aims being accomplished, no - one has the right to shed another drop of blood. - -But the armistice did not end naval operations in Europe. It changed -them and lessened the number of ships and men required. The terms -of the armistice were to be carried out. The Second Division of the -American Expeditionary Forces, commanded by General Lejeune, now head -of the Marine Corps, composed of men of the Army and the Marine Corps, -was sent to Germany as part of the Army of Occupation. - -The starving had to be fed, and the Americans alone had the food and -the organization. Everywhere in Europe there was the reaction from long -strain. Having put our hands to the plow, we could not turn back until -stable conditions were restored. And there were problems more difficult -than those confronted in war. - -When I reached Paris in March, 1919, the conditions in the Adriatic had -reached an acute state. Vice-Admiral Niblack, the senior Allied officer -charged with carrying out the armistice agreements on the Adriatic, -came to Paris, and outlined to me the imminence of such clashes as -later occurred at Trau, and such coups as that of D'Annunzio at Fiume, -unless the authority of the Allied Council was promptly invoked. He -had recently succeeded Rear Admiral W. H. G. Bullard on the Adriatic -Mission. Before leaving Spalato, where he maintained headquarters, -Admiral Niblack, in concert with other Allied commanders, had -established a shore patrol, because of the fear of an outbreak. By the -terms of the armistice, an Allied Naval Mission was created, and the -Americans were given oversight over a stretch of ex-Austrian territory -about three hundred miles long on the Dalmatian coast, embracing the -ancient towns of Trau and Spalato. Admiral Niblack urged that the -duties and rights of the Italians and Jugo-Slavs be set forth and their -observance enforced. - -It was a tense time. I had just returned from Rome as the guest of -the Italian Navy, where American and Italian admirals exchanged views -upon future naval problems and the future type of naval craft. In both -nations there was the earnest desire to strengthen and cement the -American and Italian friendship, jeopardized by the situation on the -Dalmatian coast. I had scarcely finished my interview with Admiral -Niblack, who felt the need of prompt action to prevent trouble in the -Adriatic, when I received a visit from Count V. Macchi Cellere, the -Italian Ambassador to the United States. He had felt the approaching -disagreement between Wilson and Orlando and had hurried to Paris to -make an earnest effort to avert it. A charming gentleman, who loved -his country passionately, he had a sincere attachment for the United -States, where he was highly esteemed. He sensed that, if President -Wilson did not approve Italy's claims on the Adriatic, the people -of his country would feel deep disappointment. He foresaw that the -sincere admiration of the Italians for President Wilson, as shown on -his visit to Rome, would be turned into resentment. He was deeply moved -in his appeal in advocacy of the position of his country, which he -pressed with great earnestness. He believed in his soul that if the -aspirations of the Jugo-Slavs were approved and they obtained important -bases on the Adriatic, such settlement would prove disastrous to his -country. Knowing my regard for Italy and his countrymen, and assured -of my personal friendship, he felt free to speak without reserve. I -never saw him after the break at Paris, but I knew his disappointment -was poignant. When he died, not long afterwards, at Washington, I -had the honor to send his body home on an American dreadnaught with -distinguished escort, a token of American regard for Italy and its -diplomatic representative. - -When, during the command of Rear Admiral Philip Andrews, who served two -years in charge of our naval forces in the Adriatic, as well as the -American member of the Allied Armistice Commission, the shore patrol -was removed, the duty of preserving order fell on the Serbs. Their -central authority was light and order was not always preserved. Though -there was no real authority for it, the American naval force was the -real factor in maintaining order. Admiral Andrews came to be recognized -by common consent as the controlling influence in that zone in the -early days when authority was feeble. That country being ex-Austrian -territory, some one did at times have to exercise authority. Our naval -representative was looked upon to do this, and exercised it principally -by moral force and fair dealing. His leadership was recognized, even -demanded, by the Allies and by the Jugo-Slav government at Belgrade. - -[Illustration: FROM MANILA TO THE ADRIATIC - -The Olympia, once Dewey's flagship at Manila, was flagship of Rear -Admiral Philip Andrews (inset) in the Adriatic.] - -[Illustration: THE SCORPION, ONLY AMERICAN NAVAL VESSEL INTERNED DURING -THE WAR - -Interned by the Turks, she was later used as station ship at -Constantinople by Rear Admiral Mark L. Bristol (inset), High -Commissioner at Constantinople.] - -He promoted trade between the Italians and Jugo-Slavs, the first -transaction being made on his flagship, the historic _Olympia_. That -opened the door to better understanding. He was in direct touch with -the governments at Rome and Belgrade and was in a very real sense the -friendly mediator. His duties were mainly diplomatic, and he exercised -the good offices of his country so impartially and fairly as to secure -and maintain peace and business dealings. This was made possible, of -course, through earnest friendly intervention, whose disinterested -nature was soon recognized, and the judgment, ability, poise and -courtesy of Admiral Andrews. In proof of his impartiality and the -appreciation of both nations, he was decorated both at Belgrade and -Rome. - -It was only the wise and prompt action of Captain David F. Boyd, of -our Navy, that saved the situation when Trau was captured by soldiers -from the Italian Zone, September 23, 1920. They crossed the armistice -line without Italian authority and surprised and captured the small -Serbian guard. This imitation of D'Annunzio's _coup_ was short-lived. -Captain Boyd, after agreement with the Italian admiral, put the -offending Italian army captain and soldiers in an Italian motor boat, -and turned them over to an Italian naval officer. The situation was so -acute that Captain Boyd's service called for this high commendation -from Vice Admiral Knapp: "The whole affair was most creditably handled -and the very prompt action of Captain Boyd, in my opinion, undoubtedly -prevented a very serious incident which might have resulted in open -warfare between Italians and Serbians." Admiral Andrews thought that, -but for the action in securing the withdrawal of the Italians so -promptly, "the Serbs would have killed them all, and a small war would -have been started." - -War between the other Allies and Italians was narrowly averted at -Fiume at the time of the D'Annunzio _coup_. The French and British -had troops ashore, and there were Allied ships in the harbor, Admiral -Andrews having with him on his flagship Major General C. P. Summerall, -U. S. A. The question was whether the Allied troops would drive out -the D'Annunzio forces or withdraw. They were disinclined to withdraw. -Admiral Andrews urged withdrawal on the ground that, as it was the -Italian regulars who had let D'Annunzio's troops into the city, it -was the duty of Italy to get them out and not the duty of the Allies -to make war in order to expel them. This course opened the way for -continued Allied friendship after the passing of the storm. - -Though he had no control on land, the American Admiral was looked to by -the people for guidance. They not only respected him but he won their -regard as he won the approval of the Allies and the plaudits of his -countrymen. The children flocked about him. They had not seen sugar -or sweets for four or five years. As he traveled about the country -from Spalato, Admiral Andrews always took with him plenty of cakes of -chocolate for the children. They welcomed the chocolate and as his car -would go from place to place, the happy children would call out: "Here -comes the Chocolate Admiral," in terms of gratitude and affection. - -"At that time," wrote a navy officer, "President Wilson was venerated -by the Jugo-Slavs. They were always appealing to him through Admiral -Andrews. He was to them an idol, able and willing to redress all -wrongs, and all powerful. The only way President Wilson was known to -the children was as the owner of a chocolate factory, whose chocolate -was dispensed by the Admiral as his agent." - -The duties assigned the Navy in the Near East were largely diplomatic, -though naval vessels carried on, and still carry on, the work of mercy -begun by the Navy in 1914 when the _Tennessee_ carried persecuted Jews -and others from Turkey to places of safety. Our ships were employed -in these waters, whenever occasion made it possible, in carrying food -and clothing to suffering peoples. Rear Admiral Mark L. Bristol, in -command of the naval forces in Turkish waters during the early days of -transition, was appointed by the President of the United States, in -August, 1919, as High Commissioner at Constantinople. The unsettled -conditions and the fact that our country had recognized no government -in Turkey made the selection of a naval officer the best agency for -the protection of Americans and American interests, the hastening of -stability, and helpfulness to those in dire need. - -As naval commander in these important waters, Admiral Bristol -maintained a system of communications, sometimes stationing vessels at -various points as radio traffic ships, and operated vessels on regular -schedules for relief work, for transporting army officers and members -of recognized philanthropic societies to ports where their duties -demanded their presence, or where stores were needed for the immediate -sustenance of the impoverished inhabitants. During the severe fighting -in southern Russia, he aided in evacuating Americans, non-combatants -and sick and wounded. - -As High Commissioner, he performed the varied duties of an ambassador, -commercial representative and shipping expert at Constantinople, where -all roads meet and all nationalities struggle for trade and power. Like -other American naval officers on duty in Europe since the armistice, -he illustrated the best traditions of naval capacity by the wise -performance of the varied diplomatic duties entrusted to them. They did -this so well that Lord Palmerston's estimate of a British naval officer -was proved to be true of American officers. "When I have a hard job to -be done anywhere in the world, calling for a clear head and a steady -hand," said Palmerston. "I send a captain of the Navy." - -Conditions in Russia were chaotic and deplorable. Rear Admiral -Newton A. McCully, who had first been naval attaché at Petrograd and -afterwards in command of Naval Forces in Northern Russian Waters, -was ordered to Southern Russia upon a confidential mission after the -armistice. This was done at the request of the State Department. -Admiral McCully speaks the Russian language like a native. He is -trusted and esteemed by Russians and he reciprocates their regard. -He was not accredited to any Russian government. His reports were -invaluable in keeping the American authorities and the Allies -acquainted with the rapidly changing conditions in that disturbed -region in a period when practically no other accurate information could -be obtained. In addition to that diplomatic duty, Admiral McCully -was instrumental in safeguarding the lives of Americans, and in -ameliorating the conditions of Russians and aiding in their evacuation. -Upon his return to America, he brought with him half a dozen Russian -children to whom he is giving a home and training--a beautiful evidence -of his friendship to the country and his distress at the plight of its -children. - -The story of naval aid in north Russia, while not conspicuous, was a -blessing in chaotic days and afforded protection and assistance in -varied ways. The _Galveston_ and _Chester_ arrived in Archangel in -April, 1919, with Brigadier General W. P. Richardson and a detachment -of the 167th Railway Transportation troops to assist in the withdrawal -of American forces. The _Des Moines_, the _Yankton_, the _Sacramento_ -and a number of eagle boats and sub-chasers came later, and in May -the _Des Moines_ managed to get through the ice at the cost of a -few hundred feet of copper sheathing. They did excellent service as -despatch boats, and brought provisions and comforts and doctors. - -All American troops had been withdrawn from advanced positions, and -all the troops, except a very small detachment, were withdrawn from -Northern Russia in June. Then the withdrawal of naval ships began, the -last one, the _Des Moines_, leaving in August, taking out the last -of the Americans. Prior thereto, after our Ambassador, Hon. David R. -Francis, had, even in illness, exhausted every effort to serve Russia -and the world's peace, the _Olympia_ gave him passage to England -on his way home. This was only one of the many services of Dewey's -flagship in the war. Dewey and the _Olympia_ were the link between -the Spanish-American and the World War. Under Dewey's leadership the -plans for war with Germany were made before we entered the war. His old -flagship was the ship of service during the war, of diplomacy in Europe -after the war, particularly in the Adriatic, and was often the bearer -of food to starving peoples. - -The duty of almoner by America after the armistice endeared our country -to all Europeans, particularly those in distress. The Navy not only -transported and distributed supplies but also took over the repair and -operation of the telegraph and telephone, the operation of wireless, -and made possible communication by trained radio men and other naval -personnel. "I do not see how we could have carried on the work without -the wonderful help of the Navy," said Mr. Herbert Hoover, who was -telling me in Paris in March, 1919, of the splendid service of navy men -in the countries devastated by war. - -In December, 1920, Russian refugees began arriving at Cattaro in -the lower Adriatic. There was no one to give them immediate help but -the Americans. Admiral Andrews sent the _Olympia_ and wired to Paris -for doctors, money and nurses, and hurried them to the place by fast -destroyers. They fed and organized the first 8,000. There was no food -but ours. There were some soldiers, but most of the refugees were old -men and women and children. Many died coming from Constantinople. -Fortunately the American Red Cross was near, and it is safe to say that -but for the American Navy and the American Red Cross, there would have -been thousands of deaths from typhus alone and that disease would have -spread all over the Balkans and Central Europe. - -In November, 1918, Assistant Secretary Franklin D. Roosevelt went to -Europe to expedite settlements with Allied governments and speed up -the return of American ships and men. During the war we had agreements -with them not reduced to writing, and these called for adjustment. -Mr. Roosevelt was accompanied by Assistant Attorney General Thomas -J. Spellacy and Commander J. M. Hancock, of the Supply Corps. All -negotiations were satisfactorily completed, demobilization hastened, -and excess material sold or salvaged. The most important of these -transactions was perfecting the sale to the French Government of the -high power radio station built in France by our Navy and named for -Lafayette. - -In October, 1918, Admiral Benson, making his second official visit to -Europe during the war, sailed for France to attend sessions of the -Allied Naval Conference and to take part in the arrangements leading -up to the armistice and the fixing of naval terms in that instrument. -He remained until the following summer as the naval adviser to the -American Peace Mission. With a competent staff, he was enabled to give -information and advice to the President and the Peace Mission. Upon his -arrival, Benson took his place as the American naval representative on -the Allied Naval Council. Admiral Sims, who had served on the Council -in the absence of Benson, having completed his duties at London, -returned to the United States in the spring of 1919. He was succeeded -by Rear Admiral Harry S. Knapp, who was later promoted to Vice -Admiral. Upon his retirement, Admiral H. McL. P. Huse succeeded to the -assignment, and in 1920 Vice Admiral Niblack became the commander of -American forces in European waters. - -In Paris in 1919 I held informal conferences with Admirals -Benson, Knapp, Niblack, Griffin, Taylor, Earle and Long, and with -representatives of Allied nations touching problems affecting the -future naval programs of the nations. At that time the world believed -that with the adoption of the peace treaty, naval and military policies -would be radically changed. It was confidently expected that the -countries would unite to reduce the burdens of armament which the war -had shown menaced world peace. - -Admiral A. S. Halstead, who had succeeded Admiral Wilson at Brest, -supervised the naval duty of returning the soldiers, continuing on duty -until embarkation had been completed. Other officers in all parts of -Europe remained in connection with the shipping and the other tasks -which the Navy was called upon to perform. - -The last gigantic task had to do with the greatest American -contribution to the war--the sweeping up of the mines planted in the -North Sea as the effective barrier against the egress of submarines. -This was a hazardous undertaking, involving the loss of men and ships, -but fewer lives were lost than any had dared to hope. By November, -1919, the 89 ships assigned to that drab and dangerous duty, with their -officers and men, were in home waters. - -Thus the task of the Navy in the World War came to an end. The officers -and men serving overseas had forged friendships with their comrades -of the mist which will always gladden their lives. As they raised the -"homeward bound" pennant, they were cheered by the consciousness of a -great task well ended and by the thanks of grateful peoples for all -they had done. - -Coming in sight of the Statue of Liberty, its steady rays lighting -their course, they found awaiting them the welcome reserved only for -those who love liberty more than life. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR NAVY AT WAR *** - -***** This file should be named 63596-0.txt or 63596-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/5/9/63596/ - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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