The National tribune., 1897-10-28

po''''''o VI ''4S f'S"'
We had scarcely gotten the Dey off
our hands, when the insolent French
Directory came down upon us for SIM
liar tribute as the price Of leaving our
ships alone. The peace-at-any-pric
fellows were strongly for paying the
sum demanded, but the people had
gotten tired of that sort of thing, and in
1897 President Adams succeeded in get
ting small appropriation to enable him
to complete the six ships, fortify some of
the harbors, and make other provisions
for war.
The first of these, and the first vessel of
the United States Navy-the United
States" A guns-was launched at Phila-
delphia, July 10, 1897. She was followed
by the constellation SO guns, launched
at Baltimore, Sept. 10, 1877, and the
Constitution" A guns, launched at
Boston, Oct. 81.
War was declared with France July
9, 1898, and there was business at once
for the infant navy. The Constella-
ton was the only one actually engaged,
and she was fortunate enough to bring
one much larger French ship to battle
and capture her, and to defeat another
still larger, which only escaped capture
by accident. The Constitution had
to wait for her turn till the war broke
out with Great Britain in 1912. She
was then commanded by the famous
Capt. Isaac Hull, and her first exploit
was to escape from an oyerpowering
British fleet by hardness and good
seamanship. She sailed away in search
Of something nearer her size, but did
not succeed in finding it until Aug. 10,
1912, when off the Nova Scotian coast
she came up with the British
frigate i" Guerrero" which showed every
disposition to accommodate her. In
fact, the commanders Of both ships had
been eagerly looking for each other ever
since the beginning of the war. The
Constitution" without firing a shot,
ran up to within half pistol shot Of her
antagonist, aud opened fire SO terrible
that in f5 minutes all of the "Guer-
riere's" masts and rigging had been shot
away, her crew frightfully cut up and
she was in a sinking condition. She
surrendered, her crew were removed to
the Constitution" and she sank.
The effect all over the world was cleo
trio. Our people were enormously
elated, and the British correspondingly
Inundated and angered. The London
Times, then, as now, the leading paper
in Great Britain, said
We have been accused of sentiments I'M
worthy of Englishmen because we described
| what we saw and felt on the occasion of the
capture of the "Guerrere.o We witnessed
the gloom which that event cast over high
and honorable minds; we participated in the
vexatlOn and regret, and it is the first time
that we have ever heard that the striking of
the English flag on the high seas to anything
| like an eqnal force should be regarded by
Englishmen with complacency and satisflc-
ton. 1t is not merely that an English frigate
has been taken after what we are free to con-
fess may be called brave resistance but it
has been taken by new enemy, an enemy
unaccustomed to such triumphs, and likely
to be rendered insolent and confident by
them.
The Constitution was Immediately
sent to sea again under the command of
Capt cambridge. Dec 26, 1912, she
came up with the Java off the coast Of
Brazil, ship carrying four more gun,
and much larger crew. After fierce
fight of two hours the Java was re.
duced to a wreck, which was set on fire
after her crew was taken off. Out Of
446 men she had 65 killed and 175
wounded. The Constitution lost only
killed and % wounded.
On Feb. 20, 1915, the Constitution ;
then under command of Commodore
Charles Stewart, came up with two British
men-of-war off the Portuguese coast, and
Immediately attacked them., After g
sharp battle she succeeded in capturing
both. They proved to be the "Cyane,
SO guns and 1S5 men, and the I" a.
want" 81 guns and 100 men. The
Constitution lost 3 killed and Is
wounded, while the enemy's loss was II
Z killed and wounded.
The world was ast0nisbed aft those