The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-07-18


a commission for the examination OF
the twenty different merchantmen
which had been offered for the con-
version into warships. They selected
the six vessels that formed the tlrst
American war squadron, and because
Zones confessedly dominated the COM
mission. it may be said that in placing
these ships on the naval list ne, IN
way, founded the navy Of the United
States.
Tones understood very we'll that the
revolution was a war for the defence
Of the colonies-a fight for peace
and knowing this. he declared that the
best way to accomplish the result was
TO force the fighting in the enemys
territory.
u have never been able to con-
template with composure the theory
OF the purely defensive in nava!
tactics. ne NTOte.
Tohn Paul Jones began his work on
the American navy by lnstructlns
congress-. lie followed precept with
example. and few such pacemakers as
he have been seen in any navy. Ihe
willy John Adams had Jones put at
the head of the list of lleutenants IN
order that Dudley Saltonstall, Of the
Alfred. might have most efficient
executive officer. In accepting this
inferior position Jones first set the
pace for those who were to come after
him. Later he set the pace again by
an effort to drive Saltonstall out OF
the navy. an effort so determined that
it REQUIRED all the influence Of the
friends of Jones 70 keep him from
shooting the New Englander in
duel. For Saltonstall had proved
himself wholly unfit for command,
and Jones was determined that no
such man should wear the uniform.
Having urged that aggressive war
was the best defence for the colonies,
Jones in time applied for the COM
mand of the frigate Trumbull. He
thought it would help the cause to
show the French a frigate like that
merely as a sample of what the colo
nies could build. the influence OF
what he hoped to do with her He
got the sloop Ranger instead. On
her he put battery of fourteen nine
Founders and four skies instead OF
the twenty SKIES intended for her-a
characteristic act-and on October
2, 1776, he reported her ready, but he
held her back until the battle of Sara
toea. 1t makes the blood of the pa
triot tingle to this day to read how
messenger rode for thirty consecu-
tive hours from the foothills Of the
Adrondacks to Portsmouth. New
Hampshire, where the Ranger lay.
Il will spread this news in France
in thirty days." said Jones. when he
got his sailing orders, and in spite OF
twelve days of fierce northeast
SQUALLS and three Of southeasterlies,
he landed in Nantes in thirty-two
days.
The influence OF the work done
with che Ranger was far reaching.
Jones had advocated aggressive work,
and now he showed how to do it.
He alarmed the coasts OF the enemy.
He attacked and captured the Drake.
ship Of superior force. The exclt-
ment created in Europe by this small
battle was tremendous. and for the
very good reason that in it was then
demo lstrated for the first time that
a British ship could be compelled to
surrender by an enemy that was at
best Of no greater force.
And that was NOT all. II had lost
no opportunity OF training them in
great gun exercise" wrote Jones Of
the Rangers crew. 1t is a matter of
record that in the battle with the
Drake ''every shot told, and they gave
the Drake three broadsides for two
at that" He demonstrated what