Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1913-07-18
u. S. NAVY is
REMARKABLE
In GROWTH

Put-in-Bsy Ohio iheir will be held
the significant celebration in con.
neetion with the construction of the
magnificent memorial which Is to
commemorate the conclusion Of a
century Of peace between the
United States and Great Britain
and the Battle OF Lake Erie won
by the American Commodore DIV
sr Hazard Perry. on September 10.
1918.
The memorial itself will be ore
Of the most maguifcent from an
architectural standpoint in the
whole world. Il is said that no ma
tion of Europe has honored q mil
itary hero with 4 monument Of
such. impressiveness. Ten states
and the federal government have
contributed to erect tits splendid
monument TO one who was little
more than a hoy and to a battle
which, in these days of dread
nauGhts. submarines and mines.
seem hardly more exciting than
sSirmish between rowboats IN q
pond.
Nevertheless, the battle between
the tiny ships Of Perry and tiny
ships OF the British commander
was in its effect upon the destiny Of
the nation, ore of the most import
ant in u history. Except for il
and the land successes Of General
William Henry Harrison in the
War Of 1872, the western boundary
of the United States today would
probably be the Mississippi river,
while the northern boundary might
be Ohio, with the chain Of Great
Lakes entirely within the Domin-
ion Of Canada.
The theater Of war in 1912 shift
ed to the Great Lakes when Cap
tain Dobbins Of Erie. Pa, a Yankee
mariner of the Lakes Travelled
through the wilderness to Washing
ton to tell President Madison Of the
complete supremacy Of the British
on the northern frontier and the
danger to the unprotected settler
Of lndiaT massacres. Captain Dob
bins told his story at the Presi-
dents cabinet meeting. and as a
result was sent back to Erie with
$1,000 and commissioned to begin
the construction of IL navy. Today
$4,000 would hardly repair a bent
plate on a baltieship. In 1913 it
was sufficient to guarantee the con
struction of a tlotilla.
While the workmen under Cap
tain Dobbins were hawing the oak
and chestnut from the primcval
forest for the construction Of FIVE
ships the largest Of them no
feet long-Gbout the size Of a big
modern tug boat, Commodore Per
ry, aged u WAC was in command
of a iiotilla Of gunboats, at New
port, z. l., j]ourneyed to Washing.
ton and asked to be transferred
to Lake Erie. He was accordingly
assigned to take command of the
fleet being built at Erie.
The young commodore, taking
with him his little brother, a lad
Of Is. and a command of 200 men.
set out on an arduous winter Jour
ney to Lake Eric. When he arrived
he found his boats nearly ready
for launching. To outfit them with
guns and ammunition meant hard.
overland journeys to Pittsburg and
Buffalo. dragging back the equip
ment on rude carts. The fleet
was launched in the early summer
of 1918.
The battle which followed is
known TO every school boy. After
days Of anxious Whiting the sails
Of the enemy were at last seen on
the horizon. Perry unfurled his
battle flag with the inspiring
motto Don't give up the shin"
His vessel, the Lawrence. US
tanned the brunt of the attack. and
finally sunk under the young com.
mander's feet. But he transferred
his Gag TO the Niagara. making the
hazardous trip IT. an open boat. and
in a brief space Of time. the battle
was won, Amcri an Supremacy was
established on the Great Lakes and
the Northwest Territory was re-
stored to the United States.