Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-25
CHAPTER V.

tT1AT v
a MERICA had lost Narragansett
h\ bay. with all its defenses.
~ great guns and government
q q stations, in less than two
weeks after the declaration of war.
The generation that faced this dis
aster had faced many catastrophes
which had seemed great disasters. 1t
had seen states RACED by cyclones 1t
had seen giant floods II had seen mag
uifcent cities thrown down by sha X
ing earth Unterrified. it had flung
money and men to the stricken places
10 make them whole. Destroyed cities
rose in beauty almost before the dust
Of their fall had ceased veil the sun
Money. money. money Men, men,
men. 1t seemed that no disaster could
he SO colossal that the wonderful re-
sources and efficiency of the United
States could not mock at IT.
Before the news of Nara gansetts
fall was an hour old. the cities of the
United States, including many towns
so obscure that few Americans ever
had heard their names. had subscribed
enough money to raise and equip an
army twice over and keep II in the
field for months But the country that
was SO eUlclenI- SO IHlTepiu, 81
sourceful, was facing a disaster now
that it could not conjure away with
all the money and men that ever were.
Money. the magician, was futile now
1t could not stamp it's golden foot and
make gun factories and ammunition
works spring from the empty ground.
II could not send to the army in Con-
necticut cannon that did not exist or
cartridges that had not been made.i
~
An order had gone out from the
American headquarters that morning
an ominous warning that, given in bat
tie, would have indicated, surely. the
beginning of the end. 1t was:
TT Is OF THE UTMOST IMPOR-
LANCE THAT NO AMMUNITION BE
EXPENDED WITHOUT URGENT
NEED COMPANY COMMANDERS
OROCSLY.
While the futile dollars were being
flung to the government for rev armies,
the army that was already in the field
was counting it's small arms and artil-
lery ammunition. knowing that ii did
not possess enough for two days bat
tie
From ocean to ocean men with naked
hands were crowding to enlist. The
generous nation that never yet had de-
MED a need when the need was made
apparent was as generous with it's
lives with its dollars. For two and
three blocks around the recruiting sta
tons of regular army and militia the
streets were packed with men They
rad come from work and pleasure.
They had come home from far places.
They had dropped shovels and tennis
rackets, pens and picks. They stood
shoulder to shoulder. in fine stuffs and
in rags. made equal by one loyal pur-
pose And they were as futile as the
dollars.
Ono million men. it was computed
afterward. had offered themselves in
America in that one day. But there
were no weapons for them. There were
Dot enough rifles. There were no uni
forms. There were no tents. There
we're no shoes.
Keen-eyed men of trails and wilder
ness offered themselves for the Signal
Corps There were no Signal Corps
supplies. Telegraphers were there. but
all the field telegraph outfits that the
country had were with the army.
Transfers VOLUNTEERED. but there was
trained in bridge building and en-
cheering were turned away. because
there was no equipment to At out sore
~ needed companies of miners and sap
pers.'
Cavalry was needed urgently, and
men who could ride tried to enlist. But
there were no mounts for them. Army
officers in Texas and New Mexico and
oXiahOma were buying, at unnedr0- or
prices. rough horses, wild from the
range. while in Connecticut were regi-
ments of regular cavalry whose troops
were only three-quarters filled with
either men or horses
Money. money, money Men, men,
men. 1t was too late.
The bulletins still We're displaying the
news of the loss of Narragansett's de-
lenses when the mines weepers of the
enemy, unhampered now. completed
their work in the channels of the great
harbor and signaled to their fleet that
il was safe to enter
The big liners crowded in-ships that
hitherto never had entered an Amer,
can harbor except New York or Boston.
FoI!owed by horse transports and yes
sells laden with artillery. they passed
In gigantic parade past Newport
Only destroyers and Hght-draupbt
gunboats preceded them. There was
no further need of cruisers with shot
ted guns to protect them. The enemy's
flag was flying over Forts Adam Wetb
Grill, Greble. Getty and Philip Kearny
The American guns which the garri,
son had not been able to DESTROY now
looked down the harbor to hold it for
the invader against American attack.
Newports villas and palaces were
occupied by officers of the invading
army and navy The avenues and gar
ftIs ana SHORES VI the rlCh men Meas
places were thronged with blue
Jackets and marines. The famous pow
or boats. rich with mahogany and
cedar. were brought out of their opu-
lent housings and launched Glitterine
steam yachts were being eased down
the ways to take the water and go into
commission under the foreign flag.
After the last of the ships had en-
tered. American sea CAPTAIN who
had been crouching In a hiding MIA
On Sakounet point at the eastern en-
trance 10 the harbor. clapped his tele-
scope together. arose cautiously and
Strengthened out his stiffened old limbs
Taking great care to select by-paths
he went inland TO the village of LitrIe
Compton. where he found an automo
bile stage that took him to the railroad
station at Tiverfon-
Thence he telephoned TO FAN River
and Fall River sent IL on to Boston a nd
Boston sent II on TO Worcester, whence
IL went TO the army. that an old sea
man had not only counted and identi-
fed the transports, but was able 10
say approximately which ships had
troops aboard and which vessels prob
ably carried only supplies.
There were liners of more than 40 OOC
gross tons. There were three ships o,
more than $4,000 tonnage. Each OF
them was a famous liner. whose char
acter was known to it's last details I,
was matter of only few minutes &c
figure out that the net tonnage of the
Iroop-laden vessels was 100000 I'm
one soldier for each two net tons OF
in oil Al