Norwich bulletin., 1915-08-28

So the Thames Naval station is to
be the headquarters for submarines Tor
this section OF the United States, ae-
cording to Josephus Daniels, secretary
Of the navy, for he himself hath said
Il. which is greatly to his credit; as
1t used to be sung in Pinafore- The
secretary after receiving official report
of the adaptability of the station for
the purpose, made a personal inspec-
ton and then unhesitatingly declared
the future use Of the station In con-
nection with the submarine feet
While in congress. Postmaster Mahan
made earnest effort to have. the station
recognized at its true worth. and his
efforts. his persistent efforts, nave
finally been crowned with success or
will be when the station Is just what
the secretary says 1t is to be-
While credit is being bestowed upon
the former congressman, the present
generation should not forget that the
:ate John r. BoI1es, the Father of the
New london Naval station" made
possible the naval station on the
Thames He began this work over
fifty years ago and devoted all his
time to the, establishment and de-
velopment of the station until his
death. 1t really was his life work.
more to have the great navy yard
OK the future" on the banks OF the
Thames than did Mr. Boles- 1t was
he who secured the site, coded II TO
the state so that it could be trans
ferred to the federal government for
naval purposes. He was in the thick
of the fight against the establishment
Of the League Island navy yard as
against New London, and secured the
endorsement of the leading navy and
army officers that the present site on
the Thames was the best on the Al
Ia MI hnord q ward
Mr.. BoIIes spent his time and his
money, too, in his great work tor
naval station on the banks OF the
Thames river, but he was hampered In
his hard and earnest work by some
have been with him, but were in OPP
position to him. partially through
jealousy of his acknowledged ability
and his insistence to know just where
others stood on the navy yard Ques-
ton and of their every move in the
important matter. He finally fought
the good fight single-handed. winning
back some of his opponents, and was
rewarded by seeing the site used for
naval purposes Then he worked TO
have the station put to its use to the
very best advantage and died in the
harness. engaged in the; work he had
been carrying vigorously for over half
a century, Mr. -Bolles had pamphlet
sfter pamphlet printed giving his
views on important features of his
great work which teemed with argu-
ment and substantial proof in the
form Of official reports that the site on
the Thames was peculiarly WELL
adapted for naval purposes In addi-
ton he wrote hundreds of columns
az advancement of the naval station
cause for the local newspapers. and
was ever ready TO debate the subject
in public or private. or in public print,
Mr.. BoIIes was so earnest in his
work for the navy yard that. with his
advancing age, his eyesight nearly
failed him. but his bright mind never
dimmed and he wrote his ideas al
though he could not see his own man
uscript Even with this disability, he
kept up his line of work uninter-
ruptedly and bis productions, regard
less of length were acceptable to local
newspapers and were always welcomed
by readers So when handing out
bouquets to those of the present day
for the efficient services rendered in
getting recognition of the true value
of the naval station, John R BoIles'
work should not be forgotten. and a
bouquet of the choicest makeup
should be set aside to his memory. for
lie. and practically he alone. secured
the naval station on the Thames, for
abandoned the project he was spurred
en- to even more determined effort
whether Henry r. Bond, an alderman