Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-03
COAST GUARD DUTY
IN EVENT OF WAR
Vessels to Watch for Approach
of Enemy Ships and Warn
Those Endangered.
IN TOUCH WITH THE NAVY

To patrol the coast of the United
States. watch for the approach of enc
my ships and give advice and warning
to any American or neutral vessels that
come within the sphere Of their activi-
ties, as we'll as keeping in touch with
the navy, prepared to lend a hand for
any task required-these, in the event of
war, would be the immediate duties OF
the coast guard, in which Is now in
cluded the former life-saving service.
the light house service, and probably
the naval militia of the various states.
The coast guard would come auto
matically, at the moment war existed,
under direction of the navy and become
part of it. Coast patrol by the cutters
of the service would be their general
assignment. The officers OF the coast
guard cutters are familiar with the
coast-probably more so than those of
any other service or class of men who
follow the sea. Their work as patrol
would be invaluable.
Duties In Spanish-American War.
During the Spanish-American war.
the revenue cutters-as they were then
various other Incl
dental duties, especially as dispatch
boats attached to naval fleets. The
revenue cutter McCulloch carried the
news from Dewey's fleet to Hongkong
that was flashed around the world. tell
ing Of the victory of Manila bay.
One of the coast guard cutters, the
Tallapoosa, an "oil burner" could cross
the ocean and return on her own fuel
without replenishment. The Ossipee.
also a new boat. has long-staying pow
ers. Nearly every one of those used In
m
for the protection of life and property
at sea. can stay out at least a fort
night
The services Of the officers would be
available on board vessels of the navy.
In plying coast waters. their services
might be Invaluable in guiding fleet
on its way on a perilous course.
Life-Savers Under Navy.
BY absorption into the coast guard the
former life-saving service would also
come automatically into the navy. Dur
ing the Spanish-American war. by spe-
cia1 act of Congress. it gave its serv-
ices to the navy and became part of
what was known as the coast signal
service. Tribute is paid to their eff
cient cooperation in patrolling the long
stretches of beach. from Mexico to
Canada, by Capt. John r. Bartlett, U.
s. N, superintendent Of that special
service.
The coast signal service established
stations along the coast, which were
manned entirely by members of the
naval militia of states called into the
federal service. Each station was pro-
outfit, or both. These were connected
with the lines of the life saving serv-
ice.
1.-THE necessity of covering the long
- 49, 1eo
lated stations was at once apparent"
observed Capt. Bartlett, in his report.
land the value of the cooperation of
the life saving service and the United
States light house and weather bureau
systems became apparent.
Constantly Patrol Beaches.
THE crews of the life-saving serv-
ice, for ten months in the year-August
to May-constantly patrol the beaches
from Maine to Texas, and no vessel
can approach within sight of the coast
and escape their attention, while the
lighthouse keepers and observers of
the weather bureau have exceptional
facilities for noting the approach Of
ships. The stations OF the coast Gig,
with the general telegraph and tele-
phone systems of the country, and with
the life-saving service telephone lines
that link together the stations along
the coast"
The coast signal service, under Capt
Bartlett, was thus enabled to muster
a force of 1926 men. on the lookout
for the approach of an enemy's ves-
sci or a suspicious craft Of any sort,
and ready to report the movements of
the vessels belonging to our own
forces, including all the auxiliary ships
and transports.
The coast signal service had right of
way over the telegraph and telephone
lines of the nation. Actual trial demon
strated that it did not take more than
half an hour to clear the lines and get
direct communication with headquar-
tiers in Washington from Jacksonville
or Miami. Fla.
From the practical operations of
the coast signal service for three
months" comments Capt Bartlett, IT
am confident that it would have
served the use for which it was estab-
lished-to observe and report the ap-
proach Of an enemy's vessels. 1t fire.
quently served an excellent purpose In
keeping the Navy Department advised
of the movements of United States YES
sells. and was particularly serviceable
in several instances"
The service was first to observe and
report the arrival of the Oregon after
her long trip around South America
from the Pacific ocean. 1t also had the
distinction of reporting the L. S. S. San
Francisco when in peril and needing
aid.
Regarding the lighthouses on the coast,
in event OF war, i would be possible to
extinguish all. But this procedure would
probably not be considered necessary
under even the most serious circum-
stances. The general coast lights it is
to be assumed. would be maintained
only those guiding to harbors sufficiently
large to admit warships would probably
be extinguished.
Previous Procedure.
During the Spanish-American war the
following was the procedure as reported
by the lighthouse service authorities:
Upon notice from the War Depart
ment of the establishment of the mines
the lights marking approaches to har-
borS were eXtinguished in whole or in
part. and necessary changes in the
buoys were made. In each case
the regular notice to mariners speci-