South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-09
Against Germany
From the Records of the Navy Department and Officially Authorized
By RALPH D. PAINE
Noted Writer of sea stories.

informed German ships the piers. shifting
from one to another, cheerful Of the service
until quarters could be built them
Then the curtain of secrecy dropped for the
newspapers acted as their a word from
American liner st. Louis, with battery manned by
naval gun crews had safely made the passage Eng
land 1t was event of thrilling interest
uoh' memorable as an overt defiance of the German
doctrines which made the freedom of seas
ghasty farce 1t was in keeping with the maritime
traditions OF the United states which had Preble
and Decatur TO destroy the of Algerian pirates
who with all the insolence of a Hohenzollern
day, has terrorized the merchant shipping o
world at the gateway OF the Mediterranean It seem
ed to accord with the spirit of a Farragut who had
cried, Damn the torpedOes" and then ordered full
speed ahead. And it was, clean-cut decisive the
act which was shortly to mean the declaration of a
righteous
There was a certain dramatic fitness in the act that
these American liners should have been first
to accept the German challenge Two of them we're
built In an American yard and for 20 years they had
piled across the western ocean leaving time
to cruisers in the spanish When launch
ed they embodied high hopes of restoration of
merchant marine which should monopoly
English French, and German-of the ocean trade in
American ports. Such hopes doomed disap-
pontment because this world war was needed to con-
the people the United states that ships
as vital to their welfare as factories railroads and
mines. At enormous cost they again learning to
think in terms of the
FIRST VOYAGES SPECTACULAR
The first voyages of these armed liners the
spectacular features the Def e
gan, but less important the arTning the
humble boats. The liners had speed protect
guns living quarters for the gun crews readily
available. and body of highly intelligent expe-
rienced merchant officers cooperate
with the lighting force. These factors the prob
lem comparatively simple
1t was more essential, in fact to safeguard the
freighters oil tankers. which WaOwed deep
much slower gait to the ports England France
and Italy They crammed the matches with
supplies, with food and fuel and steel with the
which Europe required keep allied
armies in the field and maintain her industries
Fabulous freight rates had recalled TO service
af and her
gines Some of them small, with barely
room enough for their own crews and no quarters
whatever for naval guard. Temporary houses
had be constructed. decks cleared gear 20
make way for the guns hundred details arranEed 20
insure the health, comfort efficiency gun
There was one nervous skipper who commanded an
tub, which held together only 10y paint
TO the chlet boatsNalns mate IN charge OF the blue
jackets ne beseeching the passed
sea. they without practice shoot
at no submarines unless they positively had 10. His
ship Old he explained. and she could never stand
the shock OF those guns They would shake the rves
out OF her at the rst blast and she would just open
up like basket and head for Davy Jones
Now, the navy is a wonderfully adaptable organiza-
ton. By fettered with red tape pre-
cedent many landlubbers suppose. The armed
guard rapidly evolving itself a separate branch
of the service. Shipowners found that they had 10
deal with number OF Meutenants and ensigns keen.
energetic, very much the job. who ready 10
advise inspect and issue commands if need be stand
ing behind them officers OF higher rank including
naval constructors, who received their general in
structions from Washington and that they were
enforced
TACT AND DIPLOMACY NEEDED.
Tact and diplomacy prime requisites The
merchant skipper who had been autocrat MS
bridge resent interference with
his authority. that these navy gunuers
would clash with him and ne proposed show
who boss. There owners who objected 20
outlay Of fitting the ships
ed from the idea OF feeding a dozen husky navy
Here and there who cared very little about
carrying guard. long as snip
90 we'll insured on the other hand. most own
and agents made the easier ~ showing a