The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1917-05-04
which requires their presence else

where.
But of those war craft which unex
pectedly creep in overnight and dis
appear just as suddenly in day OF
two perhaps the most interesting
(from the ferryboat spectators point
Of view is the destroyer. Seeming.
ly like fire engine CHARTERED in the
city one Of these impudent little
lighting cocks Of the sea can be seen
at any hour of the day awaiting the
call to duty.
There are at least two of these
craft assigned to duty in the vicinity
or New York Bay, taking turns, it
seems, in the task OF policing the
waters hereabout. Just what their
duties are only the officers know, but
that theirs is not an idle life is evil
dent from their general appearance
since the United States declared war
on Germany.
Another sight which will long re-
main in the minds of those who ride
aboard the State Island ferryboats is
the odd types of naval craft seen oc-
casionally in these waters nowadays.
Golfers, supply ships, obsolete types
Of fighting craft famous in their DAYS
as the pride Of the white squadron"
but RELOCATED now to lower ranks
with the advent of each new type of
improved fighting ship are to be seen
there.
Some Of these warships proved
themselves worthy of the millions
that were spent to build them during
the war with Spain, and there arc
enthusiastic advocates Of the United
States navy who declare they'll prove
Just as valuable in the present war
should the opportunity ever present
itself.
Only few days ago, however, pas
scngers on a Manhattan bound Sta
ten lsland fcrryboat witnessed a sight
never seen in these waters except
during grand review Of the fleet.
which even the declthands on the fer
ryboat declared ec1ipsed the recent
review for the Presidens IN the bay
at the celebration Of Illuminating the
Statue Of Liberty.
Dusk was falling when the nose of
a submarine was discerned c1eaving
It's way through the waters of the bay
in the direction of the battery. The
droning Of its motors first drew the
attention of group of Sightsecrs
standing on the rear hurricane deck
as the ferryboat pulled out of the slip
at St. George, State Island.
Submarines on Parade
At first the undersea Graft looked
like a whale lolling along in the water
at a leisurly gait, but as the ferryboat
drew out in the direction of the Bay
Ridge section of Brooklyn the peris-
cope and superstructurc Of the sub
marine could be seen. All eyes were
intent on the little crart when sud
denly little boy discovered another
submarine following the first at a dis
lance of about quarter of mile.
This discovery enlivened the inter
est, but when. in a direct line with the
two droning little vessels, a monitor
was observed keeping the same scru-
pulous distance from the rearmost,
and this followed by four other sub
marines, the scene developed into a
picture such as might afford material
for naval artist.
All the Wy up the bay the little
family droned in straight line till
they reached the mouth of the East
river, where, making a short turn,
they went into the river in the di-
rection of the New York Navy Yard,
not more than fifteen yards separat-
ing the submarines from the sea wall
OF Governors Island as they swung
gracefully around.
SO close, in fact, did they come to
the drill field on the island that most
of the future army officers who were
resting after the vigorous drilling
crowded to the sea wall to cheer the
crews OF the little craft who stood
waving hats at them.
1t was a salute from a thoroughly
efficient branch of Uncle Sans ser
vice to another branch which is striv-
ing every day to become lust as eff
Client on land.