The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-02-24
THE GERMANS
AT SAYBR00K

It is a we'll known fact that the
headquarters staff at Berlin, Ger
many, knows more details in regard
to the highways in Connecticut than
is known to one citizen in hundred
thousand in the state, of Connecticut.
The German idea of preparedness is
never lost sight of for one second by
the German citizen.
The following letter, written by a
Connecticut man, shows one single
phase of the Germans work of pre-
paredness. Are we, in Connecticut,
as patriotic citizens, willing to allow
our state to remain unprepared for
defense? Twenty-four hours traffic
over certain sections of our trunkline
highways by army motor trucks, in
wet weather, would break those high
ways down and make them next to inn
passab1e. Can we consent to this,
when the appropriation recommend
ed by the State Finance Board will
place our trunkline highways in a
condition to make possible the de-
Tense OF our state?
The letter follows.
Dear Sir:-Few little ironies of his
tory are more distinctly ironical than
the visit of Capt. Koenig. when the
Deutschland was last in port at New
London, to Saybrook, where David
Bushnell had constructed the first
navigable submarine. Perhaps it was
the visit Of a sentimental traveller, per-
haps of an explorer and your columns
may be open to a few reasons why
not all the people of Saybrook were
pleased with Captain Koenig's visit.
tious1 display of the German flag on
his automobile, even if Cor because)
it was supported by the American
flag. We saw no reason why the
German flag should be borne through
the streets Of Saybrook unless the
risk was father to the thought
Then some Of us surmised that the
Deutschland was a pathfinder, as well
as a merchant ship. She had found
the path to Baltimore, whence fleet
of grain ships now hopes to get past
other submarines. She had found the
path to New London. The U-53 found
the path to Newport.
Again, we were not merely amused
that the captain went out in boat
and took soundings off Saybrook
Light. 1t would be amusing if the
Deutschland tried to anchor in the
North Cove r But Saybrook Light is
at the mouth of the Connecticut
river
We might also have been gratified
by the captains sympathetic interest
in our recreations, evinced by his ex-
cursion out to the end of Cornfield
Point, and survey Of the waters there,
where in summer the black fishing is
indifferently good. But our pleasure
was chastened by the reflection that a
battery on Cornfield Point might part
ly neutralize Plum Island and over
look the path to New York.
Naturally, if the Deutschland
comes to Saybrook there will be spec
tators and there are excellent view
points, as Beacon Hill, Obed's Heights
and Joshua's Rock. Incidentally, the
same elevations furnish good view
points to foreign visitors.
The people Of Saybrook are inter-
ested in their local history. One Of
the most entertaining reco1lections is
that Col. Fenwick with his fort at
Saybrook Point, was able to COM
mand the Connecticut river as far as
Springfield, and exact tribute from ev-
e,y inhabitant of the valley and had to
be bought off with a good round sum.
These reflections are, no doubt, ac-
ademic because Germany will be de-
feated. But if it should happen that
Germany were not defeated, what
then?
MELVILLE K. BAILEY.
New York, Feb. i, 1917.