New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-22
By/Gherardi Dacis


self, and she did some very active cruising
in the West Indies, capturing the French
frigate Insurgente, among others. But, just
as the Lancaster never took part in the ac-
tions OF the Civil War, as ! have mentioned,
so the Constellation was being repaired when
the War of 1912 broke out and never went
TO sea.
Then came our engagements with the par
barry pirates. These gentry for . considerable
period Of time actually collected tribute from
our country, and they even killed Americans
on the high seas with impunty. But we
finally decided not to submit to this ignominy
any longer, and we sent over squadron OF
some size, including the Constitution, the
Philadelphia and the Constellation, to stop
their dcpredations. We made pretty neat
Job Of it, even II we did lose the Philadel-
phia. She went aground in the harbor OF
Tripoli, and her crew were taken prisoners,
but q short time after that we boarded her
and burned her under the pirates guns.
The War of 1912 is a fascinating chapter
in our naval history, we'll told by Cooper ana
Roosevelt, and one is loath to pass it over
as must do. 1t is full OF sea tights between
our frigates and those Of the English, and
many cruise in search Of the enemy ala our
ships make. If we take the names Of the
ming of this paper for some OF our new
battle cruisers. it is to be hoped that others
of our new ships will bear such names rs
United States, Hornet, Niagara, Wasp, Enter
prise and Essex, every one Of which recalls
some splendid action by our navy.
OF all our ships, however, the Essex, a
small frigate, was the one that made the
longest and most sensational cruise; for she
sailed all over the North and South Atlantic
ana around the Horn into the South Pacirc:
She captured many English merchantmen ana
did a great deal OF damage before she was
finally herself captured at Valparaiso by the
English in March, 1914. On this cruise Far
ragut, boy Of twelve, was midshipman'
and he distinguished himself by his pluck
and nerve.
We have named our destroyers after dis
tinguished naval officers, from Dale, OF the
Lexington. down. To read over the list OF
these vessels is to read, amoEg others, the
names of officers connected with' oil the
glorious events during the period OF our navai
history to which have just referred lhere
are Dale. Paul Jones, Barry, Truxtun Cof the
Constellation, Porter tof the Constellation
az a midshpman; of the Essex, as = com.
mandng officer, Preble, Somers, Hull loi
the Constitution), Decatur (of the United
J,
raput IA boylsh midshipman on the Essex, and
of undying fame in the Civil War, and many
another well known name.
Our Achievements at Sea
| cannot resist the temptation occasionally
TO boast of our navy, and, not being In the
navy, may be permitted to do so. In all
the events have related or suggested our
officers and men showed themselves to be as
fine a lot Of sailors as ever trod warshlp's
deck Our ships were superbly built well
spared, beautifully handled and CALAMITY
and, in nearly every instance, skilfully fought.
In the War of 1912 we suffered two serious
losses-one, that of the President, was due
mainly, it seems to me, TO bad luck; the
other that Of the Chesapeake, was due to
our ship going into action with green un-
trained crew. Her timbers are q part OF
mill near Southampton, England, to-day; Law
renee is buried in Trinity churchyard. and
his tombstone can be seen from Broadway;
Iawrence's famous words, "Dont give up the
shin" have been painted on the beams OF
many an American warship as charge TO
our sailors never to be forgotten and the
fate of the Chesapeake has ever been remem-
bered in our navy, which. as far as know,
never again sent an unframed crew into &C.
ton.
Our famous frigates once again sailed 70
the Mediterranean after the War of 1872 to
settle our affairs with Algiers, and we ended
forever any interference with our ships IN
that quarter. And here closes the history
Of the work of our cruisers under sail, OF
which we have every reason 10 be very proud
Steam now took the place of sails.
No doubt my laymen readers have thought
as they have gone over these lines that to