The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-11-14
OUR NAVY GUARDS
COAST.OF FRANCE
INTERESTING FACTS CONCERN.
ING ITS ACTIVITIES, TOLD BY
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT.
MANY STATIONS ESTABLISHED
Million and a Quarter Tons of Coal
Saved by Daylight Saving Law--Na.
tlonal Movement Started for Re
claiming Waste Materials.
(From Committee on Public lnforma
tion)

(From Committee on Public lnforma-
tion)
Washington. d. Roosevelt
assistant secretary of the navy, in a
statement since his return from tour
OF American naval bases and stations
In Europe, described the work of the
United States navy in the waters sur.
rounding England, France, Italy,
Greece and the Azores.
"Our operations on the British coast
are fairly well known, but 1t probably
is not generally realized that on the
continent we have a large personnel
on shore and have more stations in
France than we have in all England"
Secretary Roosevelt said. :"
ION the west coast Of France we
have series of bases for the repair
stroyers, submarine chasers, etc. We
have been using French facilities so
far as possible, but in most cases We
have had to erect complete plants so
that these facilities are now more than
double what they We're before we went
there.
"All the way from the Spanish bor-
der to the English channel we have
established aviation stations so spaced
that the entire coast lineis covered by
Seaplanes and dirigibles. Nearly all
these stations are situated at out-Of-
the-way points, some on unlnhabited
islands, others in fishing vessels on
peninsulas. Labor was almost impOs-
sible to obtain, so these stations We're
built almost entirely by our own sail
ors. At each station there are from
200 to 800 men. This aviation force
and our, patrol vessels have been doing
such splendid work that for the past
six months there have been practical
~ no sinkings within so miles of the
French coast.
AT one point we have an immense
assembly aud repair base which en-
ploys more than 5000 men. An in
stance OF the way in which every bit
OF material has been utilized is found
In connection with this base where,
before the erection of the permanent
quarters, the men took packing cases
in which planes were shipped, and used
them in building barracks which were
very comfortable.
"In northern France. in cooperation
with the British, the United States eS-
tabliShe1 what is known as the North
ern Bombing Group. This was origi-
nally organized to bomb the German
submarine bases on the Belgian coast.
After the British had blOckaded the
entrance to those harbOrs, Germans
were prevented from clearing the chan
mel by the constant activity Of these
sviators who daily and nightly dropped
tons of explosives on the submarine
bases.
I'VE have a considerable naval force
at Gibraltar. In conjunction with the
British this force not only patrols the
Atlantic in that vicinity, but also is ac-
tive in the Mediterranean escorting
vessels to and from Italy, Greece and
Egypt. In the Adriatic we have cS-
tablished large group of submarine
chasers and other vessels at work.
In conjunction with the Portuguese we
have established a base in the Azores"
There appeared to be miSappre-
hensiOn in this country as well as in
France. Assistant Secretary Roosc-
welt said, as to the part taken by the
American navy in transporting troops
and supplies to French ports. Every
transport that flies the United States
flag is Differed. manned and run by
larger portion of supplies for the army
In France is taken across in American
vessels Differed and manned by the
United States navy.