Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-11-08
OUR NAVY GUARDS
COAST Of FRANCE
INTERESTING FACTS CONCERN
ING ITS ACTIVITIES, TOLD BY
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT.
MANY STATIONS ESTABLISHED
Million and Quarter Tons of Coal
Saved by Daylight Saving Law-Na-
tionaI Movement Started for Re-
claiming Waste Materials.
(From Committee on Public 1nforma-

(From Committee on Public Informa-
tion.)
ashington.-Franklin 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 it 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.
"On the west coast of France we
have series of bases for the repair
and upkeep of our escorting ships, de-
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 were 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 line is covered by
seapIanes and dirigibles. Nearly all
these stations are situated at out-Of-
the-way points, some on uninhabited
islands, others in fishing vessels on
peninsulaS Labor was almost impoS-
sible to obtain, so these stations were
built almost entirely by our own sail
| ors. At each station there are from
| 200 to 300 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 and 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-
tablished 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
aviators who daily and nightly dropped
tons of explosives on the submarine
bases.
1--WE have a considerable naval force
at Gibraltar. In conjunction with the
British this force not only patrols thu
Atlantic in that vicinity, but also is ac
tive in the Mediterranean escortins
vessels to and from Italy, Greece ant
Egypt. In the Adriatic we have es
tablished a large group Of submarine
chasers and other vessels at work
In conjunction with the Portuguese W,
have established a base in the Azores.
There appeared to be a misappre
hension in this country as well as il
France, Assistant Secretary Roose
velt said, as to the part taken by tn
American navy in transporting troop
and supplies to French ports. Ever
transport that flies the United State
flag is differed, manned and run b
the American navy, he said. Much tn
} larger portion Of supplies for the arm
in France is taken across in America
vessels officered and manned by tn
United States navy.