The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-11-16
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-
tlonai Movement Started for Re-
claiming Waste Materials.

(From Committee on Public Informa-
tion.)
Washington.-Fran d. Roosevelt,
assistant secretary of the navy, in a
statement since his return from a 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 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
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
seaplanes 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
ly no sinkings within so miles Of the
French coast.
eat 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
chem In building barracks which wera
very comfortable.
''Tn 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 the
Atlantic In that vicinity, but also Is &C
tive In the Mediterranean escorting
vessels to and from Italy, Greece and
Egypt. In the Adriatic we have es-
tablished large group Of submarine
chasers and other vessels at work.
I'm conjunction with the Portuguese we
have established base in the, Azores
There appeared to be misappre-
hension in this country as well as in
France, Assistant Secretary Roose.
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
nag 10 officered. manned and run by
the American navy. he said. Much the
larger portion Of supplies for the army
IN France 70 taken across in American
vessels oficered and manned by the
United States navy.
Esne enlisted men Of the navy who
volunteered to be inoculated with the
serum Of Spanish influenza to help
medical officers gather specific facts re-
garding the disease and discover the
means Of combating II, have been COM
mended by Secretary Daniels. The
experiment was conducted during the
prevalence Of the epidemic In the first
naval district, Boston, and the volun-
teers understood the danger to which
they exposed themselves for the benefit
Of others.
The test indicated that the disease
fs mot due to fltrated virus, as the
results were negative. None Of the
men inoculated contracted the dis
ease. They were isolated for ten days
after their incubation.
AS measure against the further
spread of influenza, war workers In
Washington, D. G., are taken to their
duty every morning by automobile in
stead of in crowded street cars. The
division Of transportation of the gov
ernmental emergency commission work.
ed out the plan which, 1t is estimated,
provides for the accommodation of 25,-
600 of these workers every day in pri-
yately owned automobiles that volun-
teer to "give lift" to the men and
women especially the latter. The
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