The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-22
GIGANTIC TASKS
ARE PERFORMED
BY j. S. SAILORS
Secretary Roosevelt Back
From Europe Tells Of Mine
Barrage, Aviation Stations
and Other Accomplishments

WASHINGTON. Oct, ~22.-Construc-
tiou Nof the North sea mine harrage
against submarines. laying Of an oil
pipe line across Scotland, and estab-
lishmeut OF naval aviation stations from
the Spanish border to the English chan
mel, and other details Of the work
Of the American navy in foreign waters
have been given 10 the public by Assist
ant Secretary Roosevelt, who recently
returned from a visit to Europe,
The American people seem TO nave
very little idea of the extent Of our ma
val activities abroad said secretary
Roosevelt, The tendency Is to thlnE
merely Of the conveying and patrol
work our d@estrovers and other vessels
are doing aud the presence " our bat"
t'cshtps with the British fleet, But I'M
portant as this Is, 1t Is only a part OF
our activities and there are dozens OF
other things of Importance OF which III
tie has been said.
THE building Of the northern mine
barraEe was one of the biggest things
ever accomplished in ordnance work,
Mr.. Roosevelt said. In turning out ma
terial for It "A number of plants in TINS
country We're kept busy for months.
Several American bases were estao-
lIshed on the British coast to lay and
handle the mines.
TO save haulage of oil, the American
navy has undertaken to construct a ptpe
line across Scotland.
IAN the way from the Spanish boT-
der clear around to the English chan
mel" said MIR, Roosevelt, " nave %.
tablished aviation stations so spaced
that the entire coast line IL covered
by seaplanes and dirigibles, These sta
lions were built almost entirely by our
sailors. AZ zach station there Is an
average Of from 200 to 300 men. THIS
aviation force and our patrol vessels
AA.. 49,, lAtVsw WNNNIn nnlAnntd WnTNk
that for the past six months there have
been practically no sinkings within %
nllas of the French coast. We hope TO
extend this patrol zone to a d
miles.
In Northern France, In corporation
with British and BelgiRns, Mr.. Roose-
welt said, there has been estabhshed
what was known us the northern bomb
ing Eroup, composed OF n number OF
aviation units, which did much to pre-
vent the Germans from again using Gee
brugge and Ostend as submarine bases.
An American naval force cooperating
with the British at Gibraltar is patroll-
lng the Atlantic in that vicinity n Is
acting az convoy to vessels going to
and from Italy, Greece and Egypt.
There is n flying school with several
naval aviation units on duty In Italy
while In the Adrtatic Is a largo group
Of submarine ChRsers.
Each naval bas has its hospital.
Secretary Roosevelt said, and in Scot
land an entire wagering place has been
taken over by the Americans for use
as a hospital, =.
Conditions have vastly improNed
from what they were last year" said
the secretary In referring to tho subma-
rIne menace, But we canno afford
TO let up In our activities for one single
second. In regard TO the respect which
U-hoats have shown for International
Inv, you have but to ask any OFFICER or
French navles. They will tell you Of
and prove to you great numbers OF
actual cases where the Hun has vio-
lated every rule and every principle OF
humanity"