The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1918-03-23
ISSUED BY THE NAVY LEAGUE)

troops on shore and carried in tri-
umph to Boston.
In 1899 Preble was appointed one of
five lieutenants and after two cruises
in the Pickering was promoted cap
tain and given command of the frigate
Essex, later resigning the COMMAND
on account of ill health.
In 1903 he was appointed to COM
mand the Constitution, then lying in
Boston, and instructed to get ready
for sea. In June of that year he re-
ceiver orders to take command of the
squadron then preparing for active
service in the Mediterranean.
The fleet consisted of the Constitu-
ton, A guns, Captain William Balm
bridge, already at the station; the Ar
gus, IS guns; the Syren, 16 guns,
Lieutenant Stewart; the Nautilus, 16
guns; the Vixen, 16 guns; and the
Enterprise, Lieutenant Stephen Deca-
tur, IA guns.
At this time the situation was crit
ical. The administration had adopted
the same policy toward Tunis and
Tripoli as had the European powers,
giving them tributes to prevent at
tacks on shipping. Commodore Pre-
ble's feet was sent to blockade their
ports. When the squadron reached
Gibraltar it was learned that the Phil
adelphia had captured the Mirboka,
% guns, and found paper sent to the
Mirboka's captain by the Tangier gov
eminent ordering him to cruise for
Americans. Under these orders he had
captured the American ship Celia,
which Captain cambridge restored to
its owner.
Commodore Preble then dispatched
his smaller vessels to cruise off Mo-
gador, Sallee, Zarach and Tetuan
while he entered the bay of ,Tangier
He sent the Philadelphia and Vixen to
blockade Tripoli. On October 6 Pre-
bic moved toward the city of Tangier
with his larger ships, which were kept
cleared for action night and day. The
same day the emperor arrived with
5000 troops and encamped on the
beach. Preble tickled the emperor by
saluting him with 81 guns, and this
honor apparently paved the way for
an audience, for five days later the
commodore conferred with the emper-
or, as a result of which the attacks
by the Tangier government ended and
American ships were restored. In this
way, by threatening war Preble en-
forced peace.
/ Commodore Preble then declared
the blockade of Tripoli, and during
a cruise captured ship under the
Turkish colors, which he converted in
to the ketch Intrepid, which took a
prominent part in later battles.
With six gunboats and two bomb
vessels borrowed from the king of Ma
piles, Commodore Preble attacked the
batteries and shipping in the harbor of
Tripoi on August 3. Fifteen minutes
after the signal to attack was given
the bomb-vessels were Smelling the
city. AS the various divisions of the
fleet singled out and attacked the di-
vision of the enemy's force assigned
to them, Commodore Preble in the
Constitution kept the enemy's fotilla
in disorder and assisted his various
units, being a large part of the time
under the direct fire of the shore bat
teries at close range.
Although the engagement lasted two
and half hours, only one man was
killed, and his death occurred through
treachery. Three enemy boats were
captured, and three sent to the bot
tom. Forty-seven of the crew of the
captured boats were killed, and on
shore large number of persons were
killed.
On August Z, when the bashaw still
failed to give any Indication of being
ready to treat with the Americans,
Commodore Preble began a second as
sault with the bomb vessels and
schooners, shelled the town, and 81
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