Omaha daily bee., 1918-10-22
AMERICAN NAVY
WORKS WONDERS
IN FOREIGN SEAS
Details Given to Public by As.
sistant Secretary Roose-
welt; Mine Barrage One
Accomplishment.
By Associated Press.

| Washington, D. c., Oct. I'll
Construction of the North sea mine
barrage against submarines, agree
ment to lay an oil pipe line across
Scotland, establishment of naval
aviation stations from the Spanish
border to the English channel, and
other details of the work of the
American navy in foreign waters
were given to the public today by
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, who
recently returned from a visit to
Europe.
"The American people seem to
have very little idea of the extent OF
our naval activities abroad" said
Secretary Roosevelt. THE tendency
is to think merely of the conveying
and patrol work our destroyers and
other vessels are doing and the
presence of our battleships with the
British fleet. But important as this
is it is only a part of our activities
and there are dozens of other things
of Importance of which little has
been said"
THE building of the northern mine
barrage was one of the biggest
things ever accomplished in ord
nance work." Mr.. Roosevelt said.
"In turning out material for it, a
number of plants in this country
were kept busy for months. Several
American bases were established on
the British coast to lay and handle
the mines.
ITO save haulage of oil, the Am
erican navy has undertaken to con-
struct pipe line across Scotland.
"All the way from the Spanish
border clear around to the English
channel" said Mr.. Roosevelt, I'VE
have established aviation stations so
spaced that the entire coast line is
covered by seaplanes and dirigibles
These stations were built almost en-
tirely by our sailors. At each sta
ton there is an average of 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 prac-
tically no sinkings within 50 miles
of the French coast. We hope to
extend this patrol zone to 100
miles"
In northern France. in co-opera-
ton with the British and Belgians,
Secretary Roosevelt said there had
been established what is known as
the northern bombing group, COM
posed of number of aviation units
which did much to prevent the Ger
mans from against using Zeebrugge
and Ostend as submarine bases.
Navy in Italy.
An American naval force COOP
Grating with the British at Gibraltar
is patrolling the Atlantic in that
vicinity and is acting as convoy to
vessels going to and from Italy,
Greece and Egypt There is fly
ing school with several naval avia-
ition units on duty in Italy while in
the Adriatic is large group of sub
marine chasers.
Each naval base has its hospital,
Secretary Roosevelt said, and in
Scotland an entire watering place
has been taken over by the Amer
leans for use as hospital.
Conditions have vastly improved
from what they were last year."
said the secretary, in referring to the
submarine menace. "but we cannot
afford to let up in our activities for
one single second. In regard to the
respect which U-boats have shown
for international law, you have but
to ask any officer or man in Our own
or in the British or French navies.
They will tell you of, and prove to
you, great numbers of actual cases
where the Hun has violated every
rule and princiDle of humanity"