Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-18
Anti-Submarine FIotiIIa
for Mississippi River

WHAT promises to be the most
w novel, effective and educational
expedition which the Navy Depart
ment has ever sent to interior waters
is now under sailing orders at Key
West. This is flotilla of ships Of
the type utilized by the United States
Navy in driving the U-boat from the
sea. This anti-submarine fiotilla WILL
soon sail for New Orleans, and from
that port start on cruise up the
Mississippi river and its tributaries.
While the public Of these sections
Is thoroughly familiar with these
ships, both by pictures and descrip-
tions. it is believed that a first-hand
view is due them. The ships com.
prising the fotilla have all seen active
service. while the officers and the
majority of men in the crews have
all had active service in the war
zone. Not only will the types Of
ships be shown afioat, but each one
will be completely equipped and
manned as IL going into action. They
will be prepared to give demonstra-
tons of the methods Of patrol. guard
and attack upon the enemy subma-
rine.
The personnel will include a Navy
band. a crack base ball team and
sailor singers, while motion picture
exhibitions of Navy activities. train
ing and life will be shown. The no.
tilla will include the U. 8. s. Isabel.
a destroyer type, the American SUBJ
marine KS, three 110-foot submarine
chasers and two flying boats.
To meet the conditions Of Missis-
sippi navigation and the varying
drawing depths Of the ships, tho
fotilla will go directly up the river
as far as practicable. No stops on
this run will be made, except for
fuel and supplies. On reaching the
head Of navigation the cruise will
then be laid out in detail. not only
for the Mississippi, but for all Of its
tributaries supplying sufiicient water
for the ships. The itinerary and
dates will be announced shortly.
1t is planned to make . stop Of sew
eral days at each Of the large cities
and CALI will be made at all
towns and groups of villages on either
bank of the river from navigation
head to the gulf. Each one of these
visits will be made an event of i'm
portance, and, with the corporation
of the local authorities. a program
for the visit will be arranged.
The flotilla will be preceded by an
advance party to make arrangements
for it's reception. This party will
travel on one of the submarine
chasers and will be in direct COM
munication with the fiotilla, both by
radio and wireless telephone. The
advance arrangements will be made
nv Lieut.. Commander Wells Hawks,
L. s. N. r. F.
The fotilla will be in command oil
, Lieut.. Commander Thomas G. Ber'
. rien. U. S. N, who went with the
first four American submarines &c
no sent to the war zone. The U. S. s
Isabel will be commanded by Lieut.
!, T. N. vinson. U. s. N. The submarine
chaser commanders will be Ensisr
r. A. Van Patten, U. s. NJ; Ensigr
r Fl. AIker, U. s N, and Boatswaii
N. ]. Messier, U. S. n. The aviator'
will be Lieut. Henry T. Stanley. En-
. sign X. w. Arthur and Ensign vii
: liam S. Grooch. Ensign w. A. White
Up. c. will be the supply onicer.
The KS submarine, which will b.
the flagship OF the anti-submarin
fotiila. is OF the Holland type. 10
y feet long and 1S-foot beam. She hold
:. a record for having made the long
= est trip ever accomplished ny An