The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-06-28
MOTHER SHIP
FOR SEAPLANES
Floating Wonder Caused Amusement
of Portuguese Officials Who Wis
tied Her at Azores
Islands.

| (By w. r. Hargraves, Staff Correspon
dent of the United Press.]
NEW YORK, June 2S. = Interest
among the residents of the quaint Ill
tie Azorean city of Ponta Delgada was
divided, during the Nancies' trans
Atlantic flight, between the United
States naval seaplanes and the U. 3
Melville, mother-ship Of the destroyer
flotilla No. 2. During the flight the
Melville also acted as seaplane tender
carrying to the Azores thousands OF
gallons of specially distilled gas,
spare parts enough to repair minor
breaks or defects and additional emer.
gency supplies for the crews of the
seaplanes, should they be found neces-
sary.
The Melville, In command Of Cap
tain John S. Arwine, U. S. N, also
was the headquarters of Captain Ward
w. Workman, commander of the des-
troyers flotilla marking the line OF
flight from half way across the Allan
tic to Lisbon.
Portuguese officials and visiting
naval officers from foreign ships were
amazed at the equipment of the YES
sci. and spent hours inspecting
its many departments. The Melville,
according to Captain Arwine, created
the same sensation at Queenstown,
where it was stationed for twenty-five
months during the war, caring TOT
thirty-six destroyers and as many SUD
chasers. British officials who visited
the steamer were overwhelmed by the
magnitude of the work done abroad.
Destroyers coming alongside with
tunnels torn away or bows bent ana
twisted steamed off within few days
as sea-worthy as though they had been
in dry dock. AS a matter Of fact,
Captain Arwine said, several big jobs
were sent over from the British dry
docks to be done ON the Melville.
The Melville was the flagship OF
Admiral Sims in European waters and
although there are aboard black
smiths and coppersmith's shop, ma
chine shop, carpenter shop, foundry,
paint shop and complete printing es'
Establishment, the vessel is Kept spot
lessIy clean Even in the spacious up
to-the minute hospital, where major
operations have been performed, the
construction of the ship prevents
noises from other parts from disturb
ing the patients.
During the first fourteen months OF
Il. s. participation in the war this
hospital took care OF the health OIL
the crew of the Melville, more than
five hundred skilled artisans ana
mechanics and sailors as well as from
$500 to 1000 men on the destroyers.
One of the reasons why the Melville
is especially popular among the des-
troyer forces is the fact that she car
ries the payroll. handling the accounts
of the thousands of officers and men
and paying out in excess OF Sloo,ooo
each month in wages. All bills OF
destroyers are paid by the Melville
pavmaster, who also handles the LAD
ertv loans and insurance affairs of the
small fighting craft.
Another department that makes the
Melville the center Of fleet or sma1i
boats having the appearance of bees
swarming. is the canteen, where the
sales average from $4,000 to $4,000
a month, The bake shop Is marvel
NJ nerfectton and confection. more
than 1000 pounds of bread are baked
there daily In addition to delicious
nies and cakes. 1t also has capacity
For turning out 100 gallons of ice,
cream which it does twice week.
Members Of the British royal family
came aboard the Melville frequently
when she was at Queenstown, for the
purpose Of ampling the ice cream and
apple pie.
So spacious are the provision ana
,npplv departments that meat, eggs,
potatoes. and vegetables sufficient TO
,eep eighteen destroyers and the Mel
Vile for four months are carried. This
9 in addition to carrying enough oil In
Ter hold to re-fuel the same number
If destroyers.
In the general naval stores depart