The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-02
IUS. NAVAL SHIPS
NAY PAY VISIT 70
CITY Of. FAIRMONT
Mayor Bowen Starts Move
ment to Have Flotilla
Sent Here.
ARE THE REAL THING
Destroyer Isabel is Nucleus
of Little Fleet to Tour
Rivers.
ARE THE REAL THING

= Mayor Anthony Bowen set on foot
today move whereby residents of
the upper Monongahela valley may be
given an opportunity of viewing on
the Monongahela river an anti-sub-
marine flotilla which has been assem-
bled by the U. S. Navy to make a trip
of the Mississippi river and its tribu-
taries.
Mayor Bowen today addressed let
ters to Lieutenant Commander Wells
Hawkes., U. S. N, under whose direc-
ton the fiotilla has been assembled,
asking that Fairmont be one of the
stopping places of the flotilla, and in
this connection has also written SEN
ator. Howard Sutherland and Con-
gressman NJ. NJ. Neely at Washington
asking their cooperation in securing
this anti-submarine flotilla.
In his letter to Lieutenant Com
mander Hawkes., Mayor Bowen cites
the fact that as Fairmont Is the head
OF navigation of the Monongahela
river, she is entitled to have a visit
from the flotilla, and also assures the
lieutenant commander that Fairmont
and its enyirons will cooperate in
making the visit here, should 1t ma
terialiEe, an auspicious one, and also
assures the department that thou
sands of people in Northern and Cen
tral West Virginia would doubtless
assemble here to view the ships. May
or Bowen also calls the attention of
Commander Hawkes. to the fact that
Fairmont and Marion county has
come up'to and beyond all required of
her in the matter of.war funds and
that the county had the distinction of
being the first over" in the Victory
Liberty loan campaign. Mayor Bowen
also asks that he be advised at an
neatly date as to wether or not this
city VIII be one of the scheduled
stops for the fiotilla.
In his letters to Senator Sutherland
and Congressman Neely, Mayor Bow
en- advises them of the possibility of
Fairmont being seelcted as a stopping
place for the ships and asks that they
give their hearty support and cooper
alton in an endeavor to give the peo-
,Gple of Northern and Central West
Virginia an opportunity to see flo-
tilla of the type of ships and imple-
ments of warfare used against the
German U-boats.
The flotilla will consist of the U. S..
S. Isabel, destroyer type, the sub
marine KS, three submarine chasers
and two flying boats, all OF which
with their officers and crews have
seen active service in the war zone.
The expedition will be in command
of Lieutenant Commander Thomas G..
Berrien, U. S. N, woh is now at the
Submarine Base at Key West. The
Isabel, which will be commanded by
Lieutenant T. N. Vinson, U. S. N, has
sailed from the Navy Yard at Phila-
delphia to join the other ships at Key
West. From the Florida port they
Will proceed to New Orleans. The
start up the river will be made early
in May and the trip will extend to
st. Louis and also include tributaries
of the Mississippi. The itineary NOW
being laid out, includes the visit to all
of the cities and towns on either bank
OF the river.
Destroyer. submarine and chasers
viii carry war equipment. The de-
t,,yer will have a "Y" gun and
depth charges. The submarine will
be prepared to hubmerge. All of the
ships will be illuminated at night.
both when at anchor and afloat. One
4 Of the chasers will go in advance of
the fiotilla and will be in commuHica-
ton by radio and wireless phone"
with the other ships. This chaser
will be used by Lieutenant Comman-
der Wells Hawkes., U. S. n. R. F.. who
has been ordered to preced the fotilla
and make all arrangements.
Already cities and towns along the
river are preparing to receive and en-
tertain the fiotillas and Its men. The
( ships will be prepared to return the
courtesy. The personnel will include
the band from the us. S. Recruit,
the land ship IN Union Square, New
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