The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-12-14

The Admiralty in London was the |
.nral nervous system of compli- |
stei but perfectly working organism |
Ehieh reached the remotest corners of |
he world. Wherever there was a
or- whether in South America, Aus
ria. or in the most inaccessible parts
+ India or China, from which mer-
lantmen sailed to any of the other
ountries involved in the war, repre-
ssntatves of the British navy and the
British government were stationed, all
working tremendously with shipping
men to get their cargoes safely through
he danger zones, These danger zones
occupied comparatively small area
grounding the belligerent countries.
but the safeguarding of. the ships was
an elaborate process which began far
hack in the countries from which the
@mmerce started. Until about July,
l9l7, the worlds shipping for the most
part had been unregulated; now for
he first time it was arranged in hard
md fast routes and despatched in ac-
nrdance with schedules as fixed as
hose of a great railroad. Teh whole
ldl!et SC1IlSIiI VI GOilNoyS 1IioSCds boiS
many resemblanceS to the method of
landing freight cars on the American
Bystem Of trans continental lines. In
he United States there are several
reat headquarters of freight, some
mes known as "gatways." places. that
s at which freight cars are assembled
Fom thousand places, and from
which the great accumulations are
outed to their destinations. Such
places are Pittsburgh, Buffalo. st.
Louis, Chicago. Minneapolis, Denver,
San Francisco-to mention only a few.
Shipping destined for the belligerent
ations was similarly assembled, in the
pears 1917 and 1918, at six or eight
Ereat ocean ''gateways." and there
Formed into conveys for through rout-
Eg to the British Isles, France, and
fAe Mediterranean. Only a few of the
fhps that were exceptionally fast
speed itself being a particularly eff
cacious protection against submarines
were permitted to ignore this rout-
fng system, and dash unprotected
Through the infested area. This was
somewhat dangerous procedure even
faF such ships, however, and they
fere escorted whenever destroyers
fere available. All other vessels, from
Iaatever parts of the world they came,
ere required to sail first for one of
aess great assembling points, or
Getaways" at which places they were
laed to one of the constantly form
conveys. Thus all shipping which
oFmally sailed to Europe around the
ape OF Good Hope proceeded up the
Isl coast of Africa until it reached
s port of Dakar or Sierra Leone
aefe Is Joined the convoy. Shipping
IN the east cost of South America
ports ike Rio de Janeiro, Bahia.
-enos Aires, and ontevideo-instead
+ sailing directly to Europe, joined
3 convoy at this same African town.
s SSels which came to British and
E Hace by way Of Suez and Mediter-
@san ports. found their great stop
& place at Gibraltar-a headquar-
E Of traffic, which. in the huge
2Ount Of freight which it created
zane almost the Pittsburgh of this
~HnIoth transportation system. The
~ gateways" for North America
Nle west coast of South America
eEoney Cape Breton), Halifax,
IL" 1oFk, and Hampton Roads. The
III alen merchantmen from the St.
valley rendezvoused at Sgd
ana Halifax. Vessels from Port
~ noS1on, New York, Philadelphia,
u o,ief Atlantic points, found their
,'noilng headquarters at New York.
shlps from Baltimore, Norfolk
un o. Mexico. and the west coast
.o'n America proceeded to the
e,.s,, cohVoy center which had been
~re'shed at Hampton Roads.
."Foys Sailing on Time Table
Schedules.
i j.. convoy room of the Admiralty
\ b, xsregations of ships were al
- 's'erred to as the .eDakar con-
ae Halifax convoy" the
Ton Roads convoy" and the
men the system was complete
3, '''Shed the conveys sailed from
1pPolnted headquarters on regu-
= leaaies, like railroad trains
H. ., " York one convoy departed
.1'een days. for the, west coast
.o and one left every sixteen
h zig west coast and one every
esS TO the east coast, and con-
s..,sH al the other convoy points
n. eo similarly rigid schedule.
upon which these sailing
-" were fixed like the a rriv.#