Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-08
CAPT. DISMIJKES
HAS. BRILLIANT
! NAVAL RECORD
Will Soon Return Home to
Assume Shore Duty After
Four Years at Sea


last trip as a naval transport. An
unusual compliment was given to
this Queen of Transports" as she
is called, when General Pershing
cabled the Navy Department, August
80, asking if the proposed leave
could be given up that he miSht sail
on the Mt. Vernon. The ship was
then coaling at Hoboken. His re-
quest was referred to Captain Dis
mukes who said his crew would
gladly give up their holiday, but
the original intention of the De-
partment was to use the Leviathan
and it was then nearing France
where it arrived shortly after the
cable. General Pershing then de-
cided to so on the ship originally
sent to carry him.
On the return of the Mt. Vernon
to New York about September %,
Captain Dismukes will have finished
tour of something over four years
of sea service. He will then return
to Mississippi. the State from which
he was appointed to Annapolis in
1886, and be granted leave until
November 15, when he goes as COM
mandant of the Naval Training Sta
ton at Newport, r. l., and Captain
of the U. S. S. Constellation, the
station ship there. This is one of the
most desirable shore billets in the
Navy, the commandants house ke-
ing beautifully located with fine
grounds and gardens. Ii is an as
signment for several years. Near
the training station is the Naval War
College of which Admiral w. S.
Sims is president.
Important Operations
Captain Dismukes' term of sea
duty has covered II number OF i'm
portant operations. When on duty
at l4Nama as first captain OF the
port u Christobel tin which duty
he had much to do with the inaugu-
ration of the present system of tolls
and measurements of the vessels for
transportation through the new
canaD he was ordered by cable to
command the L. 5. batteship Ken
tucky. His first duty with this ship
was a very important assignment in
Mexican waters where part OF the
time Captain Dismukes was the SEN
ior officer present
During this Mexican service the
Kentucky was ordered to represent
the Government 1T the Mardi Gras at
New Orleans. This afforded u much
needed relief to the crew from the
Mexican climate. During the fes-
tiVities Captain Dismukes was made
one OF the dukes OF the carnival
by name Duke of Kentucky"
Later he was ordered to command
the New York State Naval Reserve
with headquarters for kentucky in
New York.
On our entrance into the war the
Kentucky Joined the battleships OF
the Atlantic fleet in Chesapeake
Bay in the important and intensive
training operations to supply suf-
ficient crews for the greatly in
creased Navy. During this period Il
serious situation confronted us. In
January 1917, the important harbor
of Baltimore was icebound and en-
tirely closed TO commerce. Hundreds
of ships carrying Cargoes of coal
destined for steel and munition
plants nearby and in New England
could not go in or out. Some of
these plants were on the point of
closing down when their products
were Nitluly needed by the Allies.
Repeatedly the regular ice-cGtting
ships failed of result as it was an
unprecedented winter Capt. Dis
mukes was ordered to take the
Kentucky to attempt this. 1t was u
dangerous and hazardous thing for
battleship to attempt, but he was
very successful and completely op-
ened up the harbor, assisting train
this he received kilograms of high
est Commendation from fleet ad-
mirals, Admiral Benson and the
Navy Department. on the conclusion
of this work, he was ordered to COM
mand the L. 5. S. Mt. Vernon, form
erly the Norddentcher Lloyd Kron-
prinZessin CeCilie, assuming com
mand in February 1917. He COM
manded on every trip during the war
except the first two.
The Mt. Vernon was torpedoed
September 5, 1918, and saved after
an exciting and heroic experience
She was the only transport of the
United States or any of her Allies
saved by herself after having been
torpedoed by an enemy submarine
1t is interesting to recall that the
Mt. Vernon spent the anniversary of
her torpedoing at BreSt
Mrs. Dismukes, who is now at heI
home in this city, treasures highly
history of the u. S. S. Mt. Vernon
which has been compiled from the
ships official diary as memorial
of those sailors of the ship who
made the supreme sacrifice and tc
whom il is dedicated and to former
shlpmates who since the World War
have been honorably discharged
This book is of unusual interest and
contains among other illustrations a
fine etching of Captain Dismukes.
The history also gives in detail the
incidents of the torpedoing of the
great ship and the splendid achieve
ment of its commanding officer in
getting the transport back to Brest.
1t Is vivid narrative of one of the
most remarkable incidents of the
war and there is nothing finer than
the special orders of Captain Dis
mukes in appreciation of the con-
duct of the officers and men when
the Mt. Vernon was attacked and in
danger of going down. There are
also official communications in com
mendation from the Secretary OF
War and others in authority. Thirty
hve men were killed in the explosion
and thirteen injured, one of whom
subsequently, died. It's a wonderful
story of heroism told in the most
=iOuest way by Captain Diamukes in
his official reports.
Harrisburg has a special interest
In this brave naval officer and his
assignment to the command of the
training station at Newport is a
recognition of his brilliant service.
Manv Activities Az