The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-04


troops. 1t viii appear that our de-
stroyers located at Queenstown and
Brest did even larger share OF this
work. The latest reports show that
about POS German Submarines were de-
stroyed. OF these II. seems probable
that thirteen can be credited to Amer
lean efforts. the rest TO Great Britain
France. and ItaIy-the greatest num-
Der, of course, TO Great Britain. When
we take into consideration the few
ships that we had on the other side.
compared with those of the Allies ana
the comparatively brief period in
which we were engaged in the war.
this must be regarded as a highly
creditable showing
Much Unrecoenized valor.
! regret that I have not been able
to describe the work of all of our Of
ficers and men; to do this, however,
would demand more than q single vol
ume. One OF the disappointing aspects
of destroyer work was that many OF
the. finest performances were those
that were the least spectacular. The.
mere fact that an attack upon a sub
marine did not result in sinking
hardly robbed it of its importance:
many OF the finest exploits of our forces
did not destroy the enemy but they
viii always hold a place in our naval
annals for the daring and skill with
which they We're conducted. In this
class belong the achieveme nts Of the
Sterrett, under Lieutenant Commander
Farquhar; Of the Benham. under Lieu
tenant-Commander C. A. BlakeIy; OF
the Parker, under Lieutenant-C Com
n1ander II. Powell; OF the Jacob Jones.
under Lieutenant Commander D. w
tenant-Commander Taussig, and after
wards /. #. Dartch; OF the Drayton,
under Lieutenant Commander .. L.
Howard; of the McDougal, under Com
mander A. L. Fairfield; and Of the
Nicholson, under Commander F. d.
Berrien. The senior destroyer COM
mander at Queenstown was Comman-
der David c. Hanrahan, Of the Cnsh-
ing, a fine character and one of the
most experienced officers Of his rank in
the navy. He was a tower of strength
at all times. ] viii have occasion to +
mention him later in connection with
certain important duties. The CHIEF
of-Staff at Queenstown, Captain J. X. Y
p. Pringla, was especially commended
by Admiral Bayley. for his tact, ener-
gy, and ability The American naval
forces at Queenstown were under my
immediate command. Necessarily, how
ever, had TO spend the greater part
of my time at the London headquar
tiers, or at the Naval Council IN Paris.
and it was therefore necessary that I
should be represented at Queenstown
by man of marked ability. Capta'l1s
Pringle proved equal TO every emer
gency- He was responsible for the adj
ministration, supplies, and maintenance
of the Queenstown forces. and thes
state of readiness and efficiency IL
which they were constantly main
tanned was the strongest possible evil
chiefly due also the fact that our men
-co-operated so har1noniously and suc-
cessfuIly with the British
As an example OF the impression
which our work made can do no BET ii
ter than to quite the message sent nys
Admiral Sir Lewis Bayiy 70 the
Queenstown forces on May 4, 1915
ION the anniversary of the arriva
of the first United States men-of- wark
at Queenstown, I wish TO express nyf
officers and ratings for the skill, en-
they have all consistently SHOWN audi
sisted in the war by enabling ships Of
the Allied Powers to cross the ocean
in comparative freedom.
ITO command you is an honor, ter
work with you is a pleasure. to knovl
you is to know the best traits of thes
Anglo-Saxon race"