Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-04-26

was that once in we could close the door,
and nobody else could get in without
running extraordinary dangers.
Across the mouth of the gulf are many
small islands and perilOus shoals. When
the main channel was closed against in
| truders, only a navigator, thoroughly
| familiar with the intricate turnings and
varying depths of the other channels,
could afford to venture an attempt to
enter. The chances were heavily against
any U-boat coming through while sub
merged-and a u-boat that failed to sub
merge we could take care of. Aeroplanes
made a complete reconnaissance of the
gulf and adjacent waters twice every
day. while picket boats guarded all
waters outside the gulf from Cape Cruz
to Lavissa bank.
SAFE AS JEWELS
IN A VAULT.
! When Admiral Mayo had placed his
ships in this land-lOcked harbor, had shut
the door and turned the key, they were
as safe as my lady's jewels in a safety
| deposit vault.
| There the fleet continued its work
going out to sea for battle practice and
long range gunnery in the daytime. and
returning at night to conduct night fir
ing with secondary batteries, torpedo at
tack and other exercises There was even
room in the gulf to carry on torpedo
! firing and defense at 10000 yards dis
| lance.
Guacanayabo was safe enough, but in
! case Of hostilities we wanted our fleet
nearer home, so a few days before war
we concealed It in a home base even
more inaccessible to the enemy.
! Before this final base was determined
| for the Atlantic fleet however. 1t was
/ moved from Guacanayabo to Hampton
/ Ia ~ 10
/ given March 81. 1917
READY FOR
/ SUBMARINES.
The possibility Of submarine attack on
| this voyage was clearly recognized, and
/ instructions we're given that for the
greater safety Of the fleet the larger bat
teships and destroyers should proceed
at maximum speed via Cacos channel,
while the train. mine force and old bat
/ tleships-all slower vessels should so In
company via the Crooked island passage.
The dreaduaughts and destroyers
! reached Hampton Roads at $50 o'clock
on the morning OF March u. The slower
ships arrived three days later.
Hampton Roads was n most convenient
] and desirable base in many ways, but II
was too well known and too much ex-
posed. We brought Admiral Mayo TO
! Washington, and the whole matter was
discussed Charts were examined and n
new base selected, to which the admiral
was given orders to shift the fleet.
on the very day on which President
vii on delivered his war message to Con-
gr,ss the fleet sailed from Hampton
Roads for It's new rendezvous.
This was Base - Throughout the
war 1t was never called anything else.
In conversation and dispatches It re-
NAMED thus mysterlously designated.
The newspapers were requested If they
! should by chance discover where the
fleet was sequestered to keep It as pro-
found a secret az the Navy Department
had tried to make IT.
KEEP NAyY's
SECRET.
Necessarily persons residing In the
| neighborhood OF tho base became aware
/ Of the presence OF the battleships. but
for the most part, like good Americans,
they held their tongues. 1t was months
before there was any general knowledge
| OF where the fleet spent its days dur
ing those early weeks Of the war.
| Base 2" was one Of the most his
! toric spots in America-Y orktown, Va.