Evening star., 1921-04-26
SECRETS OF u. S. FLEET BASES
AND MOVEMENTS IN WAR TOLD
Daniels Discloses Whereabouts of Atlantic
Forces, Why Rendezvous We're Hidden
and How Training Was Conducted

from Cape Cruz to Lavissa bank.
Snfe ms Jewels in Vault.
When Admiral Mayo had placed \his
ships in this land locked harbor, had
shut the door and turned the key,
they were aa safe as my ladyS jew
els in n safety deposit vault
There tho fleet continued it's work.
going out to sea for battle practice
and long range gunnery in the Way
time. and returning at night to con-
duct night firing with secondary bat
t"rics. torpedo attack and other ex-
crCiSca There was even room in
the gulf to carry on torpedo firing
and defense Mt 10000 yards distance.
Guacanayah6 was safe enough but
in case OF hostilitics we wanted our
fleet nearer home. 80 u few days be
fore war We concealed 1t in home
has." oven more inaccessible to the
cnrmy.
Before this final base was deter
mined for the Atlantic fleet. however.
IL was moved from Guacanayabo to
Hampton roads Tho orrlcr to steam
north was given March y, 1917.
Ready for Submarines.
The possibility Of submarine attack
on this voyage was clearly rccog-
ntzcd. and instructions were given
that for the greater safety of the
fleet the larger hattlcshipS and de-
stroyers should proceed at maximum
speed via Cacos channel. while the
train, mine force and old battlesh ipS
all slower vesscls-should go in
company via the Crooked Island
passage.
The drcadnaughts and dcstroyers
reached Hampton roa,ls at $50 o clock
the morning of March 81. The slow
| er ships arrived three days later.
Hampton roads was a most conven-
, lent and desirable base in many ways.
but it was too we'll known and too
| much exposed. We brought Admiral
Mayo to Washington. and the whole
| examined and new base selected,
to which the admiral was given or
ders to shift the fleet
The very day on which President
Wilson delivered his war message to
Congress the fleet sailed from Hamp-
ton roads for its new rendezvous.
This was base 3" Throughout the
war it was never called anything
else. In conversation and dispatches
it remained thus mysteriously desig-
mated, The newspapers were re-
quested if they should by chance dis
cover where the fleet was sequestered
to keep it as profound secret as
the Navy Department had tried to
make it.
Keep Nnvy's Secret.
Necessarily persons residing. in the
neighborhood of the base became
aware of the presence of the battle
ships. 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 during those
early weeks of the war.
Base ." was one of the most his
torc spots in America-Yorktow
Va. Throughout the war our battle
ships were almost in sight of the
place where CORVALLIS surrendered
to George Washington.
The York river affords a wonder
full harbor. with water deep enough
for the largest battleship and spa
cious enough for a whole feet to ride
at anchor. With defenses at the en-
trance to Chesapeake bay and nets
and patrols across York river, no
submarine could ever hope to pene-
trate this safe haven.
Not There to Hide.
1t should not be supposed that the
fleet went into the York river either
to rest or to hide. Far from it.
During the entire war there were few
buster places in the United States than
this base. Every ship was carrying
on intensive training day and night
training SunnerS. engineers. nremen.
deck officers and crews, armed guards
for merchant vessels. men of every
rank and rating to man transports.
destroyers, patrol craft and all the
many vessels put into European ana
transatlantic service.
In addition to new men in their own
crews, the battleships trained more
than $4,000 officers and men for serv-
ice in other vessels.
Every man from Admiral Mayo to
the stokers wanted to get into ac-
ton. Not man in the Navy but
knew in his heart it would be all
over with the Germans if only they
would give the Atlantic fleet
chance.
The Germans, probably, knew it
too. for the chance was never given.
This was the Navy's undying regret.
Admiral Beatty expressed the feeling
when. in his farewell address to Ad-
miral ROdman on the departure of
our battleships from the grand fleet.
re said: Il know quite well that
you. as we'll as all of your British
comrades. were bitterly disappointed
at not being able to give effect to
the efficiency that you have so well
maintained"
Pursue Best Possible Courxe.
d.