The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-05-14
Call Scapa Flow
Safest OF Harbors
Was Main Base of the Brit
ish Fleet During War.

Reports that the "a
German warships scuttled by their
commanders on June 81, 1919, at
Scapa Flow are to be salvaged by the
British, recall the fact that this body
Of water between the Orkney islands
and the mainland of Scotland, which
was the main base Of the British
grand fleet throughout the World war,
is one Of the worlds largest and
the Washington, D. c., headquarters
Of the National Geographic society.
even the guides provided for navi-
gators say that no matter In what d.
rection the wind may be, vessel can
always find shelter In Scapa Flow by
shifting berth. Practically the whole
of this inland sea. measuring 90
square miles In area. is honeycombed
around the edges with good harbors
and roadsteads. many Of them being
along the cliffy banks Of Pomona, or
Mainland, the central and largest OF
the Orkney islands. Burray, South
Ronaldshay, Flotta. Fara, Hoy and
Graemsay are the Islands which form
a ring to keep out heavy seas.
A Long Blockade Line.
Though the name recalls to the
British mind the basis of the home
fleet during their naval training sea-
son, to the American traveller during
the World war II often suggests I'M
happy moments when much against
bis Will he visited Scapa Flow because
4 Dutch, Scandinavian, Danish. or
other neutral vessel on which he was
travelling had been brought by a
British cruiser Into the harbor, and Its
passengers landed at one Of the Ork-
ney island ports, for Scapa lay along
the western terminal Of the line Of
blockade This blockade of ships and
steel netting extended from the north
Of Scotland to Scandinavia to pre-
vent travel to and from Germany
ITO many the Orkney islands thus
had an unpleasant Introduction
through no fault Of their own, but If
the anger Of the passengers over the
delay was not too great they probably
enjoyed the quaint charm of the In
habitants Of this northern archipelago |
who boast that they are descendants
of the old Scandinavians, who resent
being referred to as Scotch, and who
speak a dialect Of English interspersed
with peculiar old Morse words.
'.rhis characteristic Of the island
people is easily explainable even
tt<,rv< har hao OH fho
thousand years, for at a very early
date the sea-rovers from Scandinavia
and Denmark made their way across
the North sea to Scotland and prob
ably found In the flrths and land
locked inlets reminders OF the shell
tering fiords which they had left at
home.
An Historic Cathedral.
but those individuals who were for
tunate enough to make their way to
lying less than two miles
across the island Of Pomona from
Scapa Flow, and the base from which
he American mine-sweeper operated
N taking up the great North sea mine
)arrage laid during the World war,
delighted In the old Cathe-
iral Of st. Magnus, founded In 1877
md now one Of the three venerable
Scottish cathedrals In nearly COM
1lete state OF preservation.
1.-The visitor to the Orkneys cross
ng over from Scotland usually has a
vivid recollection of a swimming head
md a weakness in the pit of his stom-
lch, for the Pentland Firth which lies
o the south Of the islands enclosing
scapa Flow has the reputation Of be-
ng rougher than the Atlantic, with
current running so
lercely that 1t can be seen as an oily.