New Britain herald., 1926-02-06
A.P. WILL REWARD
 HEROIC SAILORS
Watches to Be Presented Fried
 and Rodgers

New York, Feb. Pl-Two men of the sea whose straightforward unvarnished narratives of heroic deeds thrilled the world are 10 re- ceive special awards as reporters of the Associated Press, It will be the first time laymen have been accord ed such honors.
 Gold watches are to be presented to Captain George Fried, Of the steamship President Roosevelt. who guided the rescue of the 27 men from the British freighter Antinoe, wrecked in mid-Atlantic recently and to Commander John Rodgers, U. s. N., who, with four mates bal tied the Pacific for nine days last summer when lost in 2,OOO-milc flight from San Francisco 10 Hawaii. As honorary associates in the task of reporting world events Fried and Rodgers will be given marks of dis tinction reserved for staff reporters of the Associated Press. Cub re- porters, in effect. when drafted in the public interest, they made good at once. The watches will bear in scriptions describing the specific events 10 which they were assigned to cover. They were selected be- cause they were in the best position 10 tell an anxious public quickly and accurately what happened.
 The wide use made of their mar ratives and the interest aroused by them showed that, be 1t thrilling ad- venture or anything else, the great appeal is in the facts, intclligently presented.
 No Exaggeration
 No exa ggeration by a verbal rouge pot was needed for Fried's radio messages telling laconically how in bright moonlight his men took off the crew Of the Antinoe, weak, helpless, hungry, after five of the Rooseyel's lifohoats had been smashed. Nor was tt necessary 10 embelish the narrative of Rodgers about himself and his men keeping alive through water distilled by a little still his mother had insisted he take with him.
 Rodgers, asked when found at Hawaii 10 give the public the facts, performer 'hr task so well that his was the first signed story ever car riod by The Associated Press.
 The inscription for Captain Fri"d's watch IS;
 Rescue or the crow Of the An- tlono. Presented 10 Captain George Fried hy Tho Associated Press as a souvenir of crrollmcnt as a m'm- bor of thr sfam, January ?G-gE If4G."
 The inscription for Commander Rodgers watch is:
 Adventure of 1hr c~,w Of th' PN-9-1. rrcsonteI to Commander John Rodgers l., :. x. hy Th" As soriatoI pross as a souF.nir of enrolment as member Of th" slaft. September IT. i9-5."
 Krnt Cooper. general manaror oi The Associated Press, I"s wired Captaju Triol arI Commando Rodgers.
 "Thc nr-ys s'1ft S4,u'' t'nsc lay men and Ercc's tL,m as honorary associates in the task ot reporting world events. News is Of such ir- tin,ato concern to ",orEonc that there ie reason 10 welcome to tho ,rportoricer field arvorc who, when events Of frars~enIart in0ortanc' occur urrvr,r'c3.", .oc. ..= 1ad ful- fills an Associated Press r'"s as stgnmcnt. THr c%r"lt"n' story writ. trn hv Commaulrr Eol~@rs was al most mnIcfnr' warrant i1 i'eot fni making 'ht ,.~ca'1o0 to pr'-io0 recognition 9rr H.sr'al rapnr'oria enterprise. Neon. within few months. Captain Fried responded sr efficiently, tho warrant for making receptions WIS confirmed, and na. turally Commander Rodgers wal included