Evening star., 1928-11-25
BY PHILLIPS RUSSELL,

"ETED and decorated by royalty,
- John Paul Jones was now eager
for further exploits at sea. He
i knew he must return TO America
soon, but was determined to
come back and prove to the world that
his victories over the Drake and tho
Scraps had been but auguries OF yet
grander achievements,
Meantime the French government had
offered him, at F'ranklin's request. the
loan of the small ship Ariel for the
purpose Of sending over supplies to
Gen, WaShington'S half-naked armies
Jones accepted the command, but re-
pairs delayed his sailing and weeks
went by while he continued to lombard
Franklin and the French ministers
with schemes for attacks on England
and her shipping. Most of these were
perfectly practical and might we'll have
shortened the war, but responsible ON
cials would take no action,
Jones at length got under way and
dropped anchor at Philadelphia on Feb-
ruary Is, 1871, three years and three
months from the time when he had
pointed the nose of the little Ranger
toward France, His first action was to
so ashore and borrow money for him-
sell ana MS men,
The country itself was In not much
better state. Charleston had been taken
by the British. South Carolina and
Georgia had been ovefrun and Corn
wallis and Tarleton seemed to be suc-
ceeding IN their attempt to cut of the
South, Benedict Arnold had turned
traitor. Pennsylvania, New Jersey and
Connecticut troops had mutinied for
the same reason that Jones seamen had
turned against him-~laek Of pay. The
Continental currency had deprecated
until 40 paper dollars were worth only
one in specie,
Washington, watching his troops
starving and freezing at West Point
was telling the French to expect the
worst unless they could give him in
slant military and naval assistance. La
fayette was paying out OF his own pock'
cts for shirts and shoes TO elathe hi
troops In Virginia New York was cor.
ruptly content In the hands of the
British. Desertion TO the enemy wal
common.
Not a very dainty dish to lay before
victorious young naval commander
fresh from the drawing rooms of Paris
and Versailles, but with not q penny OF
pay In his pocket, with his prize earn
lngs still withheld and with his proper
rank still In question
v ~
A T that time the American Navy con-
IA sisted OF exactly three seaWorthS
fighting ships--the Alliance, the Amer
lea and the Deane, q little sloep OF 30
guns. The Alliance had been given to
John Barry. the America had been pre-
Rented to France and the Deane was
scarcely worthy of captain of the
line. Robert Morris, busy with his own
and the Nations finances, could think
of nothing for Jones to do so Jones
whose pride would not permit him To
remain looking out of the window Of his
Philadelphia boarding house, asked that
he be permitted to join the departing
feet of the Marquis de Vaudreuil az
volunteer. to gain military marine
knowledge In order to better serve my
country when America should increase
her Navy,
The squadron sailed south on Deeen1-
gun, ended In q faasco Storms separat-
ed the transports from the frigates
and the French ship Rourgoyne, strik-
ing q rock, foundered with enormous
loss of life. Don SOlano, the Spanish
admiral, failed to keep his rendezvous
and the cruise was continued TO the
Venezuelan coast at Port Cabello with,
out accomplishing any object Tropical
heat and unhealthful food brought or
illness. Among the victims was Jones
who was already sick from frustrated
Then arrived q French ship carrying
O white flag at her rlasthead-symhol
of the wars end-on January 81, 1888
Returning to Philadelphia, Jones ask
cd Congress to appoint him agent en-
powered to 60 abroad and settle claims
FOR prize money due to himself and
the members OF his crew.
He returned TO Europe and the French
government, after months of delay
suddenly paid the lump sum into hii
hands. II amounted 10 lal,03s livres
nominally equivalent to the same num-
her OF shillings. but actually worth
much lesAa