The Coolidge examiner., 1932-10-14


another distinguished foreigner who is propos-
ing to pay a tribute of another kind to the des-
perate valor of a young American naval captain
more than a century after he had thrilled the
hearts of his fellowcountrymen with his daring.
For Premier Benito Musson dictator of
Italy has conceived an ambitious project of
putting the old Barbary coast on the map
again and making ii easy for American tourists
to visit the spot where took place one of the
most glorious deeds in American naval history.
Not only will he make it easy for them to visit
the place but it is said that he is planning spe-
cial inducements to attract them there
During several visits to Tripoi Mussolini was
particularly impressed by the historical attrac-
ton the place held for the American people
especially it has always been more or less
closed to them. For there still survive there
many relics of Americas almost forgotten war
with the Barbary pirates at the opening of the
Nineteenth century. The hulk of the Philadel-
phia lies in - feet of water less than 400 feet
from the end of the MOLE to where 1t drifted
before exploding and when the sea is clear one
can row out and see the timbers Divers report
that the hull is mostly intact and well preserved
and it is said that Musson even intends TO
raise the vessel eventually for exhibition pur-
poses
To take advantage of this American historic
appeal. Premier Mussolini is going to cut broad
tourist trail straight across italy. Sicily and the
Mediterranean to Tripoli. He will have special
train services special sailings and then lux
urious hotels in TripoH TO lodge the visitors.
The hotels are being built now 1t was partly
for this new attraction that the Italian govern
ment is financing several fine new liners, which
will sail directly for the Mediterranean and stop
mt TripOli as well as Naples. The liners carry
ing winter cruises viii be invited to stop there.
The situation which brought about Decaturs
chance for glory this: For centuries the
Barbary pirates had proved upon the commerce
of all nations. Finally ii became Europes Gus
tom. and also that of America, to make presents
of goods and money TO the fierce rovers of north
ern Africa and when those gifts were not
promptly Forthcoming the swift galeys of the
corsars ranged the seas and committed every
act of piracy in the buccaneering calendar The
cruelty of these rovers was unbounded. their ar
rogance unmitigated. their demands Unsuitable
America its colonies established free and
independent nation following the Revolution, its
maritime troubles with its erstwhe ally, France,
settled now turned its atteation TO the vexatous
and dangerous problem of the Barbary corcairs.
The war really opened in 1901 but it was not
until 1903 that the third squadron sent out by
the United States gathered at Gibraltar under
the command of Commodore Edward Preble, one
of whose lieutenants was stephen Decatur, the
son of another of the same name who had COM
mand$i an American privateer during the Reyo-
luton
After several bloodless encounters. Preble as
signed two American vessels, the famous Phil
adelphia and the Vixen. to the task of blockad-
ing Tripoli. This was exceedingly difficult be-
cause the coast high, dangerous one, full
of reefs. shoals and strong, unknown currents.
as well as being harassed by strong winds. The
difficulty of the situation became acute when
the Vixen made off toward the east in search of
a Trpolitan cruiser and the Philadelphia, a