Evening star., 1937-10-03

States, now under construction in
divers sections Of the Nation, are:
Pompano, Salmon, Seal. Skipjack,
Snapper, Stingray. Sturgeon, Sarge,
Saury. Spearfish, Sculpin. Squalus,
Swordfish. Seadragon, Sealion, Sea-
raven and Seawolf. The Pompano,
being built at the Mare Island. Calf,
Navy Yard, will be completed the end
of October, the only one of the group
to be finished this year. She was COM
missioned on June IL. The others will
be finished early next year, in 1889
and 1940
Illustrative of how long it now takes
to construct a submarine, the keel
of the Pompano was laid on January
IA, 1886. The Portsmouth. N. H., and
Mare Island Navy Yards are con-
structing some of the submarines,
while others are being built by private
contractors.
The Mediterranean, where the
pirate" submarine now prowls for
prey. is familiar ground to many an
American bluejacket and gold-striper.
For the United States Navy during
the World War performed extensive
service there. In Saloniki, Mesopo-
tamia and Egypt allied military op-
eratiOnS required the use of vessels
that plowed the Mediterranean, and
ships of the Stars and Stripes did
their bit. not only in transporting
supplies, but in guarding the troop
ships and the cargo vessels.
Germany concentrated her sub
marine operations in the Mediter-
ranean, for during the Summer of
1918 an average of 100 merchant
vessels and transports, reaching the
staggering total of 100000 tons, were
at sea daily. Submarine attacks oc-
CURED in the restricted channels. Of
flcials here estimate that within five
months of the signing of the armistice.
some SO Austrian and German sub
marines were based in the Adriatic
and that they operated in the main
from Cattaro, and in addition there
were 81 submarines, including IA for
mer Russian undersea craft, operating
from the Dardanelles.
The genius of the American Navy
conveived the daring plan of laying
gigantic mine barrages in the Med
lterranean to cope with the German
submarine menace. just as had been
done in the North Sea by the United
States forces One mine barrage was
planned in the Aegean Sea, utilizing
Andres, Samos and Turkey. Another
mine barrage was projected in the
Adrlatic, from the Italian coast to
one of the Dalmatian islands. Across
the Straits of Otranto the Americans
proposed to build mine barrage.
From Cape Bon, Tunis, to the Island
of Sicily was another part of the
scheme, conceived by American brains.
A mine field in the Dardanelles and
barrage at Gibraltar we're part of
the plan.
r EAR ADMIRAL ORIN G. MUIR
FIN. now commandant at Pearl
Harbor, T. H., had established and
commanded the mine bases in Scot
land and was dispatched from Lon
don to set up the barrage in the
Mediterranean. But before the pro-
gram could be set in full swing the
armistice with Turkey came on &C.
tober 81. 1918, and that with Ger
many came soon afterward.
Capt. Paul H. Bastedo, until a few
days ago the naval aide to President
Roosevelt, was second in command
of a group of American submarine
chasers that operated in the Mediter-
ranean, around Greece. They were
manned. for the most part, by college
boys. These small vessels, part sof
Uncle Sans great war feet, partici-
pated in action with the enemy,
taking part in the spectacular attack
on Durrazo. -
Admiral Joseph Strauss. United
States Navy. retired, was commander
OF the American mining operations in
the North Sea during the World War.
For many years he has made his
nome in Washington, residing at 2208
Massachusetts, avenue. -
The Mediterranean was where MANY
German U-boats made their greatest
killing. Oddly enough, the U-boat
commander who became the ace sub
marine captain bore the French
sounding name of Lieut.. Won Arnauld
de la Periere. In the U-35, and later
in the U-39, De la Periere is definitely
proven by the Germans to have sunk
(See SUBMARINES, Page F-f3