Evening star., 1939-10-22

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tan corsairs who held sway in the
Mediterranean. So, in 1894, Presi-
dent Washington was able to sign an
act providing for six frigates for the
express purpose of protecting Amer
ican shipping from the ravages Of
those pirates.
And while the act specifically pro-
vided that there was no intention of
setting up a permanent Navy, that
is what actually happened, although
the failure to adopt fortnight poll
icy-the wording of the act repre-
sented compromise-was regretted
by many far-seeing leaders of the
new Nation.
The activity resulting from the act
of 1884 brought the Navy's growing
business into the War Department,
and it was not until 1893 that Con-
gress acted to establish the Office Of
the Secretary of the Navy. Between
1884 and 1898, shipbuilding and all
else went on under War Department
administration.
On May 81. 1898. the Navy Depart
ment as it is known today began
functioning and Benjamin Stoddert
was named the first secretary.
Soon the department and the tiny
fleet had plenty of action on their
hands. First, between 1898 and 1901,
there was that queer quasi-war with
France. all on the sea. A few years
later, Preble and Decatur made a
glorious record against the blood
thirsty. money-hungry Tripoitanese,
the racketeers of their day. Young
America stopped the paying of trib-
ute to which Europeans had bowed
supinely for years.
War of 1912 Won.
And then came 1912 and the war
with England. This war was won on
the sea, but the United States was
ill-prepared for the conflict. Vessels
had to be built hastily, and one Of
the epics of our history is Perry's
victory on Lake Erie. He not only
won the battle, but he built the ships
out of green timber felled in the
snowbound forests, and he trained
his own crews.
The remarkable feats of our ships
and men in the War of 1872 brought
resurgence of national support for
the Navy, but when the echoes of
that conflict died away, so did the
public's interest. Yet, despite lack
of adequate support, the UNDER
equipped Navy did valiant service in
the period between the close of the
War of 1912 and the beginning of the
War Between the States. 1t Coop
Grated in the Mexican War cam
paigns, aided in the suppression of
the slave trade and, under another
Perry, made a memorable trip to
Japan.
This was the transition period
from sails to steam, and when both
were used.
The War Between the States
brought tremendous naval activity,
and many were the valiant deeds
performed on both sides. It was in
this war that the death knell of the
wooden ship was sounded when two
odd-looking ironclads, the Monitor
and the Merrimac, met in a drawn
battle in Hampton Roads.
The War Between the States en-
phasized the importance of an ade-
quate Navy, for fighting ships had
played q vital role in the North's
ultimate victory. The blockade had
proved effective, and a decisive point
in the war was reached when North
ern ships commanded the whole Of
the Mississippi.
Period of Neglect.
Yet, in the face of the lessons
learned, the Navy entered a period
of almost complete neglect as soon
as Lee and Grant met at Apo
matox; as has been well stated, "the
canvas on the masts of the Navys
ships tapped aimlessly for Is years
in the doldrums of postwar antip-
athy."
The war concluded, many once
again felt that there was no further
use for a real Navy, and that If the
need arose it would quickly be sup
piled. But wise men knew that the
time was past when Perry could
cut his own timber, build his own
ships, train his own crews, and then
defeat an enemy. The years mad
brought changes In equipment, and,
Of equal Importance, In the whole
| art Of war. And those changes ere,