Evening star., 1940-08-10
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PORTSMOUTH, N. H., Aug. 10
President Roosevelt began a week
end inspection of New England sea
and land defenses today by observ-
ing conditions at the Portsmouth
Navy Yard, where II submarines
costing approximately SIS, 900, 900 are
being built, reconditioned, or in the
planning stage.
Accompanied by Secretary of the
Navy Knox, the Chief Executive
| arrived by train at 1859 am. from
Hyde Park, N. Y, and went imme-
diately to the yard. Francis P. MUIR
ply, Republican Governor of New
Hampshire, joined the presidential
party at the railroad station.
New Hampshire and Maine State
police combined with Secret Service
men in closely guarding the Presi-
dent as he was driven under a
scorching sun to the yard over a
route from which traffic had been
cleared.
The commandant of the yard,
Rear Admiral John D. wainwright,
also joined the President at the
station and rode with him to the
base.
Within an hour of his arrival al
the yard the President boarded the
White House yacht Potomac and
headed for the Boston Navy Yard
Greeted by People and Salute.
On the brief drive to the yard,
which dates back to 1900, the Chief
Executive kept waving hand aloft
in greeting to thousands of people
along the narrow streets.
Crossing the Piscataqua River
Bridge to Dennetts Island, on which
the yard is located, Mr.. Roosevelt
heard 21-gun salute break the
quiet of the morning. A Marine
guard, drawn up inside the gates
presented arms as buglers sounded
ruffles and flourishes.
Driving about the plant, the Presi-
dent saw where facilities were being
expanded as rapidly as possible to
| expedite submarine construction.
Several shipways now are in use
and more are contemplated to han
die submarines authorized but not
yet under way.
The Roosevelt car paused beside
the keel of new sub and saw q
shower of sparks from the cutting
of steel plates with acteylene
torches.
Greeted BY John and Wife.
John and Anne Roosevelt, the
Presidents son and daughter in
law, had come up from their home
at Nahant, Mass, and were waiting
for Mr.. Roosevelt at the admins
tration building. Some of the off,
GERS of the yard and civilian master
mechanics filed by and shook hands
with the Chief Executive.
Admiral Wainwright told the
President the yard had 13 ships
building or authorized and that
three old submarines, the Bass, Bar
racuda and Bonita, were being re-
conditioned.
Admiral Wainwright later in
formed reporters that the right
score on construction at the yard
was:
Three submarines on the ways
three being reconditioned, with ma
| terlals being assembled for another
| three. Two additional submarines
are in the planning stage, and work
will start on them as soon as ways
are free. He said the cost of the
work on the II vessels would run
around $55,000,O00. Of the three on
the ways, one will be launched in
September, one in November and
one in February.
With $3.50 employees, of whom
1900 are on night shifts, the yard
has the biggest personnel in its his
tory. 1t is almost impossible, Navy
officials aid, to find a room in Ports
mouth. The yard, the commandant
asserted, is spending about 81 SOC, 600
on new tool machinery and more
than 81 100000 on buildings and q
barracks for submarine crews.
The Sailf1sh, reconditioned and
back In service, was berthed at the
yard. The submersible, formerly
the Squalus, sank with the loss of 26
lives on May %, 1899, and Mr.. Roose-
velt saw the salvage operations a
few miles of Portsmouth on a
cruise last summer.
Boards Yacht for Boston.
The White House yacht was tied
up to a berth at the yard and Mr..
Roosevelt went aboard, to the roar
OF another 21-gun salute, shortly
before 9 am. to cruise to Boston
for a midafternoon inspection OF
the navy yard there.
Shaking hands again with Ad-
miral Wainwright, the President
smiled and remarked: ITS good to
get glimpse of you. I wish I could
stay longer"
John and Ann boarded the Poto-
mac with Mr.. Roosevelt. A short
stop was planned at Nahant to al
low the President to see his young
est grandchild. Haven, the couple s
child.
At Boston the Potomac will tieup
at Pier :, alongside the Constitu-
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