The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-01
BY TOM WOLF


 Our Navy Fights and Wins"
 BY TOM WOLF
 NEA Service Staff Correspondent
 Trouble at launching trouble at sea-" The seafaring men shook their heads sadly, knowingly, as the new U. s. Frigate Constitution started timidly down her long ways and then stuck fast. She's an ill-starred ship, they said. She'lI bring . bad name to the new navy.
 One Sunday morning fifteen years later Cit was 18l2), the Constitution limped into Boston harbor. She looked like an ill-starred ship for sure. Her canvas was tattered, spars splintered, sides scared from battle. Yes, she had been hurt in battle. She had met 0 British frigate off the banks of Newfoundland not many days before.
 sail hol" the lookout had called. "six points off the starboard quar- teri"
 Captain Isaac Hull, master of the U. s. s. Constitution, looked at his watch. It was two o'clock in the afternoon. The day was August l9, 1872
 U. s. TAKES UP
 BRITISH CHALLENGE
 The heavy-set New Englander raised his glasses and peered toward the horizon. Hull recognized her even at that distance, even though she flew deceptive pennants. Who in New England could not spot the H. M. s. Guerriere2 Hadn't the frigate been one of the main offenders against freedom of the seas who had caused the war, stopping American ships all along the New England coast line and selzing U. s. sailors for the man-short royal Navy2
 The master of the Guerriere was the Capt. Dacres who once scof- fingly wagered he would sink in IS minutes any U. s. ship that dared battle with him.
 wen give Dacres a chance to make good his boast" unused Hull. He ordered more canvas piled on. The ship heeled to the chase. "We'll give her a fight" he said.
 It was five o'clock before the ships came within range. Suddenly the Guerriere broke out three British ensigns and let go Q broadside.
 Double-shot your guns, round and grape" believed Hull. Hold your fire until we close in." For nearly an hour the Constitution and Guerriere spared about each other in heavy seas trying to gain position. Finally Hull ordered: All right, boys, give 1t to herW
 The Constitution lurched sideways as her guns let go. The men in her tops sprayed the Guerriere's decks with telling fire.
 Capt. Hull looked ct his watch. Dacre's "l5 minutes to sink any ship in the U. s. Navy" had passed The Constitutions guns still boomed. Hull glanced at the Gueriere. Her main yard was in the sllngs, her mizzen mast over her weather side, holding her into the wind. Hull nodded, grirnly satisfied.
 The American gunners now aimed for the Guerriere's remaining masts.
 A sudden squall hurled the Con- stitution down and her bow-sprit plunged through the Guerriere's lar- board quarter. The British crew rushed to board. Yankee narksnan- ship quickly changed their minds. The seas rolled heavier now and @ gust of wind blew the Constitution free. Guerrier, her fore and main- masts now dropped, her mizzen in the sea, bounced helplessly in the troughs.
 But the Constitution was hurt, too. She pulled away to make repairs. Capt. Dacre on the lifeless Guerr- iere watched as Hull's men quickly i rove new rigging. Then he saw the Constitution drop off the wind, come charging back for the kill. He knew 1t was useless to fight. He walked aft to where the union jack flew, tackled on the mizze stump, ordered Q shot fired leeward, struck his colors. It was o'clock. The battle was over.
 The "ill-starred" Constitution, her canvas tattered, SparS Spuntered, sides scared from battle, headed back for Boston.
 BATTLE FOR THE GREAT LAKES
 The Lawrence, like the Constitu- ton, was on "ill-starred ship" Her troubles started even before her launching.
 The British were winning the west. As long as their communica- ton line through the Great Lakes was secure, they might win the war of 1872. That's how the AIneri- cans come to build two brigs, the Lawerence and the Niagara, at Pres- que Isle tErie)-where shipbuilding facilities were completely lacking and all supplies had to be dragged in over snoWcovered trails.