The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-08-31
COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS

1t sounds easy when you read about
it in the papers, but how would you like
to try to salvage a sunken Japanese
seaplane about 40 miles from Jap
seaplane base? Well, the Seabees,
miracle men, of the Navy and ma
iority of whom were recruited from
the ranks of organized labor, not only
tried to do it, they did it. And that is
but one of the many duties performed
in recent months by divers of that Sea-
bee unit.
Queried as to the possibility of sal
vaging the plane, the Seabee diving
crew responded in keeping with their
slogan, "Can Do" They went to the
scene in a reconditioned Jap landing
barge and raised the slightly damaged
plane just before dark. They anchored
among nearby islands that night rather
than run the risk of returning to their
base through the American air and
surface patrols. Early next morning,
the salvage crew brought back the
plane.
Stationed at an advanced base, the
divers often find themselves on the
oceans bottom when enemy action
threatens. The crew, tOpside, can not
hurry the divers ascent because of the
danger of bends and the diving crew
frequently becomes an easy target for
enemy planes.
One such incident was when a diver
was sent down to retrieve disbursing
officers safe The safe was located
after two-hour search in 132 feet of
water at the bottom of a coral slope.
The diver secured a line to the safe
and had just started up when the air
raid alarm sounded. Every ship in the
harbor, except the divers moved out.
1t took 40 minutes to bring the diver
to the surface and get the diving boat
to shore. The men really sweated it
out. They had only the guns on shore
to protect them against possible enemy
attack.
There are 200 Javanese workers who
have special reason to rejoice over the
American landing on NumfOOr Island,
off the northwest coast of Netherlands
New Guinea. When General Mae
Arthur's men July 2 invaded this Jap
anese-held air base at the entrance of
Geelvink Bay, they found hundreds of
IndOnesians who had been transported
there from other Netherlands East
Indies islands to work on defense
projects.
Among them were Indonesians who |
we're on the verge of death as result |
)f starvation, overwOrk and disease |
Medicals personnel of American hos |
Dital ships were Immediately assigned |
% treat these workers, number of |
whom were in such critical condition |
hat they needed blood transfusions.
Throughout the night, the U. S. doc
,ors, nurses and aides, in addition to
,aring for American wounded, worked |
,ver the Javanese. Most of the victims
If Japanese cruelty pulled through,
Dut some were beyond help and died
IN route to Australia.
X
The men and women of American
have built and equipped the
argest and most powerful navy the
world has ever known. AS our fleet
prepares the way for attacks on Ber-
in and Tokyo, American shipbuilders
md industrial workers may be justly
proud of their participation in the vic
ories that carry our armed forces TO
he enemy's door. Until the final vic
ory is won, every employed American
must continue to maintain the SUI
of our arms over those of the
Admiral Il. l.. Cochrane,
J.SN. Chief of the Bureau of Ships,
Navy Department.