The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1945-08-24

during l94Z-43 IN Gulf waters
close to Pascagoula. 1t was re-
ceived from the press section of
the Eighth Naval District at New
Orleans. Many residents will re-
member that during the period
covered, the ingalls, Shipyards
were considered to be in danger
of Smelling by the submarines,
and that artilltry was emplaced
along the beach and gun crews
kept on a 24-hour alert. The spot
ter's towers are still standing at
several points.)
New Orleans, Aug. ga total
of 434 gallant merchant seamen
and naval armed guardsmen of
the Allied nations gave their
lives to keep military supplies
moving to the fighting fronts
during the submarine campaign
waged in the Gulf waters of the
Eighth Naval District during
1928. Gross tonnage of ships
sunk totaled 196,970.
The figures we're revealed to-
day by Eighth Naval District
Headquarters at New Orleans.
The primary objective of the
German high command during
the submarine campaign in the
Gulf of Mexico was to force the
United States to resort to CON
voying in the Gulf. diminishing
the efficiency of u cargo trans
port. especially gripping our oil
supplies and scattering our naval
forces.
The secondary aim of the Axis
was to force the United States to
withdraw her naval force from
offensive action and assume the
defense in our coastal waters
Forty-Four Gulf Attacks
In carrying out this mission,
the enemy first attacked in the
North Atlantic and subsequent
ly moved southwark along the
Atlantic coast, around the tip of
Florida and eventually into the
Gulf. This showed a well-plan-
ned method of forcing convoy
ing. restriction of tanker traffic,
and concentration of naval craft
in the area. When this was ae-
ccmplished in one area the u
boats shifted to the next area un-
til the entire seaboard was COW
cred.
Forty-four ships were attack
ed in the waters under the juris-
diction of the Eighth Naval Dis
trict during the campaign. (This
area was described as that por-
ton of the Gulf of Mexico west
if a straight line drawn from
the mouth of the Apalachicola
river in Florida to the west tip
of the Yucatan Channel between
Cuba and Mexico.)
AT what close range this
campaign was waged was re-
veaied when ii was announced
that Is ships we're attacked
within $50 miles of the CRY of
New Orleans during the period
from May 6 TO August 10. 1912.
Seventeen of the ships were
sunk. while six managed to es-
cape and make port. Two of
the ships were salvaged from
the sea and lowed TO port
where they we're repaired and
returned TO sea 10 continue the
battle against the undersea
raiders.
The Gull + coastal shipping
lanes between Ships Shoals. off
the Louisiana coast. and the
passes Of the Mississippi river
became known as Torpedo
Junction" but Navy armed
guardsmen and merchant sea-
men continued TO meet the as
sault until naval surface craft
and air power could be brought
70 bear on the enemy.
The campaign that was waged
in this area may well go down in
history as THE Second Battle of
New Orleans as 2a9 lives were
lost in the action.
Several ships were boldly sunk
at the mouth of the Mississippi
river. On May II. 1912, the IT,
600-ton American tanker Virgin
ia was torpedoed while taking
on a pilot at Southwest Pass.
Twenty-eight seaman lost their
lives and only IA survived.
Earlier the same day a terrific
explosion had occurred on the
East Jetty of Southwest Pass.
Black smoke rose into the air
and rocks were blown over a
vide area. The explosion was
thought to have occurred when
a German submarine fired a tor
pedo at a destroyer or merchant
ship which was in the area at
the time. The torpedo missed
the target and hit the jetty.