Our Navy in the War

Our Navy in the War, by Lawrence Perry

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Title: Our Navy in the War
Author: Lawrence Perry

Release Date: June 24, 2006 [eBook #18676]
Language: English
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America In The War
OUR NAVY IN THE WAR
by
LAWRENCE PERRY
Illustrated

New York Charles Scribner's Sons 1919 Copyright, 1918, by Charles Scribner's Sons Published October, 1918

[Illustration: From a photograph by C.R. Eagle. ATLANTIC FLEET STEAMING IN LINE OF BEARING.]

THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE HON. JOSEPHUS DANIELS
A NEWSPAPER MAN WHO BROUGHT TO HIS TASK AS SECRETARY OF THE NAVY THOSE GREAT QUALITIES OF MIND AND CHARACTER WHICH FITTED HIM TO MEET WITH SUCH SIGNAL SUCCESS THE IMMENSE PROBLEMS WHICH THE WAR IMPOSED UPON HIS OFFICE. TO HIS FAR-SEEING VISION, HIS BREADTH OF VIEW, HIS FREEDOM FROM ALL BIAS, HIS JUDGMENT OF MEN AND OF AFFAIRS, AND TO THE STERN COURAGE OF HIS CONVICTIONS ARE DUE TO-DAY THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE HIGH TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY OF WHICH AMERICANS HAVE EVER BEEN PROUD.

CONTENTS
FOREWORD
CHAPTER I
First Experience of Our Navy with the German U-Boat--Arrival of Captain Hans Rose and the U-53 at Newport--Experiences of the German Sailors in an American Port--Destruction of Merchantman by U-53 off Nantucket--Our Destroyers to the Rescue--Scenes in Newport--German Rejoicing--The Navy Prepares for War
CHAPTER II
Our Navy Arms American Merchant Vessels--Death of our First Bluejacket on Service in the War Zone--Vice-Admiral Sims--We Take Over Patrol of Waters of Western Hemisphere--The Naval Advisory Board of Inventions--Work of this Body--Our Battleships the Largest in the World--Widespread Operations
CHAPTER III
First Hostile Contact Between the Navy and the Germans--Armed Guards on Merchant Vessels--"Campana" First to Sail--Daniels Refuses Offer of Money Awards to Men Who Sink Submarines--"Mongolia" Shows Germany How the Yankee Sailorman Bites--Fight of the "Silvershell"--Heroism of Gunners on Merchant Ships--Sinking of the "Antilles"--Experiences of Voyagers
CHAPTER IV
Destroyers on Guard--Preparations of Flotilla to Cross the Ocean--Meeting the "Adriatic"---Flotilla Arrives in Queenstown-- Reception by British Commander and Populace--"We are Ready Now, Sir"--Arrival of the Famous Captain Evans on the American Flag-Ship--Our Navy a Warm-Weather Navy--Loss of the "Vacuum"
CHAPTER V
British and American Destroyers Operating Hand in Hand--Arrival of Naval Collier "Jupiter"--Successful Trip of Transports Bearing United States Soldiers Convoyed by Naval Vessels--Attack on Transports Warded Off by Destroyers--Secretary Baker Thanks Secretary Daniels--Visit to our Destroyer Base--Attitude of Officers Toward Men--Genesis of the Submarine--The Confederate Submarine "Hunley"
CHAPTER VI
On a German Submarine--Fight with a Destroyer--Periscope Hit--Record of the Submarine in this War--Dawning Failure of the Undersea Boat--Figures Issued by the British Admiralty--Proof of Decline--Our Navy's Part in this Achievement
CHAPTER VII
How the Submarine is being Fought--Destroyers the Great Menace--But Nets, Too, Have Played Their Part--Many Other Devices--German Officers Tell of Experience on a Submarine Caught in a Net--Chasers Play Their Part--The Depth-Bomb--Trawler Tricks--A Camouflaged Schooner Which Turned Out To Be a Tartar--Airplanes--German Submarine Men in Playful Mood
CHAPTER VIII
Perils and Triumphs of Submarine-Hunting--The Loss of our First War-Ship, The Converted Gunboat "Alcedo"--Bravery of Crew--"Cassin" Struck by Torpedo, But Remains in the Fight--Loss of the "Jacob Jones"--Sinking of the "San Diego"--Destroyers "Nicholson" and "Fanning" Capture a Submarine, Which Sinks--Crew of Germans Brought Into Port--The Policy of Silence in Regard to Submarine-Sinkings
CHAPTER IX
Our Battleship Fleet--Great Workshop of War--Preparations for Foreign Service--On a Battleship During a Submarine Attack--The Wireless That Went Wrong--The Torpedo That Missed--Attack on Submarine Bases of Doubtful Expediency--When the German Fleet Comes Out--Establishment of Station in the Azores
CHAPTER X
Great Atlantic Ferry Company, Incorporated, But Unlimited--Feat of the Navy in Repairing the Steamships Belonging to German Lines Which Were Interned at Beginning of War in 1914--Welding and Patching--Triumph of Our Navy With the "Vaterland"--Her Condition--Knots Added to Her Speed--Damage to Motive Power and How It Was Remedied--Famous German Liners Brought Under Our Flag
CHAPTER XI
Camouflage--American System of Low Visibility and the British Dazzle System--Americans Worked Out Principles of Color in Light and Color in Pigment--British Sought Merely to Confuse the Eye--British System Applied to Some of Our Transports
CHAPTER XII
The Naval Flying Corps--What The Navy Department Has Accomplished And Is Accomplishing in the Way of Air-Fighting--Experience of a Naval Ensign Adrift in the English Channel--Seaplanes and Flying Boats--Schools of Instruction--Instances of Heroism
CHAPTER XIII
Organization Of The Naval Reserve Classes--Taking Over of Yachts For Naval Service--Work Among The Reserves Stationed at Various Naval Centres--Walter Camp's Achievement
CHAPTER XIV
The United States Marine Corps--First Military Branch Of The National Service To Be Sanctioned