THE BEE: OMAHA. FRIDAY. MAY IS. ID:n
N. 0. T. S. Branch of American Navy Was
Prosaic Part of Service, But It Was Full
Of Mystery and Romance, Says' Daniels
By JOSEPHUS DANIELS
; FtfuK ttcriUry t th Navy 1913 tt 1131. '
CepyrUht. All. ky lah r. DIIU. Copyright ky Natl.aal Ntwiputr Stnici. Cyrlaht In Grut Irlt.
tit. ClM.a and thrtutheut Fraae. AH rltkla raiarvta. Inol.dla, tranilntiaa Into trtf n
laaiuaiai, (actuilai tha Icaaainavlaa. Uaavtkariiad rarln1ln for any purgoia farbldaiit.
Mystery has always attached itself to the sea, and romance to the
lives of those who go down to the sea in ships.
'This article is to deal with what was, in a way, a prosaic branch'of
the service, but it will tell of both mystery aud romance.
The initials "N. O. T. S." may not be as familiar to the landsman
reader as some others which were in frequent use during the war, but
every sailor knew them and knew them well not only the sailors of our
own country, but of all other countries having ships on the Atlantic in
1918.
"N. O. T. S." stood for the largest cargo fleet on earth operating under
a single management the naval overseas transportation service.
Un January 1, 1918, it did not
have even a paper existence; on Jan
uary 9 it was formally organized
ana rtamea; by July it comprised
exploding against a magazine filled
with powder and shells.
Ship Soon in Flames.
198 vessels, and when the armistice I The ammunition exploded, spread-
i i j X .. u : i . 1 - . : . .1 i . ti i . i . .. - .
lWJlt ill V ClltUl 1 US lll'Cl IUUM31IU
of 490 assigned ships, of which 378
were in actual operation, and the
rest in course of construction or
preparing to go into, commission.
Its total maximum tonnage was
3,800,000 deadweight.
35,000 Men in Service. .
...This was a development of the
navy's work which got less atten
tion than its magnitude and impor
tance merited. It was one of the
biggest things we did, and among
the chief reasons why we had to
raise and train such an enormous
personnel. There were some 5,000
officers and 30,000 men in this
service.
Had the war continued through
1919, according to our estimates we
would have required at least 20,000
officers and 200,000 men for this
branch of the service alone. The
shipping board schedule for 1918-19
contemplated the delivery of 1.924
vessels, the large majority of which
would have been put into war serv
ice and manned by the navv.
N. .0. T. S.; was "the ferry to
France," carrying millions of tons
of munitions, guns, food, fuel, sup
plies, materials to our army and
naval forces abroad. l;'ive tons of
supplies a year were required for
each soldier.
But I am not going to burden you
with statistics. The story of what
this prosaic ferry service meant to
the men engaged in it may be best
told by giving you the "log" of one
ship a typical ship aud a typical
experience in the N. O. T. S.
The George G. Henry prosaic,
matter-of-fact name had made
seven round trips to France, aver
aging 67 days to the trip, which
allows for loading and unloading
a fine record for a cargo steamer.
Tackles a U-Boat.
It was on its eighth trip and far
out to sea, alone, footing its way
under full speed, when it sighted a
U-boat about 5.000 yards distant.
This was at 6;50 in the morning of
September 29, 1918.
"Full left wheel" was ordered.
"General quarters" was rung in.
The forward gun went into action
and. the after gun followed quickly.
They the submarine opened fire.
Some shots fell-short, others went
over tne itenry. ine iancrs sncus
were dropping in pretty lively fash
ion, around the "sub," and presently
it withdrew beyond range, but kept
in pursuit.
' For two hours -it followed, firing
an occasional shot, but giving small
chance to the Henry.
Then it scored a hit a real hit.
A six-inch shell struck the Henry,
piercing the after deck. It plunged
diagonally downward, breaking the
exhaust pipe of the steering gear and
I
Council Postpones
Action on Electric
Rates Referendum
Hie city council deferred action
from yesterday afternoon to next
Monday morningoiUhe legality of a
referendum petition filed last week
against the recent electric light and
power rate ordinance. ' N '
H. G.: Moorhead, election com
missioner, reported t& the city clerk
that he had " checked " the names
against his resignation lists and dis
covered more4han 500 names of per
sons not registered.
V City Commissioner V. G. Ure an
nounced yesterday that in several
places of the petition more than one
signature appears to be in the same
ritinar and e has referred this fea
ture of the case to an expert in chi-
ography.'
Mr. Ure asserted that lie docs not
believe the petition is legally suf
ficient. .
ine destruction. The whole after part
oi the ship was soon in flames. The
after gun, the one hearing on the
enemy, was for the time being useless.
The crew turned to fighting the
fire, smoke bombs were exploded,
and a dense smoke screen overhung
the stern.
Thinking it had crippled the ship,
the U-boat sailed past the weather
end of the smoke screen, redoubling
his fire, using shrapnel and solid
shot. Though the vessel was not hit
again, the shrapnel exploding over it
descended in a rain on the decks and
14 men of the crew were struck by
flying fragments.
By steering the vessel obliquely the
Henry brought its forward gun to
bear, but the "sub" ran out of range.
At 10:15, the fire having been pot
under control, two shells were fired
from the after gun, both striking
extremely close to, if not hitting, the
enemy. Clouds' of yellowish smoke
rose from the submarine, which rO
minutes later ceased firing and soon
submerged.
The smoke was r'ense and the dis
tance so great that the Henry's
gunners could not tell positively
whether they had hit the U-boat, but
they were confident it had been dam
aged, as otherwise it would not have
submerged and given up the fight.
The enemy disposed of, ' the
Henry proceeded on its way,' run
ning with alt lights out, according to
instructions. . .. ,
Sinks American Ship.
Plunging along in the darkness,
five days after its encounter with
the submarine, the Henry was ncar
ing the American coast.. An out
bound convoy, shrouded in darkness,
was proceeding from New Yprk. It
was midnight, pitch dark, and be
fore either the group going cast or
the single ship sailing west knew
of the other's presence, the Henry
ran into the convoy. In a moment,
before there was time even to
switch on running lights to keep
clear of the convoy vessels, the
Henry crashed into the Herman
Frasch. The Frasch was struck a
terrific blow, the Henry cutting into
her well below the water line. She
had received a mortal wound', and
sank in a few minutes right under
the bow of the Henry.
Three days afterward, on the other
side of the ocean, the steamship
American collided with the West
gate, sending the Wcstgate to the
bottom.
Sailors have a superstition that
"luck runs in streaks," and it does
seem so. For, with the hundreds of
N. O. T. S. vessels running back
and forth, only four were sunk by
collision, and two of these accidents
occurred within three days of each
other. .
As a matter of fact, of the 450 ves
sels actually sailing for the N. O. Ti
S., only eighteen were lost eight
sunk by torpedoes or German mines,
four from collisions and six from
other accidents such as fire or
stranding.
One of these cases was the most
mysterious thing that happened dur
ing the war the disappearance of
the Cyclops, carrying a cargo of
manganese, was bound for Baltimore.
She was proceeding steadily, with
no indication of any doubt as to her
seaworthiness. She reported having
some trouble with one of her engines,
but her captain felt confident that he
could easily reach port, though using
one engine would somewhat reduce
his speed. On March 4, 1918, she put
into Barbados, British West Indies,
to take aboard coal for the rest of
the voyage. While at that place there
was no indication of anything un-
; Brief Citg News
Ribtrl ta Sneak "Jewish Ethics"
vnX be Rabbi Conn's subject at Tem
ple Israel at 8 tonight.
Beaten by TIiurs Edward Prlt
chard, 1732 South Twenty-seventh
street is in a serious condition at St.
Joseph hospital as a result of a
severe beating he suffered early yes
terday morning when he was, robbed
of- $309 at Eighteenth and Chicago
streets.
War on. Sportive Autolsts Motor
cycle officers have been ordered to
arrest those sportive automobile
drivers who drive with one hand on
the wlteel and the other about
"sweetie's" neck. Inspector of Po-
li-e Andy Pattullo was in conference
with Herat. George ismry on tne sud
ject yesterday. .
Will Teach Swimming- Omaha
airls between the ages of 14 and 18
will be allowed to use the swimming
pool at the Nicholas Senn hospital
this summer. Dr. A. P. Condon an
nounced yesterday. Pete Wendell,
swimming Instructor at the Omaha
Athletic club, and Helen Condon,
state woman's champion, will in
struct the novices. . '
. Gets Verdict tor $3,750 A verdict
for 83.730 was awarded Catherine
Aye, young daughter of Herman Aye,
an attorney, yesterday in district
court for injuries sustained when a
truck owned by Abraham R. Marsh
crashed into an automobile in which
she and her mother were riding at
Twenty-ninth and Dodge streets last
September. She sued for $15,000.
- Bntlrr Must Pay Under an order
signed by District Judge Redick yes
terday, Dan Butler, organizer of the
Tenants' league, must pay into dis
trict court $T0 by May 1 and $70 by
June 1. or be put out of his apart
ment in Drake court. The order was
the culmination of a long-drawn suit
brought by the Drake Realty com
pany against Butler and members of
the Tenants' league.
- A 1 . .
GrapeNuts
is a splendid wheat
and malted barley
food with a particu
larly pleasing flavor
and real nourishing
value.
Economical
flhWaste
Hatfcty
flwtaan Ciml U.bic.
BattkOcckJIfca.
LToo
8
Clothing Bargains
New Spring Suits in all ths
latest colors. Valued at
S!-..0n.... $22.50
Sample Suits of well known
makes. Hart, Schafner and
Marks, and Society Brand
Suits: all wool material. HnnH
tauorea. worm
$50.00
Extra Trousers in all colors.
$10.00 Value. d ff
On sale PU.UU
Worsted Trousers. d0 tZf
On sale ......
J. Nelphand Clothing Co.
314 North 16th St.
d. Worth fcOQ CA
i. On sale, VJ.OU
usual, and among officers, crew and
passengers there seemed to bo no
apprehension or forebodings of
trouble or disaster. After coaling she
sailed away. Many persons saw her
sail; other vessels hailed her as she
passed out to sea.
Last Seen of the Cyclops.
After that no one ever saw her
tigain, or heard one word or ever
found any trace of her. Almost in
variably when a vessel is sunk bod
ies of the drowned are found and a
jnass ot floating wreckage. But
never a soul of all those on the big
19,000-ton ship, never a stick of
wreckage or one thing from the lost
ship was ever discovered.
Two hundred and ninety-three per
ished vyhen the Cyclops went down.
In addition to its officers and cred
it was bringing north some 51 en
listed men who had been serving on
United States vessels in South
American waters, as well as a fe v
civilians returning from Brazil,
among them Maurice Gottschalk,
United States consul at Rio de
Janeiro. .
What happened to it? There were
many theories, most of them wild
and untenable; none that seemed to
fit the case thoroughly. Many peo
ple jumped to the conclusion that it
was sunk by a submarine, but, so far
as known, there was no submarine
anywhere near that region. Others,
seizing upon the fact that its com
manding officer, Lieutenant Com
mander G. W. Worley, was a native
of Germany and that a number of
the crew had German names,
thought -the' captain and crew had
turned traitors and taken the ship
to Germany. Lieutenant Command
er Worley had come to America as
a boy; he had been employed in ths
naval auxiliary service for nearly 20
years, with no evidence of disloy
alty. But this belief among soma
outside the navy that the ship had
been taken to Germany persisted
until the armistice, when there wis
undeniable proof that no such vessel
had been captured, turned over, or
sighted, and the Germans knew no
more about its fate than we did.
Think Ship Turned Turtle.
The only theory that seems ten
able is that the Cyclops was caught
fin some sudden West Indian hurri
cane; that her cargo shifted, listing
ithe vessel, which turned turtle and
went down. This is the only way
1 in which the absence of wreiliaa::
can be accounted for. Our colliers
of this type have high steel beanis
like cranes, with chains of buckets
to load and unload coal. If she
went down bottom-side up, these
huge steel fingers might have ninned
down everything on deck, allowing
nothing to float to the surface, That
is what seems most probable But,
like everything else connected with
the case, it is all conjecture.
"Fate unknown," is the inscription
beside the name of the Cyclops on
the navy list. The waves that sweep
ever where she lies conceal the se
cret. Her fate 'will probably remain
a mystery until that last day wher.
the waters are rolled back and tha
sea gives up its dead.
(Another artirle by fornifr Secretary
Daniel, will be printed tomorrow.)
PRICES CUT
Prices of Slip Covers
Much Lower
You'll need ali r.Trr.
nrotrrt yonr furniture t ram
the dual and dirt thl
untmrr. TVe otter
pedal thl week a
set of dnmaik or
cretonne alia cover
-to coyer S piece
- $1 8.50 up
.
Pfcoae DOUGLAS 9097 A
will call with aaaiplea aaa qaete
yon complete price.
SOW 19 THB TINE TO HENEW
THAT OLD KUR.MTCRE
A. B-pleca Suite, renphoUtered In
I leatherette, tapeitry or velonr,
I new prlnc;i, frame polijthed, far
V $27.50 up
American Upholstering Co.
V Oppoitte Caatle Hotel.
617 South 16th Street.
Special Price ta Hotel, Theater
ana ( hnrche.
PHOSK li-WE CAM. FOR AND
DELIVER FREE.
0
KIDDIES!
Here's Great News for You
SATURDAY MORNING
in tfye new Burgess-Nash Auditorium, located on
the fifth floor of the new building, there will be a
big . . :
Free Picture Show for You
. .It will start at 10 o'clock and. every little boy
and girl is invited to attend.
WhatlstheNameofthePjtiure?
We'll tell you tomorrow night but see if you can guess
It is someone who is popular all, over the entire country.
He is small and has lots of freckles.' Now do you know?
But if you can't guess, you'll know tomorrow night and Sat
urday you can see the picture for yourself free.
Burgess-Wash Gohpany
'tVERYBODYjS STORK"
-phoenix hosiery
INVARIABLY, people think o!
PRA Y S when in need of hosiery
... and it's only natural, for
Pray's- assortment of Phoenix
Hosiery is ALWAYS Complete.
Men's- We' to $1.10
Women's 65c to $3.50
Children's 65c to $1.00
Two Stores
508 So. 16th St.
1908 Farnam St.
The Home of PHOENIX HOSIERY;
. . for Men, Women and Children
w Men
iWESS
rGtasH Com
J3V&RYBO&Y& STOR3
Prices Are Down
Almost everything is back to
the lower prices and there is no
longer any need of doing with
out things. From day to day we
are telling you of thnew low
prices. Watch our irdvertise
ments. Below is the list of Junior
Apparel Prices for 1920, 1921.
YOUNG GIRLS, 6 to 14 YRS.
COATS
Palo Cloth and Tweed
1920 1921
$25.00 f $19.75
Wool Valours, Tricotine and Novelty
Coating
1020 I ISItt
$18.50 to $39.00 ! 915.00 to $29.7$
Novelty Coating
1920 ! 1921
$39.75 I $29.75
DRESSES
Gingham and Chambrar
1920 I 1921
$3.95 to $35.00 111.95 to $25.00
Swin, Chambray, Gingham and
Devonthire ,
. 1920 ! 1921
$10.50 to $39.78 I $7.50 to $32.50
Linen, Orfandie and Swi
1920 I 1921
$13.50 I $9.50
Taffeta
1920 I 1921
$16.50 to $48.00 1 $13.80 ta $39.78
MIDDY BLOUSES
Jeaa Cloth, Galatea and Kitty Cloth
1920 I 1921
$2.50 to $5.98 $1.98 to $3.98
25 Demonstrating and Floor Sample
"Free" Sewing Machines
At Greatly Reduced Prices
These machines have been used in demonstrating and ones we
send on trial they have been handled quite a great deal and naturally 1
have been scratched here and there but the head is guaranteed the
same as new for a lifetime!
A Few of the Regular
Priced Machines
The "Free" Makes a
Perfect Stitch
5 cabinet machines in
waxed or golden oak,
$99.50.
5 cabinet machines in
mahogany or Walnut,
$108.00.
3, 6-drawer, automatic
drop head, fumed or
golden oak, $95.00.
2, rotary bobin, auto
matic drop head ma
chines, $70.00.
25
Discount
Convenient term of payment, $1.00 a
The all - important
feature about a sew
ing machine is whether
or not it makes a per
fect stitch, and here
are the reasons why
this is true: The up
per and lower tensions
are absolutely uniform,
making each stitch
lock exactly in the
center of the goods,
week, if deired.
If
Second Floor
Our New Shoe Repair Shop
In the Downstairs Store Where Old Shoes Are
Made to Look Like New
.To further our service to our patrons we have installed a large and complete repi t
Modern machinery has been installed and all work will be directed by intelligent mcE,
who have had years of experience and who are desirous of giving you the best service
possible. f
Telephone Douglas 2100 and our auto will call for and return your hoe to you.
A Few of the Many May Specials
Friday in the Downstairs Store
Burnasco
Corsets
$1.50 to $5.00
In our new line of Bur
nasco corsets you can find any
height bust which is the most,
comfortable for you. We rec
ommend low busted model, but
if a medium or high bust is
desired our new department,
located in our downstairs
store, will have it. Siies 22 '
to 30. I
You Will Appreciate the Quality and Style
of These
Suits at $19.50
Every popular style is included in this
special group of serge, tricotine, poplin suits.
. The colors are navy, and rookie. You may
choose from strictly tailored models or the
ripple effects. Sizes 16 to 42.
Women's Lisle Hose
. 50c pair
Women's lisle stockings, made
double soles, toes and heels.
Black, white, navy and brown. All
sizes, at 50c pair.
, Women's Vests
35c 3 for $1.00
Women's vests in regulation
top are splendid values at 35c.
Curtain Scrim
1 2 c yard (
Beautiful curtain scrim with
handsome colored borders and
with neat lace edges. 12Jgc yard.
Limit of 10 yards to a customer.
Children's Sateen
Bloomers, 79c, 85c, 95c
One thinks of bloomers as something
children must have just .the same as
shoes and stockings. These are nice
quality sateen. Sizes 2 to 12.
Summer Brassieres
35c
These brassieres are of lightweight
material, easily laundered and espe
cially good for summer wear. Sizes
32 to 40.
Children's Muslin Pants
35c, 39c, 49c
After seeing the quality and make,
you will want several pairs. They are
of 'good quality muslin, trimmed in
lace.
Slipover Sweaters at $1.95
For All Summer Wear
Women's slip over sweaters in the sport shades, such as flame,1
green, gray, also tan and blues, are offered at a price which
scarcely pays for the yarn in them. Sizes 3,6 to 44.
Plain Stripe and Plaid
Skirts,; $5.95
200 skirts made of good quality serge and velour in
plain striped and plaid patterns in pleated and plain effects
are offered at this price for Friday's selling. Pockets and
belts add to their attractiveness. Sizes 25 to 39. '
Two Shoe Specials,
Children's and Misses Slippers, $2.95
. This sale includes an. exceptional 'purchase of a lot of
children's and misses' oxfords and Mary Jane pumps in gun .
metal, patent and kid leathers, turn and welt soles. The
colors are black, brown. All are exceptional values.
.'All sizes, 8 to 11 in children's 11 to 2 misses' and
2 to 6 in growing girls' sizes.
White Cloth Keds, $1.00
One lot white cloth keds, in lace oxfords, one strap
Mary Jane pumps and plain pumps. Friday, special, $1.00 pr.
Pillow Cases
65c each
Embroidered pillow cases, 65e
each. A fine round thread qual
ity with hemstitched edge. Size
45x36 inches.
Dresser Scarfs
$1.50 each
Lace-trimmed dresser scarfs,
sizes 18x45 and 18x54 inches.
Some have lace motifs, as well a.
solid embroidery; excellent values
for $1.50 each.
Lingerie Cloth
26c yard
36-inch lingerie cloth; a very
fine quality, much used for hand
embroidered undergarments; un
ubuAI value for 26c yard.
Bed Sheets
$1.85 each
Scalloped edge bed sheets, a
fine round thread quality with
scalloped edge and one row of
embroidery. These are suitable
for full size beds.
Bed Spreads
Specials for Friday and Saturday
Men's Work Shirts, 79c
Extra good quality blue chambray work shirts,
double stitched seams, cut full and roomy, single and
double-breasted pockets, plain or coat style. Sizes
14 to 16.
Men's and Youth's Trousers
$2.95 pair
Neat striped worsteds, plain or. cuff bottoms.
Sizes 30 to 42 waist measure.
Beau Brummel Shirts, $1.49 each
Made of good quality madras and percale, coat
style, double cuffs, pretty patterns, all sizes.
Koveralls for Boys and Girls
for Summer Wear
$1.00 and $1.25 the suit.-
Men's Neckties, 29c each
160 dozen men's four-in-hand neckties, excellent
quality, all the newest patterns for men and young
men. Large open end four-in-hand ties at about
their real value.
$2.95
Hemmed bed spreads with neat
blue colored stripes. These are a
summer weight spread and of ex
cellent quality for full size beds.
Rag Rug Specials for Friday
Size 24x36 Hit
Size 30x60 Hit
Sir. 1 36x72 Hit
Six 27x54 Plain
Siza 30x60 Plain
Sixa 36x72 Plain
and Mi Effects, 75c each.
and Mill Effect, $1.39 each.
and Mi Effect, $1.98 each,
pink, blue and green, $1.75 each,
pink, blue and green, $2.25 each,
pink, blue and freen, $3.00 each.
Table Cloth
$1.39 each
Bleached damask table cloths;
these are a heavy weight quality,
with hemstitched edge and in
handsome designs. Size 58x72
inches. ,
Cotton Suiting
29c yard
White cotton suiting; a fine
weave and quality, much used for
skirts, suits and children's gar
ments, 29c yard.
Bleached Sheets
$1.39 each
Bleached sheets, size 72x99
inches, made of a heavyweight
round thread sheeting , that .will
give good service; neat three-inch
hem.
Dress Voiles
28c yard
t Beautiful dreSs voiles, 36 and
40 inches wide. These are of ex
cellent quality and beautiful de
signs in light or dark colorings.
Limit, of 6 yards to a customer.
Bath Mats
$1.19 each
Bath mats in two colors only.
This is a heavyweight Terry cloth
quality. Very special at $1.19
each. Limit of two to a customer.
" Bee Want Ads Our Best Boosters. U
