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THE BINNACLE PAGE I Published Weekly in the Interests of the U. S. Coast Cuard : Section Base Nine : Cape Ma>, N.J. News of the service and Personnel Marine Neva Cape May Harbor ^ Ma. jp.'l ■ ■ — — — MB

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HEROES OF THE I UNITED STATES COAST GUARD A TRIBUTE TO THE COAST GUARD ON THE 137TH AN-| NIVERSARY OF THAT SERVICE. A RESCUE OF THE MIRLO'S CREW OFF THE CAROLINA COAST. The United States Coast Guard was founded on August 4, 1790, by the First United States Congress: a service older than either the Army or the Navy. The facts are that the Coast Guard is quite a sizeable little Navy, larger than many European navies in number of vessels and personnel, from aviators to surfmen lifesavers. It is a fact that something like 84 per cent of the Coast Guard's personnel are exNavy men. Ln time of war the Coast Guard with its cruising, training, sea-go-ing ships, becomes valuable and an integral part of the Navy proper. The relationship between these two j seagoing branches of the Sendee, the Navy and the Coast Guard, should be very close. " In all wars ( the Coast Guard has served shoulder to shoulder with the Navy. What manner of men are'Ttrthe Coast Guard? ^ Six members of the Coast Guard, sorfte thne ago, were presented with gold life-saving medals of honor, the highest testimonials, bestowed .by the United States Government for saving life from the perils of the sea. The following men received the medals at the hands of Rear Admiral F. C. Billard, Commandant: Boatswain (L) John A. Midgett, Officer in Charge Chicamacomico Station; Surf men C. E. Midgett, L. S. Midgett, A. V.J Midgett, P. L. O'Neal, and Boatswain's Mate Z. S. Midgett. Prior to the award of medals these trained men received the, following commendation:" You are commended for the rescue of the crew of the British steamer MIRLO, blown up August 16, 1918. The vessel's cargo of gasoline and refined oil ignited and spread over the sea, covering the surface in the vicinity of the vessel with a mass of Tire and smoke. The sea was very heavy and quantities of wrecxage contributed to the difficulties of rescue. The spirit of dauntless devotion to duty displayed by you and the members of the crew 'on this occasion is in keeping with the higher tradition of the Coast Guard and it is desired to express to you unqualified commendation of your gallant efforts in the interest of humanity." Down on the coaRt of North Carolina, where a narrow chain of "shoe-string" islands throws its protecting cordon far out to sea, * one may, after careful search on any complete map of the Carolina* find a place named Rodanthe. Rodahthe is situated on the northern end of one of one of the "shoespring" islands, where waters of the Pamlico Sound go out through Loggerhead Inlet and join forces with the mighty Atlantic. Rodanthe is inhabited by Midgetts. But these Midgetts are not midgets. TKey are real he-men, red-blooded, and steel- nerved, for they form the crew of the U. S. Coast Guard Station No 179. In the month of August, 1918, a more or less powerful fleet of Teuton submarines operated along tne coast of North Carolina, causing great excitement and unrest among the inhabitants of that state m genera) and Hatteras Banks in particular. Heavy gunfire was often heard far out at sea and many times defenseless passenger ships were pursued into the very coast ports. On several occasions ships were shelled and sunk by "the twentieth century pirates. While the Navy was out trying to nin down the deep-sea Hun.*, the Coast Guard, a part of the tsartime Navy, was standing silently, vigilantly at its post. Through the long night watches the Coast Guard Station 179 kept it* trained eyes out upon the Atlantic, hoping that their work would not be necessary. For the work of the Coast Guard Is to SAVE Wfe; not to TAKE It. On the morning of August 16th, the lookout reported a large aheet of water had rihot high into

pie air, completely enveloping the, stem of the ship. Immediately the vessel, the British steamer MIRLO, swung about and headed straight for the beach. The deep-sea Hun had found another victim.* The M1KLO had, without warning, been struck by two torpedoes. TTie Teuton aim was good that morning in August both torpedoes doing heavy I damage. Bulkheads and cofferdams were carried away. The entiro ship was enveloped in a mas.^ of flames and heavy explosions could be heard at Rodanthe, ten miles away. The submarine dropped back out of possible range of such guns as might, perchance, be brought to bear. In characteristic Hun' style the U-boat laid to, gloating over what appeared to be an appalling loss of life, for the MIRLO had; been carrying a cargo of gasoline and refined oil and she was now a mass of flames. The explosion j threw the burning, oil far out upon the angry waters and the • sea around the MIRLO was a seething

mass of flaming oil and burning , wreckage. The chances for escape from the MIRLO were small indeed, for in addition to the danger from fire and flame a heavy sea was running. It looked as though j there would be gloating for the] hirelings of Von Tirpitz. But 4tGott" was not "mit" the Kaiser that morning. They had reckoned without the U. S Coast Guard and No. 179. Keeper John A. Midgett called his crew, including the liberty men, to their stations and they started out into the turbulent waters by power sqyfboat. A heavy northeaster was blowing and the sea was breaking heavily. Again and again the boat was tossed' back upon the beach. She was like a cockle-shell in the mighty hands of King Neptune. Time and again the crew was washed away from the oars, but again and yet again, with bull dog determination, they | returned to what ordinary men would have abandoned as a hope- | less task. But the Coast Guafd Is the Coast Guard and, like Kipling's ! Crew of the Bolivar, "they euchred God Almighty's Storm and bluffed the Eternal Sea." Oblivious of their own danger, obsessed by the Coast Guard's motto to "save the lives of the men who go down to the sea in ships," the boat, with the Stars and Stripes defiantly whip- 1 ping in the storm, finally managed to clear the beach and, with engines thrumming and propellers racing at full speed, headed for the burning mass that had once been the good ship MIRLO. When within a few 1 miles of the wreck, the Coast i Guuard boat met one of the ship's I ( boats emerging from the ring of i flame around the MIRLO. This •' boat contained the captain and 16 r members of the crew. The skipper reported to Keeper Midgett that two mor^ boats were inside the f burning cordon and that one of the i boats had capsized- The men of , the Coast Guard, accustomed to i fighting the heaviest of storms, ! were about to be introduced to the task of fighting a combination of i sea, wind, smoke, and fire. They * did not hesitate. Into the seething r volcano they sped They saw the i MIRLO staggering to her doom i like some gigantic Fourth of July skyrocket. A roaring hiss, a sheet . of spurting flame and the Huns : boasted another addition to their , already long fist of allied tonnagr. r But the Coast Guard's duty was to . prevent them from increasing their list of martyrs at <*ea. From the center of the roaring mass of flame the Coast Guard men heard mingled with the sea faint r cries for help. Burning wreckage : floated about the boat. The heat t was terrific. Huge clouds of choking black smoke hung low over the i water. Everything seemed to he r against the Coast Guard crew. * But they made straight for the [ mass of flame. Said one of the ^ men afterwards, "It seemed to me though we were steering straight into the mouth of Hell." Flames r see red and singed them, but still » they kept on. Finally they came upon a capsized boat Six exhaust- , td men were clinging to the keel of the tiny craft. Heavy seas washed I over them. Dames lashed about * them. They were about to give up l the unequal fight. With no little * difficulty, the six survivors were * hauled into the surfboat. They reported that there must be others , from the MIRI/O hut that they 1 were very likely dead, as it had > been necessary many time* to dive

under the water in order to avoid the burning oil and wreckage. The Coast Guard kept up its search and for some time, the third boat, conafter cruising about in this inferno taining 19 men, was sighted. The boat was overcrowded to the cxtent that the men could not row. She was shipping water and rap.dly filling. The boat was drifting with the wind and sea and was fully nine miles south of Rodanthe^ when sighted by the surf -boat. The surf -boat took the over-loaded boat in tow and started for the beach. They soon overhauled the first boat containing the MIRLO'S captain. Midgett's crew now had 42 men in tow, in addition to their own Coast Guard crew. Night was rapidly falling, the last glaring flares of the burning oil standing out like gigantic candles in the enveloping darkness The wind was increasing from the northeast and i the sea was breaking heavily on the , beach. The 42 men were saved but the problem now was to land them through the boiling surf.

Once again the Coast Guard was found on the job. Keeper Midget: anchored about 6000 yards ofr shore and proceeded to land the shipwrecked crew in the station's surf-boat. Four round trips were • made, in this work the crew of Station 180 -assisting the original , rescuers. Back again and again they went, into the darkness of th< sea, returning with their preciou cargoes of human life, until the last of the MIRLO'S survivors had l>een safely placed upon the beach, where each was giyan medical attention for bfcrns and bruises. America's sterling benevolent asso-. ciations came to the rescue with ] warm clothing, supper and a place to sleep. The next day, they were sent to Norfolk, on the U. S. S. Legonia, while the captain of the MIRLO left via Seaplane A-765. Great Britain entered in its greal ledger, to 'the credit of the U. S Coast Guard, "42 lives of British sailormen." The Hun submarines entered the same as a loss on the wrong side of the profit and loss sheet. Midgetts in name, giants ifi point of service and value to humanity. Such are the men of the Coast Guard. How infinitely proud the Navy is to have such men in Its midst in time of war. And there ; are many more instances of herds rescues in the annals of the U. S. j Coast Guard dating as far back as 1790, when the Coast Guard Service I was known as the Revenue Cutter Service. It is quite fitting that the torpe doing of the U. S. S. TAMPA t»p mentioned here. The U S. C. G. t . TAMPA was torpedoed in the BrisI tol Channel, September 16, 191s. with the loss of her entire com pie ment (116 in all); a boat plat'-, found April 14, 1924, pn the beach at Rest Bay, Porthcawl, Bristo' Channel, is the only fragment left to remind us of the tragedy. The supreme sacrifice of her crew for their country and flag leaves golden heritage to their families and posterity, and an added lustre to the pages of history. MAI THEY NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. (Portions of the above printed from the IT. S. Navv Magazine ) I % ' — o — CG-217 PATROLS SPEED BOAT RACE The CG-217, Boatswain (T) John J. McSally Officer in Charge, patrolled the recent speed boat race 1 from Essington, Pa., to Ocean City. N. J. ■O' THE CG-226 DRAGS CANAL FOR THF. BODIES OF A MAN AND TWO HORSES The CG-226, Boatswain (Tl M L #• Hudgins Officer in Charge while on patrol duty at the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, on July 18, 1927, was informed by local workmen, that one man and two horse* were drowned in the canal near Reedy Point Bridge while working •>n the canal. The CG-226 immediitely proceeded to that position and began dragging for the man and \he two horses, assisted by local vorkmen. They finally succeeded n dragging out both the body of he man and the bodies of the orses. The man had been in the i *ater for more than three hours. Tie name of the drowned man was Tenry Rhodes, of Delaware City, vri. i o "Batter Up," yelled Bell, the >ok on the CG-227, as he toseed he pancake.

GUNNERY EXERCISES Beginning on July 10th, the De- j stroyer Force (Captain H G. Hamlet, in command; Lieutenant Com- j mander James Pine, Gunnery Of- < ficer) began its training period foi , the actual target practice which t will extend from July 39th to Sep j tember 8th, exercises being held in Massachusetts Bay. ThiB is th« first time in which all unit* of th Destroyer Force will have the op portunityi to go through the map cuveys* and drills prior to actua firing. This- preliminary training will prove of material advantage in the arrangements for and conduc' of the target practice. The schedule provides for preliminary training from July 10th to 39th; for short range practice frgm July 30 to August 19th; and for day spotting and long range battle practice from August 19th to September 8th. Th REDWING has been assigned to the Destroyer Force for target towing during the exercises. Th* planes at the Aviation Unit, Bas

7, Gloucester, are being employed in connection with spotting an» observation training, a number of officers having been temporarily assigned to the aeronautical organ ization for flight duty during th exercises. There is a keen rival r> among the destriyer* for possession of the Gunner Trophy; now held by the ERICSSON, and it is expected that, with the experience of th» fine training given the gun crew.-, high bcq fes will be hung up an • competition will be particularly interesting. o COAST GUARD RANKS SIXTH IN NAVIES OF THE WORLD It is with u great deal of pri*: • ami gratification that we note that the following list of Navies of th World contains our own little Sei vice and ranks it a* the sixth larg est Navy in the world: Great Britain, 9,347 Officer.*-. 98*582 Men. United States — 8,389 Officers 86,900 Men. Japan — 7,320 Officers, 63,87 : Men. France — 3,496 Officers, . 55,000 Men. Italy — 2,188 officers, 40,591 men. United States Coast Guard— 477 Officers, 9,529 Men. Men, here's something to broad cast — we're not so small after all. LIGHTSHIP TO BE STATIONED EIGHT MILES OFF BARNEGAT e One of the most important aid5 to navigation in many years on the Atlantic Coast will be provided August 16th. The Department of Commerce announced that a lightship would be placed about eight miles off the Bamegat Light. It is to be known as the Bamegat Light snip. The Department said that Upvalue of the lightship lay in the fact that there was no fog sigrml sounded along the New Jersey coast for more than one hundred miles. The lightship will be anchore ! close to the steamer lanes. It will have a white light showing eigh seconds in every ten, a steam chime whistle with a signal blast every twenty seconds, and a submarine bell. It. is proposed to place s radio beacon on the ship. o — THE CG-112 TOWS DISABLED SLOOP. TO CAPE M AY The CG-112, ' Chief Boatswain's Mate A. F. Jorgeneen. Officer in Charge, while on regular patrol, on regular patrol, on July 19, 1927, towed the disabled sloop L-7049 MARY T., from Delaware Breakwater to Cape May Harbor. The MARY T., had become disabled due to a burned out bearing, while off Bethany Beach and had been towed to Delaware Breakwater by an Atlantic City fisherman. She was bound for Wildwood, N. J. ■ o DWYER AND COHRON BEGIN DRY LAW PENALTIES William V. Dwyer, alleged "Rum Row King," and his "pay-sfT man, Edward C Cohron, both of New Yark, were delivered o the Federal Penitentiary, in Atlanta, Ge., last week, to serve sentences of two years each for violating the pro hi bit ion law. They were brought fhun New York in custody of a marshal.

LETTERS TO MISS BINNACLE Mis* Binnacle, I'm planning to have a party soon for some of my friends in the Coast Guard. Can you suggest , .some nice game* or way* to enter- ] tain them so they will really enjoy ] themselves ? ] PERPLEXED , Dear Perplexed, It ought to be easy enough tc make them feel at home. Follow out a program something like this: As soon as all the guests are assembled, cry out, "Is that a rum runner? " At the same time tun. out all the lights. After a few min ute.s they may be turned on again, and the casualties accounted for. Get some games of cards or check- : ers under way, and as soon as the players are really interested turn out the lights, saying "I hear a speed boat." It would be well, of course, to knock over the card tables while the lights are out. Th quests will enjoy dealing over. ThL false alarm game may be pi aye. off and on all evening, with varia tions to suit the individual taste. Another good game is "Genera J Inspection." Line all your guest j up and go down the line examinin oach one. Pry their mouths open t | see if their back teeth are clean Inspect their ears. Have them r* move their shoes to see if their socks have holes in them. At intervals exclaim: "Filthy," or "This L disgusting," or, "I never saw anything so revolting in my life." When you are ready to serve re freshments, just as the guests seat themselves, have some one open the door and yell: "Special Patrol. All hands report aboard ship immediately." After they have gone, you can eat the refreshments by yourself. a o LOCAL TRANSFERS W. B. McCoy, MoMMlc, From 103 to 218, July 8th. R. L Hutcherson, MoMM2c, From 218 to 108,- July -8th. Hans Souder, CBM, From 112 tc 109, July 8th. J. Calay, MoMM2c, From 109 to 112, July 8th. C. D. Thorpe, MoMMlc, From 112 to 109, July 8th. . R. F. Grassie, CBM, From Base to 103, July 9th. F. T. Bowman, MoMM2c, From Base to 110, July 9th. W. S. Gillin, BMlc, From 106 tc 111, July 10th. R. F, Grassie, CBM, From 103 t 112, July 10th. R. F. Grassiie, CBM, From 112 to 227, July 15th. A. F. Jorgensen, CBM (a), Frorr 227 to 112, July 16th. C. C. Oates, MoMMlc, Fron 109 to 227, July 16th. J. Calay, MoMM2c, Froom 112 :r 109, July 16th.. * H. M. Bragg, BMlc, From Bas to 103, July 18th. o ' LEAVE I W. S. Anderson, Ensign, 5 days I 18th to *1 7th. D. S. Wheeler, Bos'n, (T), Tf days, 14th. W. H Alston, Bos'n, (T), 10 day 18th. J. P. Gilhooley, Bos'n (T), R' turned 17th from 11 days, T. P Murray, CMoMM. 10 days 9th to 18th. r H. St John, COM, 2 days, 7th and 8th. W. J. Kelley, CBM, 10 days. 7t> to 16th. . C. Ryersoni CBM (a), 10 days 19th. Reported to be for the pur i pose of getting married! J. H R. Hansen, BMlc, 5 days , 10th to 14th > M. A. Semler, Com. Std., 5 days 7th to 11th. E. C Becker. BMlc, 9 days, 15th G. A. Aamold, MoMMlc, 7 days. p 16th. ! M. Klaussen, MoMMSfc, 5 days 6th to 10th. i C. M^Robbins. CM2c, 5 days. 19th. W. Rudzinski, SC9e, 2 day*, I and 1 1th. C. E. S. Johnson, Sealc, 10 days 17th. S. Paloch, Sealc, 16 daya, 9th. » F W Reed. Seatc, g days, 10th • to 14th. T. Piemen, Sea2c.. days. 17th, I o — DISCHARGES \ . ■ ■■ L. F. Lyons. CBM, Honorably t discharged, 9th. i 6. Ryereon, CBM (a), Honorably discharged, 11th

FOR THE MODERN BOY FRIEND Someone down at the Aviation Unit told roe how to give a girl a surprise party: Place arms around! her, draw he* dose, and start to! her. When she says, "Stop, how dare you," release her unlrissed. Note surprise on her face. WHY IS A SHIP CALLED A • "SHE?" A sailor offers the suggestion that they call a sailing vesse! a "She," not because her rigging if so expansive, but because she makes her best showing in the wind.

CHANGES IN RATING H. R Aldan, MoMMSt rated MoMMfc, 15th CMoMM (a), 18th H. W. Reed, MoMMlc, rated i CMoMM (a). KEEN LIBTMENTS C. Ryerson CBM (a), Ri enlist ad 12th, for S year*. v* H. W. Reed, MoMMlc, Keenliated 18th, for 1 year a CAMPBELL SERVES TERM The Department of Justice reports that John Campbell and Lew Perch of Atlantic City, are serving sentences at May's Landing, for violation of the pronibiuor law.

Just because the Ford carls T a glutton for punishment is I no reason why it should not I have proper lubrication I Your Ford tvill give you better service, cost you less for rejtairs and last longer if yon lubricate it with "Standard*" Motor Oil for Fords. Ask for it by name. Then you're sure of the best Ford oil money can buy. W "STANDARD" I MOTOR OIL The Measure of^ Oil Value | ^ STANDARD I I v*-/ ™ I Made in New Jersey « I The Maintenance I I Is Built Into I I Concrete h I I Streets I When the street in front of your home or place of bunneos is paved, you naturally want to be sure that the pavement chosen will be the roost satisfactory and | economical that money will buy. Before you decide this important matter, investigate thoroughly the investment advantages of portlaad cement Concrete PavementBe sure you know what a standard I Concrete Pavement i*. You can recagnire it by the pleasing light gray color. It k made of a definitely preporbooed mixture of sand and pebblea, Of broken I ttone, held together by thai tanadous binder, portland cement. Omt WvkUt Jt 4 t«U« uurvty fnInnHw did (WwhShwh W *tti tirtc HRee fm jwvr evpt PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION L ■ H? Msdwo* Am» NFW YORK •< Nmti+mml Oryiifdin R /wfwf *nd Fx* rmd Jm U*m mf € sunsM Office* !m 33 Cltle* I , ■ II m ^ — mm* B