FILMING THE FLEET

sail Navy down the field our camera hitch for the duration of this picture begins at San Diego filming cracked battalions of sailors on final dress parade their training period is over and tomorrow they sail with the battle fleet prepared to fight on land to see what a sailor's life is on the sea and the ships await their crews snap it up sailor boats leavin farewell sweetheart farewell maupun landlubbers wave to Daddy son duty calls and some hate to go last call's last boats last farewell and the farewell kiss to the whole Navy get that launch go on sailor food supplies to all aboard beef tons of it fresh meat makes Hardy seaman and canned goods hundreds of cases more tons of bacon and then hoist anchor a big putt hooks are slowly hauled aboard the winches drag in the mighty linksys hammers test them for flaws the anchor breaks water and has washed free of mud dirt is unwelcome on a battle wagon Anchors Aweigh full speed ahead and the Navy sales obeying the orders of their ranking naval officer they've ordered a war game so away we go to a secret rendezvous with an imaginary enemy thankful that it is only a game a plane carrier to the right of us dreadnaughts cruisers and sleep destroyers all around us keep your eyes open and film in your camera our editor ordered but our sail mates get other orders feel they which means clean ship for captain's inspection the first duty after leaving port washing and scrubbing from bow to stern then the once-over with the Holy stones for a Finnish sailors wear white and in the Navy that means white a combination of soap water and elbow grease but all those odors from the galley sugared life rings doughnuts to you landlubbers no salt pork and this mess the finest food is none too good for these defenders of the scene in order to fall in for captain's inspection comes from the ship's bridge a regular Saturday formation for a captain must see that his men keep themselves and their clothes in shipshape order the Navy knows that all work and no play makes jack tar a dull boy so we film the boxing match and route to our secret battleground as the great Armada gets well out into the open sea we run into rough water storm ahead is the warning as the wind whips into a gale our news reel instinct overcomes our landlubbers stomach and lash to a mast we keep cranking as the sea starts tossing are ten thousand ton cruisers around like match would everything movable is lashed tight hatches battened down as we plow into the storm center tons of sea water threaten the ship's superstructure sailors working on deck fight to keep from being washed overboard every time the bow dives the ship's tremble from masthead the keel the tremendous force of the sea can be a fearsome thing even old salts are unnerved in a storm like this look one of the cruisers is signaling she's in trouble the message says they've sprung some plates and she's beginning to leak so the commander in chief orders the fleet to slow down ships have been known to break their backs and a sea like this and go down with all hands and if this tie line around me and the camera gets much looser the newsreel will be minus a swell picture but we weathered it out the captain said it was one of the worst storms the fleet has ever encountered so these pictures should rate with the best and now it looks like we've reached point X yes there's the signal prepare for action the theoretical enemy has been located and the order to stand by the go to General Quarters which means be prepared to man all battle stations sends every man in the fleet flying to his post another signal in the fleet obey aviators climb into planes sailors man turrets control rooms fighting tops prizes for the best gun crews furthermore course is set full speed ahead and a great fleet advances to meet the enemy endless days of training bear fruit now as each fighting unit speeds into formation the atmosphere is tense with excitement as the aircraft carriers far in advance release their battle frames reckon oider engaged the enemy and report back to the commander-in-chief a full force and position of the opposing fleet a new and valuable aid and see fighting battleships catapult their planes to join in the attack there's yours truly in camera the fleet slowly moves into position as the formidable air squadron protects it from the sky commander-in-chief checks the formation of his Air Command and finds everything in proper relative position signals agam and ships turn into the firing line great shells are loaded into the gun the guns are sighted and its commence firing Pepito's speed on their path of destruction undersea prowlers submerges the captain peers through his periscope close to the enemy the torpedoes are sped on their way the captain checks a hip light cruisers loose their torpedoes at the submarines while fast destroyers dropped their deadly depth bomb fatal to a sub within 200 feet destroyers are the Greyhounds of the sea at the height of battle destroyers lay smoke screens around the fleet this helps to protect the heavier ships from submarine attack and permits them to continue their pounding of the enemy with heavy guns overhead the battle plane zoom and swoop down in a power dive and drop a deadly load of age a direct hit switch planes drop a curtain of smoke as the battle play n commands cease firing signals the retreat of the enemy and another victory for our side a minute victory in a mimic battle but with all the thrills and excitement of a real engagement everything except the casualties for which let us be thankful it is only make-believe there's a picture for your newsreel mr. editor then homeward bound goes the victorious fleet with officers and men tired but happy after their expert performance of duty which reminds me those five alarm fires are going to seem awful tame after filming the fleet