| Show destroyers used in world war resurrected from graveyard f I 1 q aa 1 41 7 Z 7 ap SAN DIEGO red lead row the graveyard of 48 43 united states navy destroyers which were becom y in 1922 following the washington naval treaty is teeming with life again behind locked gates a crew ot of expert workmen under capt byron mccandless is polishing up americas ghost fleet representing tons of naval might the destroyers which were built during the world war could almost double the nations destroyer strength in event of a new conflict providing 12 divisions of over age equipment which could sail to meet the enemy on a few hours notice the boats are being renovated because the washington treaty was practically scrapped following japans repudiation and britaina Brit ains determination to retain a ton limit of light cruisers so the red lead preservative paint which gave red lead row its name has been C scraped oft off and replaced with battleship my gray captain mccandless has hag a big job since 1922 the destroyer graveyard has been a supply sources source tor for skip pers needing new valves gears and other warship parts when the reconditioning began workmen above photo shows several de commissioned destroyers at san diego now undergoing thorough repairs as protection against a national emergency found the tin cans were in deplorable Pl plo rable orabIe condition many filled with sludge needing new stacks boilers bearings and rigging expert machinists electricians carpenters gunners gunners and torpedo men have changed all this working under orders to fix all damage when the reconditioned ships put to sea they will be slower than the streamlined destroyers of more recent vintage nor will they have the destructive power but naval experts claim they will be more valuable than many newer destroyers which have not been overhauled for or a year or more one thing is certain that the reconditioned ships will have all their signal flags for or captain mccandless is the navys no I 1 authority on the origin of flags he exploded the bet sy ross theory several years ago by producing evidence that francis hopkinson of new jersey designed the first american flag |
