Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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CHRISTENED MU. S. S. LOUISVILLEQ, 1 SEPTEMBER, 1930

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tened the St. Louis, an Atlantic Ocean liner, built in Philadelphia in 1894. With this country,s entry into World War I, the Navy acquired her, renamed her the Louisville and placed her in active service under the Cruiser and Transport Force. Designated an auxiliary cruiser, she plied regularly-between American and European ports, successfully braving the submarines and mine menace. At the end of the war she was decommissioned and returned to her original owners. On March 12, 1929 this memorandum appeared on the bulletin board of the Com- mandantgsl Ollice at Puget Sound Navy Yard: It is .noted for the information of all concerned that the Secretary of the Navy has assigned the name, Louisville, in honor of the city of Louisville,- Kentucky, to Cruiser No. 28? Thus she was named- the third of the Navy's Louisvilles. At-the beginning of September 1930, the Laaly Lou's first press notices appeared in the Courier Journal of Louisville, Kentucky: BY MARCH, 1930, CRUISER 28, READY FOR PRELIM- INARY' FLOATING, IS WATERBORNE AND TESTED uBremerton, Wash., Sept. 1-Amid the cheers of a vast multitude, the blare of bands and shrill blast of whistles of harbor craft, the U. S. S. Louisville was christened and uundockedn here this afternoon in an elab- orate and colorful ceremony. Her sleek sides glistening in the bright sunshine of a typical Northwest early autumn day, a long slim lighting ship floats this after- noon in the placid waters of Puget Sound. uSenators, Congressmen, and high officials of the Federal and State governments, scores of Navy and Army oflicers, in dress uniforms, and thousands of Washington citizens partici- pated in the christening exercises. While the official guests were assembling at a reviewing stand, placed abreast the bow of the Louis- ville, a Navy band played patriotic airs. WPromptly at two o'clock the assemblage was brought to order by a bugler sounding Gattentionf Admiral Henry J. Ziegemeier, Commandant of the Puget Sound Navy Yard, made the introductory address, and concluded by introducing Maurice H. Thatcher, U. S. Representative from the Fifth Kentucky Dis- trict, official representative of the City of Louisville. uRepresentative Thatcher concluded a fif- teen-minute address by introducing the spon- sor, Miss ,lane Brown Kennedy of Louisville, Ky., who was attended by Misses Henrietta Henderson and Ruth Crockett Cole of Louis- ville, as maids of honor. '4Chaplain Homer G. Glunt, U. S. Navy, offered a prayer and at exactly 2:30 o'clock Miss Kennedy broke over the shlipls bow a bottle of water from the Lincoln Springs at Hodgenville, Ky., the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, oflicially christening the vessel. 6'Following the christening ceremony. the Louisville's own whistle blew one long and three short blasts and the ship slowly drew out of the dry dock under her own steam while the band played the 6Star Spangled

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Bannerf 'My Old Kentucky I-Iomef and then a series of lively tunes. Mlmmediately after the christening of the Louisville, exercises marking the laying of the keel for the U. S. S. Astoria, a sister ship of the Louisville, were conducted. mln his brief introductory address, Admiral of the contract date, March 13, 1931, but at a considerable saving in cost to the Govern- ment under tl1e contract price., uAdmiral Ziegemeier concluded his remarks by introducing Representative Thatcher. Ex- pressing regret that William B. I-Iarrison, four capable young Mayorf was unable to be pres- 4 1 ACCOUNTS APPEARING IN SEATTLE PAPERS OF THE U. S. S. LOUISVILLE'S PRELIMINARY FLOATING AND CHRISTENING Ziegerneier described the Louisville and the remarkable record made in her construction. - Wflust about two years and two months ago we laid the keel of the Louisville in this dry-dock,' the Admiral declared. 6We now launch her practically 86 percent complete. We expect within the next few months to turn her over to the United States for com- mission. - 46 4We expect to finish not only well ahead ent, Representative Thatcher declared that Gnevertheless, he is here in spirit, as are also the great body of citizens of Louisville, espe- cially the school children, who are keenly interested in this great eventf M This is a great occasion in a great country,' Mr. Thatcher said. uln naming its newest fighting unit for Louisville, Mr. Thatcher asserted, the Navy honors the chief city of the South, second n- l 1 f E 2 f 5 F ' . ' -f , I A Q.. ,, T . I J 4 A , vw! U W, :N 1 , , F I P r k