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Personal Sketches of Marine Men E. D. Langworthy, Executive Secretary, United States Merchant Marine League By Ben K. Price Y TRAINING and experience he is particularly well fitted to arouse public interest in the urgent need of an adequate merchant marine. GRADUATE of the Naval Academy, he served the navy 25 years in many varied assignments from Presi- dential aide to troop transport officer. fie league will support the upbuild- ing of an American merchant fleet and will aid in promoting its use by American shippers and travelers. small, inland town, in Minnesota, to the post of IN executive secretary of the United States Merchant oy ass Marine league is a long route for one to travel, : but that is precisely the route that Lieut. Com. E. D. Langworthy traveled, and that only partly describes it. For it was a journey marked not only by 25 years of active service in the navy, but by missions in the dip- lomatic and secret services, duty as White House aide to President Wilson and as aide to President-elect Roosevelt, serving the latter prior to his inauguration as an observer in Europe, and by various other activities, including service as special representative in Europe for the Chicago World’s Fair committee. Commander Langworthy retired from the navy about three years ago, but, as evidenced by his present position, maintains a keen interest in maritime affairs. As a mat- ter of fact, it was while in Europe, active in promoting interest in the Chicago World’s Fair, that he conceived the urgent need for some such organization as he now actively directs. He was impressed with the response of European shipping interests and with their alertness to the trade possibilities of the Chicago exhibit. He be- came particularly interested in the manner in which they were set up to act, and in the circumstances and condi- tions which surrounded their organizations. Upon his return to this country he had little difficulty in interesting Brig. Gen. Albert C. Dalton, retired, former president of the Merchant Fleet Corp., who now heads the League; Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, retired, who serves as vice president of the organization, and many others prominent in shipping circles. In short, the aim of the League to “upbuild an adequate merchant marine and to develop American foreign commerce” found ready response. Born in Spring Valley, Minn., in 1888, Commander Lang- worthy was graduated from Annapolis in 1910. While at the academy he participated in dramatics and athletics and was stroke on the navy crew. His services after gradu- ol 2) ation included sea duty for varying periods in foreign and colonial waters. At the coronation of King George of Eng- land in 1911, he was flag lieutenant and personal aide to the officer commanding the United States forces in the grand fleet during the occasion. In 1914-15 he was attached to the President’s yacht, the U. S. S. MAYFLOWER, serving also as White House aide to President Wilson. During the World war, Commander Langworthy made 11 round trips to and from Europe on the KRooNnLANpD, twice encountering German submarines. He also served the secret service carrying despatches between the navy department in Washington and the embassy in London. In 1920-21, he was on independent duty in command of the U. S. S. Tattnatyt and from 1925 to 1928 he was in com- mand of the U. S. S. Gorr, a destroyer attached to the scouting fleet. It was while in command of this latter ship that he was chosen to meet, some 50 miles off the Virginian capes, the U. S. S. Mempuis, which was bringing Colonel Lindbergh home after his successful flight to Paris. Commander Langworthy, with newspaper men aboard, was the first, in fact, to welcome the young aviator home. Commander Langworthy assisted in drawing up the prin- ciples of the Merchant Marine league, which declare that American ships should carry American mails; American sailors should man American ships, American products and American imports should move in American bottoms; American vessels should carry an equitable share of all American foreign commerce; and a modern merchant fleet should be available as a navy auxiliary. Included in Commander Langworthy’s avocations are music and dramatics, and his various clubs include New York Yacht club, Westchester Country club, Military Naval club of New York, the Racquet clubs of Philadelphia and Washington, the Philadelphia Country club, Philadelphia Yacht club, the Army and Navy Country club and the Con- gressional Country club, both of Washington. He is chair- man of the Maytown club of New York. He resides at Scarsdale, N. Y. MaRINE REvirEw—August, 1934 39