PRESENTATION OF HOSPITAL TO PEOPLE OF ST. LAWRENCE, NEWFOUNDLAND, IN RECOGNITION OF HEROIC SERVICES AUGUST 2, 1949.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. KILDAY, from the Committee on Armed Services, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. J. Res. 230] The Committee on Armed Services, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. J. Res. 230) authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to construct and the people of the United States to present to the people of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, on behalf of the people of the United States, a hospital or dispensary for heroic services to the officers and men of the United States Navy, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the joint resolution do pass. The purpose of this joint resolution is to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to construct and the President of the United States to present to the people of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, on behalf of the people of the United States a memorial hospital, as a token of appreciation of the heroic services of the people of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, in saving the lives of officers and men of two naval vessels wrecked near St. Lawrence in 1942. The construction of such a hospital is felt to be particularly appropriate as an expression of appreciation and gratitude of the people of the United States of America, and of the United States Navy in particular, for the heroic and brave action of the people of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, in saving the lives of many of the officers and men comprising the crews of the U. S. S. Pollux and the U. S. S. Truxton. These two vessels were stranded on the rough and dangerous coast of Newfoundland in February 1942. The citizens of the small community of St. Lawrence were the first to discover the loss of the two vessels on the barren and rocky coast. At great risk to themselves they undertook rescue operations to save the surviving members of the crews, pulling them off the rocks and furnishing them with their own clothing, as well as providing for their first aid. Had it not been for the prompt, efficient and tireless effort of these people and their self-sacrificing labor, only a handful of our men could have been saved. Moreover, of those rescued, few would have recovered from the effects of immersion and cold had it not been for the generous manner in which these people furnished parts of the clothing which they were wearing at the time as well as all additional articles of clothing which they could get from their homes. Altogether, 104 men were lost and about 600 were saved. It is virtually certain that many more of the 600 survivors would have been lost had it not been for the fine efforts of the people of St. Lawrence. There is no hospital at the present time at St. Lawrence and the inhabitants of this community are poor, with very few possessions. In view of the ungrudging manner in which they shared their belongings with the unfortunate victims of the wrecked vessels, it is believed especially appropriate that the United States provide as a gift a small equipped hospital or dispensary which would constitute a fitting tribute to the courage and generosity of these people and serve as a living memorial to the officers and men who were lost aboard the wrecked vessels. The estimated cost of the proposed legislation amounts to $375,000 which would provide for a 21-bed hospital. This cost compares favorably with other types of construction in the Newfoundland area. It is anticipated that the Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks will prepare the necessary plans and estimates and enter into contract for the erection of this facility which will then be turned over to the people of St. Lawrence. Inasmuch as this community is close to Argentia where a supply of skilled labor has been developed among the local inhabitants over the past 5 or 6 years, it is believed that most of the necessary labor force can be obtained locally. In this connection the United States has entered into an agreement with the Government of Newfoundland that it will not pay civilians higher rates of pay than those prevailing locally, to the end that the economy of that region shall not be upset. The Navy Department has recommended the enactment of the proposed legislation as is indicated in the letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the Speaker of the House of Representatives which is attached hereto and thereby made a part of this record. The proposed legislation has been coordinated within the National Military Establishment in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Secretary of Defense and no objection has been interposed by the Bureau of the Budget. Accordingly, it is unanimously recommended that this bill do pass. Hon. SAM RAYBURN, THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, Speaker of the House of Representatives. DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a draft of a proposed joint resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to construct and the President of the United States to present to the people of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, on behalf of the people of the United States, a hospital or dispensary for heroic services to the officers and men of the United States Navy. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to authorize the construction of a memorial hospital or dispensary in expression of the appreciation and gratitude of the people of the United States of America, and of the United States Navy in particular. for the heroic and brave action of the people of the town of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, in saving the lives of many of the officers and men of the U. S. S. Pollur and the U. S. S. Truxton, stranded near there in 1942. The joint resolution would permit the President of the United States to present the memorial to the people of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland. At the time of the loss of these ships on the rough and dangerous coast of Newfoundland, the villagers of St. Lawrence performed heroic services. It appears that without the prompt, efficient, and tireless effort of these people and their self-sacrificing labor, only a handful of our men would have been saved. Furthermore, of the number rescued, few would have recovered from the effects of immersion and cold had it not been for the generous manner in which these people gave assistance. They took off parts of their own clothing in order to clothe our men and in addition brought from their houses all the articles of clothing they could gather; they helped in many other ways. In the vicinity of the grounding of the U. S. S. Pollux and U. S. S. Truxton is an isolated series of small communities connected by a single road. The people are a hardy race of English and Irish descent, very hard to know and very sensitive. Almost without exception they are poor and with few possessions. Nevertheless, they ungrudgingly shared their belongings with the unfortunate victims of the wrecked vessels. A joint resolution, favored by the late President Roosevelt, was submitted to both the Seventy-seventh and Seventy-eighth Congresses in 1942 and 1943. However, because of the more important business directly connected with the war effort the resolutions were never passed. Since there is no hospital in the St. Lawrence area, the erection of a small equipped hospital or dispensary would constitute a fitting tribute to the courage and generosity of these people, and serve as a living memorial to the officers and men of the U. S. S. Pollux and U. S. S. Truxton. The proposed memorial was widely publicized during 1943 both in the United States and Newfoundland and the people of St. Lawrence (definitely in need of a hospital), were highly enthusiastic over the prospect of a hospital being donated by the Government of the United States. It would seem to be appropriate that this need be recognized. In view of the foregoing, the Navy Department recommends enactment of the proposed legislation. The cost involved in the proposed legislation would not exceed $375,000. This report has been coordinated within the National Military Establishment in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. An identical report has been transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives this date. The Navy Department has been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there is no objection to the submission of this report to the Congress. Sincerely yours, JOHN L. SULLIVAN. own clothing, as well as providing for their first aid. Had it not been for the prompt, efficient and tireless effort of these people and their self-sacrificing labor, only a handful of our men could have been saved. Moreover, of those rescued, few would have recovered from the effects of immersion and cold had it not been for the generous manner in which these people furnished parts of the clothing which they were wearing at the time as well as all additional articles of clothing which they could get from their homes. Altogether, 104 men were lost and about 600 were saved. It is virtually certain that many more of the 600 survivors would have been lost had it not been for the fine efforts of the people of St. Lawrence. There is no hospital at the present time at St. Lawrence and the inhabitants of this community are poor, with very few possessions. In view of the ungrudging manner in which they shared their belongings with the unfortunate victims of the wrecked vessels, it is believed especially appropriate that the United States provide as a gift a small equipped hospital or dispensary which would constitute a fitting tribute to the courage and generosity of these people and serve as a living memorial to the officers and men who were lost aboard the wrecked vessels. The estimated cost of the proposed legislation amounts to $375,000 which would provide for a 21-bed hospital. This cost compares favorably with other types of construction in the Newfoundland area. It is anticipated that the Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks will prepare the necessary plans and estimates and enter into contract for the erection of this facility which will then be turned over to the people of St. Lawrence. Inasmuch as this community is close to Argentia where a supply of skilled labor has been developed among the local inhabitants over the past 5 or 6 years, it is believed that most of the necessary labor force can be obtained locally. In this connection the United States has entered into an agreement with the Government of Newfoundland that it will not pay civilians higher rates of pay than those prevailing locally, to the end that the economy of that region shall not be upset. The Navy Department has recommended the enactment of the proposed legislation as is indicated in the letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the Speaker of the House of Representatives which is attached hereto and thereby made a part of this record. The proposed legislation has been coordinated within the National Military Establishment in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Secretary of Defense and no objection has been interposed by the Bureau of the Budget. Accordingly, it is unanimously recommended that this bill do pass. Hon. SAM RAYBURN, THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, Speaker of the House of Representatives. DEAR MR. SPEAKER: There is transmitted herewith a draft of a proposed joint resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to construct and the President of the United States to present to the people of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, on behalf of the people of the United States, a hospital or dispensary for heroic services to the officers and men of the United States Navy. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to authorize the construction of a memorial hospital or dispensary in expression of the appreciation and gratitude of the people of the United States of America, and of the United States Navy in particular. for the heroic and brave action of the people of the town of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, in saving the lives of many of the officers and men of the U. S. S. |