The DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware, makers of better things for better living through chemistry, presents the Cavalcade of America. Tonight's star, Robert Cummings. Our play, Navy Blue. The story of Lieutenant Victor Blue, United States Navy. Tonight's DuPont play begins on the bridge of the United States gunboat Suwannee, in Buena Vista Bay off the coast of Cuba. You understand your orders, Mr. Blue. As soon as we are safely through the channel, you will board the ammunition ship Gussie and our convoy and supervise the unloading of our cargo at Kaibari End. Aye, sir. I know I don't need to remind you of the importance of this operation. Arms, ammunition, and medical supplies for our allies ashore. General Gomez, if we lose Gomez, we may lose Cuba. Yes, sir. I'll keep that in mind, sir. And please inform Senor Ramirez that Cuban pilot we took down at Key West. Tell him to take over. It's essential that we make Kaibari End before nightfall. I believe he's out on the boat taking sounding, sir. Taking sounding? I thought he knew every rock and shore on this coast. But we don't have to worry, sir. It's the Gussie. She's heavily loaded in her draft, maybe too great for the channel without a dredging operation. But there's no time for that. Why didn't he tell us all this at Key West? Well, I don't think he understood that we were to convoy all the way through, sir. Well, we are and we must. We'll never free Cuba from Spain unless all these expeditions succeed. Ahoy! Oh, there's Ramirez now. I guess he's got the sounding. Ahoy in the boat there! Lower and matter the ladder, one of you men. Aye, sir. He's there. He's got bad news. Sir, there might be another way. Excuse me, Mr. Blue. Well, Ramirez, senor Capitan. I've finished taking the sounding and charted our course into the bay. Good. Take over, senor Ramirez. Mr. Blue, signal the Gussie to follow us in. Aye, sir. Excuse me, senor Capitan. But this is not possible. What's that? The gunboat I can take over the bar, yes. For the cargo ship? No. Senor Ramirez, do you see those two columns of smoke beyond the point there? Above the mangrove trees? Exactly. There are two Spanish gunboats anchored over there. And if they take a notion to patrol this end of the harbor and we're caught out here alongside this floating powder keg. Sir, if I may make a suggestion. Yes, Mr. Blue? If we could get word to General Gomez ashore, he might be able to arrange transport from another harbor, sir. And how are we to get word to General Gomez, Mr. Blue? Well, I had in mind a small sailboat, sir, that could be maneuvered in water too shallow for the Spanish patrol boats to navigate. But they can pick you up with their Mauser rifles. They have a greater range than ours. I could shove off after dark and make it ashore, sir. Through 20 miles of treacherous shoal waters in total darkness? And we don't even know for sure where Gomez's headquarters are by this time. I was counting on getting that information at Kaibari Inn. Excuse me, Capitan. Yes, senor Ramirez. We could go ashore near Santa Margarita. I know a man there, a Pacifico, who would lead us to General Gomez. Do you think you can make it in the longboat, Mr. Blue? Well, sir, if I can take Ramirez to the... How many men will you need for crew? At 12 is the most I can carry, fully equipped and armed. I'll need that many to pull oars if the wind fails us, sir. Well, I don't like to risk that many men, but I have no choice. Very well. You will assemble your crew and be ready to get underway at sunset, Mr. Blue. Aye, aye, sir. Oh, and good luck. Thank you, sir. At sunset, we hoisted our makeshift sail and headed for the channel. We turned back and saluted as our mothership hauled down the end for the evening colors. She looked lonesome as she rode the swells of after convoy vessels. Ahead of us, and to the west, two columns of black smoke showed against the red sky. The enemy gunboat still lay at anchor beyond the point. I prayed they'd stay there until we could complete our mission. And at 1 a.m., we hauled sail in the shallow lagoon near shore. Ramirez sat tensely at the helm, straining his eyes toward the dark undergrowth of the water's edge. I feel like a starboard, sir. That's allowed now. Now, listen to me, men. When we get ashore, stay close together. But be ready to separate and take cover if necessary. Now, if you're fired upon, don't return the fire until you've shirked the enemy, not a cubit. Is that clear? Yes, sir. The landing is just ahead, sir. All right. Secure the boat riding. Check your equipment, men. Rifle's ready. Who's there? Who's there? Cuba libre. Adelante. All of you, armado. Un momento. What did he say? He asked me to come ashore alone and unarmed. Well, do you trust him? I mean, I'm not sure. ¿Conoce al señor Alvarez? Sí. Enseñame la casa de Alvarez. Sí, dono. He says he can show me to the house of my friend who knows where is General Gomez. I go with him. If all goes well, I send up a player. You come show with the men, then. Yeah, and if all doesn't go well. In that case, there will be too dead to send up the player. And you better get ready to fight your way ashore. But this is enemy-held territory. I don't like the idea of taking the men through the village. What's your worry, lieutenant? Those Pizaners won't know who you are. I only wish I believed that. You know something, lieutenant? So do I. I was hesitant about letting Ramirez go ashore unarmed. But there was no alternative. We remained in the boat, our hands on our rifles, our eyes fixed on the sky. A dim halo of light above the dark trees indicated the direction of the village. At ten minutes past one, the silence was broken by the sound of gunfire not more than a half a mile away. Vamos, vamos. Aquí está la maresta. Vamos. Something's happening ashore, sir. I wonder what it is. We'd better get our feet on the ground. Come on, men. We're going ashore. Quiet as you can now. Now can you all hear me? Aye, sir. Your orders are to separate and take cover in those trees. Remember your firing instructions. Be sure it's the enemy. If you hear a blast on the swizzle, hit the road and follow me. Blattie, come on. We're going to do some scouting. Aye, aye, sir. Hold it. Brad, do you hear that? Sounds like a whole battalion marching straight this way. Hit the ditch, Raleigh. And the Lilo shall be stationed in these bushes. Arco! The soldiers broke ranks and plunged into the bushes beside the road, swinging broad blade machetes as they went. A blade whistled past my ear, and I felt a draft on my neck as one of them leapt into the ditch, lept a foot away from my hiding place. Soon they passed beyond us, deeper into the thickets. I looked up to see if there were more coming, and at that moment I saw a flare rising brightly into the night sky above the village. There's your mirror's signal. It holds well, he thinks. Well, what do you think, Bradley? Shall we run for it now with our hands over the machete, or wait until they pick up their rifles? I say hit that road now, sir. All right, here goes. On your feet and out of here, men on the double! Arco! Arco! Crew all present in the carapace, sir. Fine. Now listen, men. It's just plain luck we outran that Spanish patrol. They thought we'd have better sense than to walk straight into an enemy-held village. From now on, keep out of the open. Each man be his own tactician. Lieutenant, Lieutenant Blueberry, are you all right, man? Sure, sure. You saw my player? Yes, yes, we saw it. Good. I was afraid the trees might be too high, and you would miss the signal. We'd be here anyway. The only other way to run was into the water. Why? You had trouble? Trouble. A flock of soldados came down the road. We nearly got our heads chopped off by machetes. Soldados? You heard their uniforms? No, no, we just heard them. You did not shoot at them? Why? Any reason why we shouldn't have? Lieutenant Blueberry, this village has been retaken by the Cabranos. But there was a whole battalion chasing us. Those were our allies, General Gomez's soldiers. His headquarters are right here in this village. What? He sent those soldiers personally to look for you. Why did he look with me when he was with machetes? Do you know something? General Gomez is very angry with you. Why with me? You'd better come and meet the General. Yes, yes, I'm very anxious to meet this General Gomez. All right, I'll take you to him. Only one thing, Lieutenant. Yes? Don't be upset if he shoots you a little. General Gomez, here is Lieutenant of the United States Army. Victor Blue, United States Navy, sir. I thought we lost you, Lieutenant. What you lose is found, General. Go away. Good bye, General. Please sit down, Lieutenant Blue. I'm a little mad at you, Lieutenant. Yes, so Ramirez told me, sir. There must be some mistake, General. Exactly, a very big mistake. Here, look at that. Did you ever see such a big mistake? Well, sir, I think it's a hunk of mortar shelter. You think? This is a present from the United States Navy to his good friend, General Gomez. I don't understand, General. It landed through the top of my house. You mean when the village was being bombarded by our fleet? Only I am not in the village at the time, Lieutenant. The enemy was in the village. But did this fall on an enemy? No. It passed over the village, landed through the house of Gomez, your friend. Well, I assure you, sir, it was an accident. Did you personally shoot that gun, Lieutenant? Oh, no, not I, sir, but I know that such mistakes can happen. This war is teaching us a great many things about ourselves, about our enemies, and about our friends, General Gomez. The same with Cuba, Lieutenant. How can Gomez fight a war without bullets, without medical supplies? Well, that is what I came to see you about, General. My ship is in convoy of an ammunition ship lying outside the bank. And we have provisions for you, too. The whole ship? Just for us? You make joke on Gomez. Why do you say that, sir? Well, excuse me, it is hard to grasp all at once. But we heard you were badly in need of supplies, sir. However, there is something else that I came to see you about. Don't tell me too much all at once. I got tears in my eyes now. You want to make me weak? You don't imagine what this means for our cause, or for me, Lieutenant, and for Cuba. You as a Navy will think Gomez is one big fool. Oh, General Gomez, our Navy and all our fighting men think you and your liberated great soul. Ten months fighting, Lieutenant, sleeping in wet tents. Rain, rain, rain all the time, and half my army is sick. Finally I take this town, and those Spaniards have taken to their heels, grabbing everything they could not destroy. So we must share the little we have with the civilians here. And this is how Gomez welcomes the friend who has come to save us. General, the ship is lying outside the banks, but the bay is too shallow. It's impossible to bring her into Caballero. Ah, so, so it is a joke after all. But wait, wait, I have a solution. We take the ship to Aceraderos on the south coast. General Cebreco will arrange transport over land to me. Yes, sir, I will convey your message to my commander, sir. You are Caballero, Lieutenant, a horseman of the sea. I, I am ashamed that I ever doubted the friendship of U.S. Navy. What is a little shell through my house? It's a joke, a friendly joke, huh? You, you make joke on Gomez like, like, um, all friends shooting at each other a little bit, huh? You, you must believe that we never meant to fire on you, Jepal. Huh? It's not a joke? Oh, certainly not, sir. But I was so sure. I, I send my soldiers with my ship is to make joke on you in exchange. You are no matter. Now I embrace you. Adios, Lieutenant. Buena suerte. A la Cuba Libre. Cuba Libre, sir. The march back to our boat was without incident. We shoved off and navigated the lagoon under oars and presently hoisted sails. Dawn was just breaking when we slipped into the open waters of Buena Vista Bay. Lieutenant Blue. Yes, Ramirez. The Permanent smoke has established. It looks like one of the enemy gunboats. Uh-oh, and she's coming fast. I don't think they sighted us yet, sir. Maybe we can make the ship before they close in on us, huh? Not on the road. There's not enough wind to make it on the tail. All right, then. We better get ready to fight. Rest your oarsmen. Take your rifles. How do you make their distance now, Ramirez? About half a mile. I wonder if they know their rivals have greater range than ours. If not, they'll probably circle us, keeping us out of range so they can size up our weapons. I think you're right, sir. Their diminishing speed. Any suggestions, Ramirez? Well, I think we better pray for a miracle. You know something, Ramirez? I was just thinking the same thing. Tonight on the Cabal Gate of America, Robert Cummings is starring as Lieutenant Victor Blue in Navy Blue. The small boat of Lieutenant Blue with its crew of 12 men returning to their ship from a mission ashore in Cuba has been sighted by an enemy gunboat that is now bearing down on it. Ramirez? Yes, sir, sir. Is it my eyes or have they stopped making smoke? You're right, sir. I don't understand it. It's that miracle, Lieutenant. She's stopping. They're dead in the water. Wait, maybe it's a trick. No, no. Those Spaniards have their own way. So long. They've grown careless with the engine room watch. So, poof, the fires go out and spread to no steam. We've got the gravity. That's what we can't. You think we can make it before they get up steam? No. There is sure to be another gunboat there. That is the way they patrol these waters. Yes, and we lead them straight to the Suwannee and our ammunition ship. They alert their other gunboats and we do some badly needed bullets for Cuba Libre. Not to mention American Libre. There is one way we might manage, Lieutenant. What's that? I know this harbor. Over there, see? Way over. There are shallow shore waters where they would not dare to follow us. Where would that take us, though? New East, only about 20 miles out of our way. To the point, huh? And if it be difficult to leave, there's a strong current and blood tides. We might be swept around the point and find ourselves between two enemy boats instead of face to face with just this one. Well, I'd rather go down that way than risk betraying our ship. We're with you there, sir. All right, men, break out those doors and roll. Come on, we'll never make it to this break. Break their back there. Pull those doors. Music We've made it. We've made it. But we're losing headway. The men at the time, we never match the discurrency. Men, rest your oars. But the new hour will be carried straight to the end. That is my intention, Ramirez. Come about. Sir, I do not wish to. Then don't. Come about, I say. Music Sir, two enemy craft line two get ahead. Continue on course, Ramirez. Aye, aye. Well, then make the inlets come about again. Keep two alongside the smaller enemy vessel. Aye, sir. What do you make of them above decks, rally? Decks of the deserted. Bridge, too. Of course. Why did I not remember? Remember what, Ramirez? Today's the festival for Spanish sailors. It is the custom for the officers and crews of Spanish ships to fraternize and visit these other ships and take breakfast together. And they naturally get together on the biggest ship of the two, huh? They still do not understand. It should be a wash on the smaller one. Yet the bridge is deserted. They even left their ladder out. Maybe they've baited a trap for us, sir. Well, if it's a trap, they'll be in it and we'll be on top of it. Back water with those oarsmen. Bring your steady under that ladder. We're boarding this ship, every man of us. Someone must stay with this boat, he looks at it. Let it drift. If we succeed, we won't need it. If we fail, we'll be dead. ... Riley, you and Ramirez take over the bridge. I, Sir Johnson, take the ladder up. Send a party below the engine room and start lighting off the boilers. I'm going to try something else here. But, Dennis, can you hear someone singing? Yes, I do. Board this ship, too. Hey, you down there. Que vive! Mi vive! If you make it on your own power, shall I pull your tow line? Cérete, hombre. Mirálo. ... Que paso? Captain, I have boarded your vessel and claim it as a prize of war. My crew will get her underway to a place I will beg to be designated. Meanwhile, I must place you under arrest. But, Sir, I don't do no thing. I over sleep on Festival Day. I feel good, Sir. I sing alone in my cabin. Anything celebration, I'll have the inviolable Spanish Navy. Hey, that's right, a pistol. Now, Captain, get up to the bridge. Go on, march. Hey, straight ahead, Captain. Hey, straight ahead. Hey, hey. Well, that's a very fine signal lamp you have there. Captain, I want you to signal to the watch on your sister ship. I warn you, my pilot speaks your language and knows the code. So don't try and trick me. What you wish I say, Señor? Say this, Captain. Ship boarded by overwhelming superior... Hey, I don't think I can... Captain, just do as I tell you. All right, all right. I blink. Yes, resistance is useful. Advise, Captain, your vessel. Surrender at once. All right, repeat the message. Away, say, he flutters answering signals. Yes, I see it. What does he say? He says he will fight. Riley, Johnson, go below. Find the gun lockers. Issue sidearms and a mauser to each man. Aye, aye, sir. He's covered in an overcoat of the other ship coming on deck. He's got a megaphone. Looks like he wants a palaver. Hey, Velmarco. Ahoy the ship. Habla inglés. Yes. Tell my colleague he's a common wife. I'll find this ship until I think. Then you'll think. Riley. Aye, aye, sir. The rifles are issued. Shall we open fire? No, we'll order and drive them into the sea. She's a fine fly. I don't want to dirty up her deck. All backers. All backers. Full steam ahead. Full steam ahead. Ramirez. Aye, aye. Put your helm down. Now steer for her bridge. Aye, aye. When the officers aboard the other ship saw us preparing to get underway, they dropped their rifles. We could see them. They had no idea how many of us there were. But that is as if we were a full complement for their vessel now under my command. As we tore ahead, gaining speed, we bore down on them. First the men. Then the officers on the other ship gave way to panic. One after another, they jumped overboard and started swimming to the shore. Not until their last man had hit the water did I order Ramirez to alter course. He spun the helm, and our vessel heeled over precariously. All of our ships were ready to holler at her signal. For a few moments, both ships rocked in somewhat like big vessels drawn out of a reef in a 410 gale. And then they righted themselves and drifted apart, with only a few sissily scratches to fill for their brief and violent encounter. I sent half of them aboard the other vessel and got her a turnip. On our voyage back to the bank, we sighted our small boat adrift and secured it with a few Sgt. Blue reporting, sir. Good job, Blue. How did it go, boy? Officer in crew present account of port captain. No casualties. You found Gomez? Yes, sir. General Gomez requests that the ammunition cart be set ashore on the south coast where General Sabrecos will arrange transport. Excellent. Very good. We'll do it. Thank you, sir. However, I would like to ask you just one question, Mr. Blue. Yes, sir. Mr. Blue, I think you want a mission to find out from General Gomez where to dump the contents of that powder keg we're convoying in. You come back with two shallow draft Spanish vessels. Fessles that are no earthly use except for controlling those cursed shoal waters in Buena Vista Bay. You'll excuse me, sir, but you'll have to admit that one of them had an excellent signal lamp and a very fine telescope. But how can I explain this to the admiral? You're on an intelligence, not a battle mission. Well, sir, you know how narrow the dividing line between operations can be, between intelligence and espionage, for instance. A few American sailors in a row were captured two Spanish patrol vessels. How can I call that espionage? Well, if you don't mind, sir, I repeat, one of them had an excellent light signal lamp and a very fine telescope. These are invaluable aids in intelligence work in the fleet, sir. Possibly we may construe it that way, and that will square the mission as an intelligence operation, sir. By George, Mr. Blue, I'm beginning to catch your drift. Wouldn't be surprised if you got advanced a grade in rank for this. Yes, sir. I'll wait till the end of this war to find you a full lieutenant, Mr. Blue. In the years to come, Victor Blue was to be advanced not one, but five grades in rank. A young junior grade lieutenant who was cited for extraordinary heroism in the Spanish-American War lived to serve his nation in World War I, which he entered as a commander and from which he emerged as a rear admiral and holder of the coveted Distinguished Service Medal. Victor Blue then went on to become chief of staff of the Pacific Fleet to climax the colorful career of valor and distinction in the highest tradition of the United States Naval Service. Great target center of giving pride to Victor Blue as he pursued his new track of active role as being grounded in thegrid ways of the South Pacific. Our thanks to Robert Cummings and the Cabell-Cade players for tonight's DuPont play, Maybe Blue. Next week, the star of the DuPont Cabell-Cade will be Ginger Rogers. Our story, 700 Boiled Shirts, is the romantic saga of an old man-plucket sailing ship and a girl who wouldn't be left behind. Be sure to listen. Tonight's DuPont Cabell-Cade, Maybe Blue, starring Robert Cummings, was written by Robert Taubman and was based on material from the book The Spy in America by George S. Bryant. With Robert Cummings tonight, you heard Arnold Robertson, Santa Sortega, Carlos Montalbán, George Petrie, Penny Delmar, and Daniel Uco. Robert Cummings is currently starring in the Broadway play, Faithfully Yours. Music was composed by Arden Cornwell, conducted by Donald Borey. Tonight's program was directed by Albert Ward. This is Cy Harris speaking. Don't forget next week, our star, Ginger Rogers. The DuPont Cabell-Cade of America comes to you from the Velasco Theater in New York and is sponsored by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware, makers of better things for better living through chemistry. Next is Hollywood Theater on NBC.
