The Yale expositor., 1909-06-18
From Far Away Syria.

4, o. y, = Montana,
Alexandretia, syria, May IL 1909
Mr. j. A. Menu O.,
Yale Expo, itor.
Dear Sir!-Isolated, as il were on this
fan ufl roast have Weakened TO the re
morseful fact that have allowed my
subscription to the Yale Exposition TO
fall away behind Enclosed herewith
find two dollars winch please credit 10
my subscription for two years, or what
ever time it will cover
Isolated, say, because we are so far
away from all communication with ties
we have always known and loved on
shore. Vail has been received three
times since the 18th of March when we
left Norfolk, Va, and the good old u.
5. a.
The intention, at that time, was that
we would spend our time in Guantana.
mo Bay, Cuba, at the guns and have
our first preliminary target practice
completed today and return TO the
Navy Yard at Norfolk about May 30.
After arriving at the southern sunny
coast of Cuba, and settling ourselves
for a good period of drills in Guantan-
amo Bay we were suddenly ordered out
to sea hardly knowing what had hap.
pened, so unexpected were the orders
and so quickly put into execution.
After cruising in the Southern Car
ibbean Sea for few days watching the
movements of the troublesome eX Pres
ident of VenZuela and satisfying our
selves that his intention was not to
cause any immediate trouble we were
ordered back to Guantanamo Bay. The
points touched on that trip were Basse
rerre, Guadaloupe; Fort de France,
Martinique; Port of Spain, Trinidad;
and Pointe Pietre, Guadaloupe. We
were anchored in Port of spain for two
days and in each of the other places
only few hours.
On returning to Guantanamo We re-
ceived two mails three days apart when
we were again suddenly ordered out
We crossed the Atlantic and arrived
at Gibraltar, Spain, on the 5th of May
and left on the 9th. We received mail
there.
From Gibraltar we went to Mcrsina,
Turkey in Asia, and from there came
to AleXandretta. Syria where we are
now. There is no information as to
our probable time of departure from
here.
During all this time there has been
no opportunity for shore leave, and the
time all spent on board ship makes us
long for the luxury of even to walk on
mother earth once again. The long
time without even the enjoyment OF
receiving letter from friends and low.
ed ones makes us feel very much isolat-
ed indeed
Although the Turks have been fear
fully barbaTous in their destruction of
lives and property there is not, at pres
ent, any indication of further trouble.
Our officers who have visited the fugi-
tive camps ashore report scenes of suf
fering and torture beyond description.
When asked about the conditions as
they saw them look of painful sym
pathy crosses their faces as they dwell
as lightly as possible on the subject un-
til they can turn the conversation to
something more pleasant.
Such inklings as we have been able
to hear of conditions ashore has inham-
ed strong desire in each and every
man OH board TO get ashore and pay
such penalty as would be possible to
the barbarous scOundrels who have in
flicted such terrible torture upon the
victims.
With happy remembrance of the
quiet liberties to be enjoyed in Y ale
and of the many friends there, and an
intense desire to indulge in the luxury
of even a stroll down the busy streets
in the happy eyentide, 1 can assure you
that the pages of the Exposition are al
ways welcome visitors, each conveying
news eagerly devOured and relished.
Wishing you every success in your
journalistic enterprise | remain always
Very sincerely yours
Arthur j. Collin.