Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-04-20

not many months ago, our sailor
boys, under the genial command of
Flag Admiral Badger, the Atlantic
fleet was sailing the ocean blue
markedly bluel in the Mediterra-
mean Sea and incidentally taking
in" all the sights possible within the
compass of a limited cruise. The
Atlantic fleet, led by the great de-
stroyer Wyoming, returned to Ameri-
can waters in due course and is now
at anchor in the southern drill
grounds preparatory TO the "set-to'
to be witnessed by the secretary of
the navy for the General Excellence
trophy-a contest that attests the
qualities of the Yankee tar in no un-
certain fashion.
Mr.. Thomas Lewis Sorrell, stenog-
rapher bookkeeper and keeper Of
stores on board the Wyoming, has
written his uncle, Professor H. G..
Gilmore of this city, a most readable
letter touching the visit of the fleet
in foreign waters and his own per-
sonal experience OF how they do
things over there" The following
extracts from Mr., Sorrells letter can
hardly fail to impress our readers, at
least with this fact, that one needs
only to go abroad and return, better
satisfied than ever with Uncle Sans
tlominions as his "happy hunting
grounds
Valetta, Naples, Nice and Other
Places Visited.
''The voyage across the Atlantic
being uneventful, | shall begin with
the U. S. fleet nearing Malta, where
the British fleet, steaming out to
sea, passed just close enough for us
10 see the smoke from their tunnels.
Strange to say, we never caught sight
of it again, although the harbor at
Valetta was sufficient to furnish
berths. After exchanging ssalute
with the fort our men went ashore
TO explore the island or to do shop
ping, not worrying about the absence
of our sailor cousins"
Visits to many churches, includ-
ing st. Johns, the Chapel of Bones
and the Catacombs, were very inter.
esting and instructive. Most of the
pictures seen in the churches are
done in mosaic, The Reaper" being
very frequently seen. On the way
20 Naples, during the night, | had a
good view of Stromboli, an active
volcano. Upon nearing the harbor at
Naples Count Abruzzi's yacht, repre-.
senting the Italian navy at that place
went to sea very suddenly and was
not seen again. Once more the
American pig was turned loose tC
look out for himself in a very large
strange city which | believe to be
one of the vilest on earth. At Pom
ltl Alu at lllt llluotulll III ANuDltS Out
sees evidence of immortality so horri.
ble as to make it impossible to be
misunderstood. Even today the con,
ditions are such that one wonders
what the people have to live for
While making my rounds through the
city and at the ruins of Pompeii the
thought came to me several timel
that never before had l felt so PROUD
TO claim the L. S. A. as hame, anC
even now when live over those few
days spent there it causes a sort O
creepy feeling to come over me. NJ!
own country, with its many faults
including corrupt politics and graft
Is paradise compared to some place
visited. When the time came for ou
departure all hands seemed ready t,
say goodbye to Sunny Italy TIL
following day we dropped anchor il
the beautiful little harbor at villa
tranche. Here the change was a
great as from night to day. Every
thing is clean and in order. Wha
was once a rugged mountain ha
been transformed into flower gai
den with fine, wide boulevards run
ming in all directions. Flowers al
10 he seen on every hand in the yard
and gardens; they hang from tn
stone walls along the country road
and even the railroad right of wa
which in this country is usually vel
unsightly. Is used for growing floN
ers Nice is beautiful, well-ke
city. The hotels and shops are vel
attractive. Unlike Malta and Maple
IL is free from beggars. Except f
the language II is very much like |
up-to-date American city. Our bo
made friends readily with the Frenc
men and were entertained royal
All hands seemed to enjoy every d
spent in France. That is really I
only place visited that / should ca
especially to see again. When
weighed anchor and steamed SLOW
out OF the harbor thousands OF p'
pie were gathered along the shore