The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-07

in uglier squalls. The radio, which flashed to the shore the news that the had lost the Balch, bit in return had damaged the Car thnge and one Pera, brought back the weather warning inI the navy code; hurricane was on the way. The gov crnment had forbidden the publishing {. of the warning ashore. lest it be sent { t0s the enemy's ships, too, but the barometer told the story. Rain was falling tnow-rain, driven almost hori- : zontaI by the gale and teasing sud denly while lightning dared and forked over the sea and thunder tremendously rumhled. pe ! About 8 o'clock Bob Wendell went to the wardroom for supper. Torpedo defense requires all gunnery officers to be on duty during firing; but, although torpedo attack by 'destroyers was. still possible, tho weather made 1t more ahd more improbable and the light ming was flashing 50 frequently as to illumine the sea for seconds at time. / Accordingly, officers and men were be- :. ing sent, in small groups, to supper.
 Bob sat beside Garry 1t the table It was the first time they had seen each other since the battlej
 t"Good shooting from number two < tnrret, Bohbyr' fs'
 ssThat was Loudenl Garry, jyou should have seen him especially after the Balch got it.", s..s,i
 II heard; his brother was boatswain
 50 he gave the Rera that last shot!'
 By the way, did you see it? Where 1t hit, meant" Garry hesitated moment. Some thing funny about that; I'p crazy, of course-for we were out of range then but I've an idea that shot hit, some how. I didn't see any splash, but then, if shots pretty short, it's easy to miss splash" & 4t
 srNot for you; some good spott1ng today, Garry. The men--welL they just felt 1t! A couple of the Car thagess thirteens hit the Pennsylvania of course you know"
 "On armor. No real damage, was there? We weren't missed by much a ] few9times.y A
 Then they talked of what was ahead of them. The Arizona and the Penn syivania and the destroyers had not turned back to the roads; they were keeping on south and east, The officers spoke in low tones, and after the mess attendants had served them.
 "The special god who looks after drunken men and fools has. sent us this hurricane-' Garry calculated / Look at the fix we were in--one divi sion at New York, ours.at Norfolk. the Delaware and North ' Dakota al |. Charleston, and most of the rest of oul decent ships beating 1t up from Haiti and the gulf as fast as they can make it Special Providenc& put finger ir that, too: the ships we have to have were on the way when the Salem woke Washington up. But at that. we were up against 1t till this wind came along. Tn any reasonable weathe' their air craft would be scouting every where to find where we nre-witl thc-r battle cru; ITS and perhaps di vision of their Sargons they could have r crtt of any division of ours they wnnted and stopped us from ever getting fleet together"
 i, s"The Oklahoma and Nevada, witI some more destro, CTS. are coming out suppose you know. They left the roads just at dark and will join us about midnight"
 Garry nodded: ITO try little sur 1 prise party on the prince in the morn sug. Going up again now?" "No; I've next watch. I'm to sleer now" ct
 "sc'a T."
 They went to their rooms together Good luck"
 Good lucky'
 Wendell went to his room and close' the door. It wes the first time sine he hhd been fin battle that he had beel away from the observation of his fel lows, alone. He stood for a moment dnxed at the relax within himself. ant for an instant he opposed it, then h. sank down upon his bed and lay ol his back staring up at the painted