Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-30

awake only alone II the dark, lust
before dawn. I was looking toward
tho east, where you were. and saw
you and knew that you were safe
There was something strange about Il
which I could not understand at all;
but, It told me you were safe. More
than that. It told me you would still
be safe. You see It was very
strange. Boil. saw It again last night,
as was sleeping that time, and It was
very clear. So you are coming back
to me; will see you again-that I
know. God has promised It to me-"
Bob put down the letter with tho
others which he had reread and locked
| them all away In his desk. It was
time for him to be up on deck.
"Ships in column the signal was
flying from the halyards of the new
idaho, which led the American line
The Arizona, second In power only u
the Idaho, was taking position in
column 500 yards behind; astern the
Arizona, as Bob saw when he gazed
back, the sister superdreadnaught
Pennsylvania was placing herself
third. The Oklahoma. Nevada. New
York and Texas steamed next IN order;
then two older dreadnaughts, the Ar.
kansas and Wyoming. followed By the
Florida. the Utah, Delaware'and North
Dakota.
These completed the roll Of tho
dreadnaughts-the FIRST line lMttlsships
of the United States; but, astern them,
the column Of ships still stretched, the
Michigan and South Carolina, the New
Hampshire. Kansas and twelve more
Of the old, predreadnaught vessels Of
the second Line. Five more such YES
sells might have been. there, Bob knew,
but their lighting value would be even
less than the weakest In the line and
they would have taken . knot from
the speed Of the neet ~ II WIS, the
column could do no better than eight
cen knots: It was steaming at sixteen
now, letting the light cruisers and
destroyers dash ahead to watch the
waters for drifting mines and for sub
marines. Air craft circled overhead;
some Of them, scouting, were bringing
back to the flagship Intelligence Of the
enemy's strength and disposition. Tho
American feet was steering north and
east.
The van Of the regents feet had Just
come in sight, steaming north, also. and
west The regents ships seemed to
be in column, too-in line appearing
almost parallel to the American col
umn. but really slanting a little, %
that the two columns, in battle for
alton. approached each other slowly.
There were but twenty-five ships Of
the line In the other column, against
the American Twenty-Five; but every
vessel in the European cine was 4
dreadnaught. Their order. as reported
by the air craft. was repeated to the
officers on the Arizonas quarterback.
Six Trajans led. the four Pharaohs fol-
lowed: six Sargons steamed next: then
the four superdreadnaughts of the
Zeus class; the two Thors were last
With twelve twelve-inch guns each and
with speed Of twenty-one knots. the
Thors were the weakest and the SLOW
est in the European column. -Four
great battle cruisers stood of to lee,
as reserve: and the European destroy
ers. double in number to the American,
darted ahead and abeam Of the battle
line
It was quarter to 8. ships time, when
the Idaho signaled to the column to
alter course, and the flagship sbeered
little to the left; the Arizona. steer
ing straight to the point where the
Idaho sheered. altered IT. helm Nike
wise. and the rest Of the feet followed.
The tops Of the Trnjan-the flagship
Of the regents line-were In plain
sight. with the tops Of the Xerxes,
varon and Floron following. With
their superior speed they were at
tempting to gain position across the
van of the American line and rake tho
leading ships: 80, the American columns
was changing course to keep the enemy
on the beam. The two columns steam.
ed on almost parallel, therefore, but
still gradually converging and bring
ing the leading vessels Of each line
within range.
The day was bright, and tho sun,
high In sky. gave little favor to the
gunners of either heet-what favor
there was lay with tho Americana. The
sun glared down into the water and
disclosed to the observers In the by.
droaeroplanes Of both sides the move
ment of submarines. The guns Of de-
stroyers clattered continuously - the
craft darted back and forth on their
charges for the protection Of the bat
tleships. But the destroyers of the
two sides did not seek duels; only the
aeroplanes hurried 70 engage before
the battle and drive their opponents
from the sky.
The conditions were almost perfect
for battle In which gun power-the
ability Of the great turreted lighting
ships to give and to take-must decide
Mile after mile the battleships ex-
tended As Bob Wendell gazed back
along the line Of American ships, when
the Arizona turned after the Idaho,
only the tops Of the Missouri, the
Georgia and the Connecticut marked
the end Of the American line. The
Connecticut was eight miles back, al
most as far away as tho Trajan. Now
the American column was slowing
little to let the weaker ships at the
rear close up, so that two OF the Con.
necticut class could engage each Of
the Zeus and the Thors
For q moment, therefore, Bob was
nm Tho s3op6 heno <hluo <hn o,1o~Ao,,.