Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-17
American Navy Is Now Ac-
lively Engaged in War; Flo
tiIIa Reaches England and
Begins Work,
EVERYTHING STARTS OFF
IN BUSINESSLIKE WAY
Men Are Found to Need Heav-
Ter Clothing for Operations
in Cold Breezes of North
Sea.

Queenstown, May 16 (9:l1 p, m) -
A squadron OF American torpedo boat
destroyers has safely crossed the At
lantic and Is patrolling the seas in war
service.
The American navy's actual entry
into the war zone already has been
productive of u brush between a de-
stroyer and a German underwater
boat, according to an announcement
by the British admiralty, but the re-
suit OF it has not been made public.
The destroyer spadron arrived at
Queenstown after an uneventful voy-
age across the Atlantic but Immediate
ly after a formal exchange of greet
ings with the British naval officials,
put to sea again for the hard work
that is before it.
Crowds Cheer Boats.
A crowd OF several hundred per-
sons, some of them carrying tiny
American flags, lined the water front
and cheered the destroyers from the
moment they first sighted the flotilla
until ii reached the dock. The crowd
cheered again when few minutes
later the American senior officer came
ashore to greet the British senior Of
ficer and Wesley Frost, the American
consul, who had come down to the
dock to welcome the flotilla. Every
thing was done in a simple, business
like manner. There was an entire abb
sence of formality.
The commander of the British flo
tilla was waiting on board his ship
and sent wireless greetings to the
American units as soon as they hove
in sight, steaming in long line into
the harbor.
Ready for Business.
After the exchange of shore greet
ings and the British commander had
congratulated the American officers
on their safe voyage, he asked:
when will you be ready for busi-
ness?'
I'VE can start at once" the Ameri-
can commander replied promptly.
| This response, go characteristically
American, surprised the British COM
mander, who said he had not expect
ed the Americans would be ready to
begin work on this side so soon after
their long voyage. When he had re-
covered from his surprise he made a
short tour OF the destroyers and ad-
mitted that the American tars looked
prepared.
"Yes," replied the American COM
mander. I'VE made preparations on
the way over. That is why we are
| ready"
Need Heavier Clothing.
| The equipment on the destroyers
| was found to be in excellent condition
and remarkably well suited to require
ments on this side of the ocean. II
was said by the British officer that the
only thing lacking in the equipments
| was heavy clothing 1t appears that
the Americans are wearing clothing
too light for the varying conditions OF
weather they will encounter in these
waters. This lack, however, was
quickly provided for. ,....
After tho formalities had ended and
the needs of the men were attended
to, the American ships at once put to
sea, the men from captains to seamen
looking in the pink Of condition and
apparently enthusiastic for their task.
"They are certainly a fine body of
men, and what's more their craft look
Just as fit" said the British COM
mander as he watched the destroyers
file seaward.
Escorts Liner to Safety.
One of the American destroyers
began war duty even before reach
ing this side of the Atlantic. This
was when 1t picked up and escorted
through the danger zone one of the
largest of the Atlantic liners. This
pleased the passengers on board and
they sent message of appreciation
to the commander Of the destroyer.
The message reads:
British passengers on board a
steamer bound for a British port
under the protection of an American
torpedo boat destroyer send their
hearty greetings to her commander
and her officers and crew and desire
to express their keen appreciation of
this practical cooperation between
the government and people Of the
United States and the British en-
pire, who are now fighting together