The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-06-07

THE BRITISH PORT BASE OF
London), June THE American des
month Of active service In the great
excellent weather. which Is a big FAC
of the time they have had sunny she
squall and storm to put their seaman
The American boats are assigned to-
work hand in hand with the British
squadrons, being virtually assimilated
into the British naval machinery here
A destroyer is usually out for four or
Ave days, and then returns to port for
two or three days, while coaling and
loading supplies. Thus every Amed-
can sailor gets at least half day
shore leave practically every week.
Yankees Take Turns
The Americans take their turn with
the British boats in all routine work
Of the patrol and convoy. The work,
although largely routine. Is interest
ing, and the Americans have never
yet found time hanging heavy on their
hands. The lookout must be constant
and eyes must be trained to an unbe-
lievable degree of keenness.
The young Americans take jealous
~ to this business Of finding the peri
scopic needle in the nautical haystack,
and daily reports Of submarines sight
ed, of observations made, Of wireless
warnings sent broadcast show that
the American boats are already max
ing an average Of results almost as
Satisfactory as the long-experienced
British boats with which they are
operating
U-soats Put to Flight
There has been no actual battle as
yet between an American destroyer
and the enemy, although several re-
ports show that U-boats have been
sighted and have been compelled to
beat . hasty retreat.
An assignment to convoy liner
from an American port is regarded as
an especially choice morsel. A trans
stlAntic inner which sights the Amer
lean nag approaching to escort her to
land never fails to respond with q,
great waving Of flags and handker
chiefs from her decks, and there is a
fine exchange Of wig-wag signals In
Her Of handshakes.
( Several American liners can already
testify to the vigflant work Of the
American destroyers as conveys. Oc-
casionAlly . fortunate liner finds her
self being escorted to port by Ameri-
can and British destroyers, circling
about her Hike twin sisters. visible
sign Of tho new alliance.
The American boats were ready
for duty the. minute they arrived.
This was something Of . pleasant
surprise for tho British naval mon. 1t
had been expected that some time
would be necessary for certain install
lations and fittings, but the Americans
had everything In readiness and were
at once assigned to work.
Shore Leave Generous
Shore leave Is generous on the
American ships and the American
sailor is constantly in evidence in this
village, in the countryside roundabout
and in q nearby city, where more met
ropolitan pleasures are available than
|, in the restricted limits of this little
place.
The people Of the towns have taken
the American sailor and his strangely
spendthr1ft ways right into their
hearts. The American sailor seems
always to have money, which Is not
SO strange when it is considered that
his rate Of pay is considerably higher
than that Of the British tar
The American gets dollar every
time we get shilling" is a common
expression among the admiring Brit
ish seamen.
Travels First Glass
One Of the American sailors favor
tie ways Of showing his opulence Is
his habit Of always travelling first
class on the railroad which takes him
from the village up to the city, trip
If a few miles. The extra cost is
only q few pence, but the unheard
idea Of common sailor travelling
krst- class strikes the people as a
startling and audacious maneuver
worthy the best traditions OF Ameri-
can extravagance.
Local tradesmen who expected to
ind the visitor an easy mark soon
learned their mistake. for he is sell
dom fooled twice and quickly learns
10 demand value for his money.
Tea time In the village now has an
American flavor. In an the little
inns and shops and farther afleld
even well into the wonderfully green
countryside and along the cliffs, which |
remind the seamen Of the Palisades |
along the Hudson anchorages, one
may any afternoon find groups Of Brit |
fish and American sailors drinking !
their tea and swapping yarns in true |
seamanly fashion.
The American quickly accf1matee [
himself to the afternoon tea habit and |
finds It an amiable and satisfactory |
substitute for other things with plen- |
ty of opportunities for confidential
chats with his new allies on a thou |