Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-06-07
American Seamen Ashore Ride
First Class and Astonish
Britons With Lavish Out
lay of Cash,
NO ACTUAL FIGHTING
HAS OCCURRED YET
Conveying of Steamers.
Through Danger Zone Is
One of Pleasant Duties Well
Performed,

lean Flotilla (via London, June 6,
$40 y. m.)--The American destroy
ers have completed their first month
OF active service in the great war.
They have been favored with excel
lent weather, which is a big factor
In nti-submarine warfare. Most of
the time they have had sunny skies
and smooth seas. with Just enough
squall and storm to put their sea-
n,anship to test. The favorable
weather conditions make their task
of learning the technique of anti
submarine warfare much simpler
and easier.
The American boats are assigned
to work hand in hand with the Brit
ish squadrons, being virtually assimi-
lated into the British naval machin
cry here. A destroyer Is usually out
from four to five days and then re-
turns to port for two or three days
while coaling and loading supplies
Thus every American sailor gets at
least half day leave practically
every week.
Take Turns With British.
The Americans take their turns
with the British boats In all routine
work of patrol and convoy. The
work, although largely routine, is in
teresting and the Americans have
never yet found time hanging heavi-
~ on their hands. The lookout
must be constant and eyes must be
trained to an unbelievable degree of
keenness. The young Americans
take zealously to this business Of
finding the pefiscopic needle hi the
nautical haystack and daily reports
of submarines sighted. of observa-
tions made, of wireless warnings sent
broadcast show that the American
boats are already making an average
of results almost as satisfactory as
the long experienced British boats,
with which they are operating.
No Actual Engagement
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 a hasty retreat to the depths Of
the sea.
An assignment to convoy a liner
from home" that is, from an Amer
lean port, is regarded as an espe-
cially choice morsel. A trans-At-
lantic liner which sights the Ameri-
can flag approaching to escort her
to land never fails to respond with
a great waving of flags and handker-
chiefs from her decks, and there Is a
fine exchange of wig-wag signals in
lieu of handshakes.
Several American liners can al
ready testify to the vigIant work of
the American destroyers as conveys.
Occasionally fortunate liner finds
herself being escorted to port by
American and British destroyers side
by side, circlng about her like twin
sisters, a visible sign of the new al
lance.
Ready for Duty at Once.
The American boats we're ready for
duty the minute they arrived. This
was something of pleasant surprise
for the British naval men. 1t had
been expected that some time would
be necessary for certain installations
and fittings, but the Americans had
everything in readiness and were at
once assigned to work.
Shore leave is generous on the
American ships and the American
sailor is constantly in evidence in
this village, In the countryside round
about and in nearby city, where
available than in the restriction Ii
mits of this little place.
The people of the towns have taken
the American sailor and his strange
ly spendthrift ways right into their
arms. The American sailor seems
always to have money. which is not
so strange when 1t is considered that
his rate of pay is considerably high
er than that of the British tar.
Americans Well Paid.
The American gets q dollar every
time we get shilling" is a common
expression among the admiring Brit.
ish seamen. One of the American
sailors favorite ways of showing his
opulence is his habit Of always trav-
cling first class on the railroad which
takes him from the village up to the
city, trip of a few miles. The ex-
ira cost is only few pence but the
unheard of idea eof a common sailor
travelling first class strikes the popu-
lace as a startling and audacious
maneuver In keeping with the best
traditions of American extravaganza.
Local tradesmen who expected to
find the visitor an easy mark soon
learned their mistake, however, for
he is seldom fooled twice and quick
ly learns to demand value for his
money. Tea time in the village now
has an American flavor. In all the
little inns and shops and farther
afield, even well into the wonderful
ly green countryside and along the
cliffs. which remind the seamen of
the palisades along the Hudson an
chorages, one may find any after
noon groups of British and American
sailors drinking their tea and swap
ping yarns in true seamaniy fashion.
Adopts Tea Habit.
The American quickly acclimates
himself to the afternoon tea habit
and finds it an amiable and satisfac-
tory substitute for other things, with