Middletown transcript., 1917-05-26
BRUSH WITH
GERMAN U-BOAT'
U. S. Destroyers Patrol War
Zone in European Waters.
"WE CAN START AT ONCE"
Escorted American Liner Through
Danger Zone-To Be Joined
BY Others From United
States Navy.

Beatty, commander of the British
Grand Fleet, has sent the following
message to Armiral Henry T. Mayo,
commander of the United States At
lantic Fleet:
"The Grand Fleet rejoices that the
Atlantic Fleet will now share in pre-
serving the liberties of the world and
maintaining the chivalry of the sea-
Admiral Mayo replied:
THE United States Atlantic Fleet
appreciates the message from the
British Fleet and welcomes oppor-
tunities for work with the British
Fleet for the freedom of the seas"
Washington.-A squadron of Ameri-
can torpedo boat destroyers has safely
crossed the Atlantic and is patrolling
the seas in war service.
The American navy's actual entry
into the war zone has already been
productive OF a brush between a de-
boat, according to an announcement
by the British Admiralty, but the re-
suit of it has not been made public. '
The destroyer squadron arrived in
Queenstown after an uneventful voy-
age across the Atlantic, but almost
Immediately, after a formal exchange
of greetings with the British naval off,
cials, put to sea again for the hard
WORK that ic hofOra II
Greeted With Cheers.
A crowd of several hundred persons,
some of them carrying tiny American
flags, lined the water front and cheer
ed the destroyers from the moment
they first sighted the fiotilla until 1t
reached the dock. The crowd cheered
again when a few moments later the
American senior officer came ashore
to greet the British senior officer and
Wesley Frost, the American Consul,
who had come down to the dock to
welcome the flotilla. Everything was
done in simple, business-like manner.
There was an entire absence of for
mality.
The commander of the British flo
tilla was waiting on board his ship and
sent wireless greetings to the Ameri-
can units as soon as they hove in
sight, steaming in long line into the
harbor.
"can Start At Once"
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, SO Enthusiastically
American, surprised the British com.
mander, who said he had not expected
the Americans would be ready to be-
gin work on this side SO soon after
their long voyage. When he had re-
covered from his surprise, however,
he made short tour on the destroy
ers and admitted that the American
tars looked prepared.
Yes, replied the American COM
mander, I'VE made preparation on the
way over. That is why we are ready"
Set Right To Work.
"They are certainly fine body Of
men, and what's more, their craft look
just as fit," said the British comman-
der as he watched the destroyers file
seaward.
One of the American destroyers be-
gan war duty even before reaching
this side of the Atlantic This was
when it picked up and escorted
through the danger zone one of the
largest of the Atlantic liners. This
action SO pleased the passengers on
board that they sent message of
greeting and appreciation to the COM
mander of the destroyer.