Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-04
IRA ARNEY, CHIEF GuNNER''S
MATE OF DESTROYER, HERE
FROM ENGLISH WATERS.
csScRlEES SUB" CHASING
AS MOST EXCITING SPORT
Has Been in Anti. Submarine Service
Since in April, When First Destroy
ers Of Fleet Were Assigned to Duty
in English Water-Will Return on
New Destroyer Early Next Year.

| Ira Arney. chief summers mate on
destroyer Of the United States fleet ihat
has been patroling in the restricted
area around the British Isles since last
April, arrived in the city Monday from
/ the east. where he recently landed. de
! = here 10 v!si, relatives, including his
! mother. Mrs Sarah Arney, northwest
/ Of Albion. and sister, Mrs. w. L. Jones,
| Of this city. He is a nephew q Sen
| a;or w. II. Arney and P. F. Arney.
| Arney IS the first. so far as is known
| Of Young men from the county, 10 have
seen actual service with the navy in
the war area 10 return home. He, with
others from the destroyer feet in the
| English waters. was detailed to return
home 70 form the nucleus Of crews with
which 10 man new destroyers which
| the government will be commissioning
| beginning early next year.
Sub" Chasing Great Sport.
Arney has been in the navy for nine
years. and the last seven years he has
been serving on destroyer contia-
uouSly. The destroyer on which he has
seen duty since the war broke ont was
one o. the first that put out for Eng
lish waters very soon after war was de-
ciared by the United States. He was
on duty there until! he sailed for this
country the middle OF November.
Arney describes Sub" chasing, as
prosecuted by the American destroEers,
as big game hunting, and an exciting
but strenuous sport. 1t will be more
difficult and harder service now that
winter has set in in the northern
| waters.
Are Keen For the Game.
The enthusiasm with which the men
OF the destroyer fleet under Admiral
Sims have taken 10 the task Of running
down submarines is remarkable. They
are keen for the job. and Arney says
their efficiency and the efficiency OF
the destroyers for this special work, Is
remarkable Day and night the de-
stroyers are patrol!ng areas OF the
| Sub" zone for German U-boats or con-
voying ships thru the dangerous wat
| ers.
Service on board a destroyer he oe-
scribes as one Of continual alertness,
| during the periods Of from week TO
two weeks when the destroyer is ous.
During that period the members OF the
crew never take off their clothes. but
go to sleep after only removing their
shoes. Call to quarters Is sounded with
| so little warning and so frequently that
! the crew must be ready to man guns,
| torpedoes. and all stations Of the ships
in an instant once the call is sounded.
| Gunners Great Shots.
When not actually firing at SUBS.
| the efficiency Of the fleet is being con-
stantly maintained by practice, espe-
cially gun practice. which Arney says
has become proficient to a. point OF
being almost uncanny. The speed with
which the crew gets to quarters ana
begins shooting Is almost unbelievable,
| he SAYS. and remarkabl for its rapid
| ity.
With Iookouts stationed on every
vantage point of the ship from which
| the sea can be scanned. not much es-
canes their keen eyes. Frequently the
| lookouts are deceived by floating oar,
spar or wreckage. The call to quarters
comes and the guns get into action at
once. only to find they have been firing
at dead mark. But no chances are
| taken.
"Sub" Menace Is Over.
The day Of the German U-boat
Arney believes. IS past. and it will be
only a question Of few months until
the submarine will have been rendered
inefficient. More and more closely the
| dangerous sea area Is being patroled as
more destroyers and patrol ships are
available and more and more ships are
being launched. He describes the thou
sands Of ships Of all kinds that sail to
and from the English and Irish ports,
thru the Sub area each week as
steady procession Of ships that never
stops day or night. 1t is his opinion
that in another six or eight months u
will be a rare occurrence for a ship to
be sunk by submarine.
Arney is emphatic in his praise OF
the efficiency of the American destroy
err fleet. the energy and intelligence OF
it's officers. and the morale Of Its men,
Ship for ship and crew for crew he be-
leves the ships the most efficient IN
4 the world. y.
Late this month Arney IS to report at
the New York receiving, ship. He ex-
poets to be assigned to duty where suS-
marine torpedoes are being assembled
for a. short course Of training in their
construction. BY February or .March
he believes he will be ordered across
the Atlantic on one of the new destroy
ers.