Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-06-14

~ "on1hs iine lhey Learned Tricks
That Required English Two Years to
Master-often Convoy Transatlantic
Liners Through the War Zone and
Are Always Greeted Warmly.
The American destroyers have COM
pleted their first month of active serv-
ice In the great war. They have been
favored with excellent weather, which
is big factor in anti-submarine war
fare. Most of the time they have had
sunny skies and smooth seas, with
just enough squall and storm to put
their seamanship to test The favora-
BILE weather conditions made their task
OF learning the technique of anti-sub-
marine warfare much simpler and
easier.
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 to the depths of
the sea.
The American boats are assigned to
work hand in hand with the British
squadrons, being virtually assimilated
into the British naval machinery. A
destroyer is usually out for four or
five days and then returns to port for
two or three days while cOaling and
loading supplies Thus every Ameri-
can sailor gets at least half day shore
leave practically every week.
Take Turns With British.
American boats take their turn with
Of patrol and convoy. The work, al
though largely routine, is interesting
and the Americans have never yet
found time hanging heavy on their
hands. The lockout must be constant,
and eyes must be trained to an unbe-
lieyable degree of keenness.
The young Americans take jealous
ly 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 op-
Grating.
An assignment to convoy a liner
from home'-that is, from an Ameri-
can port-is regarded as an especially
choice morsel A transatlantic liner
which sights the American flag ap-
preaching to escort her to land never
fails to respond with great waving
Of flags and handkerchiefs from her
decks, and there is a fine exchange Of
wigwag signals in lieu Of handshakes
Several American liners can already
testify to the vigilant work of the
American destroyers as conveys. Oc-
casionally a fortunate liner finds her.
self escorted to port by American and
British destroyers side by side. cir
cling about her like twin sisters,
visible sign of the new era.
Ready on Arrival.
The American boats were 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 nee
essary for certain installations and fit
tings, but the Americans had every
thing in readiness and were at once
assigned to work.
Shore leave is generous on the Amer
lean ships, and the American sailor is
constantly in evidence in the village
in which the crews are quartered,
in the countryside roundabout and in a
nearby city, where more metropolitan
pleasures are available than In the re-
Stricted limits of this little place. The
people of the towns have taken the
American sailor and his strangely
spendthrift ways right into their
hearts. The American sailor seems al
ways 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 a dollar every
time we get shilling" is a common
expression among the admiring British
seamen. One of the American sailors
favorite 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
of few miles. The extra cost is only
few pence, but the unheard of idea
of sailor travelling first class strikes
the populace as a startling and auda-
cious maneuver.
Seldom Fooled Twice.
Local tradesmen who expected to
find the visitor an easy mark soon
learned their mistake, however, for he
is seldom fooled twice and quickly
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 atield, even well
into the wonderfully green country
side and along the cliffs, which remind
the seamen of the Palisades along the
Hudson anchorages, one may find any