The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-06-07
Tars on Destroyers in War
Zone Learn lns and Outs
of Sub Chasing.
LAVISH WITH MONEY
Extravaganza Of American
Sailors Envy Of Poorer
Paid British Pal.
~ Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
The British port base of the Ame,i-
can flotiiia. via London. June ".--The
American destroyers have completed
their first month Of active service In
the great war They have been IA
vored with excellent weather, which is
a big factor in anti submarine warfare.
Most Of the time they have had sunny
skies and smooth seas. with lust
enough squat and storm to put their
seamanship to test. The favorable
weather conditions made their task of
learning technique Of anti submarine
warfare much simpler and easier.
The American boats are assigned to
work hand in hand with the British
sanadrons. being virtually assimilated
into the British naval machinery here.
A destroyer IL usually out for -four or
five days and then returns to nort for
two or three days while coaling and
loading supplies. Thus every Amer
lean sailor gets half day shore leave
practically every week
Find Work Interesting.
The American sailors take turn with
british boats in all routine work of
Patrols convoy. The work. although
largely routine. is interesting and the
Americans never vet have found time
hanging on their hands. The lookout
must he constant and ewes must be
trained to on unbelievable degree of
keenness. Tho Young Americans take
zealouslv to their business Of finding
the periscope needle in the ANALYTICAL
hay stack and daily reports OF subma-
rines sighted. of observations made. of
wireless warnings sent broadcast,
show that the American boats are NJ
ready making an average of results
perienced British boats. with which
thev are operating.
There has been no actual battle as
vet between an American destroyer
and the enemy. although several re-
ports show that U-boats have been
sighted and have been compelled to
beat n hasty retreat to the depths of
the sea.
A "Choice Morsel"
An assignment 70 convoy liner
from home" that is. from an Ameri-
can port is regarded as an especia'l,
choice morsel. a trans Atlantic
liner which sights tho American fla.
?shroaching to escort 1t to land neve
fails to respond with great wavin.
of flags and hardkerchiefs from he
decks. and there is q fine exchange o
Wig-wag signals in lieu of handshnkes
Several American liners can alrcad,
IN hn pi1 f,f !,
American destroyers as convors. DC
casionally fortunate liner finds her
self being escorted to port by America
and British destrovers side by side
circling about her like twin sisters.
visible sign of the new alliance
The American boats were ready TO
duty the minute they arrived. Thi
was something of a pleasant surpris
for the British navel men. II had bee
expected that some time would b
needed for installation and fitting. h,l
the Americans had everything in readi
ness and We're at once consigned I
work
y. S. Tar Spendthrift.
Shore leave. Is generous on tn
American ships and the America
sailor is constantly in evidence in thi
village, in the countryside round abou
and in a nearby city, where MOI
metropolitan pleasures are availabl
than in the restricted limits Of this lit
tie place. The people of the town
have taken the American sailor an
his strangely spendthrift ways rigf
into their hearts. The America
sailor seems always to have none,
which is not so strange when 1t
considered that his rate of pay Is cor
siderably higher than that of the Bri
ish tar.
"The American gets a dollar ovel
time we get a shilling" is comme
expression among the admiring BIRTHS
Seamen. One of the American sailor
favorite ways of showing his opulen'
is his habit of always travelling frs
class on the railroad which takes hi
from the village up to the city, tr
OF a few miles. The extra cost is on
a few pence, but the unheard- of i'd
OF n common sailor travelling frs
class strikes the rorulace as star
ling and audacious maneuver WORT
the best traditions OF American e
travagance.
Can't Fool Him Twice.
Local tradesmen who expected
find the visitor an easy mark so
learned their mistake, however, for
Is seldom fooled twice. and quicl
learns the demand value for his mon'
Tea time in the village now has
American flavor. In all the lit
inns and shops. and farther afield, ev
well into the wonderfully green Gov
tryside and along the cliffs. which
mind the seamen of the palisades alo
the Hudson anchorages, one may fl
groups of American sailors drink
their tea and swapping yarns in Il
seamanly fashion.