The daily Alaskan., 1917-08-28
:" Somewhere" " On South
 Dakota.
Yoeman Tells Daily Experiences On
 Battleship

The Skagwya Daily Alaskan iS 1n receipt of extracts from the let ters os 8 yoeman doing service for the United States on board the battleship South Dakota. All in- formation as to where the battle shin is located is censored. The news is in the form of two let ters, the second to be printed later in the week. Watch for 1t.
 You on the outside" seem to have no clear comprehension of what my duties are. The schedule below l trust will clear matters up a little.
 500 Reveille Cblown only in | port) Up all hammOcks! Rise and shine!" If so inclined wash clothes at this time. They must be on the line by 6:15.
 7:OO Fresh water call. Morning bath and shave. In half a bucket of water but great treat.
 1880 Pipe to chew. Morning fight with the mess cook over the shortage of dishes, or the lack of food. Purely verbal combat as a rule. however. Finish breakfast and shift into the uniform of the day. Week days it is usually un- dress blues or whites, without neckerchiefs, and with white hats. Black my shoes and "crum" up for inspection. 500 Co to pay office and work on the books, or do whatever IS given me to do.
 9:15 Morning quarters. Go to the place on the ship known as the Fourteenth Division Quarters, out board from the scuttle butt on the gundeck just aft of the windlass com partment-port side. As sec tion leader I must account for my section and report to the division officer. After division is re- ported all present to the Executive Officer it is dismissed and told to stand by for General Quart CTS, which consists of practice for, battle. Almost all the yeomen are tucked away below the waterline under the protective deck out Of harms way, where we simply act as relays on voice tubes, tele- phones and signal boards, more commonly known as "Visuals." l have had a sore throat for the last week from yelling over voice tube to one of the turrets. This practice takes place every day but Saturday when we have Captain in- spection of the crew, to see if we keep our clothes our hair cut and lbeards trimmed. A sailor must be clean on the outside even though he lis not within. Sunday no drills, only quarters for muster.
 1O:SO Retreat from drill for the yeomen and others in special branch work. Return to the office and work on the books till noon. 12:0O Chew. Monday fight with the mess cook. Continuation of morning hostilities. As usual the mess cook wins. His dice are loade 1:OO Turn to. Return to office and work till 4:SO, except when clean hammocks and bags are served out, or our bags are inspected. My only prerogative as section leader is exemption from bag inspection. That saves me a little bother and usually considerable time, so it is not to be despised as a favor,
 400 Knock off work. Fresh wat CT call. Another half bucket. "Wat- CT, water everywhere,' and not Q drop to spare. Wash and save water for later or morning clothes washing.
 $500 When sun sets early, supper. Renewal of monday belligerency. Ditto result. Followed by clothes washing on the forecastle.
 Sunset. Colors lowered in port. Port (harbor) gun watches set. Hammocks call. Hammocks may be taken from the netting and men may swing in if so inclined. If in port and ship is lighted, movies usual- ly on the Quarterdeck for the ships company. If at sea, lights out, swing in and sleep, nothing else to do.
 500 Tattoo. All men not On watch turn in.
 9:OO Taps. Lights out. "Pipe down." |
 This schedule varies of course with the branch of the service you are in. For example the work of the engineers force is entirely in the. engine room. They have mo- thing to do with the guns, but sole