Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
News of American
 Warships Abroad
DOING PATROL DUTY AND ACT
 ING AS cONvoYS
NO ACTUAL BATTLE YET
Destroyer is Usually Out Four or Five Days and Then Returns to Port for Two or Three Days-Generous Shore Leave for Sailors.

The British Port Base of the Amer ican F1otIila, via London, June 6, GAO p. m.-The American destroyers have completed their first month of active service in the great war. They have been favored with excellent weather which is a big factor in anti-subma- 1-ine warfare. Most of the time they have had sunny skies and smooth seas with just enough squan and storm to put their seamanship to test. The fla vorab1e weather conditions made their task of learning the technique of anti submarine warfare much simpler and easier.
 Working With British Squadrons.
 The American boats are assigned to work hand in hand with the Brit ish squadrons, being virtually assimi- lated into the British naval machin- cry here A destroyer is usually out for four or five days and then re- turns to port for two three days while coaling and loading supplies. Thus every American steamer gets at least half a day shore leave practi- cally every week.
 Patrol and Convoy Work.
 The Americans take their turn with the British boats in all routine work 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 lookout must be constant and eyes must be trained to an un- believable degree of keenness. The young Americans take Zealously to this business of finding the periscopic needle in the nautical haystack and daily reports of submarines sighted, of observations made, of wireless warnings sent broadcast, show that the American boats are already mak- ing an average of results almost as satisfactory as the long experienced British boats with which they are op- erating-
 No Actual Battle Yet.
 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 a nasty retreat to the depths of the sea.
 An assignment to convoy a liner from home" that is, from an Amer ican port, is regarded as an especially choice morsel. A transatlantic liner which sights the American flag ap- reaching to escort her to land never fails to respond with a great waving of flags and handkerchiefs from her decks, and there is a fine exchange of wig wag signals in lieu of hand-' shakes.
 VigiTant Work of Americans.
 Several American liners can already testify to the vigilant work of the American destroyers as conveys Oc- casionally fortunate liner finds her self being escorted to port by Amer ican and British destroyers side by side circhng about her like twin sis ters, a visible sign of the new all Iiance.
 The American boats were ready for duty the minute they arrived This was something of a pleasant surprise for the British naval meT | had been expected that some t would be necessary for certain f ltions and fittings, but the Anne ms had everything in readiness and at once were assigned to work
 Shore Leave is Generous.
 Shore leave is generous on the American ships and the American sailor is constantly in evidence in this village. in the countryside rounda bout and in a nearby city, where more me tropolitan pleasures are available than in the restricted limits of this little place. The people of the towns have taken the American sailor and his strangely spendthrtft ways right into their hearts. The American sailor seems always to have money, which is not so strange when it is consid- cred that his rate of pay is consid- erably higher than that of the British tar.
 Spend Money Freely.
 'The American gets a dollar every time we get a. shilling" is a common expression among the adrniring Brit ish seamen. One of the American sail or's favorite ways of showing his opu- lence is his habit of always travelling first class on the railroad which takes him from the village up to the city, g. trip of few miles. The extra cost Is only few pence, but the unheard- of idea of common sailor travelling first class strikes the populace as a startling and audacious manouevre worthy the best traditions of Ameri- can eXtravagance