The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-05-24

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loading machine on the deck of a
dreadnaught. /
Naval Militia Good Sailors.
Many ships have aboard them the
naval militia from the various states,
Some of the militia are pronounced
good sailors.
On nearly every ship are men who
used to Be in the navy and who have
gone back 10 their old and usually
low, ranks because their country needs
them They are regular officers.
On one OF the ships is Wall Street
broker. He graduated from Annapolis
many yeArs ago, resigned and later
came back into the service during the
Spanish American war. lie com
manded the Hist in several fights IN
Cuban waters and knows how 1t feels
to be under fire.
"The Navy Needs You"
The Navy Needs You was the
sign that got me back this time, said
he. When | read that sign ! knew
il meant me and ! fixed II right oil
so ! could come hack | lett the navy
at the close of the Spanish American
war and have been in the brokerage
business in New York ever since
On another ship is little man with
gray hair--a grandfather wears
the uniform OF an ensign
II resigned from the navy many
years ago he said 81 have grand
children now When we went to war
with Germany knew the navy needed
trained men and | offered myself
They accepted me and here | am with
the junior officers suppose | am
the only grandfather ensign in the
navy
A Grandfather Ensign.
The grandfather ensign" is just as
anxious TO fight as the newest recruit
at the loading machines, and he is
capable, too.
They've got Sigh, attack of spy
scare in the navy. Officers said that
1t was quite possible there we're Ger
mans on the ships The spy who is
caught is very likely to find himself
looking into the business ends Of the
rifles Of Srins squad. Every now
and then suspicious OF the officers and
men are aroused and a quiet investi-
CATION is conducted Bluejackets are
suspicious OF anything unusual. One
new recruit brought suspicion against
himself because he carried aboard ship
with him a geometry book
A magazine writer enlisted to gain
first hand information about the lite
OF an enlisted man He had an agree
ment with the navy department
through which he was to get out OF
the navy in couple OF weeks and en-
listed as yeoman. His second day
OH the ship he started TO look around
and finally appeared in the boiler
room. The fircmen chased him out
and one OF the coal passers informed
the boatswain, adding, "A yeoman
has no business 10 the boiler room. II
he comes down there again-the
sneaking spy-l'll brain him with a
shovel That ought 10 save firing
squad a LOT OF trouble"
Msyflower Pays q Visit.
The presidents yacht Mayflower
has just visited the fleet, Aboard j,
were Secretary Daniels and Secretary
Baker, The presidential yacht glist.
ening white i'll sharp contrast TO the
dirty business looking gray Of the
fighting shir. slipped into the boat
waters one Sunday morning Except
for the strains of the National An
them. first from one ship and then
from another. a. the Mayilower, the
two secretaries flags flying from her
masts. passed down mile after mile OF
war vessels. there was quiet Putting
ships launches and boats going to
and from shore lay to n the slisten-
ing bow VI the yacht cut through the
water Two navy airplanes circled
high in the air.
The two secretaries inspected some
Of the ships and men and then boarded
the admirarS gig. which carried them
TO new recreation field fixed up for
the many thousand men OF the ileet by
the Navy league Baseball diamonds
cover acres OF ground and they arc
we'll ps,roniied many games were N
progress when the secretaries arrived
Secretary Baker Called Down.
Secretary Baker 90, 20 interested IT
a game tha, he stepped over the 'ou
line. A husky sailor, not recognizing
the visitor. addressed him BY yelling
"Heyw and then followed i, M witt
a demand that he se, back in a hurry
several choice adiec,ives being added
for the sake Of force The secretary
moved. and right smartly. 100.
Several bluejaekem stepped up an
were recognized ~ boys from Cleve
land. where Secretary Baker formerl
was mayor. All shook hands and tn
secretary Of war cha,ted with then
for some time
There are other reereations beside
those found ashore At the base OF IN
fleet Every day mail comes and goe'
There are band concerts each eveninl
and every ship has q moving pie,ur
: machine. Screens are set up on IN
! decks and for An hour and \ hal
r comedies, dramas and dark mys,erie
A are shown The men crave amusemen
G after a hard days work and they ee
G IL Pictures of children are especial
c " popular and, loud Hi. Has" re
y sound from Zach ship showing a dram
o az the villain is ioiled, So-called Gu,
Y 'atd pie comedies are greeted wit
howlS NJ delight
g A Maseo, on Every Ship.
q Every ship has mascot Some
Il tines II is a goat; more often !, i'
= dog. ~ several dogs. One big dread