Norwich bulletin., 1918-06-19

were trained on the chip and every one was alert for whatever happened. The ship, seeing that we were mean ing business, hove. to- We launched boat with two ma chine guns and a, boarding. party O. thirty men who started for the ship. The boat then started to circle around the ship to see what kind of a boat she was, and that she didn't show us any tricks. The lookout said she look ed like a Portuguese or Mexican ship i but couldn't tell which. The boarding party finally boarded her; then we waited for an hour before we saw them again. When they returned they l reported that she was Portuguese l ship from New Orleans, 21 days .oat, and that she was loaded with automo piles for the Portuguese. government. ] We then turned and took after the 1 convoy, which by now was a good dis 1 tance ahead of us. About o'clock that evening we overlook the convoy, steamed right through the center and took our place at the head
 Later we overlook another ship which seemed to be wandering around
 the ocean aimlessly. We shot at it and made her show her international number. She turned out to be a
 British transport (converted) coming back from England. In fact, she was
 one we had taken over before
 T This is, our last day over and the
 most interesting of them all. It was
 1.92 p. m. when this happened. We
 were eating and everyone of us more
 or less interested in their meal when
 five blasts blew. which told us there
 was 8. submarine sighted on our star
 board bow. Every man hustled to
 his post, mess tables were taken out . | irG oP+ the gong was sounded everyone was
 at his post. Then the word was passed \ that a submarine was sighted on the starboard bow, between the first and second columns of the convoy. : All steam was put forward and ev- eryone waiting for the order. The , periscope was first estimated 1000 te 1,500 yards away by an officers look out It was then sighted by two off
 cers on watch, only the periscepe visi- 5 ble. Two of the ships got shot al it as well as we. We turned around : and went back and the convoy put or l full speed and went forward. We g looked for the submarine, but she evi dently decided that it wasn't an ever
 game to, be fighting full armed bat. tleship on the high sea and, ducket
 after the first fire. After 45 minutes retreat was sounded and everyont II WeHI Ddck to ms WOfk aS54n. On Memorial day we had a service t for the men our ship had lost in tn, e last year. given by the chapalin anC l. the commanding officer They san: e hymns and did all they could to brin, | back to the boys the memory of tn 6 days when they were home
 s The last two days we had to wea
 and sleep with our lifebeits on and i
 We were caught with them off we wer
 liable to be courtnlartialed and tha
 wouldn't be a, pleasant experience II Every gun was loaded and two ne, v stood watch all the time.
 d We'll, folks, we are nearing harob It on our return and will drop a lin ', from shore.
 d Your loving son,
 o G. NJ. $ Later: It certainly seems nice t ' get my feet on land once more. Cam U ashore yesterday afternoon and o
 ship again this afternoon. Had
 nice time running through the sub
 marines; they, are plentiful, too. Yer
 fine hotel where I am, but nothing lik
 home. It's fierce wearing lifebelt
 with your whites on, on hot day, bu
 it can't be helped.
 + Having a fine time and am not worl J ing hard; kind of a summer vacation
 Went by the nigger plantations i
 the country about as big as our fror
 yard. When saw how that coo 5 needed weeding I wanted to get or and hoe it myself.
 Well. so long for a day.
 d copnoN