Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-01-09
IoRLANDER IS AT SEA
81. River Lad Writes To
'I = 4. Everett His impress
= :on. Of oLife On the Ocean
w.ve" on u. S. S. Virginia.

WoFO
IT,, Norlander is one of the
c, "ID River lads who enlisted in
I Ias Sans navy last summer
INV u was in training at Great
5a stss H., with the other home
LLsanns s McGregor and
fO n4;IIv" finds navy life a won
,..f D institution and his ex-
a, ,.ssions in letters to E. A. Ever
P-'} are worth reproduction. He
writes;
Aboard U. S. S. Virginia,
November 10Th, 1917.
n..r Mr.. and Mrs. Everett;
DT 5n H. Give you a short description
Nv. W." trim from Great Lakes, ILL.,, to
the sgabOard. NJ * u
.a ., CsaiIor) train pulled out of the
4 .o'Ion Going through the states of
1 i,o,'Y Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky,
T iI,af and West Virginia. The
, ,aI was made up Of tourist coaches
r ~l: each jackie berth.
InSrer enjoyed a trip like l did
..at one Scenery in the two Vir-
.5 3nios is wonderful. The Blue Ridge
sonntaips we're ever-changing. 1t
.5smed uncanny the way those hills
:, bIrq hid brook and river, not to be
yam until that sound made by the
train crossing a treStle, brought one
M sharp. causing him to look around.
lrain we would suddenly pillow
irtao hank of darkness, which, upon
nv question to the conductor,
5rorcbt the information that it was
,tuSneI of mile length.
We passed through the coal dis
,rct TO me mines seemed as numer-
ans as badger holes on a prairie.
On Nov. Sth the train pulled into
Newport News, Va, at 5 a. m. We
we're Immediately put aboard a gov
eminent mail boat which transported
rs TO Norfolk, Va. At this station we
arrived for a rather late breakfast at
gocIOck. but breakfast we had, for,
the saying goes. You never miss
.meal in the navy" Some of the
lows left for their designated ships
Immediately. Our bunch, fhe "Vir-
fnia, bunked at Norfolk. Or Nov.
Nh We we're called to muster, told to
lash bammocks and baggage and pre-
pare to 60 aboard.
All:l5 we boarded a frei9 liter for
water passage" (will not pass
ansOr) where the Virginia was an
.lored. We drew alongside at 6 p.
n. 1t was dark so we did not have a
chance to go about the ship explor-
Ing The following morning we had
schance to lock her over and she
sure has the appearance of battler.
There were thirty men assigned to
he Virginia. After coming aboard
sc we're assigned to the gunners
crew. We will be trained for further
duty on transports for oversee going.
ApeSent we are learning the killing
power (ior the kaiser) of the 3-inch
gun. lam only longing to go over
sea and get a touch of fire. Working
Up by degrees to the danger keeps US
myously waiting to-"Deal destruc-
tive devastating doom" MAKE Berlin
another Tyre. We are here to stay as
long as the Kaiser and longer by the
light Of Justice.
By jove. am glad l am here to
see and help in the change of the
Aorlander has an eve for all the
many advantages the navy offers:
Snce his enlistment he has seen
more than the average seaman
and 1t Is his intention to get all
mat is good out of his term of
Enlistment. From progress al
ready made and from what we
Know of Billy" there is every
''3son for his making good.
An excerpt from another letter
SHOWS that he has the proper
spirit:
lam getting along fine and hope
n, a continually better my position in
Is navy. l have put in my applica-
g'l lor woman and have confidence
s va l Will pass the exam. | am go
y 10 give everything a whirl along
my ,1.s me and make an effort to see
wy. suS'e can put myself by the time
W. aalser has made his Napoleon
, ,r- Things are looking brighter
% .'ong the line and l sincerely hope
,..' ere spring finds us that the
' aT VIII die of weak heart.
'ue navy offers wonderful insur-