Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-03
us. JACK|ES BUSY
TRAINING OVERSEAS
Work Begins Early and Co..
tinues Late as Navy Pre-
pares to Fight Hun.
SOCKS GREATEST NEEl

Correspondence OF the Associated Press. -
BASE OF AMERICAN FLOTILLA IN
BRITISH WATERS. January Is
About as far up the river from here a
Yonkers is from New York is the hrs
United States naval training station IN
Ireland. 1t is built along the back un-4
der cliffs and reminds the Americans
of the Palisades of the Hudson. Here,
naval recruits from all over the
United States are being trained for the
American destroyers. The most recent
arrivals are 200 boys from Pensacola,
Fla. SO
This naval barracks which some of
the older men call Cob Dock. after al
part of the Brooklyn navy yard. was ,
formally commissioned with the ar-s
rival the other day from the Uniteds
States of its commanding officer. ~
commander who came to the Navy
from Louisiana. He has a stan OF
lieutenant, two ensigns. q paymaSterA
and several surgeons. who can take2
care of several thousand men. They
are instructing men still green to-
things of the sea in methods OF dghts
ing the submarines.
The men sleep in hammocks swung
from the rafters in the ceiling. They
eat at long mess tables from enameleos
dishes. and get the same food as those
on the American ships, which is hard
to beat nowadays in this particular
part of the world. At first there isn't
much discipline in these new arrivals +
but after a few days they know how tore
salute an officer and how to speak to-
him. 80
Begin Early in Morning. %
Reveille is sounded at $50 o'clock
while outside is still dark and cold.s
But these new wartime sailors rise
without a murmur, dress, pack their
hammocks out of the way and marcht
to breakfast below as if they had been
born to it. All the cooking is DONE
outside the barracks. where the Amert.i
cans have set up a few field Kitchens
They also use trench stoves for cook
ing bean soup and stews.
The station is shut in by a high WALL
upon which armed sentries are posted
No liberty is permitted for visits in
the village, which boasts of fifteen se-@
looms and a shipyard The only time
streets is when a company or them
passes through from cross-country
hike a part of their daily routine, ana
on Sundays. when those who desire can
attend services in the Protestant and /,
Catholic churches. But the men ars2
always under guard on these occasions
The only liberty granted the recruits
is to the more pretentious village -
few miles down the river. which 10 the
base of the American destroyer notfua.
A seagoing tugboat makes one rouno
trip a day with the liberty party. AT
the base village the recruits are free
to visit the United States naval club
house, the British Y. M C. A. hut or
men leave the barracks each afternoon
at ); the curfew rings for them a1
II at night, when they board the tug
for the return voyage. For those NOT
nm liberty sounded at tn0
usual hour OF o.
Friendship Reigns Supreme. z
There is a fine spirit among the
youngsters. who soon become friendly.p
and it is not long before everybody
is "jackie" or "shipmate" All eyes
are on the goal ahead. which is the
transfer to a destroyer for active see
duty. This comes only with emciency
in training on shore.
The Associated Press correspondent
has yet to hear a word of complaino
against the outfits worn by the mens
most Of the men. early on their arrival a
here, received excellent sweaters, 1ere
seys and socks which we're sent ~
wives, relatives and friends back home. 5
When the cold weather came on these
were augmented by an entirely new.
issue of extra heavy winter clothing.
Many of these garments were designed
by the British from their long ex:
winters off this coast.
Relatives of a large majority OF the
men over here continue to send them
knitted things. All sorts OF knitted
garments arrive and are deeply appre-
ciated Outlines the men receive knit.
ted garments from wife or sweetheart
that are not very serviceable. but 40.
companying letters from home are 80
enthusiastic that the men hesitate to
utter a word of criticism. =
Experience has shown that the woues
an folks back home ought to concerns
trate on socks. as they are In the
greatest demand and most appreciates
of all things they send to the saiioeg
boys over here. ~