Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1918-02-08

11Oy MIA Ed o, 1910.
middle of the night, sends an
electric beam through the port
hole clear to the horizon.
Any one of these would be suf-
ficient to establish the position of
ship for a waiting Sub" Ac-
cordingly, when dusk falls over
the wide waters, portfolios and
ventilators are screwed down and
double blinded; lights are doused;
no one may speak on deck.
A single light astern gives the
vessels position to those that fol-
low. But this is hooded so that
it can only be seen from the rear.
The ship would be miles away be-
fore a waiting submarine could
| pick up the beam. Thus, in total
darkness, without sound, the con-
voy pursues it's way in safety
over the dark face of the waters.
Rough weather also helps, for
the divers cannot operate with
any hope of success in a heavy
sea.
AS stormy weather is likely to
be the rule during the winter
months when our heaviest troop
movements will be in course, the
most anxious mother may rest as
sured that her boy will be exposed
to no more than the usual risks of
the sea.
His safety thus assured, next
comes his well-being. He has, of
course, received his shots in the
arm for typhoid and smallpox,
the scourges of ancient armies,
before he leaves the training camp
and thereafter he is under con-
stant medical supervision.
Now, how about food?
Well, let us take sample
breakfast that | helped the en-
listed men on our ship to demol-
ish one morning. Cereal and
cows milk, broiled sausage, ham
or bacon, bread, butter and jam,
all of the best quality and no
limit but the appetite there's
nothing the matter with that.
Lunches and dinners were equal
ly good and no two served alike.
After the ports were closed at
night and thick darkness settled
outside the ship, the men played
and sang and danced till the
bugle sounded "taps."
Shower baths and daily drills
helped out the good food in keep
ing the men fit and fine and moth
ing that would tend to keep them
happy was left to chance.
A physical instructor arranged
sports and pastimes, wrestling,
boxing, tugs-of-war, in which the
contestants strove to carry off the
money prizes contributed by the
officers and the honors for the
companies or services to which
they belonged.
Cards, checkers and chess help
ed to fill in, and never an hour OF
the day but half a company could
be seen, heads together in ap-
proved minstrel style, intoning
their songs that ranged from rag
time ditties to ultra-sentimental
ballads. Be sure that "Kaiser
!, i, Bill" sung to the tune of popu-
lar song, was never omitted.
This little sketch of our Sam
mics" at sea would not be com
plete without some mention o1
their mental attitude toward this
new business of war upon which
they are embarked.
Next to the spirit of the moth.
ers Who have given them to then
country, comes that of the sons
: They do not feel that they are
being offered up as sacrifices upon
the altars of liberty. Far from it
Their feeling is that of being en-.
gagged in a great adventure in sup.
port of a righteous cause into fal
countries where strange sights are
, to be seen.
Having seen with my own eyes
l can say: Your sons are being
and will be carried in safety
: across the Atlantic. Every pro
vision has and is being made fol
, their health and comfort.
You can rest assured that they
are not to be used as experiment.
while their officers learn the trade
When they go into and over th'
= top of the trenches, they will hav'
: behind them all the wisdom anC
: knowledge of war gained by ou
allies during the last three year
at such a tremendous cost il
lives.