Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-07-16

Portions Of letters written BY Emerson
Msnley to bis grandfather. @. Frseland
Pepley Of South Paris, are given below,
and demonstrate the spirit which
anirnates the mon Of the American navy.
U. 8. 8. RAINBOW,
JUNE Q, 1918.
Dear Grandpa:
Ever since I got your letter last March
/ have been on the 40 and simply
couldn't find time to write. I was
transferred TO this ship March 10. and
like It pretty we'll. On account OF the
strict censorship, can't tell you any.
thing about our ship or our plans. I
hope though that will be able to visit
you this summer, that 10, II you stay In
South Paris. We three older boys will
never forget the happy days We have
had with dear old Grandpa back in
Maine. II Lam alive after the war, !
shall surely plan to visit you. and warn
you now that We will stay for Q
good long time.
How does the war strike you people
10 South Paris? Are good many of the
young men In the army and nsvyP
Every available man must 90, and the
sooner they realize this, the sooner will
We get the Kaiser. It's big job we've
got on our hands, of transporting an
army across the sea, fighting German
submarines, and then getting the men
trained to trench lighting when they
get to France. If Germany and Austria
bad to come across to tackle rs, 1t would
be an easy job for Uncle Sam, as We
could beat back all the Huns from now
till doomsday.
Ny young brother Will has been in
the trenches with the Canadians since
the spring of 1915. he lie an old veteran
now. he was wounded at the taking Of
Vimy Ridge, and was In hospital In
England for six months. He Is In the
thick of 1t again from what he wrote In
bis last letter. The Germans are max
ing one supreme effort to break through
the western front, but believe the
allies will hold until we get our army
across, then 1t will be Good night for
your old Kaiser Wilhelm the Last!
EMERSON MANLEY.
q. s. 8. RAINBOW.
JUNE 20, 1918.
Dear Grandpa:
Your letter of June 10th arrived when |
We got into this port. It had been wait |
ing for me for over week. Glad to
hear that your health is good, and that
you are getting along so welh Is Mel
Pratt still in South Paris? And the
Porters?
Leda arrives tomorrow from Denver.
Our ship is getting some new apparatus
installed which will take about two
months time, so l sent for Leda. This
new machinery we are getting aboard
will make the old Kaiser's submarines
mighty sick! We've got them pretty |
we'll trained now. They haven't tackled |
an American man-of- war for long |
time now. They sure hate our ''depth |
bombs" which every American war
ship carries.
Did you ever hear of Q depth bombP
Well, It works this way: A depth bomb
is q cylindrical steel vessel, filled with
about $50 pounds T. N. T., the most
powerful explosive on earth. When a
q -boat is sighted, and the cowardly |
pirate tries to get away by diving, our
ships just dash over to the spot where !
the U-boat went down, and drop two or
three of these T. N. T. "pills'' into the
water. At . certain depth under the
water, . little piston is pushed down.
ward by the pressure of the water, and
the bomb explodes. II the German
submar is anywhere within one
hundred feet of the explosion, she IL
and In case the bomb strikes |
her-Good night! There isn't enough
left of the dastardly submarine to fill
bushel basket.
The old Kaiser is still spouting about
my gallant army and our faithful ally,
God" giving victory to Germany, but
he's got to do that to hold his own. II
pity The German people for being delud.
ed by such q set OF crooks as the Kaiser
and bis military staff. Old Uncle Sam
will show who is master of the situation. |
Why, we haven't started to fight yet,
and here's old Kaiser Bill spouting about
All right, old Bill, boiler all
you want, but Uncle Sam has your
number right now. Wait till we get our
army over there. We've got nearly . /
million now, but just wait, old Bill. we
will have Eve million II you don't quit
pretty soon! We've never been beaten
yet, and it will take more than Kaiser
Wilhelm and all bis Hindenburgs and
armies put together to ever beat your
Uncle Samuel when he gets started.
ENSIGN e. B. MANLEY,
U. 8. 8. RAINBOW,
CARE POSTMASTER, NEW YORK, N. 7.