Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-09-11
CHAPLAIN NJ. o. ALEXANDER,
or the U. s. Navy, Visits Home Folks
Shore Duty for Present.

rev. vi. ~. ALEXANDER, chaplain
Of the U. S. destroyer "DiXie," was
in Walhalla for a short while Mon
day morning, having spent part Of
Sunday and the morning following
visiting at the home OF his brother,
X. II. Alexander. Rev. Mr.. Alexan-
der h's beer in active service for q
period vi three years and four
months. the cXigencies OF war pre-
venting his getting relief from active
sea service at the expiration OF three
years, at which time he was entitled
to transfer to land service for one
year. lie will for the present, he
thinks, he stationed at New London,
Conn.,. Tor service among the sailors
engaged In shore duty and on shore
leave.
Rev. Alexander talks most inter
estingly Of the work our navy Is do
ing on the "other side" and he Is
optimistic as to final results, both on
land and sea, for the allied nations
Of Europe and the United States
The reports Of the taking Of German
submarines, he says, are not exagger-
ated, Judging the whole situation by
results on his own ship. For in
stance, he stated that In the early
stages of the submarine warfare 1t
was a common thing for his ship to
tane on the crews Of several torpe-
docd ships week, while in recent
months his ship has been called upon
to take comparatively few survivors.
Then, too, 1t is much more common
for the battleships and destroyers Of
our fleets to take submarine crews.
Prisoners taken from destroyed sub
marines are far from being in good
heart. He has heard direct from the
lips Of submarine officers and crews
the statement that they are given
absolutely no shore privileges when
lowed not even the privilege Of see
ing members of their families for
fear that they will learn the true
conditions at home. Submarine
crows are VIRTUALLY kept prisoner
while at base and frequently, it is
said. have to be forced to return to
the service.
Speaking Of the allied feet. Mr.. AL
cXandcr said that it is the concensus
OF opinion that there will be no great
conflict between the naval forces an
less the allied fleets can force the
German fleet out Of its rendezvous.
lie anticipates in the near future
Il great diminution in the losses OF
returning transports. lie says his
reasons are plausible, and America
will SOOE understand why.
Our boyS,' Mr.. Alexander says,
are IN fine spirit, and are doing good
work on the battlcfields and in what
ever sphere they are called to serve.
One OF the greatest comforts that
they have is the receipt OF letters and
newspapers from home. II have
seem he said. strong. husky men
burst into tears when. on the arrival
Of Il mail steamer. the mail was
brought in and they failed TO hear
from home. On the other hand,
those who set their letters and home
papers with a reasonable degree Of
regularity are in high spirits, salts
lied with their work, ready always for
the best service. All are confident OF
victory in the end. And the end
we'll that is a matter of opinion, but
many OF our boys feel that it is
drawing nearer than most of us
tfink. However, they agree that the
government is right in preparing for
every eventuality. They want more
men. and still more men, to enable
them to do the job right, and do
it now"
Rev. Mr.. Alexander made a splen-
did talk at the Walhalla Baptist
church last Sunday at the night SER
vice and was heard by quite good
He is son Of Hon.
J. G.. Alexander, Of the lower part Of
the county. and is we'll known to
many Of our people. who we're. glad
indeed to meet him again. He left
Walhalla Monday afternoon for
and after brief stop
there will go for a visit to his wife
and child, who are now residing at
the home Of Mrs. AleXanders parents
In Wilmington, N. c..
1,O3O, ,82O BALES ARE GINNED.