Norwich bulletin., 1918-06-19
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS What Eastern Connecticut Boys Are Doing In Various Branches of the Service.
Excitement on Convoy Duty,

A Norwich boy sends the following letter to his family here describing a trip across on convoy duty:
 My Dear Folks:-
 We'll, l am back again in the United States after my seventh trip across old ocean. and, believe me. I am glad to be here. Have had a long trip and on the whole it h3s been an interest ing one. This letter runs hurriedly over a few of the happenings, but have kept a log of the whole trip and will send it to you.
 Sunday afternoon l left home, and Monday at 7.30 a. m. reported back from liberty. 1 had feeling that we would sail again soon; sure enough, at 1 p. m. we heard the word that we would get under way at ? D. m., and everybody was astir and word was passed for the admiraPs flag to be hauled down and turned over to the -, and then we began to get un- der way. It was very still and we could see the people over on the shore walking around. and they were no doubt wondering where we were going; but they didn't know-neither did we. Down the stream we went passing the Statue of Liberty and then out to sea. By that night we had passed Ambrose Channel lightship and then we knew we were on our way
 It was a calm, beautiful evening, the band playing on the quarterback and everyone feeling more or less silent, just as if they had left something be-
 hind them that they might never see again. That night we had the coolest sleep since leaving Halifax
 The next morning I woke and then looked to the back of us and there as far as we could see were the ships. Ships of all sizes, and they sure were the prettiest bunch It would make any American fight like the Old Nick to keep the submarines off them I tried to count them, but it was still too dark. so I waited until about [ o'clock; then we counted fifteen. They were arranged in line of three and made you think of a battle formatio instead of merchant ships and trans ports. We could just see the men on 1 them, and they were all interested in
 us as we in them.
 i Tuesday there was nothing to do 1 but to keep a sharp lookout for sub marines, as they were operating in l American waters. Wednesday the ex
 citement began. It was like this: II
 was a very dull morning and every body was wishing that something 1 would happen to break the stiffness l on the ship. About o'clock very
 warm breeze from the southwest came 1 up, which relieved Us somewhat. About 1 II o'clock a strange sail was sighted and the lookout said it was bearing down upon us. We then left the con 1 voy and started ahead to meet her
 She immediately turned around, put ! ting on all sail possible to keep out 1 of our way.
 n1.I up to Is knots. We fairly leaped i through the water. The chase then
 began and the first hour we didn't
 seem to have gained any. The second 1 hour we gained a little: then orders were given to put on all steam We
 could feel the engines throb and the
 water was thrown high on both sides
 and sometimes it came over the fore
 castle. All eyes of both officers and
 crew were looking upon that one ob- I ject which now seemed to be four
 masted schooner On the port side only one ship of the fifteen was seen
 soon it disappeared and we were Jeff l to do as we pleased with the schooner Finally the range finder on the tur- ret called out Three miles away!' Our international signal was hoisteG and she didn't answer It was now time to show them that we meant business
 i Everything was ready, and the ma rines brought the three-inch gun or ] them. Bang! There was a screech I then every eye was on the ship. The shell hit about 300 yards in front. The ship immediately changed her course
 bringing her to the windward of us Bang! went the gun the second time This time the shell hit about 100 yards from her. Then she started to hau 1 down her topsails, but still went or with the rest of her sail Genera. quarters blew then and everybody ] hustled to their stations. All gum