The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1918-12-19
FROM FRANCE |
From Ernest Weaver to his sister.
Mss Francis Weaver:

Miss Francis Weaver:
L. S. S. Texas
! My Dear Sister:-Today certain
me.
We were laying at anchor in Fir, h
of Forth. Scotland until 3:15 a. m.
We got under way with $50 destroy
ers, 80 battle ships, SO light cruisers
and battle cruisers steaming at
81 nots (25 miles) per hour into the
North Sea in search OF the German
Sea Fleet. We sighted them at Sis
a. m. at So 40" north latitude. %
IL" west longitude. We had them
completely rounded when we
two sQuadrons together. All guns
were manned ready for firing. We
were flying three flags, (ba tie reg
ulations,) one at each fighting top.
one at the z IF. The Germans flash
ed signal or recognition and surren-
der. We closed around them and
gave them manCuverirg orders and
formation. The ships formed a signal
column flying their own colors and
were led by an English crui.er fly
ing blue ensign. The Eng ish.
French ard American ships formed a
column on starboard side OF them.
then set course for Firth of Forth,
Scotland. We are now at anchor W tn
the German fleet astcrn of us. The
German High Sea Fleet taken by us
consists OF 9 battle ships. battle
cruisers. 20 light cruisers, SO de-
stroyers and transports for taking
the German sailors btck to Germany
after ships are interned as terms OF
the armistice state.
We are now awaiting orders to go
aboard and relieve the German crew.
l sure see visions Of the states now
for | think we are gong back soon.
The censorship has stopped so can
write most anything
There were news reporters and
movie photog arhcrs from NV York
aboard ships and several pictures
We're made. 1 will get the best col
lection possible and send them to
you.
/ must tell you what we have been
doing over here. While at anchor
we were always ready for getting un-
derway at short notice. We con-
reyed mine laying ships 10 d fferent
places. such as Stager Rak and around
Norway and Sweden, also the EN-
trance 10 the Baltic Sea- We laid
thousands of mines between Norway
ard Denmark to prevent the Ger
man ships fl ON coming out. We also
used the mine laying ships as a bait.
We would be laying just over the
horizon, the Germans would see the
mine layers at work by themselves
and come out and try taking them.
Then we would appear and they
would disappear back into the Bal
tic laying mines as they wen. to pre-
vent pursuit. We were never able 10
get them out for a battle which we
ieslred so much. We conveyed sew
eral fleets of supply ships to and
from Norway and Sweden to pre-
vent submarines from alta kirg
them. Il was a very common oc-
curr. nee for us to sink two o. thre.
subs day While en- our Conveying
trips. v
The North Sea is alV ays stormy
so one gels used to Seas.ckneSs and
has no more of il. We came near
being sunk several times but were
able TO dodge the torppdoes or sink
the sub before it got us. Luck to
our good seamanship.) We sank
two in thirty minutes one day
while waiting off the coast of Nor
way. near Stavenger. for our supply
ships TO come to sea- We could
not go in port because warships of
a nation at war are in:erned in neu-
trail countries.
We spent the early part of 1918 in
Seapo Flow, Orkney, because our
operations were mostly done from
here and it was higher temperature
on account Of the gulf stream.
l could not begin to tell you of
all narrow escapes we have had. 1t
would take two long. Will tell you
one that happened recently. We
were in New Castle England, for re-
pairs and we sailed for Firth of
Forth, Scotland. one night with two
destroyers. There were nine subma-
rines waiting for us TO come out to
sea as spies in England knew when
We were going to sail. We changed
our course. therefore lodged them.
We would not have had a chance with
so many. We arrived at our anchor
age ~lthout seeing one to our sorrow
Tor we did want to stray on one any
way