The Washington times., 1918-09-11
AMERICAN SHIPS
IN GRAND FLEET
'1rhe Grand Fleet did it!-


This is the explanation each time q
thrilling exploit against the common
enemy is reported in the cables from
abroad. yet few Americans realize
that the American navy is doing
share and share alike in the great
naval operations over there.
Il Combined Fleet
Expressing the American-British
spirit OF the grand fleet, which is usu-
ally taken to mean the high-seas
feet Of England, q letterhead used
by the enlisted men of the feet has
been received in this country. II
was used at the top of q letter writ
ten to Mrs. Emily G. Livingstone, Of
Chicago, Ill, from her son. Henry
Livingstone, a former Maryland boy
who spent a lot of time in Washing
ton before he went into the navy.
It bears the insignia OF the British
navy in the center, the arms of the
United States at the right and the
British coat-of-arms at the left, while
underneath one reads, Tho Grand
Fleet"-American and British
There was a shadow of uncertainty
when the letter was received as 10 the
propriety of stating definitely that
the American and British fleets were
amalgamated into one Grand Fleet,
until the Navy Department was inter-
viewed
ships of Two Nations.
To an inquiry, a high official re-
piled that while the two fleets were
united-a portenLious statement to
every person in the allied nations
and even more portentious to the
German navy, which may some day
meet those heets-still the title 1.-THE
IGrand Fleet" was more a popular
title for the two fleets than an OIL
cial one.
Interesting to. every American
and German-as this Information is,
even more interesting to many read
ers with relatives or friends serving
In those waters is the letter of
Henry Livingstone to his mother.
While the name OF the ship on which
Livingstone is serving must be omit
l ted for military-or nava--easons,
/ it may be said he is serving on one
| of the newest and most powerful
ships in the American navy.
His letter was written during a
period OF cold weather. 1t follows:
Predicts FOch's Victory.
Dearest mother:
Probably you have heard quite a
bit OF the offensives that are being
launched on our front over here, but
due to the space confined to our own
troops doings, there is comparatively
little said of it Makes the billboard
look as II a worlds series is being
pulled off, but the serious faces OF
the men deny this. 1t surely Is a
Serious time over here, and everyone
is anxious nowadays"
Livingstone's letter was written
during the grave period of the Lud-
endorff offensive against Paris, be-
fore American marines and infantry
operating with the French stopped
him at the Marine His judgment that
Foch would win is borne out almost
uncannily.
perhaps you have already seen the
maps showing the wedge-like fronts
OF the enemy that are reaching out
to grasp Paris-wedges that are dan
gerous both to ourselves and to the
enemy. The enemy is in y position
where he is liable to a fianking move
nent by Foch, with the result that
he will either be cut on or have to
retreat
He has two detectives, and hopes
to reach them very soon. How he
will succeed only the summer will
snow. I personally do not think he
viii reach either OF them.
INCIDENTALLY AnxiouA
we are undeniably anxious over
here, but there is no cause for us to
be Respondent. as In Foch we have a
man who is equal to all the brains OF
the Hindenburg bunch put together.
Everyone has absolute confidence In
General Foch.
although this Is June, the weather
Is very cold. and II Is raining most
of the time. We are in that part of
the world. as somebody put II, that is
THE Land that God Forgot" There
is nothing to greet the eye but dreary
desolation around. and overhead the
storm-clouds continually move, ac-
companied by a strong wind that
makes our base a rough little spot.
The only good word that can say
for this place IL that II is an ideal
spot to save money. Yes, you can
spend It on There isn't, at the present
time. even a cake OF soap-on the ship
that could be bought for love or money.
Spirits Not Depressed.
But tho surroundings have not af-
fected the spirits OF the crew in tho
least. II Is the same happy-go-lucky
bunch that sailed out OF New York
harbor almost seven months ago. When
times are slow and there Is nothing to
do, they have the habit OF lying down
whenever they can lilo undisturbed. and
"prune," as We call it-means sleep.
You cannot understand what We
do at night1 That's simple. We gath
or together and start an argument
about something or other-any old
thing will door II no one wants
to argue, why a little game OF chess
knocks the deuce out Of q lonesome
evening.
want to say, before quit, that
Il is daylight over here most of the
night lTha R7a aafs AT ahaut I0tJn