The Tupelo journal., 1918-03-15
LETTER FROM ROBERT
CRAWFORD
u. S. Naval Base, Norfolk, Va.

ter the twentieth. We celebrated
George Washington's birthday the
twenty-second. We had big dinner
and the whole station paraded the
city.
Captain Cook gave me fifteen
hours liberty yesterday morning !
Just came in last night.
Miss Edith Seaman sent me an in
vitation to church party. l went to
it last night and certainly enjoyed
myself. l got first prize of the Ra-
dio school Friday from the chief
electrician for being the fastest and
Youngest operator in the school.
It, was a solid gold signet ring;
around the top is a fine finish of red,
white and blue.
The red part has in gold letters
Omitted" the white has Estates" and
the blue has "Navy" on it. In the
center is small anchor with U! 5. N.
on it. Sure is a nice present and l
certainly appreciated it. We are go
ing to change chiefs Monday. He is
going to sea this afternoon. He SAID
he hated to leave us but he had so
much land duty he was anxious to
get to sea.
He has been in the navy thirty-two
wears and likes to be on the water.
He told us about different ships and
storms he had been in and different
countries he had been to, also told US
about seeing the Kaiser in 1912.
He sure is a kind old fellow. He
explained to us every thing aboard
ships, how it should be done and ev-
erv thing. | would like to have papa
write the old chief nice letter, but
it won't be any use now, as he leaves
this afternoon for God knows where.
I looked out the window just now
and saw a big white steamer going
out with crowd of sailors standing
out on the deck. 1t is used to trans
fer boys from here to the Brooklyn
Navy Yard, N. Y.
| am in the next draft for Harvard
College. l guess the old white ship
will carry me over. l wouldn't take
the world for my job. 1t certainly
agrees with me for all my clothes
were full large when | came in and
now they fit me sailor style tight as
a Crum.
You would be surprised to see how
fat am. Ny friend and l got us
nice Kodack together. We took some
pictures yesterday and are going out
this afternoon and take some more.
The sun is shining so bright it is
the prettiest morning we have had in
a long time. / will send you some of
our pictures when they are finished.
We have to carry the films to town
to have them developed. | got my
Christmas candy at last. 1t was
nice box but had been on the road so
long it was nodded and | had to
throw it away
There is no use writing the chief
for he wouldn't get the letter. He is
gone and will be in short time.
There isn't much danger at sea-we
are too we'll guarded-all those old
tales you hear are half made up. All
our ships are followed by submarine
chasers and sea planes. A submarine
hasen't a chance with chaser. The
chaser is a small, light, speedy boat.
They are built to set shallow in the
water and the submarine has to be so
deep before they can shoot and they
can't hit one when they have dead
amt goes right under and there
the little chaser gets ready and when
the submarine submerges to reload
the chaser fills her full of holes.
The ship has chasers on both sides
and at each end The chaser in front
is the main one for the submarine
lies still and sights the ship-they
figure how fast she is running and
sets the time gun on her, SO the lit
tie chaser crosses the line about TWEEN
ty minutes ahead and the submarine
time gun shoots. She loses out when
she sub-merges. The big ship and
the rest of the chasers are all ready
and take a shot at her if the subma-
rine is scared to come up to reload
the chaser follows her till she does
come up and then the submarine goes
full of holes.
Those things are almost useless
now
Well it will be a long time before
l go to sea. Some of the old compa-
ny has been over and are on their
way back. I will close for this time
hoping you all are well and hear from
you soon. Your son,
Robert l.. Crawford,