Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-05-03
CORKLE TELLS OF
ATTACK BY SUBS
Pennsylvania Railroad Man,
Now Sergeant, Writes
From Near Front


pany, Motor Supply Train i04.
American Expeditionary Forces, has
written an interesting letter to some
Harrisburg friends from some
where in France" Sergeant Corkle
resided at 40 Woodbine street and
was stenographer in the police de-
partment of the Pennsylvania rail-
road before enlisting in the Army.
He is one of the Pennsy men max
ing good across the water. Sergeant
Aforkle among other things says:
= 1T was a cold, crisp day during
the first of January that we slowly
but surely steamed out of a port in
one of the New England states.
Eighteen days from the time We left
the United States coast we were high
and dry on British soil. During the
time consumed in crossing we saw
many interesting sights which l fear
j cannot relate to you until | re-
turn. On all sides of our boat we
were hemmed in by other large
transports, which comprised our
convoy, together with a British and
American battleship which con-
posed our escort.
Well, once We finally got good
start from the coast our trip was
more or less uneventful except until
we were within several days from
the English coast, at which time we
were approached by quite a number
of U-boat chasers-and say, when
we first sighted them everyone was
absolutely positive they were some
of the dreaded German subs. TO
be perfectly frank with you | will
admit that it was a settled fact IN
my mind that we We're fast going
down. True, and I remember quite
clearly that the water was cold. II
actually know that up until that
weakening moment I was perfectly
calm and never once did sub dis
aster enter my quiet and peaceful
mind, but when 1 saw those small,
dreadful boats coming toward MS
as they leaped over the huge waves
and disappearing at times, l truly
believe l thought of all my rela-
tiVes from my great-great-grand- !
mother down to my one hundred and
1orty-seCond cousin.
"But-the tide has turned-some-
zone yells, oh, gee. they are Amer
dean submarine chasers.' Not to
make a long story short il was a
joke from then on until one morn
ing at seven when We were fired up
on by an actual German sub-missed
: excitement for a while and then
Joke again. At noon, same day we
sighted a sub near us and just as cur
SunnerS (the best in the. British
Navy had their gun trained on the
Sentlemen he dropped out of view.
More excitement, again at p. m. !
we were fred upon and, as in the
morning, missed. It was the cap
tain's opinion that we were follow
ell by the same boat from early that
morning. You know a sub has no !
easy time making it's fire effective. |
and Mt the same time our conveys
are wonderfully protected at ALL
times. After this encounter our i
boys were fast becoming hardened |
to such small incidents and. | be- |
lieve felt absolutely brave and strong
enough to ship General Grant and
his. entire Army.
fSom etime around nine o'clock |
N the morning of the day we land
ed, we sighted land which we later
learned was the coast of Scotland
and honestly it was the most pic
turesque scene I ever laid my eyes
on. 1t was a stretch of the coast
every inch of which was under cul-
tivation. with the exception of few
fields every here and there for the
feeding of cattle, and running to
the waters edge where il abrupt
" ended forming a cliff. say 500 feet
high. To the extreme right situated
on the highest bluff was a tall and .
sedately appearing lighthouse and
Immediately back of same cattle
could be seen grazing lazily in rich
green, grassy fields. 1t was one of
the most perfect pictures of life 7
ever looked upon and one whose
magnificence was beyond compare
as far as my knowledge reaches. 1t
was simply grand. AS a whole tie
trip across the pond was one long
20 be remembered. Several days we
experienced very, very rough wealth
er, the waves rolling as high as the
boat, but contrary to the general
rule not many of the lads were sick.
IT was a British hoat of the White
Star line and they surely extended
accommodations to us.
"One morning during the time we
were in midocean a certain lad an
peared in one of the companion
ways of the boat ANA yelled at the
top of his voice Morning star
which is the name of an Indiana
polls newspaper. It was surprising
the number of fellows who imma-i
diately appeared, coin already in
hand for an issue. Jokes of this type
helped considerably in keeping the
boys in the best of spirits.
We, as you now know, landed in
England and only remained .he-el
for short period at American rest
camps. These camps are establish
ed for the sole purpose of restoring
lads to their natural health. who for
some reason have lost quite a num-
Der of their rations somewhere and
as a result have lost quite a few
pounds in weight.
We'll, we crossed England after
seeing some mighty interesting
things, one of which was the nine
miles of floating docks at Liverpool.
Also passed through Oxford. The
great city possessing the noted
school of England. At Winchester
England, we saw quite an old town
and one of the oldest Cathedrals in
England. 1t was remarkable and
pleasing to note with what respect
and admiration we were received all
along the journey through England
and France. One case l rem lem her
particularly when an old woman
raised her window during the early
morning hours while we we're
marching with a steady tramp.
tramp. tramp on our way to a Ger
tain rest camp, and called to us in
low spoken words, God bless you.
everyone, boys, God bless YOU such
warm receptions and kind hospi
talities extended to cur boys have
q wonderful tendency to produce
great, brave and mighty fighters of
Them, and l can truly say that such
receptions were accorded us all along
our way. In my opinion firmly be-
lieve, in all cases, an American ex-i
presses more gratitude for kindness
bestowed upon him than a man of