The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1918-06-14
Queenstown, Ireland,
co Postmaster. N. 7.
gath May, 1918.
Editor Sentinel,
Grenada, Miss.


gath May, 1918.
Editor Sentinel, ANfg
Grenada, Miss.
Dear Sir-If / may request space
for a few expressions from my pen
after more than a year in silence, l
will endeayor to give few facts 1or
the benefit of some of the boys tnat
are so prominently connected with
military discipline; both for them ana
the folks at home who are not quite
as familiar with both sides OF the
service as one who has put more tnan
five wears in one branch.
To read the opinions of the boys
of the Navy and Army (as the case
NAV bel who have enlisted, or nave
heen drafted since the declaration OF
war, brings smiles when they refer 10
two men who are so unfamiliar 10
the average young man OF TO-DAY
Patrick Henry and Julius Caesar
as examples whom they would lnfiu-
,ence the good people at home to be-
ieve they are exemplifying. can
not read the different feelings of the
interested individuals without an ef-
fort at criticism or praise as the just
responsibility may be due.
The attempts of the soldier boys to
detail the routine as they think the
beginner in the Navy must face, and
their guesses at his duties are very
good, | will admit, though this bears
no reflection on the boys who face the
rigid daily life of the Navy. 1t gives
me- Measure to know that some OF
the bows of Grenada are brave enough
to face the alleged hardships OF wnat
the Navy affords. The hrst tnree
months aboard a man-o-war does
more for boy toward personal clean
hness than fifteen years under Ine
loving care of a mother. Inc lat-
ter often excuses him through sym
nathy. whereas no material difference
IS shown any one in the service.
The ones at home who are deprlv,,
;nr themselves for the health and
comfort of those who derive the ben
ef;ts must know how ungrateful some
are by trying the direct communica-
t;on route to satisfy their greedy
cravings. No doubt some of the boys
at cantonments have found life very
dull and uninteresting since the dra1t
became a reality to them. The con-
trast of tidiness behind the ribbon
counter and the cool breeze from the
fan above an appetizing soda water
fountain to military life is direcI'
the latter being preferable to deVet-
on man. both morally and physically
The word "war" spells work with
everv letter a capital. Hopes of hero
ism is splendid, but Europe Is long
distance from LOUISIANA. lnere Il
plenty of credit coming to the sol
diers. but let time bestoW lts lau-
rels. The sailors deserve the pralse
and honor that just pubhc VIII
without doubt shower upon them Ioi
their share in the war. 49,,
The Navy-man's responsibility be-
oan Immediately after the declara-
tion of. war. Every day sends hlm
into a deeper responsibility-that OF
Transporting man power, more man
mower. munitions, equipage and pro
visions to the millions already on this
side of the Atlantic and those VINO
are TO come. Our allies must be sup
piled also:
The light reference to the subma'
rine. contained in an article that ap'
neared in The Sentinel as a danger
that never existed, could come from
onIv a person who has not had any
experience on the high seas. nave
had nine months experience canvass
ing the deep of the Atlantic DetWeeI
American ports and ports OF the Irisl
Sea, bearing the hardshlps Oh ram
snow, and sleet storms, togetner VIII
those of rough seas. l know now al
enemy periscope looks, the 1eennt
one automatically has when the wni1'
wake of a torpedo just misses In
stern of your devoted homeItn'
Shin. I also know the serious dan
oer of lowering lifeboat to rescu'
Stranded survivors of some sunKei
vessel under perilous weather conoi
tions with the enemy lurking possi
HE very near. 1t gives birth TO tn
thought that your own ship may D
the next to disappear.
Think of the entire fiotllla (tor
pedo) who have served more tnan
year cruising the high seas, ever
irin one of suffering, standing Tn
had conditions that are controntlnl
+hen, in the zone in which they OF
arate and they utter little or n
ronrn,ur of their own personal eS
posure or discomfort.
Resides the necessary duties OF OF
Grating a ship, the boys at regula
specified times, night or day, answe
calls to drill; such as, hre, coiii1;3l ne,
abandon ship, man overheard dr;1,s LII
boat. and general quarters osil' =
These drills are for the purpose =
instiling assurance and aceurac! &C!
without excitement, in time OF nee(
wonder if my friends would hk x
IN he thirty days at sea with no ian
8 to he seen, and less than an hour 9.
ter "a anchoring in the harbor be O
dered de- to get under way again, an an
then to be gone for ten days! In
beginning tee Of every trip trip from tSa han, 2
American port we enjoyed ta5v sns nsa, %
tons tons Of coal on deck and piled in % o.
fully fully supplied with coal dust for te