The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1918-04-12

i lected. There were six ships IN all:
DeKalb, President Lincoln, Susque-
hanna. Covington, Pocahontas, and
North Carolina. The latter is L. 5.
| Cruiser which went along to protect
/ the convoy; all the others were con-
verified liners which we had captur-
ed from the Germans and refltted as
transports. At midnight of the
fourteenth we all weighed anchor and
started on our trip to France. we
had excellent weather all the way ov-
err. Indeed while New York was
freezing under a temperature of ze-
no and below, we were swelterlng IN
the heat Of the gulf stream. " hen
we were within four days of the
French coast the order was given for
all hands to sleep in their clothes and
wear life preservers at all times. Two
DAYS after this, to be exact on Christ
mas Eve, we were met by eight Amer
lean destroyers which conveyed US
the rest of the way in. The North
Carolina left US and returned to
America as soon as we met the de-
stroyers. So far we he'd seen no I
boats. although a sharp lookout was
constantly kept.
On the morning of the twenty-sev-
enth we sighted land, Belle Isle, which
is a small island off the coast. Three
hours later we were all startled by
the sound of the DeKalb's siren which
was the signal that submarine had
been sighted. We were then but a
mile or two from the coast. Suddenly
| saw a flash and puff of smoke
from one of the DeKalbs guns and a
loud bang, reached my ears. There
but few thousand yards astern | saw
the periscope of a submarine cutting
through the water By this time the
destroyers were within range and be-
gan to open fire with their guns, driv-
ing the submarine beneath the sur
face. Then like flash the destroy
er steamed full speed for the spot
where she disappeared, dropped a
depth bomb and darted away again.
In few seconds tremendous explo
sion occurred which threw stream
of water several hundred feet in the
air. Again the destroyer steamed for
the spot but further action was I'M
necessary for the wreckage and float
ing bodies proved beyond shadow
Of doubt that it had been sunk.
While this was going on two other
L Boats appeared on the other side of
the ship but were quickly disposed of
by other destrovers. We arrived with
out further incident at St Nazaire at
four p nj.
On the following day | made my
first liberty in France. was at once
impressed by the attitude of the peo-
pie. The war with them is indeed a
serious thing We in the States
scarcely realize that war is going on.
Here, however war is real. There is
no family in the land who has not
given one or more of its members to
the cause. Every one is soldier;
there are no civilians at all To be
sure there are a few people wearing
civilian clothes. but even they have
served in some capacity. Either they
have been crippled or in some way
rendered unfit for military d1ty.
Ninety per cent of the women dress
in mourning.
Prices too, are exceedingly high
especially is this so of food stuffs.
Candy is practically unknown; due to
the scarcity of both flour aud sugar
all the bakeries nave oeen closed. In
fact the only thing which is still plen-
tifIl S wine
We stayed here two weeks and dur
ing that time had the opportunity of
visiting Paris. | must tell you about
the funny railroads they have here
The engines look like toys beside a
modern American locomotive The
coaches are entered from the side and
are divided into compartments There
is no opening between the compart-
ments but each one has a small door
opening out onto common corridor
Paris IS without exception the most
beautiful city have ever been in
There is no building over six stories
in height and their architecture is
superb. The faeades are built of beau
tiful white stone richly carved and
ornamented Through the very heart
Of this magnificence flows the Seine
snanned by its famous bridges.
We left St. Nazaire on the tenth of
January. This time ten other ships
went with us The destroyers con-
voyed US through the war zone as rs
ual through which we passed without
adventure. Once beyond the danger
Gus area the convoy separated and
each ship shifted for itself.
About the time we were half way