Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-16

we're doing fine.
An the only thing that Dothers us-an
that don't bottle r much
Is 'ow in ell to get the dirt to bury All
the Dutch.
Gaw's truth, it's rotten hghtin' that all
The TINS are dirty players, because
they'v alwers been;
But the only thing that bothers us IL
'andin in our thanks
Is 'ow in ell we'd done It, If II WASH
for the Yanks.
Oh. the English and the Irish, an the
'cWlin' ScottieS, too.
The Cannucks and Austreyleyuns, an
the air French polln,
And the only thing that bothered us
don't bother Us no more;
It's why in ell we didn know the
Yankee boys before!
The following letter is from John A.
Manson to his mother, Mrs. Matte
Page, Randolph. Manson enlisted IN
the service just year to day, before
war was declared:
Nov 81 1918.
NV Dear Mother:
Well dear it was just year ago tq;
night that we made our last liberty IN
New York l am able to give YOU 1T
tie idea of our part in this war. as the
censorship has been lifted at last. l
hardly know how to begin, but will do
my best. In the first place they took
the four ships that did the best in tar
get practice and they were the New
York. flagship. Admiral Rodman com
manding officer; the Delaware, Wyo-
ming and Florida We sailed from New
York on the 22d of Nov, 1917. and
stopped at Hampton Roads to get ready
for the trip across. We left Hampton
Roads Nov. 90 and arrived at Scopa
Flow in the Orkney Islands Dec. L
When we arrived the grand fleet gave
us a great reception. We were cheerei
until some of the English sailors were
hoarse. Gee. but it was cold! But be-
iieve me, the fellows were glad to get
into port again after bein- in a storm
for over a week.
1t was the toughest I have seen vet
and there were times when we thought
we would never be able to reach this
side.
The L. S. S. Marley was with US ana
believe me she had to battle the storm
for all sho was worth Well, we stage
in Scopa Flow until February and then
we took a trip to Rosyth Scott but we
only got four hours liberty.
We have not had any real battles
with guns. but we have been battling
the cold North Sea ever since We came
over. We have made several trips TO
Norway with supply ships and have en-
countered quite a few sui =, iarnes.
They have tried to get us several times
but have always failed. The nearest
was when two torpedoes crossed our
low Since we have been over here we
have been under two and half hours
notice. about two-thrds of the time.
The reason for that was every time the
German fleet made any move to get
under way we had to be ready to meet
them if necessary. But they were too
yellow to come out.
No doubt you have read about the
mining Of the North sea. Well We took
a part in that for we guarded the ships
that were laying mines.
We have been right in Germanys
back yard, inviting them to come out,
pul hOth1I!S dOiii6. h''NS '~iS wv 80
low. The grand fleet gave them good
scare in the battle OF Judland and lhey
never got over it.
Well last spring the Texas came over
and that made five battleships of ours
in the grand feet. We are called the
sixth battle squadron. We were in New
castle, England, in dry dock, and while
there we had quite hi. Of liberty. We
have been staying at Rosyth for quite
a while now.
Last month we were chasing three
German battle cruisers all over the
ocean, but didn't get them. When we
were returning we were about to enter
our base when on taking a sharp turn
to starboard we struck something with
our propeller and didn't know what it
was at the time it was done for we
were in very deep water We had to go
into dry dock and one Of our blades was
gone and another all chopped up We
put on a new propeller and in the mean
time the British admiralty sent our
admiral congra tulations on sinking
submarine. They say the sub must
have been laying out side of the nest to
follow one of US in. But when we took,
that sharp turn we hit the sub with our
propeller and it sank. Last July the
Delaware went home and the u. S. 5.
Arkansas came to take her place.
1 have been to Edinburgh the capital
Of Scotland several times and it is Il
very pretty city. Scotland is a beauti-
full country. but want % get back to
the states as soon as possible. I have
seen some quite prominent men since
/ have been here. They have como
from far and near to inspect our ships
and as we were flagship they all came
aboard the New York. ! will give you
some of the names OF men who came
at different times. King Albert and
men of Belgium; King George of Eng
land; Prince of Wales: Prince Of Japan:
an admiral Of the italian navy; an ad-
miral Of the French navy: Admiral
Sims Of the L. s. naval force: Admiral
Beatty; Duke of Athol and scores of
others. but these I have named are the
foremost ones.
When the armistice was signed and
the German feet surrendered we had
big celebration in the grand fleet Every
body was happy No doubt Won ha vs