The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-12-24
Soldiers Letters
L. S. S. Housatonic,
November 80. 1918,

Dear Papa:
The censorship regulations Were
lifted today, and at last l can write
all l want.
On May 18th we left Newport, r.
! L., and arrived over here at Invergor-
don in the Moray Firth, May 18th.
! We have been using this port and
another, Inverness, as our bases since
that time, and have been making
trips into the North Sea weekly since
that time We generally spend about
three days out to sea, and about six
days in port. The ten ships have
! laid barrage of mines across the
| top of the North Sea about 500 miles
! long anG covering the whole entrance
! The mines are transported across the
| Atlantic from the States and come to
Base II or Base IS, at Inyergordon
and Inverness, respectively, and are
there assembled and put on board
the ships. You can find more par
ticulars about the mines, the bases
and the ships in the Saturday Even
ing Post of Nov. 8, page IA. Samuel
G. Blythe, writing for them, gives a
good account there.
All summer long We have been at
this work, and have not been able TO
get out OF bound Of about 10 miles
and have had no leave since We came
over These towns are in the North
ern part of Scotland and are very old.
The people and the sailors did not
get along as well as might be expec-
ted, at first, but have grown to like
one another more each day. l have
just bid all my friends goodbye, and
some OF them seem sorry to see me
go. l have made several trips up
the mountains, and they have some
wonderful scenery here. There is
nothing else to do here.
1t is not going to be long before l
will be able to tell you all about my
trip, and will not have to write it on
paper, either.
The Captain called us together
last Sunday and outlined the follow
ing schedule: Tuesday We coaled
ship and l never worked harder in
my life. For thirteen hours lugged
220 pound bags of coal, and, believe
me, if l was tired, you should have
seen the other fellows. Wednesday
we cleaned the ship, and Thursday
took on stores. Friday, there were
1870 of the crew who went On leave,
and will join the ship when she gets
down south. Saturday we transferr-
ed about 60 of our very best men to
Base is, to be put in the Mine
Sweeping Force, and to remain on
this side to sweep mines. 1t was a
shame to see them go, because they
have been on the ship ever since we
put her in commission in Hoboken.
Thursday afternoon the British
Navy gave us an entertainment at
theatre here, and an address was CIV
en- by the Admiral stationed here at
one of their dock yards. He was fol-
lowed by one of our Captains, and
he led three cheers for the British
Navy. Well, we near lifted the roof.
After the speeches and the show,
they took us up to their barracks and
gave us a Layout and it was
great affair.
We are leaving here tonight at IL
O'Clock for the last time, and they
gave us a good farewell party. We
are going up to Scapa Flow in the
Orkneys and review the German
Fleet tomorrow. From there we are
going down the west coast of Scot
land through the Irish Sea and to
Weymouth, England. From that
place we will be given 5 days leave
to visit London, and any other part
of England. We have had our came
ras taken away from US when we got
over here, but We were given them
back again today, and l am expecting
to get some fine pictures tomorrow,
and the following days.
l have had to hurry this letter
along and have only five more min
utes to get it in the box before the
mail closes. Hope your business is
getting along as we'll as usual, and
that YOU are in as good health as l
am. Your loving son,
REGINALD.