The Cordova daily times., 1918-03-16
CORDOVA BUY TELLS IF TRIP
 IN WAR ZONE

IN Whli LUWL
 Writing to his parents. MT and Mrs. c. S. Bratton, from aboard shin. as he crossed the Atlantic into the war zone, Lieutenant w. N Brat.on gives the interesting detail of his life aboard ship and shows the dis regard and lack of fear of suhma- rines characteristic of the American soldiers and sailors who mako the trip to Europe. The letter, which will be of interest to all Americans. and particularly the friends of the young man, was as follows:
 Feb. 26. 1918.
 Dear Mother: I am writing this on board the steamship - hound for -. I know the port I am going to and you shall know where l am situated later.
 'Leaye-taking of American soil was sad proposition. Everything was thoroughly military and no feature was omitted that would contribute to our safety. Once on the pier. we re- mained there-once on the shin noI more pier. l carefully wiped my feet on American soil and went on board the steamer in the afternoon we left. l and 1t seemed that the blast of the whistle just pulled every sentiment [ owned to the surface. Our goodbye was from the longshoremen and sol diers on guard-to Get the kaiser. " Give 'em he'll" and all the otherI pleasantries that appeal to the Dopu- lar imagination. One last look at the statue of Liberty, the bright cluster of lights on Manhattan island. the battleships in the harbor, and we left | the protection of the harbor. America had gone. l am on liner that is very fine. The food and all accommo- | dations are as a modern hotel, the | unusual thing, however, being the darkness surrounding the ship. Not light shows. Nobody smokes on deck, any door opening thereon has the light dimmed, and two hundred men are constantly guarding the ship to see that no man exposes a light at | a porthole or does any other thing that might threaten our safety. We have drills innumerable. Every boat and life raft is ready to launch, all | instructions for launching have been given two and even three times day, and we have boat and fire drill. Every man has station and at tIeyery drill appears at that statlop The idea is, drill until these men lare let ter perfect. We even drill at night | Everyone knows we are not immune | from submarines, but no one worries. 1 If we are struck the ship will remain atloat from two to nine hours, and | this is ample time for all to disem- bark
 'We have many nurses on board, ! and it is interesting to see their lu- | dicrOus attempts to drill. Because this is war time, do not think the l small stunts of every voyage are neg | lected. There is the flirting, and the lady-killers, the card-pIaying, the lit tie gambling, the squabbIes, walking on deck, and everything that is a part of every voyage, The enlisted men have organized an orchestra, and give music at meals, and last Saturday a concert. Every evening on the deck above the dining room they haul out a Victrola, and the nurses plaster onto some uniform and do something some people call dancing.
 q have been detailed as com mander of men who are trained toI operate the two forward guns of this vessel. They are of the depth bomb variety, and will destroy any subma- rine if the shells strike within 200 feet of it-really blow it right out of the water. Each day put the men through drill, and starting today I go on watch for eight hours. We are now nearing the danger zone. and the ships zigzag back and forth so much that expect it will be six days yet before we reach England
 This ship is one of convoy, all camoufiaged and painted with the queerest designs. It looks as though bunch of queer tropical birds were on the ocean, all of different phmage. Following us, way out into the ocean, are some sea birds called Mother Ca rey's chickens They are remarkable !: little fiiers.
 We have had beautiful weather. |, l Now aro Ak.o