Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-07-11
He Takes a Part
In U. Boat Fight
Youth From Langdon EnIists In
May Makes Trip to France
Has Been In Action
Baltimore, Md, July 5, 1918.

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Baltimore, Md. July 5, 1918.
To the Courier Democrat
7. Dear Friends Now that the great
and Glorious Fourth is over it strikes
me that it is good time to let you
and the rest of my Langdon friends
know how l am getting along, and
that after quite a wide and varied
line of experiences since entering the
United States navy, 1 am still on top
and all o. k.
l have actually seen service since
my enlistment in the navy, at the time
of my leaving my home in Langdon
about couple of months ago-which
is going some. My Fourth was spent
on the Atlantic ocean, although with
in sight of good old U. S. soil, as l
only landed in Baltimore this morn
ing on my return from my first ocean
voyage, which proved to be trip to
France and back, and it is enough to
say that was truly glad to get
ashore after my first cruise of three
weeks. With hundreds of others
was aboard the U. S. S. Santiago,
a ship of what is called the crusier
type, doing duty through the war zone
waters of the Atlantic between this
country and France going as convoy
across and back with troop ships and
vessels carrying war supplies for the
soldiers.
| got my first real experience going
over, when few hours after we
reached the danger line where sub.
marines are lying in wait, we sight
ed periscope. We had been at sea
about four days and were engaged
in gun fire with it for the greater part
of an hour, when il gave up the chase
and submerged. We also sighted one
in the distance on the return trip, but
it did not come within gun range.
My sea sickness extended over the first
two or three days after we left port,
but since then have had time that
equals anything that l have enjoyed
in all my life so far. certainly have
no regrets for my enlistment in the
navy. We got few hours shore leave
in France, and what struck me most is
that there doesn't seem to be an able
bodied man there, except in the uni
form of soldier or sailor, 1t is also
to be noted that the life and habits,
and general appearance of everything
you see there is totally unlike any,
thing that you are used to seeing in
this country.
This afternoon am going to Wash
ington, D. c, which is only about an
hours ride from here. Incidentally,
l might say that have already seen
considerable of New York City, and
from there l made more than one
trip to Coney Island, which sure is
some place to see things and have
fun. This morning / was transferred
from the Santiago to the Hercules,
one of the navy's ships of the super.
dreadnaught type, that for the pres
ent is at the head of the merchant
marine division of the Atlantic fleet,
and from what I can learn our trip
this time will be to one of the ports
on the coast of Italy.
You people back in Langdon dom t
want to think tina. the life back in
Cavalier county, North Dakota, and
the folks there are never to mind, as
they oft times are When at sea, in
the quiet of the evening. when the
days work is done, then is the time
when thoughts come wandering back
to familiar home scenes-of the crops
and now the time is again coming
around for the county fair.
Last year at this time the old town
was just waking up to the fact that
this country had entered into the war. |
Say, wouldn't just like to take in
that fair and see all the folks! Tell
everybody that l am feeling fine and
dandy. Tell them that say that the
navy is great and that they may all
hope to hear from me again soon, but
they won't see me again until this
war is over and ended right.
| remain as ever yours.
Lloyd Newbern.
U. S S. Hercules, care of Post.
master New York City, N. Y.