Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-12-16
ROBERT Conner
TELLS PART OF
HIS ship IN WAR

Another Americas boy, Robert T.
Conner, saw the surrender of the Ger
man feet in the North sea, he reveals
in a letter just received by his mother,
Mrs. H. F. Conner, of 1894 Elm ave
Robert, who is only 20 years of age,
is pharmacy mate aboard the battle
stip Nevada, which has been in Euro
mean waters for some time. In his
letter he states that he visited the
bettleship Florida, on which several
Sumter county boys are serving, and
that he saw John Gray and Malcolm
Argo. He stated that the Florida is
returning to the United States, ana
that Mr. Gray will get furlough when
he reaches America and will probably
visit home, bringing first-hand story
OF the surrender of the German navy
Mr.. Conner has been in the navy
since March 81, 1916, enlisting be-
fore war was declared by the United
States. He will get his discharge
next June when he reaches his zIst
birthday He has two brothers in the
service. Oscar l.. Conner is in the
medical service of the army and Reu-
ben H. Conner, who is in the Otficers
Training school at Camp Taylor
Louisville, will receive his commission
Christmas day.
Robert Corners letter, which was
written November "a, and which re-
yealed many things heretofore kept
hidden by the censorship regulations,
follows:
U. S. S. Nexada, Operating in Euro
pean Waters, November "a, 1918.
Dear Mother: l received your let"
tel dated October 31st, in which you
said you would like very much to know
where I am Well, since the censor
ship is lifted, | will write you all
about my trip over here and what we
have been doing.
On August IL, 1918 we left the navy
yard in Norfolk, Va, and anchored in
Hampton Roads overnight. On the
18th we sailed out for some unknown
European port the Z. S. s. Oklahoma
with us. We travelled a southeastern
course until we came in sight of the
Azares Islands Then we changed our
course and steered due north until
VIC came parallel to the south o
Ireland We then changed our course
to due east and on the 10th day after
VIC weighed anchor we dropped anchor
in Bautry Bay at Castleton, Irelan,,,
The U. S. S. Utah came over about
two weeks later. Bautry Bay was a
submarine and destroyer base for our
submarines and destroyers. The u. S.
Bushnell submarine tender) with her
flock of submarines has been there for
a year.
We went out every week or two to
convoy troop ships thru the danger
zone until Sunday a week ago today
We the Nevada alone, left Bautry Bay
to join the Grand Fleet We were out
four days in the worst storm that we
were ever in. The storm was at al
most the same place the Titantic went
down We lost two boats and about
100 gasoline drums. We left the
southern part of Ireland and sailed all
the way around the west coast and
across over to Scotland. We passed
thru Pentland Firth, between Scot
land and Orkney Isle, then sailed down
the east coast of Scotland to the Firth
OF Forth, twenty miles from Edin-
burgh, at Rosyth, Scotland.
We came in Thursday while the
German high seas fleet surrendering
to the Grand Fleet, sowewerejust
III Llme 10 see II.
There were 10 battleships, 10 cruis-
ers and 80 or rs destroyers. We came
UP here to take the Florida's place
in the sixth squadron of the American
battleships in the Grand Fleet. We
don't know when we will leave here
] was over on the Florida today and
saw John Gray and N,alcom Argo
The Florida is going back to the good
old U. S. A. sometime this week, so
when the Florida gets back John will
get furlough and he can tell you all
about this place.
When we are coming home no one
has the least idea, though the rumor
is that it will be at least February
before We get back. There are six
of US here over now american battle
ships. We are the Nevada, Florida
Arkansas, Wyoming. Texas and New