The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-30
.bESSEMER BOY IS
 WIRELESS OPERATOR IN AMERICAN NAVY
Gives Description of Sup posed Submarine and Alt tack of Airplanes
 Throwing Bombs

The following letter was received by Mrs. w. D. Taylor of Bessemer from Martin T. Kennedy, a wireless operator now in the United States navy. He is the son of MT. and Mrs. William Ken nedy and enlisted in the navy In the spring of 1917:
 Saturday. October 12, 1s1s.-Dear Mrs. Taylor; T have just reached New York. after having been down in Mexico for the past month, and received your very interesting letter. which must have got ten here about the time I left, and which was enjoyed and is greatly appreciated. I want to assure you that you have un- justly criticized, for your remark that you might not have written things that would be interesting to me, is not appli- cable in this case.
 "I was down to Tuxpan, Mexico, but was not allowed to go ashore. We had a very pleasant trip and were gone twenty two days and had very good weather the entire time, excepting two or three that were a little rough and would not per init walking on deck unless one cared for good drenching or, possibly, to De washed over the side. There was noth- ing but oil tanks to be seen at this place, but the city of Tampico was ten miles up the river. The flow of natural gas from these oil wells that is lied away and lighted to prevent danger of over coming worlzmen or any one else, looks like an illuminated city and is visible over a distance Of seventy-five miles. Il is reasonably warm there in the day time and very cool at night.
 ...We had little excitement on the re- turn trip, as we encountered what we thought was submarine. The gun crew fired on 1t at a distance of about SIX or seven miles, and while this was going on we received message from shors that there were barges adrft, . so we ceased firing, though every one is firm in their opinions that 1t was suoms- rIne l. personally, think that 1t was disab submarine Gas it did or eoulo not submerge, though it was able and did cruise and came in our direction a' tif0es), that was being aided hS steam ef#of some kind. which left it when ouI first shot was fired, and that it would have shelled us but for the fact tha' they saw that we had long-range gun and they decided and changed then mind Our warning brought out sea planes, which Is a very interesting ane novel sight.
 If you did not know it, these planes have a very powerful glass which en- ables them to see some fifty or moro feet distance below the surface of th' water, and on sight of supmarine which is reflected as shadow, they oroi depth bombs. They passed us fiSlhs about ten feet from the surface Of ths water, going toward the place We nae left some distance behind, 80 uoh h'oN the outcome of their work.
 Am sure you are very proud of you' lieutenant and was glad to have nm home. Am sure the dinner party wa enjoyed by all, and 1t was very Kih' and thoughtful of you to wish that might have been there. has Davld gon' across? I did not understand plainly from your letter, whether he had gone oi not I saw the 22 men, who were res cued when the Ticonderoga was sunk and most of these were or had been TIT tured from shrapnei, which was fired II them after they were in hfepoa.s' lhes' are all that were saved out of the 3O or hoard The captain was brought iron the ship that picked them up. on stretcher. .,
 of this lengthy letter is proving tire some. YOU have no one to blame but your self, for l am very willing to eoihpis with your request that l write you oc' casionally. In the event w. D. and yo' should come to New York. you can sene me word of your arrival to Apt. 70, oV w. 1S7th street. ana you will see me or short notice. must come to close, a' | am going into the city tonight ane hear President Wilson speak at the Met ropolitan Opera house.
 Many thanks for the good wishes, ane the same good wishes to you,
 "yery sincerely,
 MARTIN T. KENNEDY