South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-15
IRISH HAVE BIC
NAVAL STATION
Boys From All Over United
States Are Trained for
Active Service.

BASE OF AMERICAN FLOTIL-
Ia N BRITISH WATERS. March
15.-About as far up the river from
here as Yonkers is from New York
IS the first United States naval
training station in ireland. IL is
built along the bank under cliffs
and reminds the Americans of the
palisades Of the Hudson. Here ma
Vai recruits from all over. the Unit
cd States are hing trained for the
American destroyers. the most re-
cent arrivals being 200 boys from
Pensacola. Fla.
This nav3l barracks which some
OF the Older men call Cob dock. aft
er "a part OF the Brooklyn navy
yard. was formerly commissioned
with the arrival the other day from
he United States of its command
ing officer. "a commander who came
TO the navy from Louisiana. He has
"A staff Of a lieutenant, two ensigns,
n paymaster and several surgeons
who can take care of several thou
sand men. They are instructing men
still green 20 things OF the sea in
methods Of fighting the subma
rines.
Come From u. :. stations.
TO the station which covers five
acres. come the recruits from
training stations i'm the United
states. There are regulars. reserves
and state militia, but their identi-
ty as sUcn is lost here and they are
an alike while the war lasts. Most
of them were IN civilian life q few
months ago. Eere and there Is
college man: a few we're score taries
20 railroad presidents. the paymas-
tor himself being the son OF a rail
way magnate who owns so mile
line Of railroad in North Carolina.
These wartime sailors are housed
I'M a big old Cranary which was the
home Of famous Irish regiment
When the Americans came along
he soldiers Cheerfully moved on
for the submarine still is regarded
as the most dangerous enemy over
here and men who come 10 fight il
are welcomed. The granary is real
lv four large buildings Joined to-
sether. They are Of rough stone
which makes the barracks appear
not unlike some American prisons
The walls are three feet thick and
there are four floors. The Amer1-
cans have white washed the walls
and made a wonderful transforma
tion in the place.
The men sleep in hammOcks
swung from the rafters in the cell
ing. They eat at long mess tables
from enameled dishes and get the
same food as those on the Ameri-
can ships which is hard to beat
nowadays in this particular part OF
.hc world At first there isn't much
discipline i'm these new arrivals but
ster a few DAYS they know how 10
salute an officer and how to speak
90 him
Reveine is sounded at $50 O'Clock
while outside it is still dark and
cold. But these new wartime sail
ors rise without a murmur. dress
pack their hammOcks out of the
way and march TO breakfast be-
low as II they had been born 10 IT,
All the cooking is done outside the
barracks where the Americans have
set up a few field kitchens They
also use trench-stoves for cooking
bean soup and stews The adapt
ability Of these men is what first
impresses the visitor Many have
eiven M lives OF conn artive lux
urv and ease 20 submit TO naval
discipline which probably IS less
comfortable here than in the Unit
ed States.
shut In BY High Wall.
The station is shut in by "a high
wall upon which armed sentries are
posted. 40 liberty is permitted for
visits i'm the village which boasts
u saloons and a shipyard. The only
time the Americans are seen in the
village streets is when a company
~ them passes through from a
eross-country hike. "a part of their
daily routine. and on Sundays when
those who desire can attend serv-
ices iu the Protestant and Catholic
churches. But the men are always
under guard on these occasions.
The only liberty granted the re-
cruits is TO the mere pretentious
village q few miles down the river
which is the base of the American
destroyer flotilla. . sea-goIng tug
boat makes one round trip day
with the liberty party. AT the base
village the recruits are free 10 visit
the United States naval club house.
the British T. n. @. A. hut, or the
two village movie shows. The liberty
men leave the barracks each after
noon at s. the curfcw rinss for
them al Il at night whea they
board the tug for the return voyage.
cor those not on liberty taps are
sounded at the usual hour Of g.
The state OF health of the men
continues excellent despite the raw.
damn climate peculiar TO this part
" ireland and the sick-bay does
small business. The drudgery OF the
daily routine of training and the
swalbing down the decks of the
barracks over. the men retire 20
their dcrmitorics for quiet reading
or rehearsal OF some Of the latest
Broadway melodies. Once a week
The brass band from the rouna
flagship comes mp to entertain the
recruits and on Sundays and Thurs
~. rr, &c Ia