The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-18
Topeka Boy Tells of U.BOat
Attack ON a Convoy.
1sWe Got 'Er" Was Laconic
Message From a Destroyer.
J. S. ALLEN WRITES OF FIGHT
Floyd j. Evans, Chaplain, Bush
est Man in France.
Found CeOra Lanham Conduct
ing q Mess Hall Show.

]. S. Alien of zoe Fast Tenth street.
has two interesting letters from men
in the service. both formerly of To-
peka.
One of the letters. written from
Limoges, France. is from Ansel c.
Morley, who went over in the WASH
burn Ambulance company. He was a
Washburn college man and formerly
assistant state librarian. Since going
abroad he has been working in the
laboratory of the largest base hospital
in his district. his chief business being
that of taking blood tests. In his let
ter he gives an account of the tor
pedoing of the Persic. which was one
OF the boats in the convoy with which
he went over.
Destroyer "Got 'Er."
He writes: The convoy was sailing
along as peacefully and gracefully as
az flock of swans on lake, when sud
denly there was a terrific explosion
and a column of smoke and water shot
from the side of the Persic. The sub
marine alarm was sounded, and in two
minutes every one was on deck. each
company in its appointed place and
every man wearing a. life preserver.
The convoy went full steam ahead.
while the Persic. listing badly. fell to
the rear. Three destroyers fell back
to protect her. Two minutes later the
destroyers were on the spot where the
U-boat had submerged. and we heard
the whole battle. A number of depth
bombs were dropped, and soon little
destroyer came blowing by US and
semaphored the laconic message, We
got 'er." Next morning we got wire
less that the Persic had reached port
with every one on board.
The most spectacular view i have
had was of the battery of lights in
| the Straits of Dover. The powerful
search lights flashed upon US and
stabbed the clouds. They lit up every
thing about us, tho they were so ia,
| away as to be partly hidden behind
! the bulge of the water"
| The second letter to Allen was from
Floyd ]. Evans. chaplain of motor
| transport corps 312, Base Section 2
He wrote from Bordeaux, France
Among the duties he performed in ter
days time WIS the holding of ter
services, distribution of mail for 5000
| soldiers, including the American docl
men, travelling 40 miles to visit meT
| in hospitals; the distribution of book.
| and 1000 Christmas cards, the pro
| curing of a piano and a photograph
visit and sermon at German prison
an address to men in the largest mes.
hall in France; drilling for a show
and the supervision of a performance
for the benefit of French orphans.
Evans. speaking of the high class o
men with whom he is dealing, writes
| "Our records show only three case
| of drunkenness since our men landed
| in France. We have four Topeka
boys here. They are Sergt. A. Slusher
whose home is across the street from
Postmaster Rigby; Rawley Law. Bel
| H. Graham and Ross Clinton. Rev
| Eli Walker, of Stockton, Kan, is d
a Y hut near here.
You Will be glad to know that on,
of the entertainers l had for our biz
mess hall meeting was Miss Ceors
Lanham. of Topeka. My crowd CAV,
| her an ovation.
| 81 will have my first military funer.
al this afternoon. and it will require
three mile walk to the place of bur
| iaL 1t is beautiful the way the French
| look after the graves of our men"
Evans is the son of Capt. J. H
Evans. formerly of III Clay street
now of Long Beach. Cal. He was in
| Topeka in September, and for som,
time was engaged for duty on a trans
port.