New-York tribune., 1919-04-09
Men Who Shivered in
Wintry Gales of North
Sea Are Going to Have
IL Warm Time at Last
All War Bodies i'm Move
Officer in Charge of Enter
tainment Tells What Sail
Ors Have Passed Through

The victorious sailors of Amercn's s
mighty feet will drop their anchors
into a perfect haven of entertainment
and bliss.
Throughout the fifteen days that the
great armada rides the waters Of the
Hudson River this city will make an
effort to entertain it's crews in n man
ner commensurate with tho prowoss Of
their gallant deeds. From April 15 to
April 30 there will be nm inccs6ant
round OF pleasure for the war weary
gobs, and their brave commanders.
With this end in view, tho officers
in charge Of feet entertainments yester-
day issued an invtnton to all organi-
zations engaged in war activities to CO.
operate in the welcoming festivities.
Already the Seven Big war organiza-
tions had pooled their resource and ac-
commodation to achieve this purpose
Yesterday, as a result of this official
appeal, the Mayors Committee of We'll
come joined the others. Now every cf-
fort of the city will be coordinated in
the sole purpose of giving the sailors
good time"
The statement from the Mayors com
mittee announced that its members
would accompany heads of the Navy
Department, including Acting Secretary
Franklin d. Roosevelt and Rear Admiral
William S. Sims, on trip down the bay
to welcome the fleet.
Naval Parade Later On
The statement makes no mention Of
the steps taken to entertain the men.
1t declares that while there will be no
naval parade during the stay of the
fleet, "it understands that before mid
summer there will be a great naval
parade,in this city. This demonstration
practically every branch of the naval
service, and will probably be reviewed
by President Wilson, the members of
his Cabinet and most of the state and
city officials
The officer in charge Of fleet enter
tainment yesterday stated that lowing
to the short time during which ar
rangements have been under way, it
was impossible to approach the Mayors
committee until to-day" This explains
why the latter committee took no Off
Cldl dCllOH until yesterday.
From the headquarters of the seven
war work organizations it was an
nounced that arrangements had prac-
tically been completed for entertaining
the 10000 sailors during their fort
nights stay in the city. An uninter-
rupted series of dances, parties, din
ners, automobile rides and theatre par
ties had been scheduled Housing and
feeding facilities have been fully pre-
pared. Every hut. canteen and hotel
have been pressed into service to ac-
commodate the victorious sailors.
Girls Will Teach Dances
A great volunteer army of the city's
fairest daughters is being mobilized to
give the men an opportunity to enjoy
fully the jazz music that has been
prepared for them. To the gobs who
have spent blood freezing hours
through the bitter cold watches in the
North Sea on a vibrating destroyer
the prohibited "shimmy" dance will
come as second nature, but to the
others lessons will be necessary.
Fully half of the personnel of the
Victory fleet served aboard the lean
but speedy destroycrs. Life on these
"hornets of the sea" was wildly de-
scribcd yesterday by Major Randolph
Coyle, u. S. Marine Corps. the officer
who has been detailed by the Navy De
partment to coordinate the work of
the organizations that arc to entertain
the fleet. The account should stimu-
late every organization to redoubied
effort to throw tho city gloriousy
open to the fighting men of the sea.
Hard Life in Wintry Sea
"These men of the destroyers." said
Ma ior Coyle, "have stood on the open
decks while the cold winter hurricanes
of the North Sea tossed the craft about
like so many corks. Waves would
smash over the tiny vessels with such
force that 1t often became necessary for
the men on watch to lash themselves to
the deck Tt was tnre trip when the
men were not required TO put In two
hours OF every six, dny after day. The
boys would 'chrry on clothed In heavy
woollon undore lothing. wind md rain
proof trouaara and blounes. and with
henyy leather or rubber boots. II wna
n combination thnt was dubbed aemI.
officially ns tho 'modiAed Esauimnu'
outfit.
"Mehls wera out Of the question. for
on these ships 1t Is impossible to cook
when tho sen gets up bit. Canned
soups, cold and canned meats were
about all the men could get. Coffee
was generally made before the de-
stroycr left port, and this was dshed
out as long aH it lasted After that
nothing. resembling coffee appeared on
the hnphazard menus.
Rest Was Like Work
"Ordinarily the ships schedule called
a