The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1919-04-03

NJ. C. A. program adapted for the
working man.
In one place Mr.. Cobb was faced
with the proposition that the en-
ployed force was largely Catholic and
that they did not approve of the
building of a Y. NJ c. A. What are
you going to do in a case like that?'
he was asked.
"Do?" he responded: "Il tell ev-
cry man of them to be a good Cath
Ole. I'm not PROSECUTING. This
service is absolutely non-sectarian.
You'll own the building If the Y M.
c. A. doesn't suit you in every partic-
ular you can throw it out any time
you please"
In rural sections where the bust
ness could not stand the expense of a
Y. NJ. c. A. building, Mr.. Cobb will
work with county secretaries to pro-
vide the Y. M. .. A. instruction and
amusement for the employees. This
organization usually has it's incep-
ton at meeting near the mill
factory. Later, classes are opened and
sporting events or other forms of en-
tertainnent arranged.
One mill owner said to Cobb. your
proposition looks good to me, but how
am to know you can make a success
of it?"
How long have you been in this
business" asked Cobb.
Thirteen years"
"And you've made success of it,
or we wouldn't be talking with you
We've been in business 80 years
bigger success every year, We know
our proposition better than YOU know
yours; were not selling you raw ma
terial; it's the finished product. guar
anteed fool-proof, an absolute success
in every particular"
Guessed He'd Better Buy
The mill owner laughed. Young
man. he said, # guess I've bought
something"
odd timer" said Cobb, 81 guess
you'd better!"
Stories of His Transport Service
1t would not be right to close this
picture of A. z. Cobb without includ-
ing some little stories of his trans
port service.
In the Bay of Biscay five German
submarines plotted to come up in the
center of an American convoy. They
made the mistake of coming up in the
rear. Instantly q destroyer flashed
into their midst, rammed one of them
half out Of water, and, passing over,
as Cobb relates his view of the Incl
dent, pushed off two ash cans
depth charges-and blew tie U-boat
to snithereens. Another destroyer
circled the spot where the submarines
came to the surface and dropped
bombs every few yards; another
threw smoke screen around the
convoy. At least three OF the submar-
ines never reported back to their
base. Not an American ship was
Scratched.
Cobb was on one transport which
left New York on Friday the 18th of
October, one of IS ships in the con-
voy and carrying 13 caskets. I'VE
never had better trip" he remarks.
On his last voyage across his ship
ran into a hurricane zoo miles off
Nantucket. THE side of the trans
port was it's top most of the time"
he says. "I never want to wash my
face in salt water again after that ex-
perience" The armistice was
signed while the ship was half way
across the ocean, coming home.
At another time his convoy was
three days out of Liverpool when the
English crew struck. Cobb coaled
ship for three days and three nights.
slept on the floor when he had
chance, washed a little place around
his mouth at meal time, and pitched
and won a baseball game at Knotty-
ash on the afternoon of their arrival.