The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-12-07
RETURN OF MAYFLOWER
Britain Welcomes our Mea--Snin Fem
Demonstrations Cause Restriction Of
Leave--Citizens of Cork Disappointed

Another officer who contributed
greatly to the efficiency of the Ameri-
can forces was Capt. E. r. G. R.
Evans, r. N, who was detailed by the
British admiralty to act as liaison Of
ficer with our destroyers. No more
fortunate selection could have been
made Captain Evans had earned
fame as second in command of the
Scott Antarctic expedition; he had
spent much time in the United States
and knew our people well; indeed when
war broke out he was lecturing in our
country on his polar experiences. A
few days before our division arrived
Captain Evans had distinguished him
self in one of the most brilliant naval
actions of war. He was commander of
the destroyer leader Broke-a de
stroyer leader" being a destroyer of
unually large size; and in this battle
three British vessels of this type
fought six German destroyers. Cap
tain Evans ship sank one German de-
stroyer and rammed another. passing
clear over its stern and cutting it
nearly in two.
Second Destroyer Fiotilla Arrives.
On Nav IT a second American de-
stroyer flotilla Of six ships arrived at
Queenstown. From that date until
July s a new division put in nearly
every week. The six destroyers which
escorted our first troopships from
America to France were promptly as
signed to duty with our forces in Irish
waters. Meanwhile other ships We're
added. On May % the Melville, the
"Mother Ship" of the destroyers arriv-
ed became the flagship of all the
American vessels stationed at Queens
town. This repair and supply ship prac-
tically took the place of a dockyard, SO
Tar as our destroyer forces were con-
cerned.
Queenstown had been almost aban-
doned as a navy yard many years be-
fore the European war and it's facilities
for the repair of warships were con-
sequently very inadequate. The Mel
vile relieved the British authorities
Of many responsibilities of this kind.
she was able to do three quarters of
all this work, except major repairs
and those which required docking. Her
resources for repairing destroyers, or
for providing for the wants and COM
forts of our men, aroused much ad-
mration in British naval circles. The
rapidity with which our forces settled
down to work, and the seamanly skill
which they manifested from the very
beginning, likewise made the most IA
vorabe impression BY July 9Th we
had thrty-four destroyers at Queens
town force that remained practi-
caly at that strength until November,
1918. Much of the west and south
OF Ireland and of conveying ships
the area which, in many ways, was the
INST
warfare fell upon these American
ships.
The officers and crews began this
sOfh with such zest that, by June Il.
was justified in making the follow
ag statement to the navy department:
II is gratifying to be able to report
HiaI The operations of our forces in
Aese waters have proved not only very
satisfactory, but also of marked value
y The allies in overcoming the subma-
'le menace The equipment and con-
'GQetlon of our ships have proved
"lequate and sufficient and the per-
s'lAel has shown an unusually high
1esFee OF enthusiasm and ability to
pe with the situation presented"
- IS impossible to exaggerate the
en''osasm which the arrival of these
produced upon the British pub
W. america itself experienced some
ti +s u this thrill when the news was
80 $3.50 puohshed that our destroyers had
MI, European waters, but this was
80 eonpared with the joy which
80, All over the British Isles The
a. 6 OF Americans was mainly one
~ nue. our people had not yet suf-
81 much from the European cata-
vs-a ana despite the fact that we
-, Ho" active participants, the war
seemed very far off and unreal.
lIliS reason those American de-
s!e's at Queenstown immediately
~, 80 symbol in the minds of the
,,, ISL people. They represented not
sn;, 1ie material assistance which our
''leSs resources and our almost in
h1stloie supply of men would bring
j.. eause which was really in desper-
hi.;.I ats they stood also for a great
TACT. for the kinship of the
M steat Anglo Saxon peoples, which,
separated politically, had now
no NJ hands to fight for the ideals
stf. which the civilization of both
@''ons rested
me Return from the West.
s1iost lnstinctively the minds of the
h =. people turned to the day, near
no ee hundred years before, when
aess IloWer sailed for the wilder
pTa +eyond the seas. The moving pic
'ifn which depicted the arrival
Irst destroyer division, and