The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1919-01-09
CRUISING WITH UNCLE SAM
Description of Surrender of German Navy by an Ey
Witness Some Thrilling Siglats


AAO
bunch of lords, dukes. kings,
queens, ETC., since being over here.
King Albert and Queen Mary of
Belgium were on board some time
ago. The American COB rates
high over here, and when we go
ashore the Limy sailor is out of
luck. When we are in port it is
usually here in the Firth of Forth
or up in Scapa Flow in the Orkney
Islands. whore the sun sets at
three o'clock and comes up at nine,
and the Northern Lights entertain
us at night. 1t is in the same lati-
tude as Siberia, so you can under
stand the motive which prompteda
COB to remark the other day, Its
a damn tough war. boys, and l
wish that we'd 60 down to Cuba
and have a war;" But more often
we 60 down to Rosyth, Scotland,
to port and spend our liberties in
Dumfermline or Edinburgh when
we get an overnight. l was also
in Liverpool, England, for day
when we landed on this side, and
if we don't start back to the States
soon, as some expect, l am antici-
pating a ten days. furlough to
spend in London. But I am of the
opinion that we will start back be-
fore many weeks.
This ship was in quarantine for
eighten days on account of the in
luenza. We had about three hun
dred cases on board, but only
few deaths. Several fellows on the
bridge with me were in the sick
bay, but I was lucky and did not
catch it. We wore masks all the
time and had our noses and throats
sprayed twice daily. Believe me,
in this mans navy, the best of care
is taken of the men, and I will
never regret my choice.
Our ships are with the British
Grand Fleet, and boy. it is some
fleet-the largest in the world.
But our squadron is regarded as
the most proficient in it, and we
always show them up at target
practice.
Just came down from the top
side, as l went up for colors. The
German ships have been flying
their German flags all day, but
they pulled them down at sunset,
never to be raised again. It is
some occasion all right.
Did you read the article in the
Saturday Evening Post of Novem-
Der I'd, entitled, Ready" and
written by Sam Blytheg That
refers to us and the flagship he
speaks of is the New York, and it
is all straight dope.
/ shall never forget the sight I
witnessed on the night of the 11th
when we learned that hostilities
had ceased. We sure cut loose.
Destroyers. cruisers, battleships
and shore stations all had their
searchlights going, and shooting
rockets, and signal lights. and
sending up illuminated balloons
until it was light as day. Bells
ringing, whistles blowing. sirens
screaming and gobs yelling. Our
boys sure showed the Limy sailors
how to cheer. l got in a launch
with bunch of gobs and we had a
big American flag stuck on an oar
up in the bow, and we went up
and down the different lines of
English ships yelling and singing.
They turned their searchlights on
Us. and I'll swear that our launch
full of sailors yelled louder than
all the Jacks on any one British
battleship. Oh, it was a wild night
and no sleep. But / am used to
going without much sleep nights.
and grabbing bits of sleep standing
up during the day. lean absolutely
sleep under any conditions now.
With love,
Leslie.