Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-02-13
Letter From Frrnk L. Johnson.
Baltimore. Md.

Letter From Frrnk L. Johnson.
Baltimore, Nd.
February 10, 1919.
Dear Mr.. Snydef-Well to be back to
the ONE honost-to- God country seems
like dream. spent the night here on
way to New York from Key West, leav-
ing there on the 7th al p. m. When |
reach Statesville, N. c., shall travelled
8,075 miles on my trip home from Gibral-
tar. have had most wonderful trip
since | left home, and will tell you brief
Iy regarding same.
Leaving New York July 81, 1918, by
boat, our party of SO "Y" men sailed to
Newport News. where we boarded the
English ship Mexico, ship OF $3.50
tons, and carrying valuable cargo OF
wool, sugar, hides and nitre. She was
on her way TO Liverpool from South
America, having come through the Pana-
ma Canal and having paid canal toll OF
S6, 500 on her valuable cargo. We sailed
to Halifax, where we joined con voy of
nineteen ships, carrying over 5000
troops besides supplies, horses, etc.
There were only dozen other pasSen-
gers on board, and we spent most OF our
time with military drill, athletic games
French classes, and incidentally spent a
considerable time hanging over the rail.
And was no Stacker at the post.
Leaving Halifax, we took zig gag
course to Liverpool. About So hours out
of Liverpool we were greeted with the
glorious sight Of eleven American de-
stroyers, who swept our course for subs.
One morning at 6 O'Clock, add only five
hours out of Liverpool, a sub appeared
astern of US and was qui ckly surrounded
by the chaserS, which dropped many
depth bombs. In few minutes we saw
great deal of wreckage and oil coming
to the surface, and which finally caught
fire. The hellish Hun had met his doom,
thanks to our own great destroyers.
From Liverpool to London by rail was
delightful trip. After spending several
days in London, we went to Southamp-
ton by rail, taking fast boat across the
English Channel by night and reaching
lie Havre early next morning. Leaving
there at 2 o. m, we went by train 10
Paris, the wonderful city OF people
who | think are Americas best friends.
The morning after air arrival, we were
greeted with Hun on raid, but the bar
rage OF the French soon put them to
flight. After receiving my appointment
to Gibraltar. went to my hotel and
really wept. | was heart-broken to
think had to leave France. where had
Ionged 10 remain and hoped to get in
touch with Bill. hung around Paris
for about ten days, waiting orders TO
move, and left there by rail at s O'Clock
one night and arrived at Marseilles next
morning at 1920. The French merchant
vessel which was TO take did not leave
until the following night.
Following the rugged and barren
coasts OF France and Spain, landed at
Gibraltar one night about 1920. Going
ashore next morning, September 9th,
reported for duty and was promptly
made manager OF the American Y. M. {.
A. restaurant for U. S. naval enlisted
men exclusively. Our work was among
the U. S. naval forces, we having no
other forces there. There were seven
"Y" men stationed there, and we lived
at the Am erican Y. M. c. A. naval Of
fcers' club, modern home for the
officers, and as near American as any
thing in Europe. loved my work with
our navy boys, and ! know our work
there was greatly appreciated by them.
The navy has a good bunch OF fellows,
but when the English LINES" and The
American "gobs" met there was always
something doing in the way OF scrapping.
The naval forces OF the two great
English-speaking nations did not mix
well there and never will. | have less
love for the British today than ever be-
fore, and il always was at low ebb.
made many trips to Spain, and saw
bull fights, etc. There is greater i'm.
morality in Spain than in any country |
have visited. had the pleasure to
chaperone party of "gobs" to Tan
gier, Morocco, Africa, and with our
native guide, we missed very little IN
that most interesting country. Return
ing to Gibraltar on one OF our 1917 model
destroyers OF $4,000 h. p. we crossed
the Straits of Gibraltar, Al miles, in one
hour and ten minutes. That is slightly
faster than used to travel in my boat
alo ng Oker Hebb's canal.
As our naval forces were being greatly
reduced at Gibraltar after the armistlce,
was granted my release after serving as
"Y" man with fleet of 43 ships, leaving
Gibraltar December 2lst. What won
derful sight il was leaving the old rock
and the ships travelling in four columns.
At night It looked like regular city. !
was made the guest and Quartered in twin
cabins with the captain OF the coast guard
cutter Algonquin" We had boxing,
concerts, moving pictures, ETC., aboard,
and after six long weeks, we landed al
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. We spent sew
eral days at the Azores and st. Thomas,
one OF the Virgin Islands recently pur-
chased by the United States from the
Danes. We touched al Porto Rico and
Hayti, and our trip through the many ISL
ands was indeed wonderful tropical
sight. For about live weeks we were in
a temperature OF about 90, which seemed
unreal IN January and February. After
getting in the trade winds we had rough
weather, and was sick for days al time.
Nothing would stay down. and | guess
Hoover would say did not follow the
principle OF food conservation. Captain
Winram, in giving me goodbye, said.
Bud (he called me Bud, too), you are
a good fellow and real 'Y' man, but you
are a d poor sailor" He sure told
the truth regarding my sailorship
Ny trip by train across Cuba was very
slow, owing TO rotten train service. II
took about three days, two nights being
spent on sleeper and one al Santiago.
The American flag was raised on San
Juan Hill by our marines the day was at
their camp, for the first time since our
war with Spain. My stay in Havana was
brief, and when stepped off the poatat
Key West could hardly realize that II
was really America. My total mileage
since leaving home is l4.575, not includ-
ing trips TO Spain and Africa.
| am, of course, anxious 10 get b lex TO
nv business. which was left in good