The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-12-24
Names of the Guns.
On Board II. S. S. Louisiana


veu would thoroughly enjoy everything
IN this ship. We have had three DAYS
II perfect weather, while this great |
battleship with her two conveys, the
great armored cruisers, Tennessee and |
Washington, have steamed steadily in
column ahead southwark through calm
seas until now we are in the tropics.
They are three as splendid ships Of
their class as there are afloat, save
only the English dreadnaught The
louisiana now has her gun sights and
everything IS all in good shape for her
to begin practice OF the duties which
will make her crew as fit for man Of
wars work as the crew of any one of
our other first-class battleships. The
men are such splendid looking fellows,
Americans of the best type, young, ac-
tive, vigorous, with lots of intelligence
was much amused at the names of
the seyen-inch guns, which include
Victor, Invincible, Peacemaker, togeth-
er with Skiddoo, and also one called
Tedd and one called the Big Stick
Reflections on the Way.
On Board II. S. S. Louisiana.
DEAR KERMIT:
So far this trip has been a great
success, and I think mother has really
enjoyed it. AS for me, I of course
feel a little bored, but I have brought
on great variety of books, and am
at this moment reading Millions prose
works "Tacitus." and a German novel
called "Jorn Uhl." Mother and I walk
briskly up and down the deck together.
or else sit aft under the awning, or in
the after cabin and read; and I also
spend good deal of time on the for
ward bridge, and of course have gone
over the ship to inspect it with the
captain. It Is splendid thing to see
one of these men of-war, and it does
really make one proud of ones coun-
try. Both the officers and the enlist
ed men are as fine set as one could
wish to see.
1t is a beautiful sight, these three
great warships standing southwark in
close column, and almost as beautiful
at night when we see not only the lights
but the loom through the darkness of
the ships astern. We are now in the
tropics and I have thought a good deal
q the time over eight years ago when
l was sailing to Santiago in the fleet
Of warshtps and transports. 1t seems
a strange thing to think of my now
being president, going to visit the
work Of the Panama Canal which I
have made possible.
white summer clothes, came up on
Saturday morning to see inspection
and review, or whatever they call it,
Of the men. | usually spend half an
hour on deck before mother is dressed.
Then we breakfast together alone,
have also taken lunch alone. but at
dinner have two or three officers to
dine with us. Doctor Rixey is along
and is a perfect dear, as always.
Events Since Columbus Discovery.
The fourth day out was in some re-
spects the most interesting. All the
forenoon we had Cuba on our right
and most of the forenoon and part of
The afternoon Hayti on our left; and
in each case green, jungly shores and
bold mountains-two great, beautiful.
venomous tropic islands. These are
historic seas and mother and I have
kept thinking of all that has happened
IN them since Columbus landed at
San Salvador (Which we also saw,
the Spanish explorers, the buccaneers.
the English and Dutch sea dogs and
adventurers, the great English and
French fleets, the desperate fighting,
the triumphs, the pestilence, of all the
turbulence, the splendor and the wick
edness, and the hot, evil, riotous life
OF the old planters and slave-owners
Spanish, French, English and Dutch
their determination of the Indians ano
bringing in of negro slaves, the de-
cay of most of the islands, the turn
ing Of Hayti into land OF savage
negroes, who have reverted to voodoo-
ism and cannibalism; the effort we
are now making to bring Cuba and
Porto Rico forward
Today is calm and beautiful. as all
the days have been on our trip. We
have just sighted the highest land Of
Panama ahead of US, and we shall be
at anchor by o'clock this afternoon,
Just little less than six days from
me time we left Washington.
Pride in America.
On Board u S. S. Louisiana,
Nov. IA.
DEAR TED:
am very glad to have taken this
Tip, although as usual I am bored by
me sea. Everything has been smooth
as possible and it has been lovely
having mother along. It gives me
great pride in America to be aboard
mis- great battIeship and to see not
only the material perfection of the
snip herself in engines, guns and all
arrangements, but the fine quality or
me officers and crew. Have you ever
Tead SmolIett's novel, I think 'Roder-
cA Random" or Humphrey Clinker,
n which the hero goes to sea? 1t
sFes me an awful idea of what
44oating he'll of filth, disease, tyranny
sAa cruelty a warship was in those
nays Now every arrangement is as
c'ean and healthfu1 as possible. The
men can hathe and do battle as often
q Cleanliness requires. Their fare is
s@eeiient and they are as self respect
-Hs a set as can be imagined. | am no
sFeat believer in the superiority OF
INES past: and I have no question
nat The officers and men of our navy