The Little River news., 1919-05-21
From Raymond Parrish.
U. S. Myrant, N. N. City. Nav 13t

Editor Little River News:
 It has been many months since I Hast wrote to your valuable paper, all most three years I think. I sent you several articles before the war but when Uncle Sam decided to call Kaiser Bills bluff, news itesr,s concerning the navy life became strictly taboo. Now that the big show is over and en- couraged with seeing my earlier at tempts in print I will try to "bust" in to print again. I am serving on board one of the destroye-s that did very efficient duty in conveying the big transports across the pond, much to Fritz's dismay. The Migrant is one of the best destroyers of her type in the flotilla. No more coaling ship for the men that come to this ship from the battle wagons, for she's an oil burn CT. In other ships = other days the old cry "All hands coal ship which meant that some five or six hundred men would turn out in their dirtiest clothes and swing on the busy end of coal scoop from early morn till late at night They still do it on lots of the ships now. But on the destroyers the cry -four hands lead out the fuel hose" means about tairty minutes work for four men and you never know the ship is taking on ''coaI' un- til it's all over with It gives the men more time for other duties and enables them to keep heater ship. To show you the spirit of the navy especially the destroyer boys, I will give you some figures from the destroyers sub scriptions in the fifth liberty loan. The Myrant with complement of eighty nine men including officers subscribed ten thousand two hundred and fifty dollars making an average of about one hundred and fourteen dollars per man. The U. S. s. Jouett did even better with a crew of one hundred and six men, officers included, she sub scribed fifteen thousand dollars, mak- ing an average of one hundred and thirty-six dollars per man. The Paula ing equaled the Myrant but with a crew of ninety six men. This is only @ few of. the hundrecs of the destroy CTS srd battleships. Can anyone won der why Fritz laid down and quit. Most of us navy boys had an opportun- ity to see where our money went in the liberty loans not very long ago in New York. The U. s. S. Bushnell ar rived there bringing five German sub marines manned by American sailors. Believe me, after seeing one of them la person feels depth charge was too good for them for t;ley certainly are wicked looking craft. They are to be shown at all the seacoast cities along 8the Atlantic and it is rumored that they are to voyage up the Mississippi river as far as St. Louis probably far Ither, finally going to the west coast via the Panama canal Anyone wish ing to see something out of the ordi- nary, will be more i:ian repaid to go and see them while in the Mississippi,
 We are at present in Charleston. S.. G., but expect to leave here soon for Key. West, Fla, where we will hold torpedo and gunnery practice. We are all hoping to get 9 chance to make liberties in Havana, Cuba, if possible. We have just returned from Cuba but did not visit Havana. Usually Cuba or Hatiai likes to Indulge in comic opera revolutions every year and we have difficulties in getting liberty there but this year they were too busy list ening to the big scrap and forgot their own troubles, So we were permitted to visit Santiago de Cuba, Manzinilla, Guantamo City and many other cities of great Interest, the most interesting being Santiago de cuoa, with it's old notifications especially the Moro Cas- tie. We also visited the famous Blue boards castle and it's adjoining neigh bor, Blackbeards Castle.
 We'll dear readers am sure you are tired of this by now so thanking you for giving me this much attention, am yours very truly.
 Raymond Parrish.