Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1919-01-17

ut Dixmude, and after resting up at
the hospital, l was keen on going TO
sea again.
The Cassard wns In dry dock for re-
pairs after her last voyage to the OAR
danelles as convoy TO the troopship
Duplex. Everything was being rushed
to ge. her out as soon as possible. and
crews were working day and night.
There were other ships there too-su-
pcrdreadnaughts, and dreadnaughts.
and battleshlps, and armored cruisers,
all being overhauled.
We received and placed guns OF
newer design, filled the magazines with
the highest explosives known to naval
use. and generally made reno for a
hard Job. Our magazines were filled
with shells for our big ~ and 14-lnch
guns. A 14-inch shell can tear n hole
through the heaviest armor plate at
10000 yards. and will do more damage
than you would think.
When w had coaled and had got
u stores aboard, we dressed for ac-
tion-or rather. undressed. The decks
were clear; hatch covers bolted and
davits folded down furniture. chests,
tables, chairs were sent ashore, and in
tlammnble gear, like u rope ham
mocks, went overheard. You could
not find a single wooden chair or table
In the ward room.
When the ship Is cleared for action,
a shell bursting inside cannot hnc
much to set aflre, and II one bursts on
deck, there Is nothing to burn but the
wooden deck, and that Is covered Will
steel plate.
Finally, we had roll call-all mel
present. Then we set sail for thu
, Dardanelles as escort to the Duplex
which had on board territorial ant
provincial French troops-uascons
Parlslans. Normans, lndo-Chinest
Spahls, T%urcos--all kinds. When W
/ messed, we had to squat down on tn
steel mess deck and eat from meta
plates.
There had been a notice posted be
0 fore we left that the zeppelins had b'
2 gun sea raids, and we kept a live ey
: out for them. The news proved to b
n fake, though, and we did not see
single cigar while we we're out.
I We made the trip to the Dardanell'
without sighting an enemy craft, Keel
l. ing In close touch with the Duplei
!, and busy every minute preparing Il
y action.
u / was made gun captain and give
charge OF the ~starboard bow turre
g mounting two 14-inch guns. l had II
y men at gun practice daily, and By Il
o time wa neared the Dardanelles, aft
% Ave days, they were In pretty ia
|" shape.
II was about s a. m. when we DIRE
near Cape Helles aud took stntio
y for action. The Duplex was in fro
AZ OF Us. The batteries on the ca
- opened up on us, and In n few mi
" utes later those NJ Kun Kaleb join
=, In.
10 As the Duplex made for ~" bea
~ ana prepared 10 land her troops,
70 swung broadside on, raking their bI
y terles as we did so, and received
shell, which entered through n g
Ve mort ia the after turret and explode
Some bags OF powder stored this
~ (where they should never have bee
were fred and the roof OF the turI
vas 1ust lifted on. II landed on de-
~ tilted up against the side of tho I
no ret.
On deck the rnin OF Ere was slim
=. terrific. Steel few In all directio
-. Il was smash. crash, slam-bang
the time. and l do not mind sayinl
never thought we would come
OF II.
Some OF the heavy armor plate
forward WIS shot away and after q
M. the old Cassard looked more like
nv monitor than anything else 10 me.
we drew nearer the shore they bel
I'VE using shrapnel on Us and In DO q
mr.. at ali our tunnels were shot full
yga holes ana a sieve wal watertlght c.
1 pared 10 them.
MI. Naturally we we're not Just TAX
eel all this punishment without any co
,ol. back. Our guns were at II fast
IN fSCm the way the IRE slackened