The Glenwood post., 1924-08-14
uacIe Tets Bel Tine Stsries
ourrsns Events fee ~ oAilAro
and orown-ups, TOO
UNCLE SANS cA1ao sHRs
and orown-ups, TOO


Many, many days had passed since
Uncle Ted said farewell to his two
little chums. They could hardly real
iss that hs was going 20 far away
from them when he started for Eng
land ON such short notice. It was the
first time since the war that Uncle
Ted had made such an extended trip.
'sI wonder where he il right now"
said Jack, as they were coming down
to breakfast one morning about two
weeks or more after Uncle Ted had
sailed from New York.
"Unless he stays longer than he had
planned,'' said Ruth, 'the ought to
be starting home now"
Breakfast was about over, when in
came mother with the morning mail
and big fat envelope addressed to
Ruth and Jack. It was postmarked
"London" and had stamp with a
picture Of King Geosge up in the right
hand corner.
"Oh! it's letter from Uncle Ted,"
said Ruth. "Hurry up, Jack, and read
1t to mes"
1t wasn't long before Jack had the
letter opened and began to read the
first word from Uncle Ted.
"My dearest Kiddies:'' the letter
began. sI wonder If you have missed
your uncle as much as he has missed
you. How I have longed to have you
both close to me and have one Of our
good night stories. But will be home
before long and then we will have
great old time.
"Just now want to tell you some
thing Of the ship am on and what
that ship stands for. AS you know,
Uncle Sam is very anxiouss that the
American farmer, manufacturer and
trader ship their goods to Europe in
American ships. Today 1t is possible
for American goods to be shipped to
Europe In American cargo ships as fine
as any afloat. These ships are not
only as fine as those Of other nations,
but they have the finest mechanical
equipment known.
"As you know, I left New York on
the American Banker, one Of five
ships operated by the q. 8. Shipping
board from New York to London and
all five of them built alike except for
some minor details Of interior fittings
You can imagine my surprise after we
had passed the Statue Of Liberty and
dropped our pilot, the man who guides
the ship out Of the harbor, to look
around as we headed into the open sea
and find that the wheel with which the
ship is steered was moving by itself
and no man anywhere near It'll I
couldn't believe my eyes for I have
been on many ships, but it was the
first time I had ever seen anything
like that. So as soon as possible in
troduced myself to the captain and
told him Of my surprise.
"He kindly explained the whole
thing to me in this way. The Ameri-
can Banker, and the other four ships
like her, are all fitted with the latest
steering equipment known to naviga-
tion, known as the Metal Nike an
automatic steering device, and the
Gyro- Compass, operated by electricity,
This is the most modern ship equipment
known and there are only about 5n
ships in the entire world having these
up-to-date devices. This Metal-Mike is
a funny looking thing that is built
next to the steering wheel. 1t is set
for the course the ship is to take and
then the motor turned on and the ship
goes on its way, not only keeping true
to the course but keeping to the course
better than it could be done by human
hand. This is because no matter how
good sailor he may be, a man at the
wheel is bound to let her. get little
off the course at times and then he
must bring her back. This means that
with the metal-mike, the ship is kept
true to her course and in addition to
the saving in labor it saves great
amount of fuel, because the course is
kept straight.
"Then there is the Gyro- Compass
consisting of big master compass back
Of the wheel house with its intricate
electrical equipment, a steering com