, 1935-07-01


MERCEDES, July L. Inside
views of what a modern naval
cruise and sham sea battle man
euTers are really like are contained
IN G letter recently written by Price
Flttz, only Mercedes boy to make
the recent Pacific cruise with the
United States Navy fleet aboard
the u. S. S. New Mexico. The letter
was sent to his parents Mr.. and
Mrs. G. c. FIttz and was written
CT his recent return to San Pedro,
Calf.
This was the first letter received
by Mr.. and Mrs. Fittz from their
son since the cruise was started
the latter part Of April, as no let
ters were permitted during that
time. regulations being the same
as in time Of val. Excerpts from
the letter are given below:
For me the cruise has been
outstanding. in that I have finally
been transferred to the Engineers
Force "A" division, whereas I had
not expected such a quick transfer
for at least eight months. Again,
l feel over fortunate in being as
signed TO the station and division
with which / am now and per-
manently billetted.
Il made one good liberty in
Honolulu and visited Maxine Scot
ton, who is now Mrs. Vernon Sam
pie CMrs. Sample is the daughter
Of Mr.. w. T. Section of Mercedes.
anc a former claSSmate OF Price,
Mr.. Sample is a first class machin-
ist mate on one Of the submarines
based in Pearl Harbor.
Went on a sightseeing tour
about the island. Hawaii is an
agriculture paradise. Most every
KIND of tropical fruit or vegetable.
and in addition many others just
sS palatable, grow all the year
round. The big sugar plantations
are beautifully laid out on the hills.
Labor, I believe, is reasonably in
expensive. as the majority OF the
population Is Chinese and japanese,
with the more : or : less : mixed-in
Hawaiian peoples. Being 30 far away
from the States. living in the islands
is ~nCticeably higher priced. Prin-
clpally, the islands are for the "a
cationiStS.
1t IS pretty hot here. Il went
to the Honolulu "Y", said to be the
biggest in the world The Pearl
Harbor Naval base there Is right
up TO date and can easily accom-
modate the entire fleet at anchor
age. Too, there Uncle Sans army
IS densely concentrated with a large
cir base and numerous modern
forts.
AS I write this first part Of this
letter. we're about half way be-
tween the islands and the West
Coast, and still cruising in man
euvers. in other words. still playing
around with a make believe enemy:
Just a few minutes ago the word
was passed for all hands to 60 TO
their battle stations, and ten min
uItes afterward the drill was all
through, or secured" as 1t Is
termed in the Navy. Wen be in
San Diego for the big exposition IN
maybe four or five days.
"Our cameras and kodakS were
returned today after having been
collected and checked in with the
Master-at-Arms for safe : keeping
during the cruise. in order that We
would not be caugha 5aking pic
lures within the limits OF the Naval
Base in Honolulu and Pearl Har-
Dor we have not been max
:ug much speed toward the main
lane lately because Of the tactical
maneuvers in the sub and aircraft
oefenseS. Tonight, as every night,
the ship will be completely dark
ened, searchlightS turned on and
the various drills run off. After
that-movieS.
To-day is Saturday; the big all
sports day vas a treat for al hands.
Such events as rope-climbing. Spa-
fight, free-for-all, Cug-o-war, wres-
ting, boxing and pie-eating were
sponsored by tire CGticer personnel
and cash prizes gGVGn TO the win
ners. A IS foot rope. let fall from
an airplane boom, vas climbed by
a contestant from each division.
A spar fight Is = one-handed fight
with boxing gloves. between two
contestants straddling a smooth
wooden pole fixed horizontally-the
moSs entertaining of the events. The
p,e-eating was a treat-each con-
testant being set before a whole
chocolate pie. with meringue. his