Worlds War Events - Volume 3 | Page 3

cost,
then the outcome will be in the hands of a power way beyond our own.
But if it be fated that I don't come back, let no one ever say, "Poor
_R----_." I have had all the best things of life given me in full
measure--the happiest childhood and boyhood, health, the love of
family and friends, the profession I love, marriage to the girl I wanted,
and my son. If I go now, it will be as one who quits the game while the
blue chips are all in his own pile.
GENERAL POST OFFICE, LONDON
MAY 19.
[Sidenote: Rescuing a sailor.]
On the trip over, we were steaming behind the _R----_, when all at once
she steered out and backed, amid much running around on board. At

first we thought she saw a submarine and stood by our guns. Then we
saw she had a man overboard. We immediately dropped our lifeboat,
and I went in charge for the fun of it. Beat the _R----'s_ boat to him. He
had no life-preserver, but the wool-lined jacket he wore kept him high
out of water, and he was floating around as comfortably as you please,
barring the fact that his fall had knocked him unconscious. So we not
only took him back to his ship, but picked up the _R----'s_ boat-hook,
which the clumsy lubbers had dropped--and kept it as a reward for our
trouble.
[Sidenote: Very little known about the U-boat situation.]
We are being somewhat overhauled, refitted, etc., in the British
dock-yard here. Navy yards are much the same the world over, I guess.
I will say, however, that they have dealt with us quickly and efficiently,
with the minimum of red tape and correspondence. We have become in
fact an integral part of the British Navy. Admiral Sims is in general
supervision of us, but we are directly in command of the British
Admiral commanding the station. Of the U-boat situation, I may say
little. There is nothing about which so much is imagined, rumored and
reported, and so little known for certain. Five times, when coming
through the danger zone, we manned all guns, thinking we saw
something. Once in my watch I put the helm hard over to dodge a
torpedo--which proved to be a porpoise! And I'll do the same thing
again, too. We are in this war up to the neck, there is no doubt about
that--and thank Heaven for it!
Kiss our son for me and make up your mind that you would rather have
his father over here on the job than sitting in a swivel-chair at home
doing nothing.
MAY 26.
I never seem to get time to write a real letter. All hands, including your
husband, are so dead tired when off watch that there is nothing to do
but flop down on your bunk--or on the deck sometimes--and sleep. The
captain and I take watch on the bridge day and night, and outside of
this I do my own navigating and other duties, so time does not go

a-begging with me. However, we are still unsunk, for which we should
be properly grateful.
[Sidenote: War has become matter-of-fact.]
I have seen a little of Ireland and like New York State better than ever.
It is difficult to realize how matter-of-fact the war has become with
every one over here. You meet some mild mannered gentleman and
talk about the weather, and then find later that he is a survivor from
some desperate episode that makes your blood tingle. I would that we
were over on the North Sea side, where Providence might lay us
alongside a German destroyer some gray dawn. This
submarine-chasing business is much like the proverbial skinning of a
skunk--useful, but not especially pleasant or glorious.
JUNE 1.
[Sidenote: Glad to be in the big game.]
When I said good-bye to you at home, I don't think that either of us
realized that I was coming over here to stay. Perhaps it was just as well.
Human nature is such that we subconsciously refuse to accept an idea,
even when we know it to be a true one, because it is totally
new--beyond our experience. Pursuant to which, I could not believe
that my fondest hopes were to be realized, and that not only I, but the
whole of America, would really get into the big game. Oh, it is big all
right, and it grows on you the more you get into it.
Now, I realize that it is asking too much of you or of any woman to
view with perfect complacency having a husband suddenly injected
into war. But just consider--suppose I was a prosperous dentist or
produce merchant on shore, instead of in the Navy. By now you and I
would