Mount Vernon (AP 22) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 25 text:

Scolley Square and Beacon Hill did not realize they were saying Goodbye to the crew, not to see them for another two years. But the men had put two and two together. When the ship left Boston during the evening traffic rush, the men were not too surprised. The exact nature of their cruise was not revealed to them until they were well underway. Without a source of barside scuttlebutt, the ship ' s com- pany arrived in Halifax In the same condition as the weather: a com- plete fog. The ship remained at anchor, joining the chorus of fog horns. Speculation had been high regarding the appearance of the land, interest having been concentrated on bright lights. With long faces, the crew saw the bleak, weather-beaten countryside appear through the clearing weather. The Indians who lived along the shore greeted the ship in the true frontier style by letting go a few war whoops. That having enlivened the crew, they were disappointed again, when, instead of a rip-roaring frontier town, sleepy Halifax appeared around the bend. On liberty, the men found the town as quiet as they had feared. There was no place to go to uphold the reputations. After a few beers, a few souvenirs, and a walk on the main street, they relaxed and listened to the town ' s only excitement. In 1917, a French ammunition ship had rammed a Norwegian freighter. The excitement had been enough to last the city until the end of time. Back at the ship, British Tommies, shivering in the cold, awaited their time to come aboard. Some were prepared to not walk back, they had their bicycles with them. When, at the end of the week, the ship pulled out, she became part of a convoy including the West Point , Wakefield . Leonard Wood ,

Page 27 text:

Diclcman . Hunter Liggett . Ranger , Orizaba . Astoria . Vin- cennes , Quincy , Cimmeron , Annapolis and escorting destroyers. The British and the Americans soon became friends. International understandings were worked out by the mutual good nature of both parties. Some Tommies were on a working party which worked beyond their dinner hour. Their Commanding Officer had arranged with the Paymaster Commander McCray to have them served tea after the job was finished. When they arrived in the mess hall and found the tea. milk, and sugar, they hesitated. The chief commissary steward, noting their hesitation, asked, Why? The tay. We ' re waiting for the tay, the sergeant answered. Well, there it is , replied the steward. But, ' es tay. That ' s right. But, ' es just tay. Yes, I know. I was supposed to give you tea. There it is. The chief had become irritated. But, tay means meat and vlttels. The sergeant patiently explained. When I ' m told to serve tea, I serve tea. Its there. You can drink It or leave it alone, I ' m going to hit my sack. The chief left the bewildered