Uncle Sam's Navy boys afloat, or, The raid along the Atlantic seaboard

Front matter

“ATHENZUM a eae if

THEY RAMMED THE LAST CHARGE HOME.

os OR:

Contents

ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE

Tur CoMING OF THE GERMAN THREAT Herrich Maxss His Boast .

Turititinc News By WIRELESS Destroyers RusuiIne To THE Rescur Tue Work oF THE U-Boat

Chapter I. Accepting The Challenge

GUESS now it will be a long while before I this bunch gets together again; isn’t that right, Jack?”’

‘“‘From the squally way things look on this day in early October, 1916, I should say the chances bear you out, Andy. Two of us expect to leave this port tonight, as we understand orders have come for the Prentice to join with other units of the North Atlantic Fleet at Newport on Saturday.”

““And I’m meaning to hunt up a navy reeruiting station, perhaps at Newport, because tf want to get a berth in the marines without any delay.”’

‘“Why the hurry, Elmer ?’’

8 UNCLE SAM’S NAVY BOYS AFLOAT; — ne

‘You know as well as I do, Andy, things are getting mighty stormy looking, with Germany carrying a chip on her shoulder all the while, and coolly daring Uncle Sam to knock it off. No decent son of New England could watch war coming closer and closer, every day, and not wish to jump into the ring.”’

“Now you’re giving me a Sly little jab, I know, Elmer,’’ remarked the tall, handsome looking young fellow, who seemed to affect a slight drawl, and had the appearance of being a rich man’s son; ‘‘still, I may surprise you fellows yet, one of these days. But why the marine corps especially, I’d like to ask you, Elmer ?’’

‘Oh! for several reasons, Andy. I’ll tell you for one thing I’m getting to feel as if I had a grouch against Germany. It began when the Lusitania was sunk in such a cowardly way. I’ve been haunted by those babies drowning, while the Huns glorified the deed, and made a holiday of it all over their old Fatherland.”’

‘Say, I can understand that, all right,”’ admitted Andy, nodding his head violently, while a look of surprising resolution flashed athwart his handsome face. ‘‘Why, I must

RAID ALONG ATLANTIC SEABOARD g° own up I’ve felt pretty furious myself, and rushed into many a hot argument with chaps who tried to prove that those passengers had no business to sail on what was believed to be’ a munition ship; especially after they’d been duly warned by the German Ambassador, Von Bernstorff, that something was brewing.”’

‘“‘Oh! it made me so hot under the collar,’’ resumed Elmer, ‘‘just to know Germany had had the impudence to warn our people off the open sea, as if it belonged to her sneaking Uboat crews of murderers. I wanted so to get a blow at them, to show that Americans couldn’t be knocked around without giving as good as they received.”’

‘“‘Hine sentiments, Elmer,’’ said Andy, smiling, as if he agreed entirely with the tenor of the remarks. ‘‘Now go on and tell me another reason for your picking out the marine corps to jump into, when you had a wide choice.”’

“‘Everybody says that if we should be pulled into this big scrap, why, the marines would be the very first to get down to business. They have always been the ones to jump in when there was trouble on tap.”’

The young fellow answering to the name

10 UNCLE SAM’S NAVY BOYS AFLOAT; ee of ‘Jack,’ alert in manner, with a resolute face, and unflinching eyes, and who was dressed as a “‘gob’’ in blue uniform, his sailor’s cap having the one word “Prentice” printed in gold letters on its band, nodded his head as he went on to say:

“That’s right, Elmer; it’s always been the U. S. Marines who were Johnny-on-the-spot when fighting was the order of the day. ‘They’ve got a long and glorious reputation back of them to sustain. History tells how they’ve been put ashore in Mexico to defend legations; Central America many times; China, when the Boxers were raging, and threatening to clean out the foreign quarters in Peking; Haiti; Cuba; South America—well, in fact, it’d be easier to say where those scrappers hadn’t visited than to enumerate all the fields of their doings.”’

‘‘Ves,’? added Elmer, his eyes glistening with delight, as though he already took considerable pride in the mere thought of joining such an intrepid band of true adventurers and sea soldiers-of-fortune, ‘‘and never failed to do their full duty, by holding as firm as a rock. I’m living in hopes of being present at rollcall when the marines strike up against some of those crack regiments of the Prussian Guard. It’ll be a sight worth seeing, believe mel’?

The last speaker was Elmer Ketcham. He was lithe, strong, and nervous by temperament, an ideal candidate for the marines, since they select their recruits after a most rigid test concerning their fitness.

There were four of them, all told, old friends, though the two already wearing the blue trousers with wide bottoms that distinguish Uncle Sam’s seamen had been in the service of their country for six months now, and the others still clung to, their ordinary civilian attire.

Jack was really Jack Farragut Warren. As his name declared, he came of a sea brood, with the tang of the salt water in his nostrils from the time he was old enough to sail small boats in shallow waters, and look out yearningly upon the vast hoavi ing deep. Indeed, it was running riot in his blood, and as naturally as a duck takes to water, so a Warren, especially of Farragut stock, must of necessity anticipate taking service with some naval branch of the Government when the first favorable opportunity arrived. ©

12. UNCLE SAM’S NAVY BOYS AFLOAT; —— sl

It was in the early days of October, and the terrible World War had now been going on from bad to worse for more than two years. Things were being continually done by Germany that threatened to embroil the Central Powers in war with Uncle Sam; though through diplomatic channels, and the efforts of influential German-Americans throughout the country, this had been thus far avoided.

But East and West, North and South the murmur was constantly growing louder, as the free-born American people grumbled about taking such insults from the Kaiser’s autocratic Government; and many believed the break might come at any time, though as yet few preparations seemed to have been made looking toward that thrilling event.

Jack’s companion in the service was a sturdy, almost fat young fellow who had always been a great admirer of young Warren. He had a round, freckled face, looked as though he might possess a remarkably even temper, and evidently must be a jolly companion. His name was Toby Jucklin, and he came from the same coast town as Jack; indeed, they had gone to school together, and in company played all manner of boys’ games such as base-

RAID ALONG ATLANTIC SEABOARD 13 SR CE ball, football, marbles, kite-flying, hockey, fishing, and hunting, and traded stamps in between times.

When finally Jack took the decisive step it was only natural that Toby should gain the consent of his parents to do likewise. They had been fortunate enough to secure berths aboard the same destroyer, and cherished a hope that fortune would kindly allow them to still be boon companions and pals as of yore.

The rich man’s son was Andy Jennings. He had been the envy of all his young friends, because of the fact that his father had presented him with a wonderfully fast launch, in which he had taken many a glorious cruise. ‘Andy, while somewhat spoiled on account of his wealth, nevertheless had many good points. Perhaps his weak one was a lack of ambition. He seemed a bit lazy, and that drawl indicated as much, as well as his aversion to violent exercise.

Still, those who had on several memorable occasions seen Andy fully aroused were ready to declare he had it in him to accomplish nearly anything, if only he would allow his ambition to show itself.

“As for me,’? Toby was saying, ‘“‘I can

YZ ¢ a TE RT A ER a hardly wait for the time to come when I expect to get my first peep at one of those sneaky submarine pirates. I’m just living in hopes of being in at the sinking of a sea-wolf, after it’s gone and cut down an innocent merchantman. You’ll see me execute that fine wardance I’ve been practicing in secret so long, when that happy day arrives.”

‘“¢T feel something the same way,” admitted Jack, frowning. ‘‘Every time I read of the shocking things those cowardly Hun sailors are doing it makes my blood just boil. They’re taking away all the respect people used to have for the chivalry of the sea, and behaving worse than Blackbeard’s pirates ever did.”?__

‘‘Why,’’ added Toby, gritting his teeth, “it was only a short time ago I read an account of where one of those submersibles had captured a British steamer that was unarmed, and couldn’t fight. They sank her with a torpedo, and took the crew on the deck of the sub. Then after destroying every boat belonging to the steamship they ran along on the surface for several miles, suddenly going down, and leaying those poor sailormen floundering there a hundred miles from land; yes, they had even taken their life-preservers away from them, the cowards. Oh! I’m wild to get in touch with one of those shark boats. I never even set eyes on that type of craft, but I hope to, I certainly hope to.”’

Although Toby of course could never suspect the fact, a kindly Fate had just such an experience in store for him, and at a much earlier date than he could have dreamed possible, even in his most sanguine moments.

Andy, standing there and looking from one excited face to another, seemed to be moved by some emotion. He drew in several long breaths that might indicate the arousing of some impulse that had been tempting him for some little time now.

It was in the air, the spirit of patriotism, and strange indeed must it have been if one whose forefathers had always done their full duty by their country, as the Jennings’ history proved, could let all these thrilling happenings pass by without his soul being moved.

Presently, after they had been talking for some little time further, he might have been observed to smile significantly, while his lips tightened after the manner of one who has reached a final decision.

‘“‘T’ll have to leave you in a couple of er EE EE I TE EE TS minutes or so, fellows; and since we may not have a chance to meet again in a hurry, I think it’s only fair, seeing you’re all good friends of mine, to tell you something. Now, I’ve been on the fence for some little while, unable to make up my mind which way to jump. What I’ve listened to you three saying today has settled it once and for all with me.”’

“‘What’s that you’re giving us, Andy ?”’ exclaimed Toby, with glistening eyes, ‘‘do you mean you’ve decided to offer your services to Uncle Sam, just as Jack and myself have done, and as Elmer here has determined on doing ?”’

Andy nodded that proud head of his, and shut his jaws tightly.

“T understand that if we are drawn into this thing,’’ he proceeded to say in his slow but firm way, ‘‘there’ll be a great need of small and swift boats to be used as the British are doing nowadays, hunting submarines and bases where along the coast they might go to replenish their stock of food and munitions, placed there by German spies and sympathizers. Well, I’ve got a snappy little gas-boat, and if I do say it myself I’m considered a pretty fair skipper. All the Jennings were water-ducks in their day, one sailing with Captain Paul Jones on his Bonne Richard away back during the Revolutionary War. SoIsay to you that it’s my full intention to offer my boat and services to Uncle Sam, to be used as the Government sees fit. If there’s going to be trouble, I can’t keep out of it, that’s all.”’

Toby bounded forward, seized his hand and wrung it with vehemence. Each of the others also had a ‘‘whack’’ at Andy’s fist. The one who had thus decided seemed to enjoy such demonstrations of loyalty on the part of his former school companions, for his face was wreathed in smiles. At the same time, if one looked closely, it might have been possible to detect a more serious expression flitting over his handsome countenance, as though Andy realized that the game he had determined to enter was not to be lightly undertaken, since it was bound to bring him face to face with a thousand ocean perils and thrills.

18 UNCLE SAM’S NAVY BOYS AFLO/A 5;

Chapter II. The Coming Of The German Threat

shaken hands all around, the other

three young fellows still remained standing there, chatting. Elmer told of his hopes, and in return was regaled with some of the experiences in the service on the part of his friends.

‘“‘These are days when any old thing is apt to happen,’”’ Jack was saying. Every day almost brings great news. It wouldn’t surprise me much to find one of these mornings that Congress had taken the bit in its teeth, and forced the hand of the President. The time for note writing is nearly over; and action must take the place of diplomacy and words.”’

“Yes, a lot of people believe the ice is getting mighty thin and rotten,’ - suggested Elmer; ‘‘one of these days it’s going to suddenly give way, and then there’ll be a big

Wn Andy had said good-bye and

1 .™ ALONG ATLANTIC SEABOARD 19 splash! I hope I’m wearing the striped trousers of a marine long before that happens, and ready for service.’’

“‘T wonder if I’ll ever run up against that Heinrich Dietrich anywhere, if he keeps his word, and goes over to join the Germans?”’ Toby ventured to say, as if the matter had been bearing heavily on his mind lately.

‘‘What, does that slick article mean to eross the sea, and get in the service of the Kaiser ?’’ ejaculated Elmer, a vein of surprise as well as disgust discernible in his tones. ‘‘I always did dislike Heinrich when we went to school together. He used to be forever blowing about how wonderfully well they did things over in the ‘dear old Fatherland.’ Many a time I told him he and his family ought to pick up and emigrate back to the land they seemed to love.”’

“Yes, and yet his father had to run away years ago because he was concerned in some sort of scheme to stir up trouble for the Kaiser’s grandfather, old Emperor William, then just King of Prussia. That was when Mr. Dietrich was a young man. He came over here, got rich as anything, and owns a big share, I’m told, in several Milwaukee and St.

Louis breweries. What would Heinrich say to that, Elmer ?’’

‘‘Why, he’d flare up, and tell me they often thought of doing such a thing as shaking the dust of this heathen country off their shoes, and going back to the land where things were done on system. But did he give you to understand he actually wanted to fight for the Kaiser, Toby ?”’

‘Just what he did when I ran across him the other day,’’ came the reply. ‘‘He took me all in from top to bottom, sneered at the cut of my togs, and then expressed the hope that one of these fine days he’d have the pleasure of seeing me marching up a street in Berlin as a prisoner of war.”’

‘‘What did you tell him then, Toby ?’’ demanded Jack, amused; for he had known of the animosity growing up between Toby and Heinrich for many moons past, both quarreling over paying attentions to pretty Polly Tucker, who used to accept invitations from first one and then the other, as though unable to decide which she preferred; though latterly she had seemed to avoid Heinrich, as though unable to stand his lack of patriotism, which eer rrr I fact had aggravated his feeling of hostility toward Toby.

‘Oh! I just echoed the wish that we might meet again, but hoped it’d be where we could come to handgrips and settle old scores. Would you believe it, he actually boasted he was going to get in the war long before I could have the chance. Yes, and he told me our country was afraid to pick up the challenge Germany had thrown down when she sank the Lusitania; said we were only a nation of Yankee traders and shopkeepers, with water in our veins instead of blood.”’

‘Whew! what happened then, Toby?” asked Elmer, frowning darkly.

‘‘Tt feels a bit sore still,’’ he remarked, with a huge grin; ‘‘for he tapped me pretty hard during the scrimmage; but I warrant you he had to buy some raw beef to put on that black eye I gave him; and they tell me he ‘limped for a whole week. I only saw him once after that, and he just scowled like a pirate, and sneered; but believe me he knew better than to again insult the flag I serve under.”’

‘‘Well, I must be off,’? remarked Elmer.

‘Sorry to say good-bye, boys, but if we don’t happen to meet again in a hurry, here’s wishing you all the luck possible. May you have your wish realized, Toby, and set eyes on a real German submarine before you’re much older. Take care of yourselves. I’ll try and let you know if they pass me into the marines.”’

‘Huh! no trouble about that, I should say, Elmer,’’ retorted Toby. ‘‘You’re just an ideal candidate for that branch of the service. They insist on selecting snappy fellows, who can do things from the word go, and who never have been known to take water. You fill every one of the conditions, and will pass with a one hundred per cent. rating.”’

‘“You make me happy when you say that, Toby Jucklin,’’ asserted the other, ‘‘for it’d | break my heart if anything happened to make them turn me down.”’

So he too took his departure. What that unknown future had in store for those four stout-hearted lads no earthly power might foresee; but doubtless many wonderful adventures were bound to come to all of them before the winds of chance blew them together again, if that event ever came to pass.

Stormy days were ahead for American young men, and tens of thousands would lay their lives down willingly as a sacrifice on the altar of Liberty before the head of the dragon was finally crushed, and the last stronghold of autocracy disappear from the face of the earth.

Jack and Toby continued their saunter. They had just been starting out on shore leave when by rare luck they first met Elmer, and then that other schoolmate. Later on they returned to the dock, where the destroyer was taking on stores, and making ready for a quick trip to Newport, where there was a gathering of war vessels belonging to the North Atlantic squadron, after their Summer maneuvers off the New England coast.

Later on, as winter approached, doubtless they would be turning toward the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, with the naval station at Guantdnamo as their goal as usual at that season of the year. Still, there was many a ‘‘xob’? who secretly hoped something might turn up to send them across the Atlantic. Their fighting spirit was mounting daily, and they yearned to have a hand in the work that was being carried on across the sea; where Britain’s great armada waited day after day for the German High Fleet to come out and

94. UNCLE SAM’S NAVY BOYS AFLOAT; pacer re ee EE EE engage in a mighty sea battle calculated to determine the fate of the civilized world.

‘‘We get underway tonight, and ought to be in Newport Harbor some time tomorrow morning, I should think, eh, Jack ?’’ Toby was saying later on, when they found themselves engaged in their duties aboard the trim and almost new craft to which they had the good fortune to be assigned when reported fit for service.

‘‘Saturday noon will see us along with the balance of the squadron, all right,’’ the other told him. ‘‘There’ll be little doing until the time comes to start for Norfolk on our way south; unless fresh developments across on the other side in the barred sub. zone should change the naval programme a whole lot.”’

‘‘Gee! between you and me, Jack, I’m hoping it does come before a great while. It just ean’t keep back much longer. The same thing hung fire with Spain up to the time the Maine was blown up in Havana harbor, and then the whole country seethed with war talk. Well, something like that will happen now, and any day Germany, getting bolder and bolder, will go a step too far. Then look out, for the lid will blow off!”’

ae

It came about that they did not get underway until late that night. Then the Prentice left her berth, and started through the quiet waters of the Sound, heading east.

When morning came they blew into Newport, where a considerable number of warships lay at anchor, making quite a formidable spectacle not a great distance from Bailey’s Beach, and in full sight of the summer colony’s fine cottages.

That morning passed without anything giving warning concerning the thrilling happening that was fated to transpire before the setting of the sun; when all sorts of wild speculations would run riot through the country, concerning the smashing of the boasted isolation of Uncle Sam’s domains.

Jack and his pal were again favored in getting shore leave. They had never been in Newport, and although the season was long since past, with but few cottagers lingering to enjoy the hops given to the naval officers, this would not prevent the two boys from wandering about, and taking in the sights.

Tt was easy to see, however, that everything pertaining to the sea drew them much more than those objects of interest connected with the land. They stopped several times when an extra fine view of the harbor and the open sea beyond could be enjoyed. At such times both lads would draw in deep breaths, and look pleased beyond words because they were now in a position to see something of the wide world while in the service of Uncle Sam.

They discussed everything connected with the trim vessels anchored there in long lines, even speculating on whether their armament would stand the strain should the fortunes of war ever fetch them up against the German navy.

‘*All we want is a chance to try conclusions with those Huns,’’ Toby said, for like the average young American he had an ardent belief in the capacity of his breed to whip anything that walked the earth, or sailed the Seven Seas, no exceptions made. ‘‘They’ve had some experience with the British, it’s true; and got beautifully licked in the bargain in that battle off Jutland; but I’ll eat my hat if Uncle Sam’s Navy Boys can’t do the job for them without more than half trying.”’

“‘The afternoon is wearing on, Toby, and we’ll soon have to be heading back to the landing where the boat is waiting, for our time will beup. Italllooks peaceful enough right now; but who can say what those war vessels will be doing a year from now.”’

‘Scattered all over the North Sea, it may be,’’? suggested Toby, eagerly; ‘‘hunting the shark-boats, like Andy hopes to be doing with his Argus; seeing how those hydroplanes work it with the destroyers; and perhaps getting a victim once in a while.”’

Just then Jack gave vent to an ejaculation.

‘‘What ails you, Jack?’’ demanded Toby, noticing that his companion was shading his eyes with his hand, as he looked eagerly out across the surface of the water, just then dimpled with myriads of small wavelets, each of which seemed to glitter in the glow of the westering sun.

““There’s something mighty queer coming into the outer harbor over yonder,”’ exclaimed Jack. “I don’t just seem to recognize it. Such a squatty vessel it is, and long in proportion. I wonder now if it could be one of those whaleback steamers they’ve been fetching out of the Great Lakes, to use along the coast? No, I’ve got an idea that must be a submarine !”’

ET CT

“What?” cried Toby, now greatly excited in his turn, and then quickly adding, as he managed to fix his gaze upon the moving object in question: ‘‘Why, Jack, I honestly believe you’re right about that. Subs., they say, can ride on the surface just as well as any other sea-going craft. Well, well, to think that the wish I expressed only yesterday should be granted so quick. So that’s an undersea boat, is it? Uncle Sam has quite a bunch in commission, I understand ; so I guess that chap is going to be ae = our squadron when we go South later on.’

So the two ‘‘gobs’”’ stood there on that Saturday afternoon, and watched the oncoming of the submarine with more or less curiosity. It was a little singular that up to then neither of them had ever been given a chance to see a genuine submarine, either at anchor or in movement; and hence it was with growing interest that they continued to make full use of their eyes.

The sunlight fell on the water in such a way as to make it rather difficult for them to see accurately. This resulted in an exchange of opinions, as first one and then the other made some further discovery calculated to add to their general fund of information.

‘‘She’s heading for that anchorage place within a gunshot of the Beach,’’ remarked Toby, presently. ‘‘That ought to bring her near the Prentice, so we'll have a chance to watch her at close range. I suppose before we’re a year older, Jack, we’ll be apt to know a whole lot more about these queer boats than we do right now ?’’

‘‘Hspecially if we’re lucky enough to get our share of the hunting when the hunting is good,’’ chuckled the other, and then again he showed signs of sudden fresh interest.

‘“Why, what’s this?’’ Toby heard him muttering, in a mixture of amazement and dismay. ‘Surely my eyes must be deceiving me. That’s a war submarine, because you can see a gun on her forward deck, one of the kind, I reckon, that they say can be made to disappear when they mean to submerge. Toby, you’ve got extra sharp eyes, suppose you focus your gaze on the fluttering flag that hangs over the stern, and tell me what it looks like.”’

If Jack meant to give his chum a shock he certainly accomplished his aim, for almost immediately Toby was heard to be choking as though he had lost his breath through sheer excitement.

‘‘Why, that must be a German flag, Jack,”’ he gasped.

“Just what I thought, but it seemed so impossible that I began to suspect I must be seeing things that didn’t exist. We’ve been talking about German boats so much lately I reckoned I was creating one in my imagination. But now you’ve said it too, [ know my eyes are all right.”’

‘“‘But, Jack, what does it mean? Can it be possible that a Hun submarine of the fighting class has crossed the Atlantic, Just like that commercial one, the Deutschland, did a short while back ?’’

“‘Looks that way,’’ replied Jack, still staring with all his might, as he saw sailors who did not look at all like American Jack Tars proceeding to get ready to drop the anchor. “Tf they can voyage three thousand miles there’s nothing they can’t do; and the whole North Atlantic Coast would lie open to bombardment in case we were plunged into war with Germany tomorrow!”’

Chapter III. Heinrich Makes His Boast

HE strange looking craft had now come to anchor, and a number of small boats started out to get a closer view, as the

startling news went around that a genuine fighting submarine flying the German flag had put into Newport harbor for some mysterious purpose.

‘‘They’ve cleverly dodged all those British cruisers along the coast between here and Halifax, seems like,’’ remarked Toby, as the two of them continued to stand there and stare their fill.

‘Oh! that shouldn’t be a hard thing to do,”’ Jack assured him; ‘‘when a boat can submerge so speedily, and not leave a sign on the surface. I guess they ducked under every time they saw a black smudge of smoke on the horizon, taking no chances for trouble.”’

‘‘Whatever do you think they’ve come over here for, Jack ?’’

—— ssl

“‘Oh! it might be any one of a lot of things,” came the reply. ‘‘First they may want to show us that they can send a whole fleet of these subs. across, and play hob with our undefended coast cities, as well as paralyze our ocean-going trade by sinking all the steamers we’ve got. Once the American people understood that and these silly Germans think we’d feel a whole lot less like getting into this war.”’

‘‘Huh! little they know what we’d do,”’ sneered Toby. ‘‘Yankees don’t take a dare worth a cent. Why such things as that are just what’d force us to break into the scrap. But that mightn’t be all they had in their minds when sending this U-boat across the Atlantic, Jack.”’