Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1916 — ADMIRAL O’CONNOR TAKES FLEET ON SCOUTING CRUISE [ARTICLE]

ADMIRAL O’CONNOR TAKES FLEET ON SCOUTING CRUISE

In Que*t of latnd “Rookies” for Company M.—Rensselaer Band Accompanies Voyagers With Admiral O’Connor in command a flying squadron made a scouting cruise last Friday afternoon In the interest of land "rooklea” for Company M, touching at the ports of Remington, Goodland, Brook and Mt. Ayr. The fleet weighed anchor at about six bells, afternoon watch, and stood out to sea with the following fleet: Dreadnaught Hudson, Captain F. E. Babcock, flying the admiral’s flag; superdre&dnaught National, Captain Abraham Leopold; light cruiser Chevrolet, Captain John Schultz, flying Commodore Honan’s flag; light cruisers Chevrolet, Captain Herman Tuteur; Chevrolt, Captain Lee Adams; Jackrabbit, Captain Mark Schroer; gunboat Maxwell, Captain C. 11. Tryon; Ford wasps: commanded by Captains C. P. Fate, Roe Yeoman and Rex Warner.

When out about a league, sailing S SW through the Hoover-Biggs straits, rough water was encountered. Owing to the fact that this strait is full of shoals and has been mined as protection, there is generally one of the Hoover line of tug boatß standing by to furnish a pilot Qr to help warp through passing boats. (And by the way, the iHtoover line is said to be coining money of the realm this season warping passing ships through since the closing of Ahe east lane of traffic to the port of Remington )

Tho light cruiser Chevrolet, Capt. Tuteur commanding, which led the van, after sticking her nose in a couple sand bars and being warped off by the wasps, doubt was feared as to lea way for the heavier ships of line, but seamanship saved the day and a passage was forced. We understand there was talk of a board ol Inquiry sitting on Admiral O’Connor’s act in taking his fleet through this strait but as only some paint was scraped ofT and as he brought them safely into port it is doubtful if any action will be taken. At each port of entry a landing was made, taking ashore the fleet hand, and Admiral O’Connor, Commodore Honan and Captain Tuteur mada brief talks to the populace. As a result patriotism is running high and several men have already joined Company M, and no doubt but mor-2 will join this company or others should they be formed. The fleet dropj>ed anchor again oIT ■Rensselaer at about two bells, second dog, the log showing an average of nearly 28 knots per hour for the voyage. With the fleet was Seaman Earl Hemphill of the battleship Oklahoma, who is home on shore leave, and First Lieut. Jerry B. Garland of Co. M, who has been officially declared to be the best rifle and pistol shot at present connected with the U. S. land forces. Capt. Tuteur at Brook did not speak but visited with his young lady “friend”; and that evening, it is understood, he with Surgeon Johnson went over to Brook and paid their respects to their “friends” before leaving for the front.