TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DARDANELLE DISPATCH JANUARY 2, 1919 P. 1
Company "B" 348th Inf.,
December 14, 1918.
Dear Mother and the Folks at Home:
This leaves me feeling fine. We have orders to embark for the United States as soon as we are relieved from the labor duties in which we are engaged. You see there is nothing definite about it. It may be in two weeks and we may be here until January.
Received a letter from Homer Cox yesterday. He is in the central part of France which is a long way from here. His division (the 39th) is also under orders to return. Also had a letter from Ed Woodward who is in the northeastern part near the Swiss border. It seems that they came over in the same convoy with us and we didn't know it. You see there were eighteen ships in the convoy but they never got nearer than two hundred yards of each other during the entire trip, so it was impossible to know who was on the other transports.
Homer told of the submarine attack which was identical with the one we had and I'm certain it was the same.
This submarine attack happened near the Isle of Sicily, which is just off the English and Irish Coasts about two days out. The weather had been rough most of the way over but on this particular afternoon of Sept. 6th, (Saturday) the sea was calm and everybody was on deck except a few who had not completely gotten over the sea-sickness. I was giving the men a talk on how they should conduct themselves when we reached France, when all at once--boom--then the alarm given by the ship that was struck and sound of the whistle gave one the impression that was almost a human note of distress. Then the eight destroyers that were with us, all but two made for the attack. Before this time it had not been possible to see any sign of men on these little boats, but one came streaming by our ship with every man at his post standing at attention, which made one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Some of the men on out boat yelled "give 'em hell, boys," but they paid no attention to any one, so intent were they bent upon their task. They surrounded the place where the submarine was and dropped depth bombs for five minutes and there is no doubt but what they got him. The men on the ship (Persic) which was attacked, were taking a bath and lots of them had to get off without any clothing.
General Martin, of our Brigade, was aboard and got away with only the clothes he had on his person. The rest of the ships kept going--you see they had to or get hit themselves--and the destroyers picked up the men. We could see the ship that was hit until it got dark. It was finally towed to the coast. There were two of our own hydroplanes came to sight just as the attack started. These are machines that travel in water as well as air and have instruments for searching the sea to the very bottom. It was unfortunate that they did not arrive earlier.
Excuse me if this is monotonous, but this was the only time I have been under fire and hence my only "war tale."
With love, I remain,
Your affectionate son,
MORRIS.
NOTES: This letter was written by Morris R. Moore. He was born in Centerville, Arkansas on January 25, 1891 and died on February 26, 1972. He is buried in the Brearley Cemetery in Dardanelle, Arkansas. He departed Montreal, Canada on August 24, 1918 onboard the City of Poona. He was serving as a Capt. in Co. B. 348th Infantry. He departed Bordeaux, France on February 24, 1919 onboard the Chicago. He arrived in New York, NY on March 8, 1919. He was serving as a Capt. of Co. B 348th Infantry. He later serviced as County Judge of Yell County. (1935-41 and 1947-68)
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Company "B" 348th Inf.,
December 14, 1918.
Dear Mother and the Folks at Home:
This leaves me feeling fine. We have orders to embark for the United States as soon as we are relieved from the labor duties in which we are engaged. You see there is nothing definite about it. It may be in two weeks and we may be here until January.
Received a letter from Homer Cox yesterday. He is in the central part of France which is a long way from here. His division (the 39th) is also under orders to return. Also had a letter from Ed Woodward who is in the northeastern part near the Swiss border. It seems that they came over in the same convoy with us and we didn't know it. You see there were eighteen ships in the convoy but they never got nearer than two hundred yards of each other during the entire trip, so it was impossible to know who was on the other transports.
Homer told of the submarine attack which was identical with the one we had and I'm certain it was the same.
This submarine attack happened near the Isle of Sicily, which is just off the English and Irish Coasts about two days out. The weather had been rough most of the way over but on this particular afternoon of Sept. 6th, (Saturday) the sea was calm and everybody was on deck except a few who had not completely gotten over the sea-sickness. I was giving the men a talk on how they should conduct themselves when we reached France, when all at once--boom--then the alarm given by the ship that was struck and sound of the whistle gave one the impression that was almost a human note of distress. Then the eight destroyers that were with us, all but two made for the attack. Before this time it had not been possible to see any sign of men on these little boats, but one came streaming by our ship with every man at his post standing at attention, which made one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Some of the men on out boat yelled "give 'em hell, boys," but they paid no attention to any one, so intent were they bent upon their task. They surrounded the place where the submarine was and dropped depth bombs for five minutes and there is no doubt but what they got him. The men on the ship (Persic) which was attacked, were taking a bath and lots of them had to get off without any clothing.
General Martin, of our Brigade, was aboard and got away with only the clothes he had on his person. The rest of the ships kept going--you see they had to or get hit themselves--and the destroyers picked up the men. We could see the ship that was hit until it got dark. It was finally towed to the coast. There were two of our own hydroplanes came to sight just as the attack started. These are machines that travel in water as well as air and have instruments for searching the sea to the very bottom. It was unfortunate that they did not arrive earlier.
Excuse me if this is monotonous, but this was the only time I have been under fire and hence my only "war tale."
With love, I remain,
Your affectionate son,
MORRIS.
NOTES: This letter was written by Morris R. Moore. He was born in Centerville, Arkansas on January 25, 1891 and died on February 26, 1972. He is buried in the Brearley Cemetery in Dardanelle, Arkansas. He departed Montreal, Canada on August 24, 1918 onboard the City of Poona. He was serving as a Capt. in Co. B. 348th Infantry. He departed Bordeaux, France on February 24, 1919 onboard the Chicago. He arrived in New York, NY on March 8, 1919. He was serving as a Capt. of Co. B 348th Infantry. He later serviced as County Judge of Yell County. (1935-41 and 1947-68)
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD