COUGAR SCREAM

THAT THE BISMARK could take an amazing amount of damage and still fight and still stay afloat is shown by the British accounts. She absorbed 7 or 8 torpedo hits and an unknown number of hits from 14, 15 and 16-inch shells and possibly many hits from smaller caliber projectiles and was not finished off until at least two or three more torpedoes were fired into her hull. She was several times on fire but each time the fire was extinguished. On the last morning of her life she was still able to fire every gun and make 10 or 12 knots despite damage that might have sunk another capital ship. She sank the Hood, damaged the British Battleship Prince of Wales and possibly damaged other British ships that attacked her.

In any case it was the Bismark's extraordinary beam of 118 feet, and her very heavy armor, which gave her strength. The beam represented not only a very thick armor belt, but probably five or six underwater "skins", and minute cellular sub-division of the underwater interior of the ship, so that damage could be localized and torpedo and mine hits minimized in damage.

Damage control is a highly technical business and the Germans at Jutland and again in the Bismark battle showed themselves masters of it.

Jutland offered the first full scale battle test of the modern fleets. The British lost fourteen ships and 6,097 men; the Germans eleven ships and 2,551 men. The British fired in that battle about 4,598 major caliber shells; the Germans 3,597, but the German shellfire was more accurate and did more damage, and the lessons learned by both sides--particularly by the British (and later, indirectly, by the Americans) --transformed our conception of naval construction. Ships were then judged in strength by their time construction; a pre-Jutland ship, a few years after the battle, was generally considered obsolete, unless it had been virtually rebuilt; a post-Jutland ship represented the epitome of naval strength,

One of the greatest lessons learned from the Germans as the result of Jutland and from the study of post-war years was the lesson of damage control. Damage control was unknown or virtually unknown, in both British and American navies at the time of Jutland; it was an infant art in our Navy until the late Nineteen Twenties. Today the Damage Control Officer is one of the most important officers aboard a capital ship or major fleet unit for it is his job to isolate any battle damages, to know how -to control leaks, to compensate a ship's list due to flooding by flooding other compartments.

EACH MAN afloat has a definite duty to perform--a specific job to do. At times that duty can be carried out individually--as often we see a man working alone here and there about the ship. But at other times, it's a job that requires an entire division, or an entire department, or possibly an "all hands" evolution.

During the past week, we've had outstanding examples of the above. And, most important, is the fact that each example, each duty, each job was completed with the serious and determined spirit of men-hard working men, sacrificing men, fighting men. This last week has been a particularly tough one. Long hours, constant pressure, ceaseless vigils, a hundred-and-one details -- and every man right in there pitching!

We might pick out any one of countless incidents to illistrate this spirit of cooperation, this willingness to lend a hand Here's one example--it's typical:

During the night of 16 December and throughout the day of 17 December it was necessary to conduct diving operations to clear a fouled propeller, on one of our Navy tugs. When preparing to get the diving party together and the equipment in the boat, the Diving Officer asked for two volunteer divers, eight responded!

The first dive was begun at 1810 on the 16th and the final dive completed at 1415 on the 17th, a period of 19 hours and 55 minutes that the divers were on the job. There were no rest periods--no "times-out". The success of the job was largely due to the Herculean efforts of McCormick and Lewis, of the "R" Division, although it remained for Morgan to untie the final knot that meant completion of operations. McCormick made three dives of approximately ninety minutes each while Lewis made one of nearly two hours duration. Equally important the' less hazardous and disagreeable, was the work of Wells, Davis, McCormick, and Booth, of the ship's police force and McCombs of the Gunnery Department. who dressed and tended the divers. Theirs was no pleasant job either. The safety of the men below was dependent on their being on the alert and vigilantly watching for every movement of the diver. That they did their job well is evident in the fact that during the fourteen separate dives, not one man came back with so much as a scratch to show for injuries.

The Medical Department was represented by Smith, who, having no injuries to care for, made himself useful by taking charge of the diving pump and insuring the diver an ample supply of air.

As is so often the case, this job also has its ''unsung heroes", the men who manned the diving pump, and the two mess cooks who took care of the food service and cleaned up the messing compartment. We don't know their names, they were just another working party from the deck force, but we do know that these lads turned the wheels on the pump almost steadily through fifteen ,hours after having completed a day of their regular duties aboard ship. There was no grumbling or shirking, every man did his share of the work. When the sun had risen well above the horizon on the-start of another day, the question of "How much longer?" was never asked. The only question that was heard was, "Do we eat breakfast today'"

It is to be remembered that due to the ship's operations it has been impossible to put the divers down to a suffcient depth to qualify them for diving pay. This was just a tough job to be done and these volunteers did it.

A ship's company composed of men of this calibre, a ship's gulls manned by men with this spirit, spells victory for us and curtains for the enemy.

MOST TIMELY and apropos of the article which appeared in last week's COUGAR SCREAM under the heading MAIL CENSORSHIP -- we ran across the following. It speaks for itself. Read and note well:

Napoleon wrote a letter. It was directly responsible for the loss of his Campaign of 1814 and the whole empire he had built. Napoleon also lost the woman to whom the letter was written, his wife, Mary Louise.
- - - - - - - - - - "March 23, 1814.

"Mon Amie, "I have been in the saddle all the last few days. On the 20th I took Arcis-sur-Aube. The enemy attacked me there at 6* o'clock in the evening; I beat him the same day, killing 400(0). I took 2 of his guns, he took 2 of mine, which leaves us quits. On the 21st, the enemy army formed up in battle array for the purpose of. covering the advance of his convoys towards Brienne and Bar-sur-Aube. I decided to make for the Marne and his line of communications, in order to push him back farther from Paris and draw nearer-to his fortress. I shall be at Saint-Dizier this afternoon. Adieu, mon amie A kiss to my son.
- - - - - - - - - - - Nap"

*He placed a "2" over the six. Whether Napoleon meant 400 or 4,000 killed is not known.

Napoleon wrote this letter while on his march toward the Marne, to drive his enemies from Paris, and had sent it by messenger to his wife, the Empress.

General Blucher had Napoleon's courier waylaid and came into possession of extremely important news. From the intercepted letter Blucher knew that the road to Paris would not be defended. The great army at the hands of the master of Europe was tactically involed elsewhere, while after once having toward Paris swept a, giant tide of invasion too great to be defeated after once having gotten control of that strategic city.

Everyone knows of Napoleon's abdication and exile to Elba. But few know that a seemingly, harmless letter of affection, love and ego from his own hand, and not the military genius of his enemy, caused his crushing defeat.

Dear Sir:

After having read articles by prominent Naval men about the Navy, it seems most appropriate that a Navy Mother should give her views on the subject.

Having no technical knowledge of the Navy, my side of it must, of necessity, be a personal one. Like all mothers, when my boy left home for the first time, I was much concerned about his mental, moral and physical well being, but it was needless worry, for the Navy took as good, if not better, care of him than I could have.

His letters from the Training Station gave enthusiastic descriptions of his surroundings, the other boys and life in general but particularly did he stress the fine type of officers and men that were in charge of the recruits. He told of the fine talks that were given them on patriotism, duty, chances of advancement, responsibility to themselves, to the country and to the uniform they wore, of doctors and chaplains leading round table discussions over the coffee cups, with small groups of boys. He told humorously, albiet somewhat wryly, of his punishment for minor infractions of the rules. He gave us the feeling that he was very proud to be a member of an organization that took such a personal interest in each and every one of its members.

He could have come directly home after his primary training in San Diego but he preferred to wait till Christmas for his leave. I had sent away a typical, carefree boy, careless in dress and studies, somewhat irresponsible and with little thought of the future. I got back a very interested and interesting young man, who amazed his family by his personal neatness and cleanliness and his sense of responsibility. Being a fond mother I asked him if there was anything I could cook for him, that he especially wanted, he couldn't think of a thing and showed me a week's menu at the Training Station, and then I knew why. The meals were fine, well balanced and of a greater variety than he was accustomed to at home, with fresh fruit always available.

The Navy gives specialized training on many subjects and my son had been able to qualify for the course he wanted, so he returned to San Diego to finish it. At its conclusion, he was sent to Washington D.C. to continue in his chosen field.

True, he isn't earning as much as some of the boys today but money isn't everything; he is getting a better training in his branch of work than is possible anywhere else in the country and no private business could possibly take the care of its men as does the Navy.

His sense of well-being and the joy he has in his work is quite well expressed in a passage from his last letter, when he says "I'm sure glad you are getting on all right at home, I know I am. This old world sure has treated me well, and I can't think of a single thing to complain about." Just how many boys here today could say the same?

I am very proud of my son and the uniform he wears but doubly proud of the organization he represents. A service that can instill so quickly into boys the high code of Navy Honor, is well worth our whole-hearted support and cooperation
. . . . . . . . . Mrs. V. J. Syrett

Hear Everthing -- See Everything -- Said Nothing!

All men of the Catholic Faith are reminded that Wednesday of this week, Christmas Eve, is a day of abstinence when no meat may be eaten. Catholic servicemen are excused from many days of abstinence during the year. However, December 24 is one of the few days when all Catholic servicemen included, are obligated to make this personal sacrifice in prepartion for the birthday of the Christ Child.

Hello Mom! I'm safe and sound,

     Eatin' Navy chow, gettin' musclebound.

We're goin' to win this war, you know.

     Tho' the road be long and the going slow.

Some folks back home just worry and fret.

     'Cause they fear the Japs will get us yet.

But I'm tellin' you. Mom, don't worry or sigh.

     We'll come home victorious bye and bye.

Two years ago--I remember the day--

     when I entered the Corps. four years to stay

I recall your words: "For you I'Il pray--

     "For you, my son, to return some day."

As I think of you, mother, and all the tears

     I've caused you to shed throughout the years.

Do you know what I wish?--I honestly do---

     That I had three mothers --exactly like you!

-----PFC Carl F. DeLoach

Steel from the USS WASHINGTON, scrapped in 1922, was used in building the stands of Thompson Stadium at the Naval Academy...Records show that there are sixteen American Indians in the U.S. Navy...Navy crosses have been awarded to four Navy nurses in recognition of their World War service...Thirteen nurses are stationed on the SOLACE and twelve on the RELIEF, the Navy's hospital ships...Joe Giblon, now a Chief Boatswain's Mate, helped compose the sprightly dialogue for "Navy Blues," and "Sailor Take Care"...Paul Linke, now on a U. S. Battleship, was formerly the drummer in Jan Savitt's orchestra...October statistics show- that California, New York, and Texas contribute more men to the Navy than any other states in the Union...Sparks is the name sailors give to radiomen on board ship...American sailors call their coffee Joe, Java, or Jamoke...No Navy man can sell or even give away a uniform without special permission...Navy cooks in tropical stations now are permitted to wear white shorts on duty...The Navy requires its men to mark their names on blankets in eight places for quick identification... Sailors who have crossed the Equator are called shellbacks... Brass from the torpedo tubes of the old USS WASHINGTON became the seals in front of the figure of Tecumseh at the Naval Academy.

The maid was very slow to get up in the morning. One morning the mistress said sternly:
"From now on, every time you stay in bed and I have to cook the breakfast, I shall deduct fifty cents from your wages;"
The next morning the maid was late again.
"Look at that clock," said the irate mistress. "I've had to come down and get the breakfast myself."
"Well, what about it?" replied the girl. "I'm paying you for it, ain't I?"