| VOL 1 | 26 April 1942 | NO. XLIV |
Article Index
SMOKER
NINE BOXERS and three wrestlers from the Washington gave a fine account of themselves Thursday at a smoker in which their opponents hailed from another warship of Our Navy.
The bouts, interspersed with 16 others were staged before an enthusiastic audience of about l,000. DeSantis, 4th Division, started off against Alunder of another ship, in the first two rounds with some very flashy punches and footwork. Then in the last round, the lack of conditioning was too much and the fight had to be stopped due to DeSantis' exhaustion -- he was still game and full of fight at the end.
Beacht of the "F" Division was next, fighting Smith -- a large shouldered, heavyset lad. Beacht showed the crowd some real style against Smith's rushlng and slugging. The fight was stopped in the second round when Beacht opened a cut about an inch long over the left eye of the opposing ship's man.
Saunders, MAtt of the "S" Division was our only unlucky boy -- he got a tough break in the form of a Sunday punch from Riley of another ship. Riley let fly in the first fifteen seconds with the sort of punch you land once in a lifetime and it exploded right on Saunders chin. That was the end of the fight.
The fourth bout was with Maurice, 6th Division, cool and steady against Burnette, another boxer with the same level style. This lasted for three rounds of good fighting, with both boys slowing down at the end -- Burnette was given the decision. It was close and some of the spectators did not agree with the verdict.
Alvarsen :of the "Fighting 3rd" fought an extremely clever bout against a boy with more experience and longer reach. Our 175 pounder moved away and jabbed for two rounds and then in the third punched down his man, Guniniery, twice with hard, slashing rights and lefts and then; dumped him in a neutral corner for a count of ten--This brought the house down.
Tallos, the "Crazy Greek" from the 8th Division was the big hit of the day -- with his bald head and fear inspiring grimaces. He clowned and punched and danced his way to a clear cut knockout in the second. He made every punch land with telling force and in the second, Grille from the other ship found the deck several times -- and then in the same corner that Alvarsen dropped his man. Tullos slugged Grillo into unconsciousness.
Yow of the "S" Division fought a tall boy, Sarvery, off the opposing ship, who had a good left jab and was in fair shape. Yow knocked him from corner to corner for the first round and a half with good blows - then Sarvery's better condition came to the front.' While Yow was heaving and puffing and trying to land that KO punch, Sarvery kept jabbing to the face and eventually out pointed our Joe Louis. It was a heart breaker to lose and Yow did a fine job.
At the end of the boxing, three wrestling bouts were staged. These were a novelty to many in the audience and were throughly enjoyed. Boyd, one of our "Soldiers" wrestled Shifano and doing a grand job of it too, when the refree, due to an error, called a foul against our lad-the decision was not reversed and Boyd lost.
Byrd, "S'' Division, and Lalos, of another ship, put on a real "pro" bout with body slams and roils, and groans, etc, much to the crowd's delight. Byrd was easily the stronger man all the way through and got the nod at the end.
That is the story. An interesting, exciting and instructive time was had by everyone. We of the Washington can hold our heads high knowing the fine reputation left by our squad. All the boys know that more training will make a difference, and Saunders particularly again wants to meet the same opponent.
Have You Written Home This Week?
A GOOD IDEA
The latest ''straight dope" and incidentally, haircuts, may now be had daily at the Barber Shop up to 2000. The addition of a seventh barber makes it possible for the tonsorial artists to work in relays. One of the barbers estimates that if all the men in the ship who wait until the last minute and rush in for haircuts just before Captain's Inspection, were placed end to end and dumped into the Grand Canyon, it would be a good idea.
Who's Who
Hobbies of Washington Personnel:
Do You know of someone among the Washington personnel who has an interesting or unique hobby? Get the data and pass it in in written form or merely send the name and: the type of hobby to the Chaplain and someone representing the Cougar Scream will interview him. |
Mr. P. C.. Schaible comes from Michigan where Ann Arbor is his home.
He attended the university of Michigan and graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University where he majored in Geology and minored in English. Boxing and swimming were the sports that lie competed in while in college. For recreation he likes to sail and target shoot with a pistol. His hobbies run in the line of collections. He has a stamp collection which he says he can add to regularly without too much finincial strain. Then he also collects coins. But the selection he is most interested in is his gun-collection among which he has a brace of dueling pistols,--one of which is now in the University of Michigan museum--and- a "stub twist" shot gun of about 14 guage, made out of horseshoe nails. Mr. Schaible desires to remain with the service in the aviation branch, but should he leave the service he hopes to go into commercial aviation. In college he planned on becoming a Geology Professor. He took his primary flight training at Grosse Ile, Michigan, and went to Pennsacola for his advance training, where he was a cadet officer (two stripes). After he received: his wings he was a Navy Test Pilot at the Philadelphia factory before joining the Washington. He is engaged and would like to get married as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
SOCCER TEAM LOSES
IN ITS first game of the season the Cougar Soccer Team was defeated 6 to 2 by another Naval Unit.
The opposing team managed to pile up four goals during the first half. Oughton, the Cougar right inside, talleyed with one in the closing play of the period.
In the second half Docterman brought honors to the cougars by booting one past the goalie. The opponents, however, were held to one goal.
The Cougars, a little ragged in the first, showed more teamwork and precision during the second period. Coner, the Cougar Captain, was the key man of the Cougar backfield and broke up many of the opposing team sallies into the Green and White territory.
Nilan, Wondalowski, and Morse were the bulwark of the Cougar defense with Mittleman at Goal. Miller and La Plante, "old timers" at the game showed particular skill in passing.
All hands played hard and well and are ready for the next game.
The maindeck aft is a busy place daily with base balls, soft balls, and medicine balls flying in every direction. It speaks well for the ability of the Cougars to make flying leaps,to record that none of the equipment has been lost over the sIde.
| The Lineup: | Substitutes: | |
| Left: Wing --------- La Plante Left Inside --------- Cannon Forward Center ---- Docterman Right Inside -------- Aughton Right Wing --------- Miller Left Half ----------- Wondalowski Center Half -------- Coner Right Half ---------- Boardman Left Fullback ------- Giele Right Fullback ------ Green Goalie -------------- Mittleman |
Morse --------- Left Half Nydegger ------ Right Inside Nilan ----------- Left Fullback Terstenyak ----- Right Half |
ENJOYABLE SHOW
Many officers and men from this ship recently were able to enjoy a special show featuring outstanding professional talent. The performance ended With a song "The Smoke Goes up the Chimney Just the Same" in which all hands were gesticulating participants. About three hundred and forty of the Washington personnel were reported to have fallen in love with the sweet singing heroine.
THE MANLY ART
Boxing is a sport wherein the man-o-war's-man is at his best. This is a game that requires individual strength, skill, gameness, and self-reliance. The boxer, at the sound of the gong, stands alone. He stands on his own feet; he hits with his own unaided fists. Once he has climbed through the ropes it is up to him. Not so in Baseball. The pitcher has a catcher to steady his nerves and give him the lowdown on the batter's weakness. The football linesman has the quarter-back to do most of the thinking for him. It is different in the boxing ring. With the boxer it is a personal matter: he alone attacks; he alone defends; he alone studies his man, as he tears in with mighty will to conquer.
A good boxer is an object lesson for us who sit smugly at the ring side. Everybody knows how to fight, more or less. But only a few men know the high lights of boxing. Boxing is more than mere fighting. For example, a boxer never comes in "wide open." He never lets down his guard for an instant. He always knows what to do with the second punch if he should happen to miss with the first. He is master of himself. He has to be, to win.
What has been said about boxing may also be applied to wrestling. Here too is a sport demanding skill, strength, self-discipline and self-reliance, in which the participant is on his own, combining brains with brawn.
Boxing is a fine sport, preeminently the sailor man's racket. In a naval battle it is: "Beat him to the punch," "Only hits count." That's boxing.
Have you ever discovered the analogy between a boxer in the ring and a bluejacket on liberty? One wins or loses in much the same way. Some of our shipmates forget all they ever knew, after taking the first temptation "on the chin." They drop their guard and wade in "wide open" for all kinds of grief; fetching up, sooner or later, in the brig or sick bay.
Advice on sensible liberty-making is pretty much the same, in a figurative sense, as words of wisdom breathed into the ear of a fighter, as he sits in the breeze of the towel waver. Every time you hit the beach, be on your guard lest the beach rise up and hit you.
CORDAGE
The history of ropes is so dim and ancient that really little is known of their origin.
That earlier man used cordage of some kind and only by his ingenuity succeeded in tying the material together, is indisputable. Doubtless the trailing vines and plants first suggested rope to human beings, and it is quite possible that these same vines in their twisting and turning gave them their first knots.
Few realize the importance that knots and cordage have played in the world's history, but if it had not been for these simple and everyday things which as a rule are given far too little consideration, the human race could not have developed material things. No cloth could be woven, no net or seine knitted, nor bow strung, and no craft sailed without numerous knots and proper lines or ropes; and Columbus himself would have been far more handicapped without knots than without a compass.
As to the utility of knots and rope work there can be no question. A little knowledge of knots has saved many a life in a storm or wreck, and would make for a far less casualties in lives in hotels and tall buildings. It is really surprising how much more enjoyable a simple outing such as hunting, fishing, camping, etc., can be with a small knowledge of knots and for the seagoing man, the skill is essential.
Talk across the bar may lead to time behind the bars.
Be careful what you say about the Navy
does not disclose vital information.
OPERATIONS DURING
BATTLE PRACTICE
The following men recently were operated upon at the Battle Dressing Stations indicated:
Volpe, P. E., Pfc, 7th Division, at Amidships Battle Dressing Station; Lt. Blanc, J. J., Sea 2c, 2nd Division, at After Battle Dressing Station and Hackleman, J. C., AS, 1nd Division, at Forward Battle Dressing Station.
The above volunteers, who are heroes of the first water, will go down in history as the first patients undergoing operations at Battle Dressing Stations, under actual battle conditions, during Battle Practice. These operations gave the Medical Departmen an actual workout in setting up the Battle Dressing Stations, and have been of inestimable value in the training of the operating crews. Many thanks, Volpe, Le Blanc, and Hackleman!
Dental Officer: "I thought you said you never had a gold filling in your life. Here's flakes of gold on my drill point." |
AUSTRALIA
It is well known that there are thousands of American troops and many American vessels in Australian waters. That commonwealth is assuming great importance in the news of the world.
Australia occupies a warm spot in the hearts of American bluejackets, because of the warmth and sincerity of the welcome they have always received. The old timers who visited there when the fleet went around the world over thirty years ago, the men in ships that were fortunate enough to visit it during the intervening years, and who are stationed in the ships now in the great harbors of Sydney and Melborne vie with one another in telling stories of the splendid reception always accorded them by the Aussies.
The names of some of the Australian places, birds and animals, however are confusing to the visiting bluejackets.
"And Murriwillumba complaineth in song
For the garlanded bowers of Woolloomooloo,
And the Ballarat Fly and the lone Wotlongong
They dream of the gardens of Jamberoo."
The Australians do not seem to our sailors, to differ noticeably from Americans, either in dress, carriage, ways, pronunciation, inflections or general appearance. There are fleeting and subtle suggestions of their English origin, but these are not pronounced enough as a rule, to catch one's attention. The people have ease and cordial manners, and great friendliness. As Mark Twain remarked "It is English friendliness with the English shyness and self-consciousness left out."
Just now it is the fall season in Australia, heralding the approach of the winter months of June, July and August, the opposite of the seasons in the United States. It is said, however, that though the weather reaches extremes of heat in the dry interior, it rarely becomes very cold in either Melbourne or Sydney or for that matter in any of the ports of the hospitable continent.
Australia is geographically the world's greatest island-continent. Politically the mainland, with the adjoining island of Tasmania, forms the Commonwealth of Australia. This consists of the following six states which were federated on 1 January, 1901. They are: New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland. The Commonwealth covers an area of 2,980,632 square miles. It is territorially about one fourth smaller than Europe, one-sixth larger than the United States, excluding Alaska, and about twenty-five times larger than the British Isles.
The north and west coasts of Australia figure in the maps of Spanish and Portuguese navigators as far back as about the year 1530. But it was the war of American Independence that led to the settling of the white man on the shores of this great lone continent. At that time and until the nineteenth century was well advanced, the maxim of Poley and others of his school, that crime is most effectually prevented by a dread of capital punishment held almost complete control in the legislative mind in far off Great Britain. "By 1809," says a legal authority in the "National History of England," "more than six hundred different offenses had been made capital." These included stealing a loaf of bread, or professing a different religion from that of the established church, etc. Transportation was the ordinary commutation of, or substitute for, the slip-knot of the hangman. From 1718 to 1776 British convicts had been sent in considerable numbers annually, under contractors into servitude on the American mainland. The traffic was stopped by the War of Independence. At the close of the struggle the British prisions and later on, the prisions hulks overflowed. The colony of New South Wales (until 1826 synonymous with the whole Australian mainland) was established as a convict settlement by an Order in Council dated 6 December 1785.
Many of the convicts were political prisoners and not in any sense of the word criminals. Some account, too must be taken of what constituted a crime in those days of transportation of convicts and of the hideously unjust sentences which were inflicted for comparatively trivial offenses. The first groups landed at Botany Bay on 20 January 1788 and after a few days abandoned it and laid the foundations of Sydney on the shores of the noble and spacious harbor to which they gave the name of Port Jackson. The discovery of rich gold in Victoria in 1851 had a profound and far-reaching effect on the history of Australia. There was a delirium of sudden prosperity. Population rushed into the New El Dorado;
Time, free immigration, prosperity, higher instruction, more extended educational faculties and the play of representative institutions, since the sad early days, have combined to make the "Land Down Under," a "Land of Dawning."
AROUND THE SHIP
We understand that --
During these long "watchless" evenings, Professor "Kay Kayser" Cooper entertains in the Captain's Office with his geographical quiz. Red's pupils are Rudiman, the Log Room Romeo, and Harper, the D. C. Prodigy. Mansfield went down with the anchor one night this week when he identified Washington, D. C. as one of the 48 states. Cooper was so impressed with this display of ignorance that he had the "dunce" sign a statement to that effect and now threatens to show it to Mansfield's Division Officer when he goes up for second class.
Where have we heard a sweeter voice than that of Lang, the Bake Shop Warbler? There is something that shouldn't be overlooked at our next smoker.
Rollins, the ship's printer, tells us that Stanley's "catch-all" is very popular with the seagoing younger set who think living compartments are suitable recepticles for cast off clothing and personal gear. Stanley's "Lucky Bag Storage Incorporated" announces an unique business campaign to reduce unnecessary patronage. Names will be published once a week and that evening the "lucky" people will attend a fishing party. Each mans clothing (penalty slip included) will be neatly wrapped and placed in a cooking urn. When the party starts those attending will find their respective places marked by place cards secured to a blue ribbon which streams away to the urn. At the command "Jerk!" (given by Stanley himself) gift packages will be pulled from the urn and "extra duty notes" enthusiastically compared. One party member will receive a surprise award -- a doll-like boatswain's mate.
Red "Shaggy" Hartman of the Print Shop finally got his wool clipped. Better wear a cap, "Red" or you'll catch cold. (What Barber College did the ship's barbers graduate from, anyway?
First Sailor: "I hear you are taking up fencing." |
RAISED EYEBROW DEPARTMENT
The following item appeared in the "Morning Press News" of April 21, 1942, "Washington:
The United States reports Under Secretary of War Patterson is now producing more tanks than the Axis".
