Letterstime: Ein Geleitzug

"Sir, from the Admiral," the OOD said, handing an envelope to his CO. "LT Jenkins brought it," the OOD added, indicating the junior officer standing a few feet away whose uniform included the staff braid of an admiral's aide.

"Good to see you again, lieutenant," said Leverett, as wiped his hands a second time before taking the white envelope. He moved a few steps further aft of the gangway before he began to open it. Jenkins' continued presence after delivering the envelope strongly suggested that an immediate reply or acknowledgment would be required. As he read it, he nodded to himself, then handed the papers to the XO, who had meanwhile materialized nearby.

"Cancel the scheduled liberty parties, sir?"

" ‘Fraid so. The Engineer was already putting #2 feedpump put back together. I think the Chief's idea was correct. I just looked at the old gasket, and I think it really was a manufacture defect. But you're right, better start rounding up our people. As you can see, I'm off to the Admiral's again."

"Aye, aye, sir."

"Jenkins, I'll be just a minute." The Destroyer Alwyn

Leverett had to retrieve his cover -- not worn aboard ship -- and wanted to wash up. Stennis was not a spit-and-polish tyrant, but he WAS a vice-admiral. Looking down as he headed for his stateroom, he realized he'd gotten oil all along his left sleeve and needed to don a fresh shirt.

---- 2:45 PM, bridge of Strassburg, moored

"Sir, lookouts report the second dreadnought has cast off her lines."

"Very well," Captain Siegmund replied, without lowering his own glasses.

Wyoming had shed her tugs a couple minutes ago. Now, dark smoke showed that she had increased speed to more than steerage way.

"She's at least as big as any in 3rd Battle Squadron," commented the XO.

"Yes," said Siegmund, "and with broadside of twelve 12-inch guns." A formidable ship, he thought.

Kommodore von Hoban was up in the superstructure, as was his privilege. He had shifted his attention to the other dreadnought, the New York. The Queen Elizabeths of the RN mounted 15-inch guns, eight of them. This American had ten 14-inch guns and, if anything, was larger than the Wyoming out in the channel.

---- 3:00 PM, bridge of Strassburg, moored

"Sir, lookouts report that three automobiles with official markings are approaching the guard perimeter."

"Very well," said Siegmund. "Lieutenant, find the commodore and make sure he has been informed."

"Aye, aye, sir."

"Sir, two more light cruisers are coming out of the yard."

"Very well."

They had already watched two American light cruisers -- the ones they called "Destroyers" -- make their way out into the roads. This would bring the count to four, and possibly there would be more still.

"Ah, Kommodore," began Siegmund as von Hoban came onto the bridge. "Did you get the word on ...."

"Yes, thank you. I've been expecting such a delegation."

Ever since Lieutenant Lionel had reported back that no enemy merchants had left since 6:09 AM and that all such chalked departure times had been scrubbed off the Boards, von Hoban had known that some sort of official notification would soon make an appearance. The developing sortie of the American battle group had only confirmed his earlier view. The only questions left seemed to be the timing of the notification and the method of delivery.

They watched as one of the cars passed through the gun bearers, the other two remaining with the sentries, and made its way down the pier towards them.

"Captain," said von Hoban, with a small sigh, "would you please pass the word for LT Lionel?"

---- 4:00 PM, Admiral Stennis' conference room

As they sat down, LT Lionel had a feeling of deja vu. It was the same room almost the same people as were there two days earlier. Missing was that soldier colonel with the large hand gun, but the CO of the American light cruiser, the LCDR interpreter whose family name had once been "Hausmann," and, of course, the grim-faced vice-admiral were all there.

"Commodore," began the admiral after the preliminaries were done, "I hope you and your crew've found New York to be worth the trip."

Lionel recognized it as another idiom; the Germans on Strassburg had hardly paid for tickets. He wondered again if the admiral's awkward phrasings were deliberate sallies.

"The Kommodore," replied Lionel, "says that New York is a most impressive city, and well worth the transit. He expects this opinion will be held by many other Germans." Von Hoban had used a wording that was almost provocative in its double meaning and Lionel had strained to produce a translation with comparable ambiguity.

Stennis frowned slightly and glanced at Houseman.

"That's pretty close," the other replied, "best I can tell, sir."

The American flag officer stared hard at the young German officer. Lionel returned the stare as best he could, trying to ignore the growing dampness under his arms. Damn, he hated this translation duty!

"Well," continued Stennis, "that's fine, Commodore, fine. Glad to hear it. As your lieutenant probably has reported, all the British and French merchants have canceled their sailings. Officially, the last one was at 6:09 this morning.

"So, Commodore von Hoban, the Government of United States expects you to abide by the terms of The Treaty of The Hague and depart no later than 24 hours from 6:09 AM tomorrow morning. I presumed that you'd want that in writing, so here it is.

"Do you have any questions?"

"If we may study it a minute?"

"Certainly, certainly, take your time."

Lionel shrugged off that stray idiom ("confiscate" time?) as he and von Hoban pored over the terse text.

"So, Vice-Admiral Stennis, Strassburg is not required to leave precisely at 6:09 AM tomorrow, June 18? But, instead, we are free to make our sailing at any time between then and 6:09 AM on June 19?"

"Yes, that's correct."

The American admiral did not like it, Lionel judged, apparently preferring to kick them out of the harbor and into the gunsights of His Majesty's Royal Navy as soon as possible.

"Thank you, admiral. This appears a fair reading of The Hague provisions. But Kommodore von Hoban says that we must consult with the embassy here but that, in any case, we will continue to abide by The Hague."

"Very good. Ah, a couple more matters, if you would, gentlemen," Stennis said, as the Germans made as if to rise.

"As you are well aware, I'm sure, I am dispatching Fleet elements of the United States Navy out into our coastal waters off Our Harbor. It is my intention to ensure both sides respect the Sovereignty of the United States and the neutrality of Our Territorial Waters."

Lionel acknowledged for the Germans, even as he admired the way the American admiral managed to speak in capital letters. English nouns and other words were not normally capitalized, he knew, but Stennis' tone had been undaunted by grammar.

"Another thing," Stennis added. "You know Commander Leverett, here, and Aylwin. They will be standing by to escort Strassburg out to the three mile limit. That's just a simple precaution, you understand. To make sure you don't lose your way, or something. Aylwin will be standing by to leave when you do, whatever the time you settle on, whether it be 6:09 AM, 6:09 PM, midnight, or whatever."

Lionel got the gist of that, even as he wondered how one would colonize a "time."

jim (Letterstime)

Photo of the DD47 taken from the Navsource Navy public domain photo archives.