Date: 29 Sep 2007
Time: 07:43:31 -0400
Remote Name: 74.60.42.37
Remote User:
asian shemale ladyboy shemale pornstar list miami shemale escorts forced shemale schools shemale thumbnail redhead shemale gallery big dick shemale shemale hoes. implants female slave shemale bdsm shemale stories shemale balls shemale dommes shemale maine juicy shemale shemale cum blogs implants female slave shemale http://ix6p70pzea.vsueeetranny.info implants female slave shemale implants female slave shemale http://ix6p70pzea.vsueeetranny.info implants female slave shemale shemale model gallery asian shemale handjobs distintas shemale blonde busty shemale shemale porn star wendy williams anal shemale gay cock shemale scort teen shemale hentai. implants female slave shemale messy shemale facials sailor moon shemale porn shemale sex party thumb shemale. implants female slave shemale nashville escort shemale shemale torrents e hardcore shemale action shemale escorts seattle shemale sex clubs new york shemale club shemale group sex shemale christiane hot ebony shemale. implants female slave shemale shemale fantasy most famous shemale cute ebony shemale shemale own cum kinky shemale sex savannah shemale asian shemale porn shemale asian video chat shemale escorts in uk alaska shemale escorts
From: Steve Kovacs
Date: 05 Apr 1999
Time: 14:25:23
Remote Name: 198.116.37.25
Mr. Swanson-
Sorry for the delay in my response to you, but I have access to the Internet and e-mail only while at work.
I appreciate your offer of a copy of AUGUSTA's detailed chronological history. While I have a fairly complete picture of the ship's movements from 1931-41 thanks to the many "killer bar legends" posted within the cancels in my collection, there are, nonetheless, many gaps in my information which extend for periods of from several days up to perhaps a month. I'm certain the chronology you're offering will help fill many of those gaps. If you would be so kind, please mail a copy to: STEVE KOVACS 4751 S. BIRD LAKE ROAD OSSEO, MICHIGAN 49266.
I briefly checked the dates you provided for AUGIE's '34 & '36 cruise to Java against the records I've derived from her postal history. My records precisely match those you show for '34, but I did note a small discrepancy for '36. Your history shows the ship calling at Makassar from 8 thru 10 Dec 36. However, I have a cancel in my collection which still bears the Makassar location a day later, on 11 Dec 36. A small nit to pick, I know. These many years later, it's difficult to say which source is correct. As I said in my first message to the Bulletin Board, however, I tend to believe the postal clerk's work over and above that of a historian who worked from who-knows-what records many years after the fact. Unless the ship's log were actually consulted, we'll never truly know who to believe.
On that subject, many years ago I queried the National Archives for copies of AUGUSTA's deck logs. I was told that while they hadn't been transferred to microfilm as of then, they could be. For a steep fee, of course. As I recall, it amounted to around $200. It would be fantastic if a dedicated group of AUGUSTA supporters could somehow now join together and contribute the funds necessary to complete this project. The more that contributed, the less the cost to each contributor. The payoff to those that step forward should be, of course, copies of the deck logs. True, there would be a problem in that the thousands of pages would have to be transferred from microfilm into hard copy, and that would involve more money. And once again more money involved in making and distributing copies of the hard copy! (Perhaps turned into a book offered for sale?) As you undoubtedly know, deck logs don't often provide the most fascinating reading in the world. They can be cold, brief, and repetitious. Still, because those logs provide the only definitive answers to the ship's locations, all the effort would be well worth it. Any thoughts in the matter?
I thought you might be interested in posting the following letter about AUGUSTA’s Vladivostok 1937 visit, a copy of which was sent to me years ago by a friend in Texas. This visit marked the first to this port by an American warship in 14 years, and I don’t believe the U.S. has been allowed there since. It provides a rare glimpse into history. Unfortunately, I don’t know who the writer of the letter was, although obviously he was an officer. It was typewritten on AUGUSTA’s stationery. I will copy it verbatim, as follows:
At anchor Vladivostok, U.S.S.R. 31 July 1937 Dear Boys, Wednesday morning the Augusta, with the Destroyers Paul Jones, Alden, Barker, and Whipple steamed into this harbor escorted by the USSR Destroyer Stalin. The Augusta left Tsingtao on Saturday, just before midnight and joined the Destroyers from Chefoo on Sunday afternoon. On the cruise north we passed through the “edge” of Japan’s first typhoon of the season which was strong enough to tie up shipping at Fusan and Shimonoseki. Fortunately we escaped the fury of the storm’s center. Our arrival was announced by the firing of a national salute of twenty-one guns. During the morning, Admiral Yarnell called officially on the Commander of the USSR Pacific Fleet, the Garrison Commander, the Far Eastern Representative of Foreign Affairs and the President of the City Council who is the Mayor of Vladivostok. These calls were returned in the afternoon. At four o’clock liberty was granted and free tickets distributed to a circus that offered some splendid acts of trick riding, acrobatics, tight-rope walking, trained dogs, and some stunts that would make the headlines in our best vaudeville circuits. Refreshments included ice-cream, cigarettes, carbonated water, candies and cakes of many varieties were provided before, during and after the performance. On Thursday our cameras started working overtime. In the afternoon the Russians entertained us with an exhibition soccer game in their Athletic Stadium. This was followed by an exhibition game of Soft Ball between the Augusta and the Paul Jones. Another Circus performance with refreshments was given for those who didn’t get ashore Wednesday. On Friday afternoon we were entertained in the Garden of the Red Army and Fleet. An International Swimming meet is staged for this afternoon. Last night there was presented a “Programme of the Self-Activity Concert of the red sailors’ and officers’ families.” This included vocal, acrobatic and native dances. Tonight we are invited to attend a musical comedy. The Commander of the Pacific Fleet, USSR, gave a banquet in the House of the Red Army and Fleet to our officers on Wednesday night and to our petty officers on Thursday night. The Mayor of Vladivostok also gave a banquet in the old hotel of the Golden Horn for the American officers on Thursday night and to the petty officers on Friday night. These were sumptuous banquets for which the Russian hospitality has been made famous. Dancing has been popular at the several parks where partners were available and refreshments supplied without charge. Motion-Picture Theatre box-offices refused our money and courteously invited us in to enjoy their programs. Open house was held on the Augusta yesterday afternoon for about 400 visitors. This afternoon Admiral Yarnell will give an official reception on the Augusta to our hosts. The harbor bears a striking resemblance to that of Constantinople. The entrance is through the “East Bosporus” into the “Golden Horn”. The harbor is about four miles long, a mile wide, and extends from the Bay of Peter the Great to Amur Bay. Excellent facilities are available for docking, handling cargo and marine repair work. Ice breakers keep the port open during the winter months. The exports are soya beans, lumber and fish. The city is built on the slopes of a ridge of hills and has a population of over 100,000. The site was selected as an outlet for Eastern Russia after the Treaty of Aigun in 1858. It has been the far Eastern terminus of the Trans-Siberian railway since 1917 although rail communication was established with the Trans-Baikal district via Manchuria in 1857. This is a good will visit and the first time since 1923 that one of our naval vessels has been in the harbor when the US.S. Sacramento served as a station ship for the American crew operating the nearby Russian Island wireless station. We have been well entertained and have been impressed with the hospitality of the USSR. Our acquaintances has been handicapped by the lack of a knowledge of Russian and the scarcity of Russians who speak English. We were able to purchase rubles from the Government Bank at 5.27 for US $1.00. It is rumored that clandestine exchange may be purchased at a rate from 20 to 80 rubles for a US dollar. However the penalty involved for dealing in illegal exchange is severe. Prices in rubles start at 180 for a pair of shoes, 35 for a shirt, 450 for a suit of clothes, 70 for a hat and 20 for a necktie. A meal may be had for 25 to 60 rubles. Gas masks are sold for 29 rubles. The ruble is intended solely for the medium of internal exchange. Its value is arbitraily controlled by the USSR which fixes the wage rate and prices as it thinks fit. From our observation of the people on the streets it would seem that wages are set at a rate that will provide little, if any, more than the barest necessities of life. Houses are congested. Rooms were seen with bunks jammed against each other. Building repairs are long overdue. The street crowds present a picture of working men and women with a look of desperate determination but burdened too heavily to smile. We missed the gaiety and jovial banter characteristic of our people. Such lavish entertainment as has been given us by the USSR is a rare experience for these people and is evidence of the Soviet’s desire to prove their hospitality and friendship. This has been a rare opportunity to visit a city in the USSR and to observe their struggle to make Vladivostok the commercial, naval, and military center of the Far East. Tomorrow we weigh anchor and the Augusta returns to Tsingtao and the Destroyers to Chefoo.
End of letter.
If I’m not mistaken, an article appeared in the Spring 1991 issue of “Naval History” Magazine (published by the United States Naval Institute) which dealt with the Vladivostok visit, should any readers care to pursue this.
I’ll stay in touch.
[_private/disc1_aftr.htm]