Gilpin observer., 1915-04-29
ENGLAND IS A
SOLEMN PLACE
AND SHOWS It
Face and Pace of Briton Indi-
Gates Effect of War on Mind
of PopuIace.
TENsENEss, BUT NO ALARM
Edward 3. Clark, Fresh From Ship
Passage Through Mine-Strewn
St. Georges Channel, Gives
His Impressions Of Trip.
BY EDWARD B. CLARK.

''o Soe'Spo W s''P'
BY EDWARD B. CLARK.
London.-The American ship Phila-
deiphia made Liverpool-safe, for all
the pre-sailing scare. st. Georges
channel and the Irish sea may have as
many submarines in them as they haye
fish, which is exceedingly doubtful,
but they are pleasant places with a
sufficient half-moon shining down
upon their waters.
Was there danger as the American
liner made its way through these
salt seas toward Liverpool? Perhaps,
but. If SO, no passenger on board gave
expression to it in word or face.
There was a tenseness among the
men and women on the ship, but it
was an inward thing. No one with
sense believed for a moment that a
submarine would sink an American
passenger ship. Thought dwelt on
the possibility. but 1t seemed to be
one which could come only as the
offspring of an awful mistake.
Other American ships unquestion-
ably will continue to go through the
channel and the lesser sea unmen-
aced. There was the spice Of sense
Of danger to make the trip exhilarat-
ing or depressing as spice affects the
human frame and mind. No one spoke
of danger save rarely, and then the
speakers were men. The women said
nothing. In times that seem to be
those Of emergency, even II they are
not, women always are stronger than
| men, but few men there be willing to
admit the patent fact.
Show Up Vessels Name.
AS soon as the lights of the South of
Ireland were sighted. and the Phila-
delphia entered what in truth is a war
zone, the sailors rigged two great
electric lamps and hung them over the
sides Of the vessel, where their con-
centrated beams fell on great white
letters announcing the name Of the
ship and the fact that she was "an
American" The name could be read
| over a long distance. for it was high
enough above the tumbling waters to
stand In the line of vision. clear and
beacon-like.
Until the edge of the war zone out.
lying Ireland was reached no flag was
shown by the Philadelphia. When the
waters Of so-called danger were ap
preached the Stars and Stripes were
broken out at the proper station. Or
dinarily the British flag would have
| tha
Of the port of destination. but the
American captain was taking nc
chances with the British flag. either
forward. aft or amidships.
There were five natives of England
to one native of America on the Phila
delphia, and for once at least on the
| high seas the Stars and Stripes looked
good to English eyes. At sunset the
flag came down and the bright elec
trio lights were turned on to the name
and nation of the ship. where within
certain sea limits all men might read
them.
Man-of-War Asks fer Information.
Some forty miles beyond Daunt's
rock the lights of a man-of-war ap
peared. The vessel was lying in the
sea shadows, not more than three
quarters of a mile away. Nothing buI
the lights were visible. but their dis
tribution showed even the unpracticet
eye that the vessel displaying them
was a warship Of greater type. Sud
denly from the starboard side of the
dreadnaught. predreadnaught or cruis
re. whatever she was. came sharI
flash Of light. which was followed by
successive twinkles. The Britishel
was signaling the Yankee, and the
Yankee instantly paid heed.
What ship Is that?"
An answer was twinkled back from
the bridge
Where bound?"
Back went the answer.
II the response had not been giveI
quickly and readily shot would have
come across the Philadelphia bows
The British guardships where st
Georges channel meets the ocean are
taking no chances. and this notwith
standing the fact that German mer
chant and German war ships virtually
have disappeared from the waters
Ne Fear Felt by Americans
There may have been no submarines
In the Irish sea when the Phlladel
phia made its way toward Liverpool
II there were. let It be said again that
no American of seasoned sense or
board thought for an instant that the
ship was in danger of torpedo from
any German craft unless the missile
were fired as the result of gross error
Some Americans in America ma,
think differently about the matter. |,
would so seem to one who had to take
leave of some friends more or less
fearful. One American on board sale
to another when midway between