Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-04-30
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 8. Clark, Fresh From Ship
Passage Through MIne.strewn
St. Georges Channel, Gives
His Impressions Of Trip.
By EDWARD 3. CLARK.


His Impressions Of Trip.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.
London. American ship Phila.
delphia 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 have
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, II 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 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 90 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 if 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 war
zone, the sailors rugged 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 IAN
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 vas 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
been displayed forward as the ensign
of the port of destination, but the
American captain was taking no
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-
tr:c 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 for Information.
Some forty miles beyond Daunts
rock the lights Of a man.of-war ap-
peared. The vessel was lying in the
sea shadows, not more than three
quarters Of mile away. Nothing but
the lights were visible, but their dis
tribution showed even the Impractical
eye that the vessel displaying them
was a warship of a greater type. Sud-
denly from the starboard side of the
dreadnaught, predreadnaught or cruis-
re, whatever she was, came a sharp
flash Of light, which was followed by
successive wrinkles. The Britisher
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 given
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.
No Fear Felt by Americans.
There may have been no submarines
IN the Irish sea when the Philadel-
phia made its way toward Liverpool.
II there were, let 1t be said again that
no American Of seasoned sense on
board thought for an instant that the
ship was in danger of a torpedo from
any German craft unless the missile
were hired as the result Of gross error.
some Americans in America NAV
think Inherently about the matter. II
would so seem to one who had to take
leave OF some friends more or less
fearful. One American on board said
to another when midway between.
oueanstovn3 and Liverpool, the place
Of reputed greatest danger. that there