Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-29
Big Gray Troopships
Left Before Dawn

dig vi 0y A1UOPSAtAPO
Left Before Dawn
1.-THE following story was written at
the time Of the departure Of the first
contingent Of American troops for
France from an American port and has
been held under voluntary censorship
until the War Department at Washing
ton gave permission for its publications.
An Atlantic Port, June 17.-ln the
cold befofe-dawn sea drizzle they sail.
ed away Transports bearing Per
shing's force OF American soldiers
silently slipped from their rocks and
disappeared seaward.
At the mouth Of the channel the
great fleet of battleships and destroy
ers waited in the darkness to convoy
them safely on their way toward
France.
Aboard, crammed in every corner.
under matches, In close hung ham,
mooks above decks, we're the soldiers.
comprising many regiments. Reports
show that the units came from every
quarter Of the United States. All are
sunburned, seasoned regulars, picked
men-not a single rookie in the ranks
and a majority Of them veterans OF
Mexican campaigns.
EQUIPMENT CROWDS SHIP.
Mon chung to rails and rigging. Sail
ors and marines took gangways on the
run In the urgent business Of casting
of.
Field guns lay in the hold; aero
planes were packed on upper decks:
~~A uapAnp t1yHke fOYrnod
another item.
No warning signs betrayed the de-
parture Of the fleet to sinister watch.
ers. Ghostly tugs and flying dutchman
cutters, loaded with spectral guards,
appeared from nowhere and as mex
plicably vanished. Red fare lights
made the waters about the piers
charmed circle into which magical
craft were seen but for a passing mo-
ment. Searchlights fiickered, hawsers
splashed and the ships, one after the
other, were gone.
One BY one they fell in line, while
tugs circled about like excited terriers.
But single lonely green lamp on the
masthead Of each ship betrayed her
presence; fog-tinted warpaint blended
hull with river and night sky.
VESSELS ALL DISGUISED.
Here a signal light flashed intermit-
tently: there snatch Of subdued song
was heard across the summer waters
from a crowded deck, a plamtive fare
well to the homeland.
The last transport-her name care
fuIlv painted out and her lines care
fully disguised BY false hgging-joined
the procession. For moment her out
lines were clear against the pail OF
liaht and smoke that hung above the
niers as over the mouth Of some titan
furnace. Then she became an indis-
tinct mass in the shadows OF the
stream.
Propellers thrashed with rhythmic
ioy as the feet headed into the open
sea TO face the peril Of the U-boat. The
foremost of the fleet. forgetful Of her
stealthy role, suddenly raised her voice
in a great hoarse, throaty roar. The
brazen note died away--a last farewell
to the sleeping city left behind.
CLIP AWAY IN NIGHT.
Az the sonorous blast died away the
ships we're lost to view. The SOUND
reached back to the forsaken piers,
where a vast army Of stevedores and
commissary troops were seeking the
nearest corners and were soon IN deep
sleep after a thirty-hour fatigue IN
final preparation.
Drowsy oflcers. bedrasg1ed and
sweaty with toll, staggered into wait.
Ing automobiles and were wnirled
away.
II was in the frst days Of June that
troon trains began to discharge at this
mort great swarms Of mon In KHAKI.
who they were or where they were
bound none was permitted to learn.
Tents sprang up overnight and small
camps spread into great tent cities.
Y,ees fortunate regiments spent more
than a week in cars in the railroad
yards.
The men were still on travel rations
hard bread. canned beef. salmon.
lam and collector little cooking could
be done aboard the trains.
RED CROSS AIDS.
Relief soon came from the Red
croes. which sent refreshment par
ties. but for the most part the men
were accomplishing, 700 excited with
the prospect Of active service TO be
depressed. no matter how great the
hardship.
But finally 70 each cars occupants
would come the orders for which All
vatican event generally welcomed
BY q cheer which could be heard FOR
miles.
Tho order to move generally came at
nigf,f, on less than twenty minutes
notice. Men were hustled aboard the
cars, the roll called, the doors sealed
there was the bump Of the engine and
the slow roll Of the wheels. a short run
ana the doors were opened for the mon
to ffle down the length Of the dock and
aboard ship.
As the troops found themselves &C
tnAlly quartered aboard ship their