The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1917-08-08

were shouting, hut they understood
from the tone Of the babel that Amer
leans were the cream of the earth.
Soldiers aboard the Lenape and other
vessels in the expeditionary fleet
threw loose coin to the French chill
dren and tobacco and cigarettes to
the French soldiers. The good-natured
scrambling was an interesting spec
tacle.
During the voyage, drummer
played with gun forward and it
went off. At the time about 300 SOL
diers were bathing, standing on deck
in birthday uniforms and having the
hose played on them. When the gun
went off, it was at once supposed that
hostile submarine nearby and there
was some excitement. They proceed
ed to their stations without getting a
moment to throw on any clothing and
presented mcrrily nlrthful sight,
bringing general laughter among their
comrades.
Citadel Man in Command.
Major (then captain) Edward Croft,
a Citadel graduate in the class of
1896, native of Aiken, was in COM
mand of the soldiers on board the
Lenape. He handed the following let
ter to Mr.. Grant, expressing appre-
citation for the splendid services of
this efficient Clyde officer:
"Office of Commanding Officer of
Troops, U. S. A., c.. T. Lenape,
June 27, 1917.
I"Mr. w. Fl. Grant, Chief Steward,
u. S. A. G. T. Lenape:
"Dear Sir: Before leaving the shin
l desire to extend to you my congrat-
ulations for the efficient manner in
which you have conducted your de-
partment and my thanks for the ex-
cellent food you have furnished the
troops and passengers during the
voyage fran New York to France.
l hope that it may be my pleasure to
travel with you again soon. Very
truly,
"Edw. Croft.
captain, Twenty-sixth Infantry,
Commanding Troops"
! Major Croft ran true to South Caro-
| lima form during the voyage and in
sisted on getting his hominy regular
ly. When the Clyde line officers on
board learned of this, they realized
that they had as troop commander a
genuine Southerner and that they also
had an officer of the best type Major
Croft on several OCCASIONS embraced
the opportunity to express his appre-
citation of the way in which the steam
ship was handled.
Nal de Mer Attacks Soldiers.
Except for ont day, the voyage to
France was pleasant. That day was
rough and as the Lenape rolled, SOL
dicrs were afflicted with NAL de mer
and showed no hesitation. Several
OF those on duty in the crows next
got the full benefit of the ships roll
ing and were none the happier for
the experience. They did not find the
footing any too comfortable in get
ting from the shrouds up the jacobs
ladder into the crows nest.
Friends of Mr.. Grant will be pleas
ed to know that his son, Harry A.
Grant, holds the rank of sergeant ma
jor in the American aviation CORPS.
AT present he is on duty at the aero
school at San Antonio, Texas. He was
ordered some time ago from Honolulu
to Governors Island, New York, and
thence to Fort Sam Houston. Sergt.
Major Grant has achieved splendid
record in the service, 50 much so that
commissioned officers have taken the
opportunity to send Mr.. Grant letters
IN whic they congratulate the young
man on his accomplishments In view
of his ability, it appears likely that
he will soon be promoted to lieu
tenancy in the aviation corps.
Mr.. Grant has been transferred.
since the return of the Lenape from
French seaport, to the Apache, of
which John N. Staples is the captain.
For fifteen years Mr.. Grant and Can't.
Edwin Kcmblc were together on the
Arapahoc, the Mohawk and the Lc-
nape, in order. Capt. Kemble is at
present recovering frOrn minor acci-
dent. The port captain of the Clyde
line was given the commission as cap
tain of the Lcnape for the voyage.