Arizona republican., 1917-10-02
VALLEY SOLDIER
 TELLS IF TRIP
 0N SEA T0 WAR
Horace B. Griffen, Jr., Is Somewhere at Sea" :" Bound for Somewhere" He Does Not Know to Fight for Flag

Somewhere on the Atlantic, bound somewhere, from somewhere in Texas, U. $. A.
 Less than a month ago I have moved to this new address, and henceforth it will probably never be more definite than somewhere for Uncle Sam says that we must never refer to our where abouts and that mail matter can only be addressed to us in care of the Amer ican Expeditionary Forces.
 Suffice it to be said though, that the regiment of engineers I am with is aboard an overseas transport, and to date at least we have hugely enjoyed the novelty of being aboard a war veS- sel, and the thoughts of possible en- counters with the German submarines, when we enter the war zone The number of men on one of these boats is by no means small and how the entire lot will perfect a successful es cape should it be our ill luck to be struck by torpedo is a question that has aroused worlds of comment-and has helped to pass away hours of idle time
 'On the other hand the authorities are taking every possible precaution to avoid against any attack. Even now we are at rest in an Atlantic port after two days out from the United States, awaiting the assembling of a convoy other ships and the torpedo chasers- before our voyage across the seas is started. In addition every man on board has life belt and every man is assigned to a life boat or raft. The necessary drills to enable men to reach their respective life boats are held reg ularly too. So in all accompanied by the "U"b boat chasers and prepared for an attack should it be made, we feel reasonably sure of a safe escape. And still, there are those who persist in sleeping with their life belt on, and those who jokingly proclaim that they will take the additional precaution of taking their blanket and sleeping in the life boats once we reach the danger zone.
 Even now, as we are but little more than started on our journey to a new country, the new experiences that we will encounter are beginning to take shape. High financing with English money has been popular pastime since we boarded the ship and many are the amusing situations at the canteen as one makes purchase and receives his change in English coins. And after an endeavor at counting It, it is generally case of chucking it into your pocket and trust to the honesty of the store keeper that you received the right amount of change. Probably before we have gained a working knowledge of the value of the Eigiish coins, we will have the French money to deal with, too.
 That soldiers certainly appreciate reading matter is readily evidenced from the way every book, magazine, and in fact every form of reading mat ter has been sought out, here on board. An additional supply of matter pro- taken yesterday by the pnen when passed out.
 For the most part, it is but case of eat. sleep and be merry as long as we are on the boat, and there is little doubt that every soldier will be glad to set foot On terra firma once more. From then on it will be a case of long and strenuous training, either in Eng land or France, before we finally go forward to join General Pershing s forces, and do our bit toward an attain ment of the end that the allies are working, and that we all hope is not far distant
 This letter from Horace B. Griffin Jr., to his brother here brings news to the Salt River valley on one of it's favorite sons. Mr Griffin was for years a member of the staff of The Ari- zona Republican. He was a resident of Tempe and enlisted in the engineers corps from this county. His letter while giving no information it should not give, throws an interesting side light upon the way troops are being handled in the trip abroad, trip which so many of our boys will have to make 1 at some time. It is comforting in that | it shows the precautions taken to save the soldiers in case of disaster.