New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-28
By CAROLINE DAWES APPLETON

BY CAROLlNE
Long. even. olive drab lines of men
were mourning. only few days ago, into
the streets of an Atlantic port-an
through big iron gates to their ships.
I. wasn't very CHEEKY. or heartenlng.
The long street which borders the
docks was lined with a thin, changing
undemonstrativc crowd OF longshore-
men, shopkeepors aid miscellaneous
passers-by. In the fore rank OF this
mixed crowd scattering OF anxious
women-some Of whom had brayed dis
appointment and travelled many miles
on the rumor that the expeditionary
forces we're leaving about now
Here and there. along the curbinS'
we're posted policemen, who quietly
kept the struggling crowd from over
flowing the limits. The cobbled street
must be kept clear. The high iron
fence which separated street and dock
yards for mapy blocks was guarded by
'reeulars-a splendid lot of men, fresh
from long, hard years of border SER
vice, impatient to set foot on one Of
those big gray boats which steamed
rysteriously to an unknown front
This battalion of infantry has oeeh II,
charge Of these particular docks ana
their interned ships almost since us
arrival from the border in April.
in columns of twos poured into the
rouoh street between the watching
crowd and the guarded gates. For
some moments. at intervals during the
night. the street was clear, then SUD
denly filed with a thickening crowd OF
uniforms-of men scarcely distinguish
able in the half-lght ighted with
equipment. tired and dusty, strong,
lean, bronzed and eager.
Golden Gates"
There was little talk. Occasionally
an exclamation which caused a ripple
Of subdued mirth for each company
has its particular wit. AZ one time
cornpany passed unhaltingly down the
street and into the. yard-a COMPANY
particularly weary from a long tram
journey and little subdued perhaps
al the sight Of the few anxious woman
faces which peered searchingly into
their midst. One man tipped back his
head to look up at the iron grating
beneath which they passed:
"Hevi look az tn golden gates?' he
YELLED and was swallowed up IN wave
Of laughter borne away by the quick
ened step his sally had evoked.
Another eyed the phlegmatc crowd
with some disdain "Join the world
and see the army" he suggested ma
liciously, which caused n laugh that
robbed the sarcasm OF its sting. II MT
the mark in one instance a heavy
man. a product Of the wharves, de-
tached himself from the crowd and
stood, hands deep in his shabby peck
cts, his cap low over his eyes, beside
a burly policeman. He glared until
the last dust colored figure passed the
gates, turned away irresolutely, and
turned back.
Hell! where's the recruitin' Office"
he demanded.
Anxious to See Loved Ones
During the next quarter of an hour
the street was empty. The crowd on
the corner changed from one foot TO
another and did very little discussing.
A woman pushed her way 10 the front
and made some hystercal appeal to
the centremost policeman. who allowed
her TO cross the street She made her
request Of a group of young officers
themselves awaiting embarkation. She
had not seen her son for many years
and now
A struggling crowd followed her, a
dozen or more men and women with
similar requests. A man with club
foot, who wanted 10 see his kid brother
recently enlisted, TO take some message
TO his mother. A girl beautifully
gowned. her white gloves and hand
kerchief crushed in her hands. who
wanted TO see Lieutenant Somebody, OF
the naval gun crew and who turned
away. her hat brim down. to hide a
rush of tears A quiet. little woman.
with baby its father had never seen
and he was just over there, the other
side of the gate He could see him,
couldn't he? No. he couldn't.
The officer in command Of the guard,
patient and torn with sympathy, eX-
planned for the thousandth time that
The men inside must be kept from the
gates; the people must remain across
the street.
He was sorry. His strained face
showed how sorry. But the lives of
all 1900 perhaps depended upon the
rigidity OF disciplne-the safety Of the
very mission hung on the quiet dis
patching Of the troops And where
there are 1900 men there must needs
be 1900 families.
When the half discouraged little
throng drfted patiently back to its
place on the curb the street regained
its formidable emptiness. Then from
the region of ferries or tubes came
more officers young and mlddle-aged.
grave and preoccupied. with meagre
luggage and many last minute thoughts.
Many Of these younger officers arc
fresh from the training schools a.
Fort Leayenworth. keen and ht
Police Maintain Secrecy
The crowd on the curb watched their
arrival with intensity. Now and then
Fc,,,.ard ttst.h