New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-11-28
LETTER DESCRIBES LONG
TRIP ABOARD TRANSPORT

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The following is q copy Of, q letter re.
ceived by Mrs. r. G. Mueller Of Faribault
from her son. o. j. Gerstenmaier,
who is on transport and appears to
enjoy the life very much. Both Mr..
sGerstenmaier and his mother were
former residents of New Ulm, but have
been living at Faribault for some time.
The young man, who is a pharmacist,
IS now chief pharmacists mate on the
transport Huron, formerly the Fred
erick de Crosse. The latter, which is
copied from the Faribault Daily News
Republican, dated at Brooklyn, N. Y,
November /, is as follows:
My Dear Mother:
" Received your letter the other day.
At present am on liberty; am at the
y. M. G. A. I have started several
times to write and tell you all about
the trip.
"On Friday, Sept. Z, we received the
troops, 2,400 men and about 200 officers,
quite few Italians amongst them.
Most of them have been recently enlisted
about three months ago. That night
about $50, we sneaked out from Hoboken
docks and went straight to sea. There
were six transports in all. The next day
was q little rough, and quite few of
the soldiers were seasick, but the rest
OF the trip going over was fine. y
Every day we had drills, life boat,
general quarters (battle stations), etc.
A battle cruiser was our convoy for
the first seven days. Every morning
balloon was sent up for observation. One
morning squat came up and heballoon
came down. A fellow on the cruiser
rescued the men in the balloon. He
was recommended for medal for
bravery
About z p. m. on Sept. 10 we sight
ed land and at 8 p. m. we anchored
in the outer harbor of a French port.
You ought to have heard the soldiers; they
certainly were glad to see land again.
The next afternoon about p. m. We
went through the locks to the city.
French people were lined up on both
sides of the docks, throwing fruit, etc,
on board for the soldiers
"The next morning the soldiers left
US, in heavy marching order, parading
through the city with the band and
then to the camp about two miles out
Of the city, where they expect to stay
about 10 days and then go to another
camp near Paris for further training.
We didn't see any submarines at all.
Had gun crews at the guns all the time.
Third day out had target practice.
Day after we arrived we unloaded our
cargo, mostly foodstuffs, clothing, auto
etc. y
Left the port at $3.50 a. m. Saturday,
Sept. 20, anchored in outer harbor and
left at about p. m. for the good old
u. S.sA. conveyed by four armed yachts
and a hydroplane. Hydroplane left US
that night and the yachts two days later
for return to France. Then we split
up, each ship alone.''
"Only had few sick, one bad
case of pneumonia delirious, and while
over there sent three mumps and one
appendicitis case to the hospital.
The other day a spy was caught on one
OF the ships in the shipyard, where we
are. They arrested him and suppose
he will be lined up against the wall or,
in plain words, shot. These spies are very
numerous here in New York and they
are certainly keeping very close
watch on everybody now.
We'll ! am getting tired of writing
so will close with best regards and
love-
Il am as ever,
Oh. G."