Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-18
TELLS Of THRILLING
EXPERIENCE ON j.
S. ARMY TRANSPORT
SON OF DEkAlB MAYOR WELL
KNOWN HERE, is NOW IN
FRANCE WITH GENERAL PERISH
ING's TRooP-HAvE NO FEAR
OF GERMAN SUBMARINES.

IL.
of Mayor Wagley of that city, and
who is well known in Ottawa. tells
of the thrilling experience in his trip
across the sea with General Perish
ing's troop and other soldiers being
conveyed to somewhere in France"
Wagley touches on trip aboard an
American transport. He enlisted at
the outbreak of the trouble with Ger
many, and went to the arsenal at
Rock Island, where he was trained
in the manipulations of a machine
gun The following is his letter:
On Board the Lenape, June 26.
1917.
Dear Mother and All:
Well, we are nearly to France now
will write you hoping you are all as
well as | am. We have had very
pleasant weather except two or three
days, which were foggy and rainy.
We left New York on Thursday, June
IA. and we are now twelve days on
our way.
There were four transports, one
cruiser and three torpedo boat de-
stroyers in our division when we start
ed out. Now there are four more
boats with US, two torpedo boats and
two armed boats that were present
ed to the government. Il certainly is
wonderful sight to see all these
boats in line.
We haven't seen anything that
looks like a submarine. Believe me,
they would get a warm reception if
any of them stick their glass eye
above the water. This morning one
of the fellows was saying that four
submarines chased us last night. One
CT the sergeants with the ordnance
department said. Boys, | am here
to tell you that Uncle Sam doesn't
run from anyone. If there were any
submarines chasing US they wouldn't
have to chase us very far because we
would have been right back after
them"
We have been drilling about every
other day, how to get Off the ship
in case we were struck by torpedo
We are getting quite proficient IL
that respect now.
Everybody is sick and tired of this
boat and we sure will be happy wher
we do see land.
Just had submarine scare. AL
the whistles blew and everybody be
came excited and went to the diff
fercnt parts of the ship assigned tC
them. The torpedo boat did certain
" cut some circles around in the wa
ter. The periscope must have gottor
out of sight in a hurry for it was
gone by the time | got outside. It
only took me about three seconds to
get out there.
! As far as | can find out now we
4 are to be stationed at an arsenal out
here for a while, so there will be no
/ immediate danger. Our top sergeant
/ told us that we wouldn't be sent to
| the front for long time, as they
needed all the mechanics they could
get right at the arsenal | guess
/ there is no need for you to worry
! about me.
expect all the boys are getting
notice to appear for examination fol
! the army. Did any more boys from
/ home join?
[ certainly should like to hear
from you, but | suppose it will be
some time before | do When you dc
write please write and let me know
all the news
am going to give this letter to
one of the sailors on the boat. He
says he will mail it for me when he
gets back to the states.
| will close with best regards from
George and plenty of love from
Your loving son,
SERGT. ELM lGR l.. WAGLEY,
Ordnance Dept, Ordnance Dept.