The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-11-07
UNDER
SEALED ORDERS
Percy cavett, Writing to His Parents
in Denison, Tells Of Return OF
Transport to United States
WAS OUT ONLY FOUR DAYS
1000 Soldiers and 600 Members OF the
Crew on the One Transport .
Glad to Reach Land Again

(.OU
Crew on the One Transport
Glad to Reach Land Again
Somewhere on the Atlantic.
Oct. %, 1917.
Dear Folks:
On Thursday the 18th we rolled our
packs before breakfast and about 1851
we marched to our train, leaving the
tents standing. and our cots IN the
cook shack. We went to New YORK
City on the train and then took the
ferry across the river to Hoboken, ~.
j. There we got on the transport
President Grant 1t was here we saw
the largest ship afioat, The Fatherland.
A ship captured from the Germans at
the outbreak of the war, and believe 5
me it is some ship.
We had supper soon after getting
on the boat and about $50 we were
pulled out into the river by some tug
boats. New York City was all lit up =
and surely was beautiful sight. we II
passed the statue of Liberty and 1t
was lit up too, and certainly looked
fine. We are crowded on the boat and
it is very hot and close down where
we sleep. sleep on deck every
chance I get. We have better feed
here than we did on land.
There are about 1000 soldiers and
900 sailors on this ship which Is one
of the largest in the fleet. There are
7 transports and cruisers that pro-
tect us. The battleships lead and Gov.
er the flanks and the transports are IN
the middle so that it is almost impos-
sible for a submarine to get at US.
Our boat has four inch guns. one on
each side and one on each end. They
will destroy a U-boat as far as they
can see it. Then there are machine
guns, to shoot and explode torpedo,
before it hits a boat, if one should
come.
| Each soldier is required to wear 9
life saver all the time. At night the
ship is kept absolutely dark, and no
light is allowed at all, not even . clgar-s
Iette. For it might give us away 20
the enemy. Then the sailors are not
allowed to wear white, and 2 carefu!
watch is kept at all times by potn sail-
lors and soldier guards. n. Il ss.r>
feeling better today. ts36nSAs nm
very dizzy. We have physical ssxetcis-
les on deck every day. Saltwater and
soap will not latherl and ifae hard to8
wash I have not tried TT GthAve y0t.S
but need it badly. The 1ehole Iowa
regiment is here and seeithe rest Of
1.-The Denison boys once In . while. We
lhave ship abandon drill. When the
lsignal is given one has a certain place
Ito 20 and each one knows where his
raft is and they march, to the RATS
bv company. We drill on this twice q
day. We see flying fish once in
while and some of the fellows saw Q
lshark.
l never imagined the ocean would
be like it is. One OF our guard boats
, Ga destroyer) and small compared with
ours, looks like the waves covered lt,
and the way it rocks, one would think
. lit would turn over But it keeps right
along in front of to protect US.
Well, this is the 23d and things have
|chauged considerably. Last night
about 1880 l was lying on deck and
the moon started to shine in my face.
We were turning around. Then there
S was a lot of signalling between the
r ships, and we were sailing west.
. slept on deck all night and we are still
v sailing west and it is raining and the
h Lord only knows where we are going.
e We saw a school of dolphin today, but
thew did not stay with us long. ! am
a feeling pretty good today, but am
little dizzy.
n OCtODer Sfln. OlIli 6olh6 WoSe. AAlAa
Il feeling much better today. But every
time l go down where we sleep
t. gives me headache.
t The whole bunch Of us took bath
TODAY. We took off our clothes and
r stood on deck and they turned the
# those on us. We had some salt water
soap and it was not SO bad. hope
n we land soon and unload and stay on
e shore for a week or so, Chen load up
" again and go on to France. But one
can never tell what will happen.
r. October 26th. Did not do much to-
l. day but lay around. There are lots
S. of sea gulls flying around so we must
c. not be far from land although can't
r see any yet. I cleaned up today and
X did some mending. 1t is quite cold
,e now and we have passed out Of the
&c gulf stream, which is warm. We are
I'd still ignorant as to our movements.
It. But hope we go across soon.
a October 9th. Slept on deck all
ce night and woke up at 4:30 and we were
It. in New York harbor and anchored
e. Gee, it sure was fine to see land and
al so many ships and boats. rolled
ne my pack and have things ready, bu,
W. don't know where or when we are go
m. ing. Have reached Hoboken. oul
ill starting place, and expect to go tt
III Camp Mills today. T,''.&
October 2Sth. We have landed a
lis Camp Mills. We hit Garden City lag
as night and it was raining hard. wy
5. found the camp flooded and sure were
at wet when we got to our tents, bu
an made the best of things. 1t Is nice
today and have done my washint
in and cleaned my gun and myself. Th'
ne sun has come out and am enjoying
life. The trip was fine and the sight
de we saw were certainly wonderful ant
he am glad got to take such triI
we But wish we had gone on over AM
las hope we do go soon. Some say 1t wa
w, on account of the boilers being out
ck- order and others say 1t was on accoun
ON of sealed orders opened MONDAY; Jus
the ship we were on came back an
ga. the rest went on. /.
ri. Hoping to hear from you soon. Wit
love, as ever, fercy.