The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-09-13
OFFICER DESCRIBES
HIS EMBARKATION

| france, WrOte:
at will probably be rather infre-
quent that can get out serial num-
Der as did from time to time when in
France in 1911 and 1912, but think |
can safely drop few hastily written
lines now, as the letter will probably
be held by the department until we
arrive IN France.
"To begin with we received tele.
graphic orders on Saturday, July q, to
leave Immediately for this port, leav-
ing our l400 odd horses and guns in
San Antonio. You can imagine that
we had to do some tall hustling to turn
over all of those horses to another reg
iment, haul our guns and caissons to
the arsenal five miles away, pack our
harness and equipment in boxes. pack
our remaining household goods, dispose
of private horses, automobiles, dogs
and chickens, settle accounts and load
our plunder and men on the four long
trains that were pulled on nearby sid
ings that same day.
"By noon Sunday (the next day. we
were ready to leave, but the yards
were so congested that we did not get
away until dark. ! was in charge of
the last train. or section. We travelled
very comfortably in a solid Pullman
train. | had drawing room to my
self. The men were loaded three to a
section. We put our field rations in a
baggage car, placed in the middle of
the train in order that serving could be
done in both directions at once. We
always had plenty to eat. t..and it was al
ways on time.
"Ihe railroad officials have learned
better how to handle troops than in
former years. They never left a sta
tion before first consulting me as to
whether or not everything was all
right. We never made a stop of any
consequence without first apprising
me that | might telegraph ahead for
1--WE finally arrived in an isolated
spot 40 miles from the coast in the
early morning hours. We remained
cooped up in our trains all day. At 20
minute intervals about or 8 9p. m. we
proceeded to our port of embarkation.
"After our arrival not a man or an
officer was allowed to leave the dock,
telegraph or telephone. 1t was pretty
tough, as many of the men had fami-
lies living near. Even the colonel,
who had not seen his family for a
year, was not allowed to go down
town. Dozens of weeping mothers and
sweethearts were reported just beyond
the gates. We dropped out into stream
after all men and equippage had been
slowed below decks and slipped out to
our anchorage.
"This is an elegant ship of the
United Fruit Company line. Most of
the staterooms have separate baths.
AS for me, | have a real palace as
compared with any accommodations
ever falling to my lot before. My
room is furnished with mahogany, with
large double bed and single one, so
that | can take my choice. A large
clothes press provides ample room for
all my wardrobe on hangers. | have
more drawers than | can use. A full
lentgh mirror, with hinged sidemirrors
at my dressing table has probably
| furnished diversion to honeymooners or
the elite of one of our southern Latin
American republics where regular sail
ings were formerly made. have a
heavy mahogany table, writing desk,
toilet table at the head of my bed, with
a swinging thermos bottle containing
iced water attached to the wall. But
tons, controlling electric fans and
various lights, are close at hand. A
private bath room, equipped with por-
celain tub, wash basin and shower, is
concealed by silken drapery. An elee-
/ trio clock adorns my wall.
1.-THE state room is beautifully fin
ished. being decorated in gray and
white. The floor is completely covered
by carpet of blue and green. All of
this, with four large windows about
me, the windows fitted with appropri-
ate curtains and screens, makes a
parlor fit for a king. This is some
class for an ordinary army officer.
The Colonel has the other stateroom
similarly equipped.
''It sure would be pity for SUBJ
marine to get this boat. but the cap
tain tells me it was missed by two
torpedoes by not less than 80 yards the
last trip. IL we see submarine this
trip, naval officers aboard promise
some fun.
II have engaged a French boy on
board to talk with me each day. ]
held conversation with him for about
an hour tonight.
''We will go all the way across with
out lights. Think of being shut up
every night for two weeks in absolute
darkness, your life preserver in one
hand and a fashlight in the other,
thinking of your past sins and your
future prospects.
81 am taking my mare, Lady"
with me. The poor animal had to
make five day trip in an ordinary
cattle car without unloading. | haven't
seen her yet, but she is in the harbor
in another ship. | am leaving "Red
Bird" with her colt in San Antonio.
Here just stopped to think. One
can't help doing that sometimes. What
wonderful transition it will be from
this floating palace to hole in the
ground on the West Front in about two
weeks hence.
1--WE are anchored few hundred
yards behind the submarine nets that
stretch from shore to shore, closely
locked by monitors armed with heavy
guns and patrolled by small boats.
All steamers in and out report for per-
mission to continue on their way.
Reading matter seems to be scarce,
and many of the youngsters no older
than my Frank, l6, are already begin
ming to look little bit homesick, and
manly effort to swallow the lump is
observed as they look out over the
deep blue sea which for man is full of
mystery and wonder. Many of these
men have never seen the sea, and the
passage of many vessels of all flags,
tug boats, launches, war ships, colliers,
destroyers, sail boats and freighters
hold great interest.
81 am told that we are to be joined
by a large English convoy after we
start. Altogether we will make a
huge fleet. Our ship has two good
sized naval guns mounted in front and
rear, and jackies are seen at all times,
polishing, cleaning and adjusting their
pets"
Il