The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-15
MisSOula Woman Tells Story
of Trip Across to Field
Relief Service.
SLEEP WITH BELTS
ON FOR EMERGENCY
Red Cross Women in Danger
Of Submarine Attack
for Days.


member OF the first unit of American
army nurses to so overseas for scrv
ice. has landed safely in England
after an exciting voyage. under con-
voy, through submarine infested wa :
tGrS,
The story Of the dangerous trip.
during which the nurses slept in
heavy clothes with lfebclts strapped
around them, and OF the enthusiastic
reception accorded the unit in Eng
land is told by Miss Sloane in a letter
to her sister, Mrs. Tylar L. Thompson,
5223 East Front street
Danger Follows Ship.
The Baltic, on which the unit sailed
was conveyed most Of the way across
by American warships. which de-
livercd their charge to a fleet of sub
marine destroyers WREN near the Eng
lish coast. The danger of submarine
attacks was, nevertheless, present all
the while. as the elaborate precautions
taken by the ships captain. a survivor
of the Arabic and a retired British
admiral, showed. The nurses. however,
went through the trip in high spirits.
The Shipboard Routine.
Miss Sloane's letter, written at DIFF
ferent times on shipboard and finished
in Liverpool. follows:
October l7.-lIcrc we are way out
ut sea and really enjoying the trip.
Strange to say | have only been sick
one day. but We have had Il wonder
fully smooth trip. When l tell YOU
we have 500 men on board and 10
women, YOU will know we are having
much attention. We walk, play deck
sports, and then Major Bunting. whom
we have dubbed John Bunny. is a
splendid reader so he has read aloud
to us Christine a Definite Object.
and over the Top There are II rail
road engineers on board ship, all from
Pennsylvania. who are going over to
superintcnd the construction of the
railroads in France. They are picked
men in railroad work and all mighty
fine.
Ready for U.Boats.
we have lifcboat drill every day
and run around all the time with pun
preserves as we call them. In on,
convoy are nine ships. three tanks three
armored cruisers, two transports. AND
our liner. which is the flagship. Gu,
captain is u retired admiral of th'
British navy and would make a Won
dcrful Santa Claus. He was on thf
Arabic when it was sunk. Also. thu
stcwardcss was shipwrecked and is sc
sweet and comforting to all of thu
women who are afraid.
Yesterday morning VIC had dense
fog and lost two ships but when i,
cleared this morning we all got to-
gethcr again and are a happy family
once more. On one Of the ships. thu
Mcgantic. there are 5000 Chinese
coolies being taken over to thu
trenches. The scope of this war i.
tremendous. isn't it?
We have French each day from l
to Il. and lectures from $50 to 3:o'
and various boat drills.
Wear Belts Constantly.
'srhursday--Today at noon we wer'
ordered TO put on life belts and wea
them the rest of the trip. Our con
voy leaves us Saturday and we thei
pick up the submarine dcstroyers
Some boat this-chocolate candy j
sl.75 per pound.
'F'riday-Also much excitement, TO
a tramp ship was discovered comin'
toward us, but 1t turned and wen
away, we do not know what she VA
or where she was bound for.
Greeted With Enthusiasm.
Tuesday might've carry our lif
belts everywhere We would go AM
sleep with them at night. Was sla
to land in Liverpool and have mad
the best of my time here. We ar
noticed and commented on everywher
we go. At first it was very cmbar
RAISING but now we are getting use
to 1t. We We're the first unit, to &c
the army uniforms-NOrfolll JACKIE
suits, blue silk waists, white collar
and cuffs. (standng collar). velou
hats in blue.
October 24-We spent IA day
crossing but had n good time on boar
ship. ! wish you had been there