Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-09-03
As THEY POUR ACROSS
Americans Are Moved a Division at n
Time.

Americans Are Moved a Division at q
Time.
An American armada OF thirteen
great transports bringing $4,000 fight
ing men TO France and came quietly
into port during the night and the
landing of this little army was soon
to begin.
Going aboard the transports, the
Associated Press correspondent had
an opportunity to see the equipment
for this huge undertaking. and how
the men had lived and Jared on their
trip across. II was a long climb up
the rope ladder TO the deck OF a for
mer ward liner rebuilt as transport
Soldiers packed the decks and were
thick as flies in every cabin, hatch
and between decks down to the very
bowels OF the ship. The spacious
promenade deck had disappeared and
in its place were long lines OF stan
.dees." or metal hammocks. for the men
to sleep in the open on deck as well
as between decks.
The men looked well. and the report
from the sick bay showed only SIX
cases OF sickness out Of 5000 men
aboard. a very good showing. said the
doctor. In the mess hall relief OF
men taking their breakfast. There was
no sitting down at table. The men
stood at high troughs. very clean and
practical, each man with his own TIN
plate. knife, fork and spoon. tossing
off with relish the hot coffee and good
white bread and butter. We tasted
this bread and found II a revelation
real bread, so different from the pota-
TO bread we are used to as war diet.
And real butter, q luxury for soldiers
only. which no one begrudged them.
Between decks tiny blue lights were
burning to let the men see their way
about with some degree Of freedom.
These are the only lights aboard, no
lights on deck OF any kind to avoid
danger of fire. At night the men felt
their way about.
The living quarters between decks
were scrupulously clean. and even ar
ter ten days Of this crowded hie
afioat there was not trace OF odor'
the floors were scrubbed and there
was no litter about. 1t would have
cheered the heart OF an exactlng
housekeepcr.
An admiral says 1t Is the cleanest
TRANSPORT afioat." said the naval oftl-
Ger with as much pride in the record
MS one in craftsmanship.
In the wash rooms. the men were at
long porcelain wash troughs. Every
thing showed the spick and span neat
ness OF the efficient naval manage
ment. In the kitchen gallery savory
dishes were being prepared and in the
bread making plant the long line OF
ovens were turning out stacks Of white
bread for these 5000 hearty caters
This was a meatlcss day, for civilians
hut one of the negro cooks offered Us
n taste of the steaming meat curry,
which would have done credit to a
Paris chef.
An exciting event Of the trip was
learned as we passed along. Most OIL
The VOYAGE had been uEevcntful. But
nearing this side lookout had sig
nailed the appearance Of pcrlscope'
Seen thc deck guns got into action
AID two depth charges were dropped
over the spot where the pcriscopc
was last seen. But there was no fur
thcr sign of hostile craft. II the
charges took effect they left no trace
for there. was. no wreckage on the
water. Very soon tbs Incident had
passed and some of the ships did not
even know anything unusual had oc-
Cured.
On the upper deck VIC saw the dead
ly depth charges and tho long tobog-
gan slide along which they are start
cd on their errand. The charges were
II metal cylinders the size Of 4 cask,
two on each side ready to drop over.
Besides these the gunnery officer
was proud of the possession OF guns
made for use on battlcships but
mounted here on deck.
In the officers mess hall one of the
ofIicers summed up the results OF the
trip. Most of the men, he said, were
from tie west, with q large number OF
farmer soys who had never been on
the water before. This was a great
experience. a great adventure. and
they were eager for II. There was lit
tie seasickness after the first few
days. The men looked forward anx-
iously to getting into the fighting
front, for there was one common i'm
pulse running through them all. as
shown by their letters home-that
there was n big job ahead which had
to be done, and they wished to do
IL and have done with II so as to re-
turn home.
As we came ashore two American
airplane sections were being debark-
cd. with their Liberty motors and all
the paraphcrnaiia Of Night. These ar
rivals, long deferred but now coming
strong and fast, were almost as cheer
ing Us the arrival Of troops. and to-
gether they signalled that vital part
in men and machines that America
would soon be taking in the critical
stage of the great conflict.