The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-06-19
UNCLE SAM GUARDS
SHIPMENT OF TROOPS
AS MUCH SECRECY AS POS
SIBLE WHEN SOLIER
VESSELS SAIL.

London, May 7.-(Correspond-
ence of the Associated Press)-No 10
greater care and secrecy could at
tend the shipment of royal jewels
than is observed in shipping Amer
lean troops to France. To safe
guard his boys, Uncle Sam takes
every possible precaution, from the
time they embark until the trans
port has reached its destination. lie
leaves no loophole for the machina-
tions of enemy agents.
Usually, as result OF this elae
crate protective system, the trip
from "An Atlantic Port to the
French or English port, as the case
may be, is remarkably uneventtul.
All elements of danger have been
so carefully anticipated that the
risk is reduced to the lowest mini
mum.
Until the troops and civilian pas
sengers have reached the pier they
do not know the name of their ship.
II is only number to them. On
the regular troop ships it is diff
cult for a civilian, unless he is en-
gagged in war work, to secure a
passage. Those who manage to DO
so are subjected to close scrutiny,
and their credentials and luggage
are thoroughly examined. ,
Embarkation often begins several
days before the transport sails. All
goodbys have been said before the
troops start for the ship. No rcla-
tive or friend may accompany them
to the pier. This rule applies to
the officers as well as to the men
No Shore Communication.
Once aboard, there they remain
no short communication being per-
mitted. This regulation imposes no
hardship other than inactivity. IN
til all troops have been assigned to
quarters and organization has been
effected, the men are left pretty
much to their own devices.
No restriction is placed on writ
ing. and bags are kept open for
soldiers mail up to almost the hour
of sailing. This privilege gives many
a chance to get off neglected let
tiers and postcards, although these,
as a matter of precaution. are not
put into the mails until the ship
has passed through the submarine
zone.
The troops also take advantage
of an arrangement devised by the
government for the sending of safe
arrival messages. Telegrams or
postcards advising family and
friends that the writer has made
the trip in safety may be prepared
in advance and left in charge OF the
authorities at the port of sailing. AS
soon as word is received by cable
Of the ships arrival on the other
side, the kilograms and cards are
released to the wires and mails. Not
only is much time saved by this
plan. but the soldiers are spared the
high cost Of cabling from Europe.
With the exception OF the ships
executives and the officers in mill
tarv command no one aboard knows
the hour fixed for sailing, and this
becomes favorite topic Tor spec
ulation among the men. But Tin
ally the last soldier has come up
the gangplank and the last piece OF
freight has been slowed away. a
busy little tug appears alongside and
begins to nose the vessel like ter
rier investigating a greyhound.
Call Is "All Ashore"
Suddenly there is a blast from
the ships whistle, and then are en-
acted few details of the familiar
scene which before the war was wit
messed whenever a transatlantic
liner left its pier. The comparison
however, is extremely limited. The
call of "All ashore that are going
ashore" affects only few steve
dores and perhaps an official OF
two, who move leisurely off.
What excitement there is is con-
fined to those on the ship. There