The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-09-01


before we landed, all experienced
our first thrill can say NUM-
Der of heavy explosions occurred not
far from our vessel, in which small
swift, camouflaged vessels flying the
stars and stripes figured exclusively.
| am willing to believe the enemy
will chalk up another U-boat as
missing, which is as it should be.
Without further incident we reach
ed port early in the morning,
dropped the mud hook, (anchor),
and made few preparations TO
disembark such as making our
packs, etc.
After a few hours delay. in a
very interesting harbor, our regi-
ment, out Of several thousand Amer
lean troops, was selected to parade
in = large inland city, where no
American troops had yet been seen.
OF course only the best regiment
present had any claim to this pri-
vilege as much depends upon the
showing we made. You will under
stand this when ! tell you that
about 100000 people observed the
parade and thus formed that many
opinions of the American army.
We left for this city in the after
noon, still on board the ship, via
canal. News of Our approach pre-
ceded us and large crowds met the
ship at each town, (Which, by the
way, are so close together as to
seem almost continuously they well
coined us in most unrestricted
manner, shouting, yelling and wav-
ing flags as far as we could see
them. Between the towns (when
there was any between) country
folk would follow the ship, running
for long distances along the canal
bank, yelling like Indians. | never
saw such enthusiasm until the next
day. Everyone rested well that
night, with no misgivingS. Our
sleep was not disturbed with the
thought that we might be called
out OF bed momentarily and forced
to abandon the ship on a life raft
or. perhaps with only a life belt.
However, | dare say, that very few,
if any, were at any period of the
voyage slcepleSs because OF the So
called Submarine Deril
Reception BY British.
ARRIVING at our destination we
left the ship with no regrets, and
formed for the parade. About | 80
the lord mayor and mayoress tor
should | say, lady mayor, or lady
mayoress'D arrived and the regl-
ment moved out, marching at at
tention through two cities, dist
ance of twelve miles. The English
lined the sidewalks and at times al
most blocked the streets, four to
fifteen deep, old men and women,
Young women, thousands OF child
ren, few young men, dotted here
and there with Tommy Atkins
in Khaki. Frequent stops were
necessary, one OF which was near
a high school, where we were en-
tertained by young high school girls
The Star Spangled Ban
ner," america" and other patriotic
American airs.
After a very long march we
entered the inland city and the
command was halted and stood at
parade rest while welcoming chimes
were sounded in the cathedrals.
This lasted about five minutes and
was 4 musical revelation. 1t | were
a poet | believe l could beat Edgar
Allan Poe at his best, which | be-
ieve is found in his Bells | never
appreciated this poem
until | heard those cathedral bells |
at ----. This also reminded me
Of Kipling's 'Mandalay, in which he
pictures the ten year soldiers long |
ing to be shipped somewhere East .
of Suez' where the 'tinkly temple |
bells say. come YOU back, you Brit
ish soldier, come YOU back to Man
lalay. One wonders why, ii it is |
true. that a soldier would prefer the
temple bells to cathedral chimes.
After the welcoming chimes the
march was continued to the city |
hall. The band rendered salute
lf four 'ruffleS' and four 'flourishes';
brief welcoming speeches, and the
543rd Field Artillery marched in
review for his lordship. around the |
square in front of sand past the
stand, and resumed the march |
through streets lined with thous-
lnds OF people. cheering and clap
ping their hands and waving flags.
II think we must have looked |
unusually solemn, for the women
and girls would at many places
shout, smile Sammy smile. And
when they would see someone
smiling they would point him out
and say. there's one smiling. Our
solemn appearance on parade was