The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1918-08-02
SEA RISK FOR
ARMY IS SMALL.
Infinite Care and Secrecy Attend
Transport of Troops to
France.
MOST TRIPS ARE lINEvENTFul
Elements of Danger Are Anticipated
and Reduced 10 MlnImuni--No unl-
form on Deck Seen When Ship
Leaves Harhcr.

London.-~No greater care and Sc
erecy could attend the shipment OF
royal Jewels than Is observed In ship
ping American troops to France. To
safeguard his boys Uncle Sam takes
every possible precaution, from the
time they embark until the transport
has reached Its destination. He leaves
10 loophole for the Vaccinations or
enemy agents.
Usually, as result of this elaborate
protective system. the trip from IAN
Atlantic port" to the French or Eng
iish port, as the case may be, Is re-
markably uneventful. All elements OF
danger have been SO carefully antici-
pated that the risk is reduced to the
lowest minimum.
Until the troops and civilian pas
sengers have reached the pier they do
not know the name Of their ship. It In
only number to them. On the regu-
lar troopships 1t liz difficult for CT
william, unless he Is engaged In war
work. to secure passage. Those VINO
manage to do 50 are subjected TO close
scrutiny, and their credentials and lug
gage are thoroughly examined.
Enabarkation Begins Early.
Embarkation often begins several
days before the transport snils. All
good-bys have been said before the
troops start for the ship. No relative
or friend may accompany them to the
pier. This rule applies to the ohicers
as well as TO the men.
Once aboard, there they remain, no
shore communication being permitted.
Thls regulation imposes no hardship
other than Inactivity. Until aii troops
have been assigned to quarters and or
ganization has been effected, the men
are left pretty much to their own de-
vices.
No restriction is placed on writing,
and bags are kept open for soldiers
mail up to almost the hour OF sailing.
This privilege gives many q chance TO
get on neglected letters and postcards,
although these, as matter OF precnu.
tlon, are not put into the mails until
the ship has passed through the sub
marine zone.
The troops also take advantage oi
an arrangement devised by the gov
ernmenl for the sending of ''safe-arri
vaIn messages. kilograms or post
cards advising family and friends thai
the writer had made the trip In safety
may be prepared In advance and lef
In charge Of the authorities at the pori
of sailing. As soon as word Is re
ceived by cable OF the ships arriva
ON the other side, the kilograms ant
cards are released TO the wires ant
mails. Not only liz much time saved
by this plan, but the soldiers are
spared the high cost OF cabling from
Europe.
With the exception of the ships ex
ecutives and the officers In military
command, no one aboard knows thu
hour fixed for sailing, and this be
comes favorlte topic for speculation
arnong the men. But finally the las
soldier has come up the gang planl
and the last piece OF freight has beer
slowed away. A busy little tug ap
pears alongside and begins to nose th'
vessel like terrier investigating /
greyhound,
Soldiers Ordered Below.
Suddenly there is blast from tn,
ships whistle. and then are enactes
q few details of the familiar scene
which before the war was witnessed
whenever transatlantic liner left Il
pier The comparison, however, i
extremely limited. The Gull OF al
ashore that are going ashore" affect
only few stevedores and perhaps al
official or two, who move leisurely on
What excitement there Is In confines
10 those on the ship. There Is none q
the pier for the reason that 1t is nos
empty and Its great doors are closed
Only blank wall looms there.
On deck the movement, instead Q
being toward the Transports rails,
away from them. Orders have been els
EN- FOR the troops to go to their quar-
tera. so that when the ship Is leavin
harbor no uniform may be visible t
any prying eyes on shore.
Slowly the big vessel Is coaxed b
the tug into the stream, and majest
caliy she gets under way. A few G
william passengers. to the envy Of ofI
cerS and men, hang over the rails an
watch the cfty's skyline fade away.
Soon sasa port is only blur In
vesl OF mist. IL Is safe now for th
troops to appear. They rush out 0
deck. boyishiy eager for the sight
strange to rnanyog the open sea-
glance liz cast toward the vague LIN
on the horizon that is home. The
they turn and peer forward into II
mystery OF the unknown, toward I'll
scene of the great adventure -ovs
taxmrA