New-York tribune., 1918-12-11
KroOnland Brings
l,243 Happy Troops
Back From France
Many New Workers Return;
Spend Impatient Night ON
Ship; Give Policemen
Messages to Home Folks

The American steam ship Kroonland, J
one of the fleet of the Red Star Line
before the fall Of Antwerp, her home
port, arrived here last night and
dropped anchor off Quarantine. She
had on board siXty-three officers and
1,160 men, most of them belonging to
New England regiments, and every one
of them wanting to know why they had
to stay down the bay all night Their
impatience was Modified when they
were informed that their sojourn down
the bay was ordered that they might
come into port in daylight and receive
the same sort of welcome that has been
accorded all arriving transports.
When it became known that the
Kroonland was off Sandy Hook, shortly
before dark, Major General David c.
Shanks, in comand of the port of en-
barkation, got into communication with
Rear Admiral Gleaves, and both decided
that the Kroonland would not dock
until this morning at o'clock
"Hereafter,' General Shanks an
nounced, "no transports will come up
to dock after dark. 1t is only fair to
the returning troops that they should
have the welcome of the city, and this
cannot be done adequately by city Off
cials or enjoyed by the boys if the
ship comes up the bay in darkness"
Sick and Wounded Aboard
The Kroonland, which carried with
the troops a few score civilian pass
cngcrs, was passed by the health officer,
but the Customs officials from the
coast guard cutter which awaited the
vessel did not go aboard until morning
The police boat Patrol steamed along
side, and over the rail of the transport
an officer told cf the units on board.
He said the vessel had 20 officers and
53 men from the headquarters of the
18th Division; 5 officers and 145 en-
listed men in Ambulance Corps No. S04
65 civilian seamen, nurses and 704
sick and wounded. OF these, there arc
on board 32 bed-ridden patients, 35
suffering from tuberculosis and 637 re-
curing no particular medical attention.
The transports rails were lined with
men as the Patrol steamed around her
bow from port to sts)board, and when
the police band played CLONE, Sweet
Home" it brought out a few hundred
crippled men, who were picked up by
their stronger comrades that they
might look over the s:0e and see the
Patrol. which with its band and mu-
nlclpal committeeman was the pro-
logua of the reception that will be ac-
corded the soldiers to-day.
"Thls is fine stuff" said voice from
the starboard quarter. "How would
you like a German helmet for souye-
nir?"
Great" said man on the Patrol
LET her go.'
True to his word the man with the
helmet hurled something dark and
round toward the PATROL but it hit the
water, splashed and disappeared be-
meath the surface
Shower of Messages
Presently veritable shower of mes
sages, some OF them in stamped en-
Velopes, were thrown at the Patrol,
and these were bundled up by police
men, who took them to the city for
mailing.
One message scrawled on a piece of
wrapping paper bore this injunction:
"My mother lives in Brooklyn. Call
her on the phone, please, whoever gets
this, and tell her l am mighty glad to
get back to Gods country. Her phone
is 1905 East New York, if it hasn't
changed"
Alfred Hemendinger, a brother of
Detective Hemendinger. of the Brook
lyn Bureau, asked that his family be
notified that he was "here, at last, and
WELL"
Another message on sheet of Y.
NJ. c. A. stationery had this request:
please notify my sister, Mrs. Charles
NJ. Stewart. 1907 Fifteenth Street,
aurora, Neb, that III be home for
Christmas. Slightly wounded but feel
ing great. Glad to be home.'