The Springdale news., 1918-05-31

in charge Of raft or lie boat mas q
list Of the men and 81 each drill
checks of the names. This morning
/ was taking my roll and had my back
10 the rail and was having hard time
keeping my balance. The boat dipped
and big wave came over the deck
and mad me floating along the deck so
quick ! couldn't even take breath.
II raised me about foot from the
deck and I hit the deck on my right
elbow and right nip and | hit hard.
NV nat blew off and was headed for
the rail but managed TO grab it and
save it. / slid on the deck for s or
5 feet. Most OF my clothing was
wringing wet. When | removed it
there was a big splotch of black on
my undertaking around my hip. /
had slip on the deck and the dirt was
ground right through my pants. That
has been the most excitement | have
had personally. or the whole trip.
As | have been writing. we have
come in close TO one of the other troop
ships. The decks are simply all drab
the soldiers are so thick. | can't
tell how many ships are in our con-
voy but there are several thousand
troops altogether. was given the
title of Senior Medical Officer of
the troops. as soon as came on board
the ship have been responsible for
the health of all the army men-both
enlisted men and officers-during the
istrative-I have had to see that 9TH
ers did the work necessary. Every
day every soldier has his nose and
throat sponged and his body examin
ed for contagious diseases. | have
one doctor who has charge of the in
spection of the troops and also the
sleep and eat There are "a doctors
on this boat and have had them take
turns each day in helping with the in
speetien. There are two Y. NJ. {. A.
men on board They have movies
nearly every night. There is a Grand
piano in the dining room with player
attachment and We have plenty Of
music We have plenty of good food
well cooked Meals come rather close
together from the fact that supper has
TO be over early SO the lights can be
put out After dark only a few dark
blue lights are allowed to be kept lit
No flash lights can be used, no snlok-
watches with illuminated dials must
be removed. For the last days and
nights we have had to wear our life
preseryers and carry a eanteen full
Of water everywhere We go on the
boat | have had my pajamas on 3
nights Of the trip. | take off my
shoes and leggings and put on dry
sox, have my coat and hat at head
of bunk anG life preserver and canteen
al foot. with shoes underneath and be-
leVe me We have made some quick
time getting up and getting to our
stations.
My work as senior medical officer
mas not required much time and have
been hard put 10 keep occupied. |
have read a great deal but for all that
/ have been terribly lonesome. / am
not allowed to date this letter have
been well all the time and able to eat
at every meal. | wish you could see
the sight of this convoy and destroy
ers ploughing along over the quiet lev
Ell sea No waves and the boat rolls
so very little that can hardly feel it.
While sitting here in my room some
ship officer told one of my room
mates (an officer Of one Of the COM
panies on board to have the soldiers
all stay up on deck until late tonight
and to keep their life preservers aud
canteens on all the time This means
me too. There won't be much sleep
ing on this boat tonight, | ANA me
We expect to be safe in the harbor by
or in the morning so | will close
for tonight and finish in the morning.
Well, we have had fine experience
today. First let me say we are safe
at our port of debarkation. We are
anchored for the night and will dock
early in the morning with the tide.
We did not come to anchor until ev-
ening, instead of this morning as we
first thought we would. Last night
up until II or II o'clock the fog was
so thick we couldn't see thing most
OF that time. Then it lifted and /
never saw prettier moonlight night
in my life. The simmer of the
moonlight on the quiet surface of the
sea was most enhancing. This morn
ing nearly everyone was up early with
eager expectancy, looking both for
submarines and for land We saw no
submarines during the entire trip.
About $50 we sighted land through
the haze ard fog. Before we saw land