The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-10-08
STEADY STREAM OF
AMERICAN SOLDIERS
POUR THROUGH ENGLISH PORT.
DESTROYERS AND AIRSHIPS
ACCOMPANY THEM.

AN ENGLISH PORT.-(Corre-
snondence of the Associated Press.)
Dav after day a steady stream of
American soldiers pours through this
mort. en- route to France. Never was
the town so busy, never has it seen
such an amending stream of new
faces. Most of these men, from the
far-off states, have been in England
only a few days at the most. They
land in the north, they hurry across
John Bulls little island, and then
are off again, across the silver waters
of the channel, for their ultimate
destination"
The scene at the docks here is al
ways one of great interest for the
privileged few who are permitted to
witness it. All day long the great
troop-ships are loading and depart
ing. The process is a rapid one, ev-
erything moves with military precis-
ion.
Five minutes before the troop
ship starts there is long warning
blast of the siren. Soon the big ship
slowly veers away from the pier and
heads for the open water, it's rails
lined with khaki-clad Americans.
Outside another troop-ship is waiting
and the transport falls into line be-
hind its companion.
Out of the nowhere three British
destroyers suddenly appear and take
up positions, one in front and one on
either side of the transports. High
above the horizon CLEANS the silver
body of a patrol airship, which with
the destroyers will accompany the
Americans to their destination. No
submarine can creep along the sea
bottom without these aerial observers
detecting its approach, and a wire
less call to the eager destroyers will
bring about the destruction or speedy
withdrawal. The Germans have long
since learned the dangers of these
narrow seas, and very seldom do
they venture within them.
The white cliffs of England grow
dim in the distance, and out of the
other horizon looms the shore of
France. The transports steam on
ward; the escort lazily keeps pace
with them.
A sudden signal from the leading
destroyer couses an instantaneous
change in the whole convoy. The
leading destroyer has come to a dead
stop right athwart the course of the
troop-ships. The speed of the trans
ports drops. The word mine" goes
round from mouth to mouth, and ev-
erybOdy on board rushes to the side
to see.
A mine it is sure enough. AS the
transports draw near it can be seen
floating scarce q cables length from
the destroyer's quarter Only a small
patch of it's rounded bulk shows
above the surface. But the small
patch to girt with the deadly horns,
a touch of which fires the charge of
explosive.
AS the transports move on at quar-
ter-speed one destroyer fingers be-
hind. 1t moves a safe distance away
from the floating mine. Then comes
the rattle of it's machine guns. The
SuillC1 ID IIiIlS az IfIC IlllS. DOuQCu-
ly there come a squirt of fame and
smoke, drowned Immediately by a
huge spout of seething water as the
mine explodes. The destroyer re-
sumes its place at the head of the
column.
The airship drifts back to give the
all clear;" at signal from the lead
err the convoy resumes full-speed, and
without further incident the passage
is completed.
As the first transport steams with
IN the breakwater of the French port
a seaplane comes swooping in from
the sea. Four red bombs are tucked
side by side under its right-hand
wing, but three of the four are miss
ing from the rack on the other side.
The captain of the troop ship notes
this through his glasses and remarks
upon the fact to the American colo
mel standing by his side. They spec
ulate for a few moments as to what
use may have been made of the miss
ing bombs.
Perhaps it was the same subma-
rlne that laid that NINE" suggests
the captain.