The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1918-12-05
FIRST LARGE BODY
OF TROOPS ARRIVES
STEAMER MAURITANIA REACH.
ES N. Y. WITH THOUSANDS.
Mayor Hylan Asks Secty. Baker to
Permit Troops to Parade
Fifth Avenue.

New York, Dec. 1.-The British
steamship Mauretania, returning to
the United States with the first large
body OF American overseas troops,
anchored in Gravesend Bay at 7:4O
O'Clock tonight. She was met by navy
and army tugs. She will probably re-
main at her anchores until early to-
morrow morning. when she is expect
ed to dock at Hoboken.
! The navy tug, it was reported, had
been ordered TO meet the Mauretania
to bring ashore Admiral Henry T.
Mayo. commander OF the Atlantic
fleet. who was returning from Eng
land as passenger. The army tug,
was said, had orders to bring ashore
an army officer of high rank.
Aboard the Mauretania, as an
nounced recently by Gen. March, chief
OF staff, are several thousand men,
bers of the air service. who were
stationed in England The ship also
carries number of casual
When the transport docks al Ho--
boken relatives and friends of those
aboard will not be allowed on the
pier. according to Il recent announce
nent by Brig. Gen. G. p. McManus.
.eiAbarkati"n officer at this port, who
added that. to saregIa ru!lic
health. the soldiers would be taken
directly to demobiliZ ttion camps for
physical examination. Barracks at
Camp Mills have been prepared for
their reception.
Late today, however. Mayer Hylan
uegraphed Secretary Baker, asking
that troops aboard the Mauretania be
permitted to parade up Fifth avenue
tomorrow. Permission also was asked
TO give dinner tomorrow night in
honor of returning officers.
| The mayor pointed out that the
people of the city of New York are
most anxious to welcome the troops"
and that The mayors committee of
welcome and city officials have been
waiting all day TO meet the Maure-
tania at Ambrose channel"
| Battery Park was crowded all day
with persons eager to catch a glimpse
OF the vessel bringing back to these
SHORES the vanguard of the great
army which America sent overseas.
Despite reports that the transport
wouldnot reach port until early to-
night, the crowds stuck to their posts
until darkness.
IL was announced tonight that when
the Mauretania and other home COM
ing transports reach their docks,
they will be met by a corps of
knights OF Columbus secretaries. who
Will distribute among the troops
. thnn can6S Of
CARDS. which the men can address to
their relatives and friends. Later the
secretaries will collect and mail the
cards. which are already stamped.
Inc mayors committee of welcome
made trip down the bay tonight on
the flagship of the police department
fleet and circled the Mauretania.
Members Of the party were not at
flrst allowed aboard the transport.
and they used megaphones and wire
less apparatus to convey the greet
lngs of New York to the returned
soldiers, but later a gangplank was
showed out and the civilians scram-
bled aboard.
AS the police boats searchlight
played on the Mauretania"s decks.
men and officers could be seen crowd
ing to the rail as they shouted greet
ings In return. Back across the wafer
In reply to the welcome, soon came
such queries as when do we eat?"
and has the State gone dry yet?"
| When members of the party accept
ed an invitation to come aboard they
were deluged with requests to "phone
mother and let her know I'm here"
to mail this letter to my girl!' and to
! perform similar services.
! According to those on the Manre--
tania the ship had rough crossing.
-FOUR storms were encountered, and
at one time the sea ran so high that
the clerical force at work in the
cabin had to quit when their type-
writer's were hurled to the floor. The
ship was commanded by Capt. A. H.
Rostron. of the British navy, who
was In command Of the Carpathia
when that vessel picked up victims
OF the Titanic disaster in 1912.
ihere were rousing cheers when
Adpiral Mayo left the Mauretania
and boarded the naval tug awaiting
him. Among his fellow passengers on
the trip from England were Harry
Lauder, the comedian. who sang for
the soldiers during the voyage home,
and Major Ian Hay, of the British
army.
The Comment