Evening star., 1918-06-09
Calisthenic Drills on Deck.

Cal1SIuGu1C Ou DSShs
Breezy and fresh is the morning. a
brilliant sun making rainbows in the
spray from the transports bows. and
lending a sparkle to the dancing
whitecaps On all the decks khaki
clad lads are twisting their bodies
and working arms and legs to the
measured count of their sergeants.
All in a glow, filling their lungs with
the sea ozone. they are picture of
health and American pep"
Keep 'em busy is the watchword
of the officers in military command of
the vessel. He has several thousand
exuberant young soldiers to look
after, and his experience on trans
ports has taught him that shiplife
becomes wearisome for large bodies
of men closely quartered unless they
have regular daily occupation. To
meet this demand, he has worked out
q program that supplies the required
amount of wholesome work and that
provides also for plenty of recreation
and amusement.
Army hours are strictly observed.
Reveille is sounded by the buglers at
an hour that brings muffled protests
from the few civilian passengers on
board, the blasts penetrating to every
corner of the ship. Some time later,
after the civilians have rolled over in
their berths and are about to fall
tramping on decks and In the corri-
dors as the hungry soldiers pour up
from their quarters below, eager for
breakfast
Impatiently they await the sum-
mons, which is beaten on an instru-
ment that sounds to the unfortunate
civilian like sheet of boiler plate.
and when it comes. they are off with
rush for the huge first cabin
dining room. And 1t is not until they
have satisfied their husky appetites
that the officers and civilians are
smaller dining room. which. before the
liner became a transport, was reserv-
ed for second cabin passengers
Floating Palace Grim Utilitarian.
This is a British vessel. one of the
largest in his majesty's fleet of aux
tliary cruisers. Before the war it was
described as "a floating palace" but
the press agent of the line THAI
operated it then wouldn't call it a
floating palace now. 1t is a warship,
grimly utilitarian. With the exception
of the handsome mural decorations
OF the salons. there is scarcely a ves-
tige of it's former splendor and luxu-
rious appointments.
The great lounge is now an armory,
filled with stands for the troops rifles.
The gymnasium Is a storeroom for
soldiers luggage. Only the f1rst-cabfn
smoking room remains as it was. and
this is used as a clubroom for the Of
hcers. It boasts a phonograph and a
plano, and here an occasional concert
is given in the evening. and every
other afternoon a regimental band
plays.
The concerts are mostly of the in
formal. impromptu kind. The enter
tainers are enlisted men who seem to
welcome the opportunity to display
their talents before their officers.
Striking Example Of Melting Pot.
The regiment from which these mu-
eicians are recruited is a striking ex-
ample of the American melting pot.
Its members are scions of dozen or
more nationalities, and all parts of
the country, even our island possess
sions, are represented. New York's
East Side is much in evidence, and
there are several Indians and at least
one Hawaiian. This islander has no
ukulale, but he takes guitar and
using 1t as if It was a either, he gets
the last sob out Of plaintive aloha" !"
Some of the yocalists, although un-
trained, have surprisingly good voices.
Their choice of songs runs to the
comic and to the sentimental. The
latter are especially r,ar. and the
soldier who sings a simple homely
ballad with child and a heart-throb
in 1t is a "sure-fire" hit.
When a man is going to war his
thoughts are with his loved ones back
home. and his emotions lie near the
surface and are easily probed.