Douglas Island news., 1918-09-20
TRANSPORT LIFE
 WRITTEN ABOUT
American Soldiers Going to France See Humorous Side of Life
 on Che Ocean

The following INIIt| In NNI NIlat winning one submitted iu coutcs, held uu % transport Eoius Co France The letter is taken from Che stars and Stripes" Che newspaper pub- usbed by Che American Expedition. ary Forces n France
 On board Che U. S. s. CD,
 25th June. I9IS
 Dear Friend Elrl.-It is now a week since first sct foot ou one ot Uncle Sam's transports so | thought I'd use up some of my time writing you a letter and telling you what a time am having
 When we started out for che trans port we found out how cousidcrate Che Gen. was for us While we were iu camp we were quarauuucd. so bc had us leave when It was dark SO that we wouldn't sec Che town and feel sore because we weren't allowed n it 10 also saved us from sum burn and being suusrueE. tbs night march d.I.
 Before wo were put On tbc trans port we were put ou au excursion boat lof course we were crowded. but Chat stopped a lot of fellows from seeing anything. which prevented homc-sickucssI and given au hour ride iu Che harbor
 When we nnally arrived at thc transport everyone wanted to be first ou board
 Well. my company was urt and We we're aU glad. but ! knew thore was some catch iu q. or .'sc we would not h0ve been first
 There was. just as thought The first company ou had Co 80 down furtbes. .H Che ship. and chats why we were first, Eucss.
 When wc saw it we got sore. bat I'm sure we did not say anything we could bc oourt-maruaIcd tor.
 Didn't Like Chambermaid
 There was au ensign or au admiral or something detailed to our slecp- .nr quarter. t1 show us where we were Co sleep and Go act ls chamber maid. But we didn't like Che way he acted. so VIC dismaeI him when we knew where our hunks were. 
 The man who built our hunks sure didn't want us Go hc lonesome at night when Che lights go out. be- cause be made sure Go put us close together. Why bc built them so close that if | stretch my legs I've got Go make excuses rU two fellows who claim that Or yto push them out of bed
 have a top bunk. and Che first thing chat struck me when ] got Into 10 was am artIst.caiy white painted solid iron beam. ! hIt it with my thinker. and every time ! put my stotsou ou ! remember Che beam. or course. Che lump ou my head win soon ro away. ! know for fact Why. irs only haIf as large as It was ouc week ago.
 They arc afraid of Che ship Ect- ting auyd with water. so they lc.t tho springs out ot our hunks
 We aren't allowed Go smoke but every cot has its pipes. That was % joke. didia augh7
 It Is O tough job to SO to sleep here. and Che Gen. knows it. so hc has us start a halo hour before sun set SO that we arc asleep by a. m. when he wakes us up.
 Just Water and Sky
 Anyhow. Che boys are an happy and every night when Che lights go out. about eight, harmony guartots sing us Go sleep.
 The first day out we amused our selves by watching Che ships and Che changing color Of Che water. but on the second day we only had Che water and sky Co look at. which was tircsomc.
 On Che third day Che Germans did their best Go start something with their subs. but our Fuuuors were rather cruel Go us. because they sank one before we an saw it and scared the rest or them away.
 Every day we have some music handed Go us by Che band. bccous, the authorities believe that it take. wine. woman and song Go mako a soldier happy. Realizing this. they gave us everything but Che wine and woman.
 We also had church service. and it was we'll attended by those wh1 wanted Co be there. those who had nowhere else Co Eo and those who were caught In Che crowd,
 We are drilled every meal time We get two a day. and eat them on the double SO that we win know how to do lt when we start for Berlin and then we won't have Co stop ioI meals.
 I miss che candy most. and ever, day there Is a regular subway crowd rear the cantecn trying Co get th' much desired sweets.
 Decks. Decks and Then Decks
 rvcrv day we have a few minute.