El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-19
MUCH SECRECY
ABOUT 5AILING5
Every PrecaUtion Taken to
Hoodwink the Enemy on
TRANSPORT Movements.

London. Eng. June 19.-(Corre-
spoudence of the Associated Press.) -
No greater care and secrecy. could at
tend the shipment Of royal Jewels than
Is observed In shipping American
troops to France. To safeguard his
boys, Uncle sam takes every possible
precautiou, from the time they en-
bark until the transport has reached
its destination. He leaves no loop
hole for the Vaccinations OF enemy
agents.
Usually. as a result Of this elaborate
protective system, the trip from IAN
Atlantic port 20 the French or Eng
lish port as the case may be. Is re-
1narkably uneventful. All elements OF
danger have been so carefully antici-
pared that the risk is reduced 70 the
lowest minimum
Until The troops and civilian passen-
gers have reached the pier, they do
not know the name OF their ship. II
is only a NUN Der 10 them. On the
regular troop ships IL Is difficult for
civilian unless he IS engaged in war
work. TO secure a passage. Those who
manage TO do so are subjected 10 close
scrutiny. and their credentials and
luggage are thoroughly examined.
No GOodbys at Pier.
EubarkatiOn often begins several
goOdbys have been said before the
troops start for the ship. No relative
or friend may accompany them 10 the
pier. This rule applies 20 the officers
as wel as 70 the men
Once aboard, there they remain, no
shore Communication being permitted
This regulation imposes no hardship
other than inactivity. Until all troops
have been assigned 10 quarters and
organization has been effected. the
men are left pretty much to their own
devices.
No restriction is placed on writing.
and bags are kept open for soldiers
mail up 70 almost the hour or sailing.
This privilege gives many a chance 20
get OF neglected letters and post
cards. although these, as q matter of
preeaution, are not put into the mails
until the ship has passed through the
submarine zone
eSufe ArrivuIv Messages
The troops also take advantage Of
an arrangement devised By the gov
eminent for the sending OF safe ar
rivaI' messages kilograms or post Z
cards advising family and friends that I
the writer has made the trip in safety I
D az be prepared IN advance and left 4
in charge OF the authorities az the /
port of sailing
AS soon as word is received by ca /
ble OF the ship arrival on the ollsl I
side the kilograms and cards are re-
leased 10 the wires and mails Not
only IS much time saved by this plan .
but the soldiers are spared the high f.
cost OF cabling from Europe.
With the exception Of the snip 4
executives and the officers in military 1
command, no one aboard knows the I
hour fixed FOR sailing and this be- T
comes a faTOrite topic for speculation /
among the mel. But finally the last I
soldier has come up the gang plank /
and the last piece Of freiEht has been 7
slowed away A busy little tug 2p-
pears alongside and begins 70 nose I
The vessel like a terrier investlg eating I
a greyhound
No Excitement at Sailing.
Suddenly there is a blast from the ]
ships whistle, and then are enacted I
few details of the familiar scene I
which before the war was witnessed
whenever a transatlantic liner LETT
It's pier. The comparison, however. IS
extremely limited. The call Of -al
ashore that are going ashore arIecIs
only q Few stsvedores and perhaps an
What excitement there IS IS con
fined 10 those on the ship There is 4
none on the pier Off the reason that u
is now empty ana its great doors are
closed. ONLY a blank wall looms there
No Uniforms Visible.
on deck the movement, instead or
being toward the transports rails, IS
away from them Orders have been
quarters. SO that when the ship IS
leaving harbor no Uniform may be
visible 20 any prring eyes on snore.
Slowly the big vessel is coaIec By
the tug into the stream and gets IN
der way