The herald., 1918-08-22
SEA RISK FOR !
army IS SMALL
Infinite Care and Secrecy Attend
Transport of Troops to
France.
MOST TRIPS ARE UNEvENTFUL
Elements Of Danger Are Anticipated
and Reduced to Mininum-ko Uni
form on Deck Seen When Ship
Leaves Harbor.

London.-No greater care and Sc
crecy could attend the shipment OF
royal jewels than is observed in ship
ping American troops TO France. To
safeguard his boys Uncle Sam takes
every possible precaution, from the
time they embark until the transport
has reached its destination. He leaves
DO loophole for the Vaccinations OF
enemy agents.
Usually, as a result Of this elaborate
protective system, the trip from An
Atlantic port" TO the French or Eng
llsh port, as the case may be, Is re-
markedly uneventfuL All elements or
danger have been so carefully antci-
pated that the risk is reduced TO the
lowest minimum.
Until the troops and civilian pas
sengers have reached the pier they do
not know the name Of their ship. 1t Is
only a number to them. On the regu-
lar troopships II is difficult for a e.
william, unless he Is engaged in war
work, to secure a passage. Those who
manage TO do so are subjected to close
scrutiny, and their credentials and lug
gage are thoroughly examined.
Embarkatisn Begins Early.
Embarkation often begins several
days before the transport sails. All
good-bys have been said before the
troops start for the ship. No relative
or friend may accompany them to the
pier. This rule applies to the officers
as well as TO the men.
Once aboard, there they remain, nc
shore communication being permitted
This regulation imposes no hardship
other than inactivity. Until all troops
have been assigned TO quarters and or
ganization has been effected, the men
are left pretty much to their own de
vices.
No restriction Is placed on writing
and bags are kept open for soldiers
mail up to almost the hour Of sailing
This privilege gives many a chance tc
get off neglected letters and postcards
although these, as a matter OF precau
ton, are not put into the mails until
the ship has passed through the sub
marine zone.
The troops also take advantage Of
an arrangement devised by the gov
eminent for the sending Of "safe-arri
val" messages. kilograms or post
cards advising family and friends thai
the writer had made the trip in safety
may be prepared in advance and lef
In charge of the authorities at the por-
OF sailing. AS soon as word is re
ceiyed by cable Of the ships arriva
on the other side, the kilograms anC
cards are released TO the wires anC
mails. Not only Is much time saved
by this plan, but the soldiers arr
spared the high cost Of cabling from
Europe.
With the exception Of the ships ex
ecutives and the officers in militar.
command, no one aboard knows tn
hour fixed for sailing. and this be
comes a favorite topic for speculation
among the men. But finally the las
soldier has come up the gang planl
and the last piece Of freight has beer
slowed away. A busy little tug ap
pears alongside and begins TO nose thu
vessel like a terrier investigating ,
greyhound.
Soldiers Ordered Below.
Suddenly there Is a blast from tn
ships whistle, and then are enactet
q few details of the familiar scen'
which before the war was witnessed
whenever a transatlantic liner left 1t
pier. The comparison, however, Il
extremely limited. The call Of "Al
ashore that are going ashore" affect
only a few stevedores and perhaps al
official or two, who move leisurely OF
What excitement there is is confine,
to those on the ship. There is none Of
the pier for the reason that II is nov
empty and its great doors are closed
Only blank wall looms there.
On deck the movement. instead o
being toward the transports rails,
away from them. Orders have been Civ
en- for the troops to 60 to their quar-
i 81 WHICH,
harbor no uniform may be visible t
any prying eyes on shore.
Slowly the big vessel is coaxed b.
the tug into the stream, and majesti
cally she gets under way. A few q
william passengers, to the envy Of OF
GERS and men, hang over the rails an
watch the city's skyline fade away.
Soon the port Is only a blur In
veil Of mist. 1t is safe now for tn
troops to appear. They rush GA. C;
deck. boyishly eager for the sight
strange TO many-of the open sea. !
glance Is cast toward the vague lin
on the horizon that Is home. The
they turn and peer forward into tn
mystery Of the unknown, toward tn
scene Of the great adventure-ove
there.