Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-17
Care and Secrecy
Attends Departure
of American Troops

Correspondence Associated Press]
London, May 17.-No greater care
and secrecy could attend the shipment
of royal jewels than is observed IN
shipping American troops to France.
To safeguard his boys, Uncle Sam
takes every possible precaution from
the time they embark until the trans
port has reached it's destination. He
leaves no loophole for the Vaccinations
of enemy agents.
Usually, as a result of this elaborate
protective system, the trip from IAN
Atlantic port" to the French or English
port, as the case may be. Is remark
ably uneventful. All elements OF dan
ger have been so carefully anticipated
that the risk is reduced to the lowest
minimum.
Until the troops and civilian passen-
gers have reached the pier they do not
know the name Of their ship. 1t is only
number to them. On the regular
troop ships it is difficult Tor civilian,
unless he is engaged in war work, to
secure a passage. Those who manage
TO do so are subjected &c close scrutiny
and their credentials and luggage are
thoroughly examined.
Embarkation often begins several
days before the transport sails. All
goodbyes 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 we'll as to 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 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 chance to
get off neglected letters and postcards
altho these, as a matter of precaut1on,
are not put into the mails until the
shin has passed thru the submarine
zone.
The troops also take advantage OF
an arrangement devised by the govern
ment for the sending Of safe arrivaI'
messages. kilograms or postcards adj
visng family and friends that the writ
err has made the trip in safety may be
prepared in advance and left in charge
of the authorities at the port Of sailing.
AS soon as word is received by cable
of the ships arrival on the other side.
the kilograms and cards are released to
the wires and mails. Not only Is much
time saved by this plan but the SOL
diers are spared the high cost Of
cabling from Europe.
Of
ecutives and the officers in military
command. no one aboard knows the
hour fixed for sailing, and this becomes
favorte topic for speculation among
the men. But finally the last soldier
has come up the gangplank and the last
piece Of freight has been slowed away.
A busy little tug appears alongside and
begins to nose the vessel like terrier
Investigating a greyhound.
Suddenly there is blast from the
ships whistle, and then are enacted
few details of the familiar scene which
before the war was witnessed when
ever a transatlantic liner left its pier.
The comparison. however, Is extremely
limited. The call CT "All ashore that
are going ashore" affects only a few
stevedores and perhaps an Official or
two, who move leisurely Off.
What excitement there is is confined
to those on the ship. There is none on
the pier for the reason that 1t Is now
empty and its great doors are closed.
Only a blank wall looms there.
On deck the movement, instead OF
being toward the transports rails. Is
away from them. Orders have been
given for the troops to go to their quar-
ters, SO that when the ship is leaving
harbor no uniform may be visible to
any prying eyes on shore.
Slowly the big vessel is coaXed by
the tug into the stream, and majesti-
cally she gets under way. A few civilian
passengers, to the envy Of officers and
men, hang over the rails and watch the
city's skyline fade away.
Soon the port is only blur In veil
Of mist. It Is safe now for the troops
to appear. They rush out on deck. boy
ishly eager for the sight-strange to
many-of the open sea. glance Is
cast toward the vague line on the
horizon that is home. Then they turn
and peer forward into the mystery Of
the unknown. toward the scene OF the
great adventure-over there.