The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-10-12
new ENGLAND
MEN WON GLORY
The PAST WEEK
Gen. March Reveals That
They Were in the st.
Mihiel Victory
WHICH PAVED WAY
FOR PRESENT DRIVE
Total TroOpa Sent Abroad
Now Exceed 100000
Men

An English Port, Sept. 29-(Cor-
respondeAce of the Associated Press
day after day the steady stream of
American soldiers pours through this
port, en- route to France. Never
was the town so busy, never has it
seen such an unending stream of new
faces. Most of these men, from the
far-off states, have been in England
only few days at the most. They
land in the north, they hurry across
John Bulls little island, and then are
off again, across the silver waters of
the Channel, for their ultimate des-
tination."
The scene at the docks here is al
ways one of great interest for the
privileged few who are permitted to
witness it. All day long the great
troop-shi2s are loading and depart
ing. The process is a rapid one,
everything moves with military pre-
cision.
Five minutes before the troop-ship
departs, there is a long warning blast
on the silen. Soon the big ship
slowly veers away from the pier and
heads for the open water, its rails
lined with khaki-clad Americans.
Outside another troop-ship is waiting
and the transport falls into line be-
hind its companion.
Out of the nowhere three British
destroyers suddenly appear and take
position, one in front and one on
either side of the transports. High
above the horizon CLEANS the silver
body Of q patrol airship, which with
the destroyers will accompany the
Americans to their destination No
submarine can creep along the sea
bottom without these aerial observers
detecting its approach, and wireless
call to tie eager destroyers will bring
about its obstruction or speedy with
drawal The Germans have long
since learned the dangers of these
narrow seas, and very seldom do they
venture within them.
The white cliffs of England grow
dim in the distance, and out of the
other horizon looms the shore of
France. The transports steam on
ward; the escort lazily keeps pace
with Them.
A sudden signal from the leading
destroyer causes an instantaneous
change in the whole convoy. The
leading destroyer has come to a dead
stop right f.thwart the course of the
troop-ships. The speed of the
transports drops. The word Mine
goes round, from mouth to mouth,
and everybody on board rushes to
the side to see.
A mine it is sure enough. AS the
transports draw near it can be seen
floating scarce cables length from
the destrcyer's quarter. Only d
small patch of its rounded bulk shows
above the surface. But the small
patch is girt with the deadly horns,
la touch Of which fires the charge of
explosive.
AS the transports move on at quar-
ter-speed, one destroyer fingers be-
hind 1t moves a safe distance away
from the floating mine. Then comes
the rattle of its machine gun. The
gunner is firing at the mine. Sud-
denly there comes a squirt of flame
and smoke, drowned Immediately by
a huge spout of seething water as
the mine eXplodes. The destroyer
resumes its place at the head of the
column.
The airaLip drifts back to give the
"All Clear" at va signal from the
leader the convoy resumes full-speed
and without further incident the
passage is completed.
AS the first transport steams within
the breakwater of the French port, 6
seaplane comes swooping in from the
sea. -Four red bombs are tucked
side by side under its right-hanc
wing, but three OF four are missing
from the rack on the other side
The captain of the troop-ship notes
this through his glasses and remarks
upon the fact to the American colone
standing by his side. They speculate
for a few moments as to what ust
may have been made of the missing
bombs.
"Perhaos it was the same submar
inc that laid the mine," suggests tn,
captain.