New-York tribune., 1918-01-29
by an American Soldier Jus. Returned

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-If the
reader will just imagine himself alight
ing from a train at Coney Island and
deciding which attraction he will put
ronize first, and then finding ten huge
gunmen with drawn revolvers firing
into his face. he will get some little
idea Of how this soldier felt on the
trip over to France.
1t was on August 20 that we saw
land for the first time after leaving
the United States. This was some
fourteen days from the time we got
under way. We had discarded our
life preservers and were all preparing
to get our trunks ready for leaving
ship. Tho time was o'clock in the
morning, and not one person in the
whole convoy passenger list even
dreamed of submarine.
But the whistle of our ship began
to blow. And right here I might say
that when ships whistle begins blow
ing after it has left for Europe it is
your cue to grab your life preserver
and without moments delay get to
your lifeboat station. Well. this we
did, and then began to wonder why
we were there. The sound of the guns
from our boat answered this question
Saw Three Periscopcs
We knew that the tin fish had well
coined US. Some say there were ten,
others swear more, and still others re
fuse to this day to believe there was
any at all. But saw three periscopes.
Then there was long steam like
streak in the water, which passed the
stern of our ship. The destroyers,
voy US through this part Of the danger
zone, began to yet in their work. Not
a gun on any Of the transports or de-
stroyers was cold for fully two hours.
The ships took their own separate
courses. They zigzagged and the sail
ors wigwagged.
Everybody fought for place at the
side of the ship where all Of the action
could be seen. Shot after shot was
fired. The proximity of the guns lef.
laundering sound in the ears. The
destroyers went this way and that, fir
ing into the water at second intervals.
J Hcy Q1Oppcu lUHuLlCTdUic UcdOIy
depth charges into the foaming green.
a mouse. Oil began to show on the
water. Sailors who had made previous
trips told US what this meant. 1t meant
that where the oil showed one of the
Kaiser's nautical murderers had sub
merged for the last time.
French Airplanes Help
A buzzing sound was heard over
head. We looked and saw two French
airships which had come to the rescue.
They dropped bombs from a height of
They flew close to the water and
dropped more bombs. Then the excite
ment was over. But we had been en-
tertained for two solid hours. 1t was
thrilling, to say the least. When we
got into port universal VOW was
made that if that was the way the
Kaiser had ordered the Lusitania and
other ships to be sunk, without warn
ing of any sort, we, every one of us,
would do our best to get even when
the chance came.
But there was another story waiting
for us at the port. 1t was an official
announcement that three German sub
marines had been destroyed and that
tuc InuTucTef crews naQ also gone 10
Davy Jones's locker, where they would
no longer tcrrorizc or murder. Some
days later another report reached u.s.
this to the effect that three bodies,
positively identified as German sail
ors, had been picked up near the shore
This proved that at least one of the
women and children killers had been
blown to kingdom come.
But | was sent back before l had q
chance t. even my score with the Hun.
On the way back he again was active
but not quite as on my trip over.
Coming back things looked much bet
ter. But it must be remembered that
either going or coming, not the Slight
est spcck Of light is allowed on the
ships. After We had all retired for the
night on our fifth day out-the time, ]
think, was about 10:30-therc came a
humping sound which threw me out of
my bunk. Others left their hunks in
the same manner, and then the weird
sound Of the whistle warned US that
something had happened.
Boats COlIided
The ever present life preserver was
brought into play, and with an over.
coat and scowl / faced the cold wind