The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-03

y
18TH, 10th, 313th, 1eth; Machine Gun
Battallons, 312th and 321st; Cavalry,
I'd.
Some Of the HOO have homes in
New York or the vicinity, and these
were wildly eager to get news to their
relatives or friends. Newspaper men
boarding the troopships were besiegcd
by anxious lads who wanted a phone
message sent to mother or father or
sweetheart that I'm home and all
right" just that. Tho army pier at
Hoboken was rigidiy guarded and the
public was not admitted, this being in
line with. the policy that returning
troops must not be permitted to mingle
with the people until every sanitary
and medical precaution has been
taken.
Thousands OF folk filled the streets
in the neighborhood of the old Ham
burg Line piers. and
wounded men emerging from the
Northern Paciflc's pier were ealuted
with roaring cheers, The severe cases
were taken to the big base hospital at
Fox Hills, Staten Island. Within O
few days relatives Of all of the men
returned will be notified of their where
abouts and permission will be given a.
soon as possible for visiting.
First Words, when DO We Eats"
Having anchored off Stapleton on
Sunday night the Mauretania was
ready for a speedy docking yesterday
morning. Soon after the sun chased
away the mists that chung over the
harbor launches and small boats began
to circle the great, diamond spangled
ship. The Mauritania still wears her
war camoufiage, a striking and exact
pattern in diamond shaped patches to
which no doubt she owes her escape
from the U-boats. Passengers in the
small boats yehpd hearty greeting to
the sleepy looking lads IN khaki, anu
the first words that sprang out OF the
big ship were the never to he forgot
ten and surely historic when do We
eat?"
The first boat really 10 reach the
side of the Mauretania was the tug
chartered by the Aero Club of Amer
lea 1t carried President Alan r.
Hawley, Henry woodhouse, Augustus
Post OF the noble black beard, Capt.
Bob Bartlett, the Arctic explorer, and
Capt. Benjamin b. Lipsner. in charge
Of the aerial mail service. The Aero
Club folk beat the Hylan committee
to the Mauretania by about half an
hour. They were not allowed to board
the ship, but Gussie Post did the hon
ors from the deck of the tug, employ
ing a megaphone in connection with
his own sonorous voice.
Then arrived. with much footing
and fuss His Honor, almost stagger-
ing under the burden OF the shiniest
silk hat that Brooklyn ever turned out.
"a hat which caught the rays of the
sun and busted them into a million
pieces, q perfect whiZ OF a hat, a hat
which was cheered for Its own merit by
every one OF the 1869 men aboard the
transport.
Mayor Boards the Mauretania.
The Mayor, accompanied by acting
Police Commissioner John A. Leach,
Deputy Commissioner Rodman Wanna
maker and various city officials and
other Democrats arrived aboard the
Patrol at $3.50 A. NJ. at the Maure-
tania's anchorage. AS the police band
struck up Hail, Hail, the Gangs All
Here" Brooklyn's contribution to mu-
nicipal government transferred him
self from the Patrol to the transport.
He waved the plug hat at the crowded
decks and to his no doubt astonished
ears was carried the savage chorus:
when do we eat?"
His Honor disappeared into Capt.
Rostron's quarters and after time
reappeared on deck. He insisted on
shaking hands with the men and kept
pumphandllng busily until about 1000
OF the soldiers had received this dis
tinguished honor.
~In the meantime the Mauretania
! had started across the harbor head
| ing for the old North River, out OF
which her sister the Lusitania, sailed
so proudly on the first day of May,
| 1915. Almost the instant the great
ship set her engines turning the din OF
whistles and sirens shattered the calm
| Of the morning. Except for the salute
70 peace on the false alarm day and
then again on the real peace day
there hasn't been such a hullabaloo in
! Father Knickeroocker front yard in
a long time. Everything all around
just let go and kept It up for many
! minutes. Jersey. Staten Island, Brook
! Ign, Long Island City and Manhattan
! opened up the noise throttle and tied
! II down. All the way across the har-
Dor and up the river to Pier 81, West
| Fourteenth street. the Mauritania re-
! ceived this triumphal greeting. Steam
ships in dock whistled a gay salute
Flags were dipped. Somewhere up the
river a cannon let go.
Red Cross Girls Feed Yankees.
! At exactly 1912 4. VI. the tremcn-
dous liner was eased into her slip as
readily and smoothly as il she had
been toy boat What yell went mp
! from the crowded tiers Of her when
the boys in the olive drab caught sight
Of Red Cross gi-ls waiting for them
behind mountains of smoking hot grub
Again there arose that horrendous
| cry:
| when do We eat?'
In soprano reinsurance the call
/ went back across the narrow strip OF
water that divided the ship from the
| pier:
Right now, Yanks,"
| And as Private Bill Clifford OF Spen-
GER Me, remarked TO this commenta-
! tor:
"Oh, boy. they done like they said
| Goodness knows how many people
were waiting around in the noiGhbor-
! hood to get glimpse of the returning
!