The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-02
Naval Base in France.

f. American IodSC, e. IdHCe, soSPe
80 Correspondence of The Associated
Press sg-The latest convoy Of Amer
|ican transports arrived at noon today,
and it was an inspiring scene to see
eiais stately procession under the
bright midday sun. with stiff
breeze whipping the flags, the decks
crowded with American soldiers, and
the piers and castle walls black with
cheering people, as the fleet moved
aa5esueaIy past The outer ca2es re-
the sheltered inside harbor. Often
ne entrance-ls Hn6er scover of dark
ness, to cheat ne submarines which
have appeared of late off 1.-THE harbor
mouth. But the entrance today was
! in. broad daylight so hattie whole
city had chance to turn outsand see
the. sight.
1t was just 11.40 when the. first de-
stroyer was seen on the ssilyefy water
Sout between the capes. At that dis
tance, three miles, itsssIeeked only E
speck as it turned the capes. leaving
a thread Of smoke behind. his was
the scout ship, far ahead, piloEingS the
way and on the lookout for, any dan
ger along. the path. It camesstraignt
into the harbor, its work done, while
the main fleet, keeping cenpactly to-
gether, began to file between the
capes. Ahead was a. large destroyer
with four stacks, and behind it on
either flank two others four-stac
This was the forward protecting bar:
brages Of destroyerssin al great arc.
Now ahuge PROV pushed out be-
yond the while cliff of.the cape, and
grew gradual lly--towering decks, fun-
lsneas, belci1ing smoke, and then the
mammoth hull to az II; 90 8ston trans
port, formerly a German trans At
santic liner. Soon another appeared
t-another former German iiner-and
then still another. German liner.
ss..Of to the right. of sthe Digashirs
was line of destreyeEs--the; starboare
lbarrage-and to.thes left another line,
the port parrage, aads astern was an.
other ores of the destroyers formlns
ihe rear barrage. Thus enveloped,: the
| big ships passed into the anchorage
the destroyers drew off to-their buoys
and soons.. lighters We're alongside
lbearing ashore this new @consignmen
| }of many thousand American troops.
1t is a scene Oft repeated now
day after day and night after night
| but often as it is, it is always a STIR.
| ring sight, and one which makes the
I blood tingle as these - thousands o.
! fighting men pour out Of the west.
The American Naval Base present.
ed a wonderful panorama this bright
day, spread out across the water and
along the shore. Besides the feet
which has just arrived there was the.
I throb Of huge naval activity ashore
and af1oat, over twenty miles Of: shore
line enveloping thisAdeep blue basin
| IN front lay a score Of the big trans
ports which had come during theslast
week, most .ofsthenl Ike those Just in
German liners.
"The irony Of fate::' remarked the
observer as he pointed out the many
German ships freighed with Ameri-
can troops.
4 hospital ship now passed to the
| left. On the decks lay long lines o.
stretchers, each bearing wounded
soldier, bathing in the sun light ane
salt air. "They are going home.
said the navy doctor. They are
cases in which the wounds incapaci-
tate them from returning to military
service-Iegs off, arms off. Or othe'
permanent disability. But they are
well enough along to recovery te
permit travelling, and SO they are go
ing home for their wooden legs and
arms. and after that. we'll"
At 6 o'clock tonight-fve hours af-
ter the fleet of transports had reach
ed the anchorage. the huge debark-
ment had been accomplished, and th9
last man was ashore and in camp.
If you veuld not be ..ldasa