The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-08-12
Sergt. Tompkins
Writes of Life
Aboard Transport
Continued from Page 81

the destroyer went to it with al! guns
and torpedo tubes manned and aimed.
1t was thrilling to see such games
The ship proved to be an innocent
merchantmen returning to the States
L. is certainly thrilling to see all OF
these ships continually blowing ahead
If a ship or anything else is sighted,
everything is made ready for action,
but the blowing ahead continues just
the same. Nothing stops your Unclr
Sam. He is headed for France and
1t will take something q great deal
mightier than Kaiser Bills subs to
stop him.
We had good moving pictures and
were getting the score and other news
by wireless every day. But never e
click did we hear from our wireless,
although the operator was right on
the job every minute to send the old
IS. 0. S., IL necessary. We heard
about the sub activity on our own
coast, but don't let that worry you
because they won't be there long.
We are now entering the war zone ae
proclaimed by Mr.. Kaiser Bill Of Ger
many. Yes, we are a little uneasy.
hut not much, and of all the magic
tricks you ever heard of, Just when
we are the most uneasy during the
night we open our eyes to hnd the
whole ocean alive with destroyers
sliding around here, there and every
where. The water seems to be full of
them. 1t is absolutely impossible for
sub to get anywhere near us. don't
know where all these destroyers come
from. They must have fallen from
the sky. The sea is as calm as our
lake, the bands are playing and ev-
t.vbody is happy. The soldiers are
amusing themselves with boxing. etc.
At present they have long pole
about Is feet long and inches in
diameter, swinging horizontally by
two ropes about feet from the deck
with wrestling mat on the deck. The
object is to straddle the swinging pole
facing each other and swat the other
over the head with large canvas
bag (about the half the size of a pol.
low and try to knock each other off
the pole. Occasionally there is a
bruised ear or a bloody nose but new.
er any harm done.
Early morning, June 8, Saturday,.
Sighted land and arrived in port about
il a. m. We leave tomorrow for an
other place by rail.
Sunday, June 10th.-We loaded all
our baggage and went ashore and
boarded train. The soldiers left
us and went somewhere else. We took
sandwiches and water enough to last
us the trip. The cars and engine are
a very good laughing matter. The en-
gines look very much like a cigar box
with wheels on. They make about 20
miles per hour and are compelled to
slow down to trot on a hill. When
they get over the top of the hill they
nearly run away. They have no bell,
no air-brakes, burn wood and have
whistle like peanut rooster. The
cars have four wheels, and are about
10 or Is feet long. There is a sort of
q chauffeur's seat on the top of every
hfth car who turns the wheel which
applies the brakes when the engineer
gives him the proper "toot-toot !" One
OF our box cars is palace compared
to these. There were 3S of US to a
car. We had the floor and a few
boards to sleep on over night. There
had been horses in 1t and owing to
the fact that the men are all at the
front, and the horses had no b-ooms, /
the car had not been swept for some
time. However, we all enjoyed 1t and
had one glorious time. The trip was
about 200 miles and in the whole trip
did not see one single tree large |
enough for timber. There is no wood |
here. The fences are made of dirt
piled up and covered with bushes. !,
The more prosperous have for fences ,
gcoseberries, etc. The factories are
run by women. 1t certainly looks
strange to see the ladies in boomers
doing all kinds of heavy labor. You
can't see anybody but old folks, chill
iren, women and Americans. I wish {
was able to describe the other SOL /
tiers and sailors. l really believe
that one ordinary American can whip
any six of these others. Everybody |,
1T