The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-07-01
SOLDIERS LIFE ON TRANSPORT
 IS REFRESHING
LONDON, June 5.-"Hey! Yo1 with the beak!"

LONDON. June 5-"Hey! You with the beak!"
 Sergeant S abruptly inter, rupts the calisthenics of D company and levels a stern torefinger at a tall young soldier with bruised and swollen nose who is making only a perfunctory effort to touch his toes with his finger-tips. The scene is the deck of a transport, warward bound about 10 a. m. of fine spring day.
 "Is that what you cali exercising?" demands the sergeant. You think you don't need any of this one-two- three stuff, eh? You're fit already. maybe. to eat a boche for break fast!"
 The company looks on and grins. Ordinarily Sergeant S--. like the majority of the efficient. hard-work- ing sergeants of the American army, is a man of few, precise words. But on rare occasions he finds it expe- dient to talk to- some erring pri- vate. and his ability in that line has won him fame throughout his regi- ment.
 The tall soldier flushes and stam- mers out an explanation. Bending over causes his nose. still sore from a pumping against a door. to bleed.
 Fall out. then," directs the ser geant. You oughta said something before we started" Briskly he re- sumes the setting-up exercises and for half an hour the company is busily engaged.
 Breezy and fresh is the morning, a brilliant sun making rainbows in the spray from the transports bow and lending a sparkle to the dancing whitecaps. On all the decks khaki clad lads are twisting their bodies and working arms and legs to the measured count of their sergeants. All in a glow. filling their lungs with the sea ozone, they are picture of health and American pep"
 Keep 'em busy" is the watchword of the officer in military command of the vessel. He has several thousand exuberant young soldiers to look aft nvA Dnptn nv1 n C. ports has taught him that ship life becomes wearisome for large bodies of men closely quartered unless they have regular daily occupation. To meet this demand, he has worked out a program that supplies the required amount of wholesome work and that provides also for plenty of recrea- tion and amusement.
 Army hours are strictly observed. Reveille is sounded by the buglers at an hour that brings untitled pro- tests from the few civilian passen- gers on board, the blasts penetrating to every corner of the ship. Some time later, after the civilians have rolled over in their berth and are about to fall asleep again, there is a mighty tramping on decks and in the corridors as the hungry soldiers pour up from their quarters below, eager for breakfast.
 Impatiently they await the sum- mons, which is beaten on an instru- ment that sounds to the unfortunate civilian like sheet of boiler plate, and, when it comes, they are off with rush for the huge first-cabin dining room. And it is not until they have satisfied their husky ap- petites that the officers and civilians are called to their breakfast in the smaller dining room which, before the liner became 8 transport, was reserved for second-cabin passengers.
 This is a British vessel, one of the largest in His Majesty's fleet of aux Hilary cruisers. Before the war, 1t was described as "a floating palace but the press agent of the line that operated 1t then wouldn't call 1t a floating palace now. It is warship, grimly utilitarian. With the excep. tion of the handsome mural decora. tions of the salons. there is scarcely e vestige of its former splendor and luxurious appointments.
 The great lounge Is now an arm. ory. filled with stands for the troops rifles. The gymnasium is store. room for soldiers luggage. Only the first.cabin smoking room remains as 1t was. and this is used as a club. room for the officers. It boasts a photograph and a piano. and here an occasional concert is given in the evening, and every other afternoon a regimental band plays.
 The concerts are mostly of the informal, impromptu kind. The en tertainers are enlisted men who seek to welcome the opportunity to display their talents before their of ficers.
 The regiment from which these musicians are recruited is a striking