New-York tribune., 1918-12-02
MQuretQniQ
Arriues With
3, 999 Troops
Continued from page I

the Mayors committee that had a per-
sonal touch to it.
Lauder Cheered Troops
Harry Lauder, who had been keeping
the boys in good spirits singing to
them on the way over on onc Of the
roughest voyages the Mauretania ever
had, retired, but sent out his greetings.
A quartet of the 315th Aero Squadron
began 20 sing Glow Dry AM
Here" said Lieutenant Peter V. O.
Barkelew, as a reporter scrambled up
to the main deck, "call up my mother
at 1871 Flatbush and tell her am on
board and feel fine. She doesn't know
am here. She'll hear from me later
and mail this letter to my girl"
Up the broad staircases of the ship
to the captains cabin trooped the
Mayors committee. Near it they met
Colonel II. c. Pratt of the Air Ser
vice, senior American officer on
board. His greeting was warm and
cordial as Mr.. Whalen extended a well
come on behalf of the Mayor.
Captain A. II. Rostron. commander
of the Mauretania, greeted the COM
mlttee and was welcomed by it. Major
Ian Hay and Captain Gillian, of the
board who were present to see the
way the "boys" simply went wild in
shaking hands with the committee
members. Captain Rostron has car
RED 250. 900 troops overseas.
1T was some rough passage" said
one doughboy. Everybody on board
was seasi,k. There were four storms,
each worse than the preceding one"
Storm Spilled Typewriters
Emphasizing the extent of q storm
that fifteen typewriters were sent
scurrying from their tables. where the
clerical force was at work, and that
Sergeant Major Carl l.. Hawthorne, of
the American forces on the ship, had
been knocked under the table, while
Leo B. Fennick, of the 10th Aero
Squadron, had been sent flying through
a door. Each of these men confirmed
the adventure. Lieutenant Harlan
the 167th Aero Squadron, shaking
hands with Mr.. Whalen, said:
don't know how We'll march. We are
better mechanics than soldiers"
The visitors were ovcrwhe lined by
soldiers who wanted 20 get just line
to the folks that they were back, safe
and feeling fine. Many OF them got
together in groups and sent brief mes
sages to which they signed their names.
Let New York know in the morning
that we are home. Our squadron has
been overseas for nine months, and we
are as good as any of them" was one
such message, signed by Sergeant Z.
l. Pearson, Sergeant Rome, Corporal
Byler Sergeant Conederay, Private Kol-
bach, Sergeant Bartosh and Sergeant
Mangah. Another message was sent by
the men of the 1S8th Aero Squadron.
There was vast disappointment among
the passengers of the Mauretania when
1t Was discovered tnat the official well
coming party had failed to bring a
single newspaper.
The formal greeting of the city was
extended to Colonel Pratt by Mr.. Whal-
en-. who said:
"ln the name of Mayor Hylan | wish
to extend to you a most hearty and
cordial welcome and to say for the
Mayor that the people of New York
are proud OF you and feel privileged
to be the first public officials in the
United States to greet you"
Colonel Pratt replied: express to
Mayor Hylan the thanks Of the officers
retania. We feel honored to have the
Mayors personal representative and
his committee greet US down the bay
at this late hour"
Bring ON the Eats"
The committee had been on board
nearly an hour. Its members departed
with shouts Of Bring on the eats!
ringing in their ears. With her whistle
footing farewell, the Patrol backed
off and headed for the glow of Man
haitian, Captain Rostron and Colone
Pratt waving goodby
"Well be back at $50 o'clock to es
cort you to your pier" cried Mr.
Whalen- The steamer Highlander
which William Randolph Hearst chart
cred yesterday to take a party consist
soldiers to meet the Mauretania, prob
ably will accompany the Patrol this
morning, it was said. The Highlander
had futile trip yesterday.
There will be no parade, to-day al
least, Colonel Pratt told his visitors
as a Pennsylvania Railroad ferryboat
will take the men straight from the
Mauretania's pier to the Long Islant
City pier, whence they will depart fcl
stead Plains
Like the Highlander. the Patrol had
had an unsuccessful trip in the after.
noon. the Mayor being accompanied by
his wife and daughter on that occasion
- well as by various city officials.
The Highlander was seized upor
early in the morning, when after q hur-
ried conference held by Mayor Hylan
William Randolph Hearst and George
W. Loft, head of the Mayors Commit
tee on National Defence, it was decided
that the city could not overlook the
arrival of the first contingent of home
ward bound troops. A great canvas
banner on the side of the boat con
veyed the information that j. was 6
Hearst craft and removed any idea that
the Hylan administration had provided
an official boat in which to welcome the
. fighters.
Early in the morning Mayor Hylar
reached the Battery in an automobile
sought out patrol boat and, under
the guidance OF harhor officials, was
shown the course OF the boat on its ar
rival. Since the Hearst management
had provided the larger craft, however
it was decided to make use of it, even il
the Mauretania did not arrive. Shortly
after 3 o'clock the Mayor and Hearst
arm in arm, mounted the gang plank
while the Hearst band played "Hail tc
the Chief" Both bowed and waved
their hands.
Then the Mayor and Hearst returned d
to shore and disappeared from view
Their representatives invited every
body within sound of their voices to
cruise down the harbor, and the ship