Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-08-01
SEA RISK FOR
army IS SMALL
Infinite Care and Secrecy Attend
Transport of Troops to
France.
MOST TRIPS ARE UNEVENTFUL
Elements of Danger Are Anticipated
and Reduced to Minimum-No Uni
form on Deck Seen When Ship
LeaveA Harbor.

LOndOn.-No greater care and Sc
crecy could attend the shipment Of
royal jewels than is observed in ship
ping American troops to France. To
safeguard his boys Uncle Sam takes
every possible precaution, from the
time they embark until the transport
has reached it's destination. He leaves
no loophole for the Vaccinations Of
enemy agents.
Usually, as a result of this elaborate
protective SYSTEM, the trip from IAN
Atlantic port to the French or Eng
lish port, as the case may be, is re-
markably unevertful All elements of
danger have been so carefully antici-
pated that the risk is reduced to the
lowest minimum.
Until the troops and civilian pas
sengers have reached the pier they do
not know the name of their ship. 1t is
only a number to them. On the regu-
lar troopships it is difficult for a CT
william, unless he is engaged in war
work, to secure a passage. Those who
manage to do so are subjected to close
scrutiny, and their credentials and lug
gage are thoroughly examined.
Embarkation Begins Early.
Emsarkation often begins several
days before the transport sails. All
good-bys have been said before the
troops start for the ship. No relative
or friend may accompany them to the
pier. This rule applies to the officers
as we'll as to the men.
Once aboard, there they remain, no
shore communication being permitted.
This regulation imposes no hardship
other than inactivity. Until all troops
have been assigned to quarters and or
ganization has been effected, the men
are left pretty much to their own de-
vices.
No restriction is placed on writing,
and bags are kept open for soldiers
mail up to almost the hour Of sailing.
This privilege gives many chance to
get off neglected letters and postcards,
although these, as a matter of precau-
ton, are not put into the mails until
the ship has passed through the sub
marine zone.
The troops also take advantage of
an arrangement devised by the gov
eminent for the sending of "safe-arri-
val" messages. kilograms or post
cards advising family. and friends that
the writer had made the trip in safety
may be prepared in advance and left
in charge Of the authorities at the port
of sailing AS soon as word is re-
ceived by cable of the ships arrival
on the other side, the kilograms and
cards are released to the wires and
mails. Not only is much time saved
by this plan, bus the soldiers are
spared the high cost of cabling from
Europe.
With the exception Of the ships ex-
ecutiveS and the officers in military
command, no one aboard knows the
hour fixed for sailing, and this be-
comes a favorite topic for speculation
among the men. But finally the last
soldier has come up the gang plank
and the last piece of freight has been
slowed away. A busy little tug ap-
pears alongside and begins to nose the
vessel like a terrier investigating a
greyhound.
Soldiers Ordered Below.
Suddenly there is a blast from the
ships whistle, and then are enacted
a few details Of the familiar scene
which before the war was witnessed
whenever transatlantic liner left its
pier. The comparison, however, is
extremely limited. The call of Cali
ashore that are going ashore" affects
only a few stevedores and perhaps an
official or two, who move leisurely off.
What excitement there is is confined
to those on the ship. There is none on
the pier for the reason that 1t is now
empty and it's great doors are closed.
Only blank wall looms there.
On deck the movement, instead Of
being toward the transports rails, is
away from them. Orders have been CIV
en- for the troops to go to their quar-
tiers, so that when the ship is leaving
harbor no uniform may be- visible to
any prying eyes on shore.
Slowly the big vessel is cOaXed by
the tug into the stream, and majesti-
cally she gets under way. A few CT
william passengers, to the envy of Off |
GERS and men, hang over the rails and
watch the city's skyline fade away.
Soon the port is only a blur in
veil of mist. 1t is safe now for the
troops to appear. They rush out on
deck, boyishly eager for the sight
strange to many-of the open sea. A
glance is cast toward the vague line
on the horizon that is home. Then |
they turn and peer forward into the |
mystery of the unknown, toward the
scene of the great adventure-over
there.