The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1918-08-29
CROSSING THE ENGLISH
CHANNEL AFTER NIGHT
From the Parts Mail.

The draft fell In" at dusk in the
great shed on the quay. There were
little groups of men from almost every
regiment in the forces hurritly called
together from distant camps in Eng
land to throw il. their weight against
the German flood. They had sung as
they marched through the seaport tewn
but when the dock gates changed be-
hind them they had entered new
life, the grim seriousness Of which was
only just making itself felt.
stood silently while the rolls were
sailed and the parade states" checked
before the enlbarkation staff officer.
Then they filed out past the shipping
to where lay the long, gray 20-knotter
ready for the crossing.
A solemn business, this e1nbarkatfon.
Tired after many hours in the train,
the men had no sooner thrown off their
equipment and adjusted their cunber-
some lifebelts than they wrapped their
great coats about them and made ready
for the night. The old hands-many ct
them returning after three or four
Mounds-found the warm, snug corners
and were soon asleep. But for many
it was their first sea trip; and as the
boat slipped quietly down the channel
to the sea they watched intently the
many strange sights around them.
The conducting officers of the draft
gathered together in the saloon, and
the senior officer was appointed O. G.
troopship. He selected, en- adjutant and
divided the remainder into watches.
The rules and regulations Of night
crossing were then read and explained.
On deck all was in darkness. The
vibration of the decks and the slap
ping Of the lanyards against the mast
showed that the trooper had picked up
her naval convoy and was hitting 1t
out" full speed for the French coast
Gathered in the stern a few men stood
the coast with its headland light grad
ually fading. In few minutes the.
light. too, had been swallowed by the
blackness.
Plunging into every sea alongside
was long. low destroyer, which every
now and then flicked a message from
it's bridge to some unseen ship. There
was another destroyer, its presence In
Dictated only by the broad trail Of foam
dashed up by its racing propellers
They gave sense Of security. these
boats. When as the night deepened,
the deck guards, strange to the mys-
teries of the sea would whisper among
themselves, specializing as to the mis-
sion which had called them away. But
Iney always 5I0luIneQ, ready ri the
scent Of danger to burst into tornado
Of death dealing fire.
Picking his way carefully among the
sleeping forms the officer OF the watch
made his rounds from deck to deck.
There was sharp reprimand for the
owner OF a glowing cigaret. A man
was reused for sleeping too comfort-
ably without his lifebelt A party
dividing up the next days rations was
making too much noise. Someone had
SO far forgotten the discipline of the
ship as to climb on the gun platform
and discuss the working Of the chaser
gun with its watchful naval crew.
The night was at its blacklist when
light flicked right ahead. A sudden
blast from the siren brought every
man to his feet. The men chung to rail-
ing as the ship heeled over in answer
to a hard ported helm. A moment of
tense excitement and the danger was
past. A great wall Of dripping rust
towering above the troopers decks
doomed up out Of the night. There
was an exchange of deep throated
shouts from bridge to bridge. An Of
ficer roared, Stand fast men!" Then
the tramp was swallowed up in the
darkness as suddenly as it had ap.
peared.
An hour later the troopship was
sheltering behind a friendly break.
water. and at dawn the draft was dis.
embarked.