The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-12-17
Giant Transport Landed
Nearly 5000 at New
York Yesterday
MOSTLY VETERANS
OF HARD FIGHTING
Soldiers from This Section Disappoint-
ed at Being Ordered to Camp Mer-
rift Instead Of Camp Devens-Col.
Tompkins Among Officers.

NEW YORK, Dee. l7.-Nearly 5000
battle-scarred fighters of the American
army arrived here yesterday on two
transports-th the Leviathan and the Santa
Ana. They were veterans of the terrific
fighting at scissors, Apremont, Seiche
Prey. Nvray, Belleau Wood, Chateau
Thierry, Argonne Forest. Verdun-men
who broke the Hindenburg line.
gate a number of New Englanders
We ah the two transports. When they
learned that they were to be sent TO Camp
Merritt \. j., instead of Camp Devens,
they we've disappointed.
| All but 100 came on the transport Le-
viathan, formerly the Hamburg Ameri
! can Liner Eatcrland, once the pride of the
kaiser's fleet. English designed, German
built, and now American owned and oper-
ated. The Leviathan is the biggest and
fastest transport flying the Stars and
| Stripes.
She arrived oil Sandy Hook Sunday at
| 4 a. m, but the fog was 50 thick that
Capt Phelps would not risk the 10000
lives and his great ship by coming into
the inner harbor.
lie left quarantine at o'clock ycster-
dav morning and the big lJ.o00-ton ship
proceeded to lsr dock at IIoboken.
When the Leviathan started up the
North river all New York and New Jer-
sey knew it by the noisy welcome she
received from tugs. steamboats, and wills
ties ashore. An immense crowd ON both
shores gathered to see her pass 3 her
berth at Pier ).
Bands on the Hoboken pier played pop
Iular airs as the Leyiathan appeared, and
when she got within talking distance they
PLAYED Home. Sweet Home. the refrain of
(which was taken M by those aboard the
ship and those on the pier. The familiar
lines of the old song. BE it ever SO hum
Bile. there's no place like home, rang out
above the din and uproar OF the noisy
welcome accorded tho big ship and it,
great throng of sailors, soldiers, marines
iairmcn. aviators and civilians.
1t was . a. m. when the first gangwas
was hoisted On the way up The harbol
the men had been assembled on their re
spcctivc decks and IN a comparatively
short time they came bounding down tht
|, several gangways like deer The crpples
came last and many had to be assisted
, The severe surgical cases followed an6
the strctcher eases were the last to leav,
the ship.
The Leviathan carried III naval officer:
and 4.747 enlisted men of the navy; q:
army officers and 2,2l3 men: four sick OF
wounded army officers and ,4l9 sick o.
: wounded men; l. women nurses, two
civilian officers of the merchant marine
los men of the latter service. three Rec
Cross md two \. NJ e. A. workers and Il
! Il ,>~ed as miscellaneous.
: One of the first officers off the Levia
| han was Col. Frank Tompkins, who went
over from Camp Devcns last July il com
! mand Of tho 30lst infantry. Boston
Own" He was gassed aud plainly Shove,
its terrible effects.
The next New England officers to de
, bark was Lieut., John j. Earle. a veteran
E of the old 9th Massachusetts and lois
, infantry. Earle is n member OF the Bo~to'
. fire department. attached II ladder Il
lie went over with the 18th division a
sergeant IN a supply eonpanY. lie wa
2 sent to the officers school in France com
1 missioned lieutenant and last July va
assigned to the S9th division On the tri'
/ home Lieut.. Earle was in command OF TIL
t 305th Casual company men detaeh''
from various commands To be sent bael
for discharge.