Arizona republican., 1918-03-09
THRILLING TALE IF VOYAGE TO
 FRANCE T0[D BY JUDGE SMITH
Former Jurist Finds Many Lose Nerve in Submarine
 Zone and Sleepless Are Nights for Nearly All

Describing the mental strain of pas sengers on the transports when they approach the submarine zone-Judge Frank 0. Smith, a secretary of the Y. M C. A. somewhere in France, has written his experiences in crossing. Extracts from the letter of the former Yavapai county judge to his wife, who is now in Chicago, follow:
 q will give you few of the happen ings on board going over, Fortunate ly l had no use for the little notice I enclose to you as a souvenir of a rather strenuous voyage:
 NOTICE
 $. Ship Sailing In the event of the ship having to be abandoned
 MT. Frank o. Smith
 Occupying Cabin No. -, shall pro- ceed to Boat No. - where a place has been assigned to him.
 On Board $. $. "
 Prom this, you can see that every precaution is being used for our safety, although the significant little notice gave one a rather queer feeling.
 We came on board in the evening" New York was rather dark and that made the Statue of Liberty all the more impressive, for it was lighted up in great shape; and it seemed for a moment as if "one could rather bear the ills one had, than fly to dangers that we knew not off, but that soon passed off in the novelty of the situ- ation; and sizing up the passengers was a great study in human nature. There were Polish volunteers bound for France Serbian officers. French Go1 I drille man. Red Cross men. U. $. av- iators. women for various branches of service, Belgian officer, American soldiers, ambulance drivers. etc.-in- decd a varied list,
 E. H. Sothern on Board
 Sunday we had Y. NJ. C. A. services, and F.. II. Sothern, the actor, who has volunteered for Y. NJ C. A. work in Italy. read for us, a real treat!
 Here are a few short sentences to express many things Sea rough. Many sick. Bed socks fine, Sweater mighty comfortable. No sunshine; boat crowded. Drew fine stateroom. Candy nuts and cigars came in handy. Put several boxes candy away for French children. French class twice a day Today is my brthday-w wished myself Many Happy Returns Your birthday letter great! Spent part of day figur- ing out value of French money. ' Today. we struck the submarine zone Several slept on deck and a number slept in clothes. Not me! Sufficient unto the day. etc.
 Later: Order just been posted re- quiring all passengers to keep clothes on tonight and life belts on hand, ano obey all orders-this to be in effect un- til we land. Some are wildly excited although the order is the usual one al this stage of the game.
 Nerve Tension Intense
 Yesterday some boys ran by the li- brary window: Result:-a woman tainted! Today @ smashing wave hi the bow-a man 'caved i'm Tension naturally rather strained.
 The French on board gave a concer for French wounded: started with concert and developed into free-fo all vaudeville. and some of the stunt! were very clever.
 There's a little Belgian girl on board who escaped from the Huns in Brussel! and came to New York. Her mother il slave for the Germans. Her eXper fences are thrilling and shockingly sad Prom where l am writing. can lool ID and see a poilu modestly wearing his CroiX de Guerre and entertaining French dancing girl; in another corne a French captain in citizens clothes no medals in sight, but I happen t know from previous conversation. tha ne went over the top at the Somme am IS one out of the nine of the who'll regiment that came back. His Majo was wounded. left in No Mans Land and he crawled out and dragged him t 5afety.
 Near him is a man who was rescuet rom the Arabic; he and his bull pul are inseparable, as the dog was hi companion in the adventure.
 Expect to sight land this afternoon Weather fine; have shed sweaters ant overcoats
 Later: No sleep for two nights whil in danger zone, and no sleep last nigh out on account of arranging luggage inspections, customs, and other ar arrangements.
 The enclosed menu may interes you, especially the polite little apolog, in French: On account of saving tn,