The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-10-28
AN INSPIRING SIGHT.
To See American Convoy Arriving at
American Naval Base.

American Naval Base, France, Oct. %.
Correspondence of Associated Press
The latest convoy of American trans
ports arrived at noon to-day, and it was
an inspiring scene to see the stately pro-
eession under the bright MILDLY sun, with
stiff breeze whipping the flags, the
decks crowded with American soldiers,
and the piers and castle walls black with
cheering people, as the fleet moved ma
jestically past the outer capes to the
sheltered inside harbor. Often the en-
trance is under cover of darkness, to
cheat the submarines which have APP
peared of late off the harbor mouth. But
the entrance to-day was in broad day
light so that the whole city had chance
to turn ont and see the sight.
1t was list ll:40 when the first de-
stroyer cen in the silvery water
out betweea The capes. At that distance
three miles, it looked only speck as it
turned the capes, leaving thread Of
smoke behind This was the scout ship,
far ahead, plotting the way and on the
lookout for any danger along the path
1t came straight into the harbor, its
work done, while the main fleet, keeping
compactly together, began to file be-
tween the capes. Ahead was large
destroyer with -four stacks, and behind
it on either flank two other four-stack-
ers. This was the forward protecting
barrage of destroyers in a great arc.
Now huge prov pushed out beyond
the white cliff of the cape, and grew
gradually decks, tunnels,
belching smoke, and then the mammoth
hull of a 20O0-ton transport, formerly
a German trans Atlantic liner. Soon an
other appeared former German
liner-and then still another German
liner.
Off to the right of the big ships was
line of destroyers-the starboard bar
rage and to the left another line, the
port barrage, and astern was another
one of destroyers forming the rear bar
rage. Thus enveloped, the big ships
passed into the anchorage, the destroyers
drew off to their buoys, and soon light
ers were alongside bearing ashore this
new consignment of many thousand
American troops.
It is scene oft repeated now as day
after day and night after night, but
often as it is, it is always stirring
sight, and one which makes the blood
Jingle, as these thousands iof fighting
men pour out of the west.
The American naval base presented
wonderful panorama this bright day,
spread out across the water and along
the shore. Besides the feet which had
Just arrived there was the throb of huge
activity ashore and ahoat, over TWEEN
ty miles of shoreline enveloping this
deep blue basin. In front lay score
of the big transports which had come
during the last week, most of them like
those just in, German liners.
'The irony Of fate" remarked the OBJ
server as he pointed out the many Ger
man ships freighted with American
troops.
A hospital ship now passed to the
left. On the decks lay long lines of
stretchers, each bearing a wounded sol
der, bathing in the sunlight and salt
air They are going home" said the
navy doctor. "They are cases in which
the wounds incapacitate them from re.
turning to military service-legs off, !
arms off, or other permanent disability. |
But they are well enough along to re-
covery to permit travelling, and so they
are going home for their wooden legs |
and arms, and after that, we'll"
At 6 o'clock to-night-fve hours after
the feet of transports had reached the
anchorage, the huge debarlment had
been accomplished, and the last man was |
ashore and in camp.