Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-07-08
SUBMARINES ARE
MUCH DISCUSSED
ON TR00PSH|PS
U-boats Form Chief Topic Of
Conversation Among Men.
Being Conveyed to Europe
Regular Boat Drills.
ssv MORNING Ioosa., SPECIAL te.sto w,nsl


London, July Although troop
ships that bring over American SOL
diers are so well protected that the
submarine menace Is virtually negli-
gibie, submarines throughout the trip
are probably the chief subject of con-
versation. Usually the reference to the
undersea terror are jocular but it is
apparent that much serious thought
is given to U-boats and that they loom
large In inauguration. This applies
to officers as well as to the men. All
say frankly they have no desire for
a brush with the sinking. enemy
craft.
The reason for this was neatly put
by major of infantry who recently
landed in England. Fighting subma-
rines," he said, isn't our game" In
that pithy explanation he summed
up the soldiers attitude exactly.
Fighting the submarines isn't the
army's game, and soldiers can't play
it because they don't known how. If
their ship is attacked there is nothing
for them to do except march on deck
and prepare take to the lifeboats.
Defensive measures rest with the
transports naval guns and with the
cscorting destroyers. They, as the sol
dier sees it, have all the fun, wniie
the soldier must stand by. eager to
fight, but helpless to take a hand.
Officers Feel Responsibility.
The army officers feel keenly their
responsibility in such an unfamiliar
situation. 1t devolves upon them 70
clear the ship of every man and ge'
them into their proper boats
In order to do this with the great
est possible celebrity and precision,
the commanding military officer and
his assistants carefully work out their
plans before the ship sails. On large
vessel carrying several thousand
troops it is necessary to quarter the
men on all decks, some far down III
Tho vessel The task, then, is to get
them all up on the boat deck with
the least delay and without confusion,
Boat drills begin soon after the snip
leaves port. Each man is assisneu W
a particular boat, and 1t is highly I'M
portant that when the troops IN re-
snonse to the alarm signal, are moving
up from the lower decks that there pe
no interference and congestion on the
stairways.
The problem presents number ot
difficulties, each Of which Is stualeo
with care. So perfect was the sys,en,
on one big transport that the o'Vov
troops on board could be prousr.
from all parts of the ship to thelr STA.
tions on the upper deck Witn'n Tess
than five minutes.
Precautions are Increased.
When transport approaches the
zone, precautions are IN
creased. All officers and men must
wear their life preservers cons.anus,
and when the ship has got wen into
the zone, orders are Issued Tor the
men to sleep in their clothes. -,
No lights of course are shown: 10
puard against the inadvertent suihihf
of match whose flare might reVea'
tho vessels presence to lurking sup'
marine. no one is permitted on aee~
q Nor dark with the exception OF the
shin's crew. Sentries are posted 10 see
that this order is strictly obeyed.
An amusing incident occurred on ,
h,,ga british transport which was car
wing a particularly large NUMBER u
American soldiers.
Ahout nine o'clock one eVenms, |
.,,,,ia frl, speed was being maue
,srn,,pb the heart Of the zone, sen.
-, roticed a ray of light playing ~
~ sn,aIl circle on distant part 9l
~ deck which he was guarding ~
w sn.,ad another sentry and togetnel
49, crept toward the point where .ne
'.ant momentarily had appeared. ny
lis III. was very dark and at first tne
nisns could see nothing. Then tney
made out the figure q man 'od odiately |
over the deck. They .,as ,nder |
M. Ss,red him and told him ne was un
arrest. ..o,, soffieer ir, com.
mand Of the ship, 'ns