The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-07
CLEANLINESS is
FIRST RULE ON .
TRANSPORTS
Food Is Well Cooked-Men
Get White Bread and
Real Butter i

American Port In Western France,
Sept. 6.-(Correspondence of The
Associated Press.)-An American
Armada OF Thirteen great transports
bringing $4,000 fighting men to
France had come quietly into port
during the night and the landing Of
this little army was soon to begin.
Going on board the transports
The Associated Press correspondent
had an opportunity to see the equip
ment for this hugh undertaking,
Jared on their trip across. It was a
the deck Of former Ward liner re-
built as a transport. Soldiers, pack
ed the decks and were thick as
flies in every cabin, hatch and be-
tween decks down to the very bow
els of the ship. The spacious prom
enade deck had disappeared, and in
its place were long lines of
"standees," or metal hammocks, for
the men sleep in the open on deck
as well as between decks.
The men looked WE'LL and the re-
port from the sick bay showed only
six cases Of sickness out of 5000
men abroad, a very good showing,
said the doctor. In the mess hall a
relief Of men were taking their
breakfast. There was no sitting
down at table. The men stood at
high troughs, very. clean and prac-
teal, each man with his own tin
plate, knife, fork and spoon, tossing
OF with relish the hot cofree and
good white bread and butter. We
tasted this bread and found 1t a
revelation-rea bread. 30 different
from the potato bread we are used to
as war diet. And real butter, a
luxury for soldiers only, which no
one begrudged them.
Between decks tiny blue lights
were burning to let the men see
their way about with some degree
OF freedom. These are the only
lights aboard, no lights on deck OF
any kind to avoid danger OF fire. Al
night the men felt their way about.
The living quarters between decks
were scrupulously clean, and even
after ten days of this crowded life
afIoat there was not trace OF
odor, the floors were scrubbed and
there was no litter about. 1t would
have cheered the heart of an exact
ing housekeeper.
"The admiral says 1t is the clean
est transport afioat.p said the naval
officer with as much pride in the
record as one in Workmanship
In the wash rooms the men were
at long porcelain wash troughs.
Everything showed the spick and
span neatness of the efficient naval
management. In the kitchen galley
savory dishes were being prepared
and in the bread making plant the
long lineof ovens were turning out
stacks of white bread for these 5000
hearty eaters This was a meatless
day, for civilians, but one Of the
negro cooks offered us a taste OF
the steaming meat curry, which
would have done credit to a Paris
chef.
An exciting event Of the trip was
learned as we passed along. Most
OF the voyage had been uneventful
But, nearing this side a lookout had
signalled the appearance of a peris-
cope. Soon the deck guns got into
action. and two depth charges were
dropped over the spot where the
periscope was last seen. But there
was no further sign OF hostile craft
If the depth charges took effect
they left no trace for there was no
wreckage on the water. Very soon
the incident had passed and some
OF the ships did not even know any
thing unusual had occurred.
On the upper deck we saw the
deadly depth charges and the long
toboggan slide along which they are
started ON their errand. The charges
were in metal cylinders the size of
q. cask, two on each side 60 drop
over.
Besides these the gunnery officer
was proud OF the possession OF guns
made for use on battleships but
mounted here on deck.