The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-06-17
MEN ARE SHIPPED
 ABROAD GUARDED LIKE RARE GEMS

London, June 17-(Correspondence of The Associated Press-No greater | care and secrecy could attend the shipment of royal jewels than is ob- served in shipping American troops to France. To safeguard his boys Uncle Sam takes every possible pre- caution. from the time they embark until the transport has reached its destination. He leaves no loophole for the machinations of enemy agents.
 IJsually. as a result of this elabor- ate protective system, the trip from "An. Atlantic Port to the French or English port, as the case may be, is remarkably uneventful. All elements of danger have been so carefully anti cinated that the risk is reduced to the lowest minimum.
 Until the troops and civilian pas sengers have reached the pier they do not know the name Of their ship It is onv a number to them. On the regular troopships it is difficult for a civilian, unless he is engaged in war work, to secure passage. Those who managed to do so are subjected to close scrutiny, and their credentials and luggage are thoroughly examined.
 Embarkation often begins several days before the transport sails. All good-bys have been said before the troops start for the ship. No relative or friend may accompany them to the pier. This rule applies to the officers as well as to the men.
 Once aboard there they remain, no shore communication being permitted. This regulation imposes no hardship other than inactivity. Until all troops have been assigned to quarters and organization has been effected, the men are left pretty much to their own devices.
 No restriction is placed on writing. and bags are kept open for soldiers mail up to almost the hour of sailing. This privilege gives many a chance to get off neglected letters and post cards, although these, as a matter of precaution, are not put into the mails until the ship has passed through the submarine zone.
 The troops also take advantage of an arrargement devised by the gov ernment for the sending of safe ar rivaP' messages. Telegrams or post cards advising family and friends that the writer has made the trip in safety may be prepared in advance and left 1 in charge of the authorities at the port of sailing. As soon as word is received by cable of the ships arrival on the other side, the telegrams and cards are released to the wires and mails. Not only is much time saved by this plan, but the soldiers are spared the high cost of cabling from Europe.
 With the exception of the ships executives and the officers in military command, no one aboard knows the hour fixed for sailing, and this be- comes a favorite topic for speculation among the men. But finally the last soldier has come up the gangplank and the last piece of freight has been slowed away A busy little tug ap- pears alongside and begins to nose the vessel like a terrier investigating a greyhound.
 
 ships whistle, and then are enacted a few details of the familiar scene which before the war was witnessed whenever a transatlantic finer left its pier. The comparison, however, is ex- tremely limited. The call of "Al ashore that are going ashore" affects only a few stevedores and perhaps ar official or two, who move leisurely off
 What excitement there is is confiet to those on the ship. There is none on the pier for the reason that it il
 now empty and it's great doors art closed. Only a blank wall loom
 there.
 On deck the movement, instead O being toward the transports rails, i
 away from them. Orders have beer , given for the troops to go to thei ! quarters, so that when the ship i leaving harbor no uniform may b visible to any prying eyes on shore. ! Slowly the big vessel is coaxed b = the tug into the stream, and majesti 2 ca1y she gets under way. A fe0 civilian passengers, to the envy of of
 ficers and men, hang over the rail
 and watch the city's skyline fad
 away.
 \ Soon the port is only a blur in 7 veil of mist It is safe now for tn
 troops to appear. They rush out o g deck, boyishly eager for the sight
 strange to many-of the open sea.
 glance is cast toward the vague lin Il on the horizon that is home. The u they turn and peer forward into tn e mystery of the unknown, toward tn o scene of the great adventure