The Cordova daily times., 1918-09-03
HOW AMERICANS
TRAVEL ACROSS
BROAD ATLANTIC

American armada OF thirteen great
transports. bringing $4,000 fighting
men to France had come quietly into
port during the night and the landing
CT this little army was soon to begin.
Going on board the transports, the
| Associated Press correspondent had
| an opportunity to see the equipment
for this huge undertaking, and how
the men had lived and Jared on their
! trip across. II was a long climb up
| the rope ladder to the deck OF a
| former Ward liner rebuilt as trans
port. Soldiers packed the decks and
were thick as flies in every cabin,
very bowels of the ship. The spacious
promenade deck had disappeared. and
in its place were long lines of stan
dees," 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
aboard, a very good showing, aid 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
rel and ipnl ,,.It Il
his own tin plate. knife fork and
spoon, tossing of with relish the hot
coffee and good white bread and but
ter. We tasted this bread and found
it a revelation-real bread. SO diner.
"nt from the potato bread We are
used to as war diet And real butter.
a luxury tor soldiers only. which no
on" b"grudged them.
Between decks tiny blue light, 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. At night the mon lelt .
their way about
The living quarters between decks .
were scrupulously clean, and even al
ter ten days OF this crowded lifc afloat
there was not trace OF Odpr. the
floors were scrubbed and therr was
no litter about. 1t would have cheered
the heart of an exacting housekeeper.
The admiral says it is the cleenest
transport afioat, said the naval officer
with as much pride in the record as
one in craftsmanship.
In the wash rooms, the men We're
at long porcelain wash troughs Every
thing showed the spick and span
neatness OF the efficient naval man
agcment. In the kitchen galley say
DRY dishes We're being prepared, and
in the bread-making plant the long
lines of ovens were turning out stacks
OF white bread for these 5000 hearty
eaters. This was 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 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 sig.
nailed the appearance of perscope. ,
Soon the deck guns got into action,
and two depth charges were droppedN
was last seen. But there was no fur :
Their sign of hostile craft II the :
depth charges took effect they left !:
40 trace, for there was no wreckage ::
IN the water. Very soon the incident ::
lad passed and some on the ship did ::
.ot even know anything unusual had ::
occurred. ::
on the upper deck We saw the ::
leadly depth charges and the long to- ::
DOggan slide along which they are ::
tarted on their errand The charges +
sere in metal cylinders the size OF a !:
ask, two on each side ready to drop !:
over ::
Besides these the gunnery officer !:
vas proud of the possession of guns !:
made for use on battleships, but !:
mounted here on deck. !:
They will outshoot any submarine ::
float" said the officer, patting his 3
zig weapons as though they were \
cts. ::
In the officers mess hall one of the (:
Ulcers summed up the results of the !:
rip. Most OF the men, he said, were !:
rom the West, with a large number !:
f farmer boys who had never been !:
n the water before This was great (:
Experience. a great adventure. and ::
hey were eager for it, There was ::
u,nlg 90