The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-07-02
Local Boy, Now In France,
Describes Transport On
Which He Sailed
WOULD RATHER BE ON
LAND THAN ON WATER
Sees Great Contrast In Uses
To Which Former Liner
Has Been Put

One OF tne chapters OF inc paTtICI-
patton of American boys-KnOx coun.
ty bOys-in the great struggle across
little attention from the boys over
| there" in their letters home. This
may be on account Of the magnitude
of things which the boys see when
they arrive or possibly on account Of
the censor. but one letter has been re-
ceived here. from Paul p. Pharis, SER
gcant i'm the Medical Detachment of
1 the 1st Battalion of the 18th Z. S. En-.
gineers. now in France. which tells
| the pond" and to certain extent of
/ the voyage across.
The letter. written to his mother
! Mrs. Mary Pbaris, of East High street
/ follows:
Somewhere on the Atlantic.
/ May -, 1918.
! At last have found an opportunity
/ to write you few lines under circum-
stances which have been altogether
different than at any other time. In.
stead of being small city such as the
one in which you are living. am on
floating city. every thing as conven-
! lent and regulated as 1t possible could
be. 1t is wonderful how the caring
for and feeding of this huge number of
men is so easily accomplished. Sys-
tenn is the keynote and everyone has
"A special duty to do and does 1t. Our
trip to port was uneventful. Did not
stay but very short time there SO did
not get an opportunity to see any Of
the sights of particular interest.
1t was great treat for me to view
a real transport. we were given our
berthing assignments and meal cards
, and, then stepped off the soil of the
I good old U. S. A.. never to tread on it
again until this war has been brought
| to a successful finish.
Our transport was formerly one of
the largest and best passenger boats
\ afloat. and one which causes great dis
tuEbaAcc and dispieasure to a certain
OnetOh account of the work it is now
doing. 1t surely must have been a
beautiful vessel in its early career. 1t
4 has been remodeled to meet the re-
Uuirements of transport and is now
filed with berths three tiers high
where once the people merrily dined
and danced. How much different the
purpose it is used for now than before.
Previously. it carried people ON trips
of pleasure and recuperation giving
them all the convenicnces of home life
along with the pleasures of ocean trav-
air. sailing along without care. real
izing that all was well and safe unless
something within the boat should go
wrong. Now instead of the gaily dres.
scd happy people that thrOnged the
decks and interior. you see men cv-
erywhcre all in one color and style
of uniform with one desire and one
purpose se-anxiOus to get over and do
their work SO that they can return to
their friends for whose protection and
freedom they are fighting.
We came on board and found our
berths and prepared to stay for
awhile. happened to land in "a third
one up right in front of nice ventil-
atOr. The only bad thing connected
with one so high up is In case of a
rough sea when one might roll out !;
but we have had such nice weather all
the trip. Only one day was the water
rough and the boat rocked quite lit
tie doing no damage with the excep
ton of disturbing the equilibrium OF
some of the mems digestive systems
Have only seen two or three large
fish on the way, Suppose the rest are
all underneath enjoying the numerous
feeds sent overheard by the sympa
thetic soldiers.
have been feeling fine with the ex
ception of slight cold. Have not
missed meal yet and don't want tC
as they are feeding us fine. Only two
meals day on account of the large
| number on board but enough to las
until the next mess time. Am KEEP
pretty busy from . IA. m. to late after
noon with sick calls and records. Like
the work very much and am enjoying
the trip.
! 1t will only be "a couple of days unit
we will be in sight OF land again.
sailors life may be great but give mt
land or air. We are going at full
speed and everybody on the lookou
today. viii he glad when we get set