New-York tribune., 1918-12-20
Returning Troops,
In Sight of City
Held i'm Harbor
First Day in Two Weeks New
York Has Had No New
Heroes TO Cheer; Dochra,
Nine Days Late, Is Safe

Hundreds of American soldiers
some Of them wounded. all OF them
heroes-probably spent most of yes
torday gazing with cagerness into
space for the first glimpse Of Amcri
can soil They were expected to ar
rive in the city on string of trans
ports due before sundown, but which
Will not dock now until some time to-
day. On one of the steamships alone
were l,4Sl officers and men.
New York yesterday, for the first
time in more than two weeks, was de-
prived of the daily thrill Of welcoming
{. transport bringing home men from
France. For the first time in days
the city's business went along as usual.
But to-day, if the army information
bureau at Hoboken is correct, things
will be different, for the string OF
troopships which should have come in
yesterday will all steal up the river.
One transport reached the harbor
yesterday, but it didn't get within hail
ing distance of Manhattan. 1t was the
Dochra, over which there had been
much anxiety. She was nine days late,
but her tardiness was due to storms
which she encountered. She brought
forty civilians and a quantity of ord
nance and explosives.
Biggest of them all to arrive to-day
will be the II. r. Mallory, bringing
close to 1900 men. Among them are
ordnance, supply and headquarters
units of the 143d Field Artillery, Bat
terry A and B and the band of the
same regiment, a total Of ten officers
and 492- men. There are also three Of
ficers and fifty-fve men of the 65th
Field Artillery.
The sick and wounded on board num-
Der 921, of whom thirty-two are officers.
There are thirty bed-ridden cases, one
mental and six tubercular. The rest
need no special hospital attention.
Other transports due tomorrow are
the Zuiderdyjk, with two officers and
5fifty-two enlisted men; the Kappa
hammock, with one officer and twenty
enlisted men, and the Buitcnzorg, with
is probability that the Baltic also
will dock with seventy-two officers
and 1.943 men, including 500 wounded
The Manchura, with 150 officers and
4,003 enlisted men, is due to arrive at
any hour.
Christmas Day probably will see the
return of the SaXonia. She carries
thirty-two officers, 1878 enlisted me.
and thlrty-one nurses. Most of the
| u, IL
of them are so nearly we'll they nc
; longer require special medical atten-
tion.
The Mongolia is due December %
with 14O officers and forty-fve enlisted
men. The same day the Cedric is due
with sixty-hve officers and 2,16S men
A number of transports which were
to have come to New York have gone
to Newport News. One of them is
the Martha Washington. which carried
100 officers and about $500 men,
The Pershing Theatre for soldier:
and sailors of the United States ane
the Allies and their guests will be
opened Christmas Eve under the au
spices of the Officers Club of the Wal
Camp Community Service, at Forty
fourth Street and Madison Avenue. A
canteen will be run in connection witt
it, General Pershing has authorized
the use of his name. The theatre will
seat 1000, and 500 actors and actresse:
have offered their services free.
"The Port of Missing Friends wa'
opened yesterday in the Pershint
Theatre building. The names of al
those in the service looking for friends
who register at any of the various in
Community Service, are sent ther,
daily, and it is to constitute a clearing
house for appointments.
One hundred officers Of the army an(
navy are to be the guests of the Lttl
Theatre on Christmas night. Mex
week, wound stripes will entitle tn
wearers to free admission to thre
Broadway shows. The War Camp Com
munity Service is making arrange
ments to take the men to and from
the theatres by motor car.
The $50 coast guards of this port
whose quarters are in the top foo
of the Municipal ferry house at tn
Battery. will celebrate Christmas i
the waiting room Of the building thi
, evening. A tree and other Christina
decorations have been installed.