New-York tribune., 1919-01-22
$500 Soldiers
Reach n. Y i:
9,4OO Overdue
Three Transports, of Is Ex-
pected, Bring Back Boys
From French Battlehelds
Aviation Ace" Arrives
40 Wounded of "O'Ryan' $
Roughnccks'' Home as
Climax to Big Adventure

Three more transports came into
port yesterday and landed $500 more
American lighting men from overseas
The George Washington, the first and
biggest to dock. alone brought $500 to
the army piers in Hoboken. The trans
port Dekalb. which came up almost be
side her, carried 1900. The third, the
Giuseppe Verdi, docked at Jersey City
with 400 lighting naval aviators.
On the Washington was one of the
leading American flying aces, Lieu
tenant ". P. Erwin, Of Chicago, who is
officially credited with nine Boche
planes; the first real Indian warrior to
return from the war, Chief Little Drop
otherwise Corporal Walter Snow, and
Major NJ. A. Hall, who wore decorations
from practically all the Allied armies.
lust out of German prison camps. came
back on the Dekalb. 1t was not be-
cause the Germans were better by any
means that they were caught in the
first place, but because they went too
fast after the enemy. Forty of
Organs "Rough Necks" were among
the 500 wounded aboard.
Four Hundred Aviators Return
Stories of fighting American naval
sviators stationed at Porto Corsini, in
Italy, who made fifteen raids on Aus
trian naval bases, were told by the 400
naval passengers on the Verdi, which
tied up at Pier c, at the foot of York
Street, jersey City. The entire person
mel stationed at the italian port re-
turned on the ship.
While it was more than average
day for the number of men landed back
into the United States, the number did
not come up to expectations. If the
fifteen transports that were due had
reached port more than $4,000 men
would have been put ashore. Thou
sands of these, however, are almost
within sight of the harbor. The Louisi-
ana and the New Hampshire. two naval
cruisers, bringing the old 18th Regi-
ment, Of Brooklyn, are among the ships
expected to-day. Several others are
several days overdue. and officials at
the port of embarkation at Hoboken
said yesterday they may arrive at any
moment.
Lieutenant Erwin, concert pianist
in civil life out in Chicago, where he
lives. but wildcat i'm the air in France,
was one of the first men to dash down
the gangplank Of the George Washing
ton into the cheering throngs on the
pier in Hoboken. Officially credited
with nine enemy flying machine, he
wears the American Distinguished Ser
vice Cross, the French Croix de Guerre
and the War Medal Of the Aero Club of
America.
Erwin went to France in October,
1918. He began lighting last July
the first American aero squadron.
Since that time he has been over the
entire Allied estern front. His best
work was at Chateau Thierry and in
the Argonne On his third day out
with the First Squadron, while doing
infantry laisson and machine cunning
German troops, his observer was killed,
but Erwin steadied his plane and flew
safely back to the American lines. For
this ne received the Croix de Guerre.
The Distinguished Service Cross was
presented to him. the citation says,
for having 'by long period OF faith
ful and heroic operations, set an in
spring example of courage and devo-
ton to duty to his entire squadron"
One of his exploits mentioned in the
citation was attacking a German bat
terry, forcing the crew to abandon it,
shooting German officer off his horse,
driving the cannoneers 10 their dugouts
and keeping them there until the in
fantry came up.
Got Foe on Birthday
The Chicago fier is young and un-
assuming almost to the point of bash
fullness. Just before the end of the
war he celebrated his birthday by get
ilng another nRchn As he ctrnllnA