The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-04
TROOPSHIP STAYS AT
BREST ONLY 3 HOURS
Cruiser Frederick Made Rec
ord in Getting Under Way
With Part of 32d.
SERGEANT EDISON BACK
Inventors Son Says Big Tanks
Are Failure-0ffer Too
Easy Target.
SERGEANT EDISON BACK

Timely explanation Of just how the
War Department expects to get back in
this country by September every one OF
the two million soldiers who were at
one time In France, reached Hoboken
yesterday. along with 1,e13 officers and
men on the Cruiser Frederick.
The Frederick left New York April IL
on her last trip. She arrived at Brest
at / 80 =. ". on April %. Three hours
and fifteen minutes later--at AS p. NJ.
she steamed out Of Brest harbor with
her cargo OF fighters aboard all cheering
the Navy like mad. The quick turn
about was accomplished because the
Frederick loaded up with sufficient coal.
water and food on this side OF the ocean
90 make the return trip. The previous
short wait record was that of the Mount
Vernon-nine hours.
The vanguard of the Thirty-second
Division, chiefly Michigan and Wisconsin
troops. came on the Frederick. This con-
sisted of ffty-hve officers and 1898 men
of the 18th Field Artillery, headed by
Col. Chester u. Mccormick of Lansing
Michigan.
The Frederick was met down the bay
by a cheering committee OF Wisconsin
and Michigan men. In speaking-efter
SpIlt pEOuulHG--OL Iiio ucchS VI tAS tNbt-
ment, Col. Mccormick said that the
artillery fred 10000 shells during its
fights.
The Ss4th Aero Squadron. consisting Of
two officers and Ill men, were also on
board, as were a number Of casual COM
panies
The transport General Goethals. with
1.4l7 officers and men, also arrived yes
terday. docking at Pier 3. Bush terminal,
Brooklyn.
First Sergeant William L. Edison. son
OF the inventor was on board. returning
as a member OF the 31Sth Replacement
Corps. Sergeant Edison, who Is AZ years
old, also saw service in the Spanish
American War. He was employed in All
executive position in his fathers plant
at Orange. but Joined the tanks July 10,
and trained at Gettysburg. Pa, In
August he went over with the 806th
Tank Squadron and served with the
British in the Arras section.
As foreman in a repair and salvage
plant he had an opportunity to study
tanks at close range. and came TO the
conclusion that the big British tanks
are failure. Slow moving. they are
an easy target for enemy artillerymen.
and when hit. are a steel death trap
for their crew The Americans soon
abandoned these bulky machines In favor
OF whinDet tanks, light as fivvers and
as mobile as infantrymen. Also on board
were five Aero Squadrons. the Goth.
161st. 4s7th, 494th and the 655th, and
companies a. B and C OF the $3.50 Field
Signal Battalion.
Major F. ]. Rathborne. formerly Of
the American Telephone and Telegraph
Company commanded the 323d Field
Signal Battalion. which was recruited
from National Guard organizations of
the middle West. Major w. J. Muirhead
OF Seattle was also on board. He was
for time marine superintendent In
charge Of shipping on the Gironde and
its branches.
These troopships are due to arrive
here to-day:
Alfonso XIII. from Bordeaux, April
%. with 1,240 passengers. including the
Fighty-second Division Headquarters
Detachment and Headquarters Troop,
307th Mobile Veterinary Section Detach.
ment. 307th Train Headquarters Quar-
termaster Detachment. 335th Battalion
Tank Corps. complete, IL officers and
l27 men; 336th Battalion Tank Corps.
complete Is officers and 1913 men: 379th.
2s0th and SS1st Training and Replace
ment companies. Tank Corps; Thirty
third Evacuation Hospital. Second Ce-
ment Mill Company. officers and 11e
men; Sixth Cement Mil Company. .
officers and &c men; Fourteenth Ord
nance Casual Company. "A" Casual
Company Tank Corps. 52Sth CASUAL
Company. 80 casual officers
Columbia. from? Marseilles, April 90
with 1.09S military passengers. includ-
ing seth Bakery Company. officer and
Sc men, 305th Bakery Company, / Off
Ger and So men: 80 casual officers and
1S special casual and casual compani
including two from New York.
Caserta. from Marseilles, April 90
with 1850 passengers. including the
Sixty-slxth Company Transportation
Corps 2 officers and 253 men: the s5sth
Aero Squadron. ! officer and los men
65Oth Aero Squadron. officers and lis
men; Seventh Aero Service casual COM
pany, l officer and 40 men Fiftieth
Aero Squadron. 10 officers and 1853 men
IL casual and special casual companies
and EG slial ntticIxS