The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17
.ALAbAM|ANS COME HOME ON STEAMERS LANDING YESTERDAY
War Crosses, Distinguished Service Medals, "War Brides" and Storms Add
 Interest to Trip
By Associated Press

By Associated Press
 New York, February 16.-The United States cruisers Huntington and the trans ports Matsonia and Louisville doeked here today, debarking 7101 officers an: enlisted men of the American expedi- tionary force. The steamers Dante Ali ghier, with 15SS officers and men aboard coast by wireless and were expected to arrive tonight.
 The Matsonia has the largest passen- ger list, composed of 3345 officers and men, commanded by Brig. Gen. Richmond r. Davis of Statesville, N. C. The units included the Sixty-eighth coast artil- lery. made up of former national guards mden from Connecticut and several west ern states; 151st artillery brigade head quarters, seven officers and 2l men, and casual companies, Twenty 355th, S6th, S5Sth, 370th. S61st 363d, S65th and 367th, comprising P officers and 1925 mer from Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Iowa, Massachusetts, Washing ton and Alabama.
 
 than t700 officers and men of the Forty first division, Comprising former national guard organizations from Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming These included the supply company, ma. chine gun company, Third battalion head quarters and Companies l, K, l., and M, of the l63d infanty, of the Forty-first ,;e,;n ha l,o tta1 haa r. ters and Companies A, and c of l61st infantry or the Forty-first division; the l64th ambulance company; casual com pany No. 231 of Ohio; casual company No 2s7 of Pennsylvania and a small number of casual officers and civilians
 WAR BRIDES ON BOARD
 The Louisville brought l773 troops and SO1 other passengers, the latter including IS war brides who are wives of army and navy men. The troops included the S51st field artillery. field and staff, sup ply company. medical detachment and Companies A, E, C and D with headquar- ters of the 167th field artillery brigade, and detachment Company G of the 36Sth infantry, all the foregoing except the of- ficers being colored national army men of the Ninety -second division: and sew eral medical and convalescent detach- ments and a number of casuals Ihe wounded and sick on the Louisville numbered PIT officers, men and nurses.
 All the vessels reported encountering se- we're storms which lasted throughout virtually the entire voyage. The men on the Huntington had the added diseom- fort of a mild influenza epidemic which sent 45 of their number to the SICK pay. Private Louis r. Wells of Dozicr. Ala, died during the trip.
 HERO MEDALS PLENTIFUL
 Wearers of the distinguished service cross and the Croix de Guerre were sprinkled liberally through the passengers on the three vessels, and tales or herolsm were freely recounted.
 Col. II. C. Barnes of Guthfie, Okla, de clared he was prouder of the record or his son. Lieut.. II. C. Barnes, Jr., who now is in French hospital, than ms own. The lieutenant, he said, led a pa trol of five men, during the Alsace pat tle. across No Mans Land and into the German trenches. Although wounded by A hand grenade, Lieutenant Barnes cap tured two Germans and his men LOOK two more but were compelled to shoot all four on the trip back as the pris- oners showed fight. The lieutenant an his men were awarded the distinguisheo service cross
 Capt Joseph w c. Stephens of Win conico church. Va, returned with dis- tinguished service cross for gallantry al Soissons, where he brought up reinforce ments after being severely wounded
 DEEDS OF BRAVERY Lieut.. G. R. Touchstone of Hatties- burg, Miss, an aviator, told or haVihe been captured by Germans after being lot down and wounded last August by d group of German fokkers' Aithouer | he was severely injured, he declared a German soldier bayonetted hlm through the hand and had poised his weapon for another thrust when ne was checked by a German officer. He and another officer later escaped from a prison camp and walked 200 miles to safety.
 Tn addition to ls war brides who ca me over on the Louisville there were two women stowaways who were dis covered when the ship had been al sea for several days. They are held at Ellis Island for investigation.