Arizona republican., 1919-01-02
WOUNDED WYATT FOR RESCUE IN FOG
Big Transport Lists in Sand Wind Change Will Save Northern Pacific - Craft Stand By to Take on Helpless Soldiers Brooches Buoy Ragged for Emergency Relatives Are Assured of Boys Safety.
Republican A. P. Leased Wire1

NEW YORK, Jan. 1.--Relatives of men aboard the United States trans port Northern Pacific, aground on a sandbar off Fire Island, need have no fear for their safety, according to a wireless message from Captain Con- the Associated Press.
 Northern Pacific is in no danger" said Captain Connelly's message. have no fear for their safety. The sol diers in all probability will be landed tomorrow or whenever winds shift to northward of west.
 The naval authorities are taking every precaution, however, to guard the lives of the 2,4S0 soldiers aboard the transport, nearly 1,10O of whom are sick or wounded. A brooches buoy has been rigged from the shore to the vessel, ready for use at any time if it is deemed best to risk further injury to the stret:her cases by removing them from the craft, while thirteen destroyers and naval tugs are standing by to lend assistance in emergency. The transport, which struck the sand bar in a heavy fog at 3: 30 o'clock this morning, was resting more easily to- night and was approaching an even keel. although she had listed heavily earlier in the day. making progress difficult about her slippery decks, over which high seas were washing She was a considerable distance off shore when she went aground, but now has been driven to within less than three hundred yards of the beach,
 Waiting for Wind Shift
 The wind still was blowing from the southwest tonight, but had somewhat abated, although the sea continued rough and there was steady fog off shore. Mariners predicted, however, that the wind would shift to the north- west before morning, making condi- tions favorable for transferring the troops to destroyers. If this is done, the men will be brought directly to New York.
 The Oak Island coast guard crew went alongside in a small boat this afternoon, after two attempts to fire a line across the transports bow had proved unsuccessful. From the line which the coast guards carried with them the brooches buoy was rigged.
 Unless the danger increases, how ever, the buoy will not be put to use, but should the soldiers be landed on Fire Island, a fleet of small craft will be utilized to transfer them to Bay Shore, where the naval air station has been turned itno a huge emergency hospital with medical and food sup plies rushed from New York by the Red Cross. A large number of ambu- lances are assembled there, ready to transfer the sick and wounded from the boats to the hospital
 When he returned after taking the life line aboard, the captain of the coast guard crew reported that the transport had listed to such an extent that it was difficult for him to keep his footing on the decks. Notwith- standing this fact, he said, soldiers who were able to be about lined the rails, cheering lustily any attempt to aid them.
 Shrouded in Heavy Fog
 Breaking through the fog which shrouded the Northern Pacific, were the lights of destroyers and tugs while nthe shore burned great flares lighted by coast guards. These guards stood watch, prepared to put out in small boats if any immediate danger menacted the transport.
 | The thick weather and rain made ob- servation difficult when the transport which left Brest on Christmas day went across the sand bar, between Continued On Page Two)