New-York tribune., 1919-07-31
Stars and Stripes Hailed as
St. Nazairc Closes Career
as Debarkation Port for
United States Transports
Youngest Man Back
Michael Bourdain, Ia, Who
Was Civilian Interpreter,
May BE Adopted Here

Officers arriving on the transport
Kroonand yesterday told of an in-
pressivc ceremony accorded her by the
French navy as she passed for the last
time homoward hound from st. Nazaire.
That port has now reverted to French
control and is no longer used as port
of debarkation by the A. Z. F.
Shortly after the Kroonland weighed
anchor three French men OF war were
in waiting as an escort of honor. As
the four vessels passed Belle Isle
thousands Of French poilus and ma
rines, in addition to many doughboys
and gobs, could be seen lining the
sea wall standing at rigid attention.
The Stars and Stripes we're dipped
in salute and then roar OF cheering
"Vive les Americans! Vive les Etats-
Unis!" echoed and reechoed across
the narrow channel. The troops on
q tiger At dusk the French ships
returned to port.
The largest unit included in the 3,642
officers and men aboard the Kroon-
land was the headquarters of the Tank
Corps, commanded by BriGader Cen
eral Samuel d. Rockenbach, who went
overseas with General Pershing and
until assigned to the organization of
the Tank Corps was the commander
in chiefs quartermaster general. He
was accompanied by his staff, nclud-
ing Colonel Robert L. Collins, Lieu
tenant Colonel De Witt D. 7. Grubbs.
Major General George j. Cosby, Lieu
tenant r. Y. K. Harris and Lieutenant
John Casey.
Soldier May Adopt Lad
The kroonand had the distinction Of
bringing the youngest number of the
A. r. F. He is Michel Bourdain. four
teen years old, dark haired and blue
eyed. He stands five feet two and
wears the Sphinx head on The collar
terprcter. He says he speaks "Amur-
lean" not "Englecsh." lie was ac-
cor,panied by Sergeant A. A. Murphy,
who said he had permission of the lad 5
parents to adopt him.
Bourdain helped his aged parents on
little farm at Maine-et-Lo i'll
Brittany, ard when the SD Ammuni-
ton train camued there he thought
they were the finest soldiers he had
ever seen, and Immediately started to
help them in their marketing, using
the little English he learned in school
The SD Ammunition Train moved on
and were followed by the 9th Coast
Artillery "Mike" mad accumulated quite
a vocabulary, and made himself invsl-
liable to the new arrivals, none OF
whom spoke French. Soon they found
that they could not do without him, SC
he was given uniform and put OF
the payrol. as civilian employ inter
prefer at 225 francs month. His pa
rents moved 10 Bordeaux and opened
a grocery store on Mikes savings
which they realized was much moro
profitable than farming. Sergeant Mur
ply said that he is going to give Mix,
q good education.
Boatswain James Tinrey Dies
While in midocean the Kroonland re
ceived a wireless call from a carg,
carrier, the Wheaton, asking n, i
ical advice in regard to treatment of
sailor who had fallen down the for
ward match, and suffered internal N
jurics.. Lieutenant Commander Charlie
Whtmore, U. S. NJ, the medical office
on board the KrooAland, wirelessed de
tailed instructions, but word was re
ceived that the mans condition wa
failing, so, accordingly, the two YES
sells met, the man was transferred i
an open boat to the Kroonland an
was operated on by the medical navs
officer, but died. Naval officers sal
he was Boatswain James Tinney, Is
Lafayette Street, Jersey City, recent
discharged.
Aboard the kroonland there wer
thirteen French way brides, chaperone
by Miss Marjorie Howard, of so Wcs
Seventy sixth Street, a Y. NJ. C. a. col
teen worker.