Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-08-02
By ELLIOTT F. HOFFMAN
Historian of Alexandria Post, No
"a, American Legion.)
(For the Alexandria Gazette.)

morning in the year 1871, SeFeFai
thousand American boys, sleeping
restlessly in their tents dreaming OF
home and pleasures that were b.lng
derjed them in the service of ;:s'ir
country, were rudely awakened from
their dreams by the blast OF rau-
cous whistle, and as they sprang
from their beds, came to the full
realization of the fact that they were
at last ready to start IN pursuit oil
the Terrible Hun"
It meant the start of long jour-
ncy, leaving home and friends, and
for some of them a journey into the
Great Beyond. 1t was the beginning
OF the journey from Camp Mills,
Long Island, to Coblenz, Germany
a Journey that was fraught with such
terrors and dangers as only those
who were there can realize.
After smack, consisting of two
ham sandwiches and cup of coffee,
we started for the Long Island rail-
road station, where the special train
in waiting conveyed US to the docks
of the East River ferry. From here
we steamed to the long line of wait
ing transports. AS we lined up to
PASS from the ferry to the British
transport, it was almost tearfully
that we saw awaiting us those angels
of mercy. the women of the Amerl-
can Red Cross. They served US with
sandwiches, cakes, chocolate and not
coffee, and each man was given a
most card to be sent to his parets.
These cards were held, and as soon
nc word Of the arrival of the trans
port safely overseas reached this SIDE,
the cards were then forwarded to our
homes.
Every inch of space aboard the
transport was utilized as sleeping
quarters, even the decks being used
for beds. Meals were served twice
daily, and although limited in quaint
itv, were of very substantial quail
ity.
At o'clock the next morning the
transport moved slowly out its berth
amid the cheers Of, the thousands OF
commuters on theft way to New York
on the passing ferries, but silence
reigned supreme among the boys on
board the transport. We dropped
anchor at Ambrose lighthouse until /
D. m. Then we took our position with
q group of twelve other transports,
headed by an American battleship
and cruiser, with an observation bal
loon overhead. Thus began the jour
ney.
Fairly good time was made by the
fleet until the seventh day, when the
ships began to slow down and began
zig-zag movement, which we were
told was to serve as a double pro-
lection from submarines. On the ninth
day we were nearing the English
coast, and on this day about twenty
five sub-chasers hove in sight and
made a complete Gordon about the con
WOW. The fleet was then split in half
and part of it conducted to La Havre,
France. while the other half con-
tinued on its way to Birmingham,
England. | remained with the other
portion of the convoy.
The sun was shining brightly on
that beautiful August Sunday after
noon as our ship warped into the
Liverpool dock. We were given i'm
mediate orders to disembark, and
through the streets of Liverpool to
the Great Eastern Railway station
where we were met by the British
Red Cross. who served us with cakes
and hot coffee, and gave each mar
an engraved greeting card from the
King of England.
At 6 p. m. that afternoon we en-
trained on those famous little British
compartment cars for camp in Man
chester. which for some unaccount
able reason was called rest camp
The rest was evidently intended fo1
our digestive systems, as food was
scarce article there. After two day.
of so-called "rest," we started on thu
five-mile hike from Manchester t
Southampton, where we boarded a
American ship and sailed down tn
submarine-infested English Channe
to the beautiful city of La Havre
France, where we camped for tn
next two days. "Fritz" manifested
most cordial welcome in the form o
an air raid. At a. M, at the sound
ing of the air raid signal, we wer