The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-02

Editor, DAILY WORKER:
I promised to write again when
we reached our outfits, and there is
certainly plenty to tell about, as the
trip down here was even worse than
some Of the things you described
about Fort Slocum in your paper.
The day Of the shipment we all got
up at about three in the morning, and
after early chow we were lined up
with the dog tags out while the Of
ficers called the roll and checked up
or everybody. Finally we were jam
med onto the small tugs, about 700
on tug, and finally brought up to
the Brooklyn piers where a second
check-up was made, lest any one
should escape before he is shipped to
Hell"
Enter Special Quarters"
When this was over, we were al
lowed to enter the quarters especially
provided for the enlisted men on these
army transports. These special quar-
ters are a section of the ship which
would we'll compare with the old
Storage at its worst, where They used
to carry cattle before the war. This
hole where we were all showed in, is
about twice the size of fairly large
living room: it is just tire length of
The width of the small transport
Here they had provided four hunks
high, canvas, with the bottom bunk
only two to four inches from the floor
and the top bunk only about two feet
beneath the ceiling. Two rows of
these hunks are joined together and
the space between the hunks is only
about a foot, just about room for a
man to squeeze himself thru.
Despite the crowded quarters. only
artificial ventilation is offered, and it
is a wonder the men don't suffocate
on the trip, while despite the closed
patches there are enough cracks to
let the water seep in, even if no fresh
air can enter.
Sinking Hole.
As I said before they used these
holes for horses and cattle during the
war. but I'm sure they kept It cleaner
ard didn't crowd it so much when
Transporting horses. For three or
four days most of us were so sick
chat we couldn't get out of our hunks,
and during this time all the vomit
and dirt accumulated, as there are
no sailors on the boat to clean it up
and It waits until the men are we'll
enough to- clean it up themselves.
There is no place for the men to
undress, since the barrack bags are
piled on top of the hunks, so tho men
usually slept in their clothes for the
whole "trip, which for us was 10 days
TO Panama, while those going to Ha-
wall will be on at least Is days.
Get Diseases.
A largo number of US were in
flicted with diseases, and had to go
to quarantine when we got off the
boat, while almost everyone had some
kind OF scalp disease due to the filth
and the crowded quarters, and many
catch body diseases.
AS one of the fellows remarked:
"For the officers who arc riding the
first passage it is like travelling on
the Acquitania or the Ileviathan.
They have the best of everything. To
them it is a pleasure to make this
trip. But we, the so-called defenders
of Uncle Sam, are put in places where
cattle have travelled, but where it is
doubtful whether or not even cattle
could stand it the way we are travel
ling now"
Trip Hangs on Chest.
1t really is a wonder that every
one isn't diseased when he gets off,
altho plenty Of US were sick as it
was, and those who didn't catch a
real disease can't get the trip off
their chests, and are still coughing
like they had the "con." One of the