Evening star., 1939-09-22

Two Washington families, whose
vacations in Europe were inter-
rupted by the outbreak of hostilities,
were back in their homeland today.
The Rev. DR.. Albert ]. Mccartney,
pastor of the Covenant-First Pres
byterian Church, and his wife, who
spent the summer travelling through
the countries now at war, arrived IN
New York yesterday aboard the
liner Volendam. They are expected
to return to Washington today.
Mr.. and Mrs. Michael P. McDer-
mott are relaxing in their home at
436 Park road NV, relieved that
they reached the United States
safely Wednesday aboard the British
liner Mauretania.
Two of their three daughters,
Elvira, IL, and Frances, Is, who
visited Fire with them, are bit
sorry the ocean trip is over. Com
pl;etely unworried, they shared the
view of other young people aboard
the ship that an Atlantic crossing
on ship of a belligerent nation
during wartime was not half so ex-
citing as their elders had led them
to believe.
Native of County Kerry.
Mrs. McDermott, a native Of
County Kerry, had been in the
land of the shamrock with the
children since June. Mr.. McDer-,
mott, a Galway man, went over
later.
The visit was enjoyed thoroughly,
Mr.. McDermott said, until word was
received that the Britannia, on
which they had booked return pas
sage, would not sail September l, as
scheduled. The steamship company
promised to find them accommoda-
tions, however, and they did not
seek the aid of American consular
officers.
Ship Appeared Uncrowded.
The McDermotts Jared better
than many returning Americans.
None of the four was forced to use
makeshift sleeping quarters. In
deed, the Mauretania did not appear
to be crowded, according to Mr..
McDermott.
Elvira said the ship passed the
aircraft carrier Courageous, later
sunk by German submarine, while
they were near the British coast.
Frances reported members Of the
crew threw red targets overheard
and engaged in firing practice. The
ship carried two anti-aircraft guns
and a heavier piece, she said.
The McDermott automobile was
refused return transportation, and
was left in the care of motor club
in Fire for shipment at some future
date.
"I had to sign it away before they
would accept it, though" Mr.. Nc
Dermott said.
Will Fire go into the war even
tually?
Mr.. McDermott is somewhat puz-
zled by his erstwhile countrymen.
They're completely Indifferent.
They say, We've been through two
wars-the World War and the Black
and Tans. We guess we can stand
another"
Meanwhile, Washington's five sur
vivors of the Athena torpedoing
were reported en- route home
aboard the American ship Orizaba,
which was to have sailed from Glas-
gov three days ago.
The local survivors of the disaster
were Mrs. Donald Mcleod of 4544
Conduit road NV; her three chill
dren, Betty Jean, Dorothy May and
John Charles, and Miss Jane Sun
derland, 2101 Connecticut avenue
NV.
A group of American students,
who reached France several weeks
ago to study for a year but decided
to return to this country after war
broke out, includes three Washing
tonians. They are Elizabeth Dodge,
Bryn Mawr student of 1915 Fessen-
den street NV; Christine Horn,
National Park Seminary, of 1886
Military road NV, and William
Bell, Johns Hopkins University, OF
3539 Edmunds street NV.
Mis- Dodge's parents, Comdr. and
Mrs. Frank r. Dodge, said they un-
derstood the students will sail on
the liner Manhattan on its next
westward voyage.