The Delta of the Triple Elevens Part 6

Thoughts strange and varied filled the minds of the majority aboard as they tossed in their bunks on the night of July 29th. Realization of location in the danger zone was keen. Those who were at ease sufficiently to sleep were annoyed and disturbed by the noises of whistles and signal horns as the ships and the convoy kept ever alert for submarines.

On the morning of July 30th the eight sub-chasers encircled the convoy party in closer proximity. The dash through the danger zone continued unmolested until 3 o'clock in the afternoon when the first real periscope was discovered by the look-outs.

The cruiser at the head of the convoy lurched forth; fired a shot and tossed up the waves in answer. The resonance against the steel sides of the transport rang out clear, bringing hundreds scampering out of the hatches and state rooms of the ship, on to the decks, to peer out over the rail and watch in awe the great drama that was being enacted in serious reality upon the waves of the ocean.

The sun was shining brightly. Every transport in the party struck out at full speed, while the zigzagging was increased in comparison. Eight sub-chasers cut the waves with frantic speed. The circle-convoy formation was abandoned. The destroyers cut short to make for the scene of action, which held forth and was witnessed to good advantage from the starboard side of the Morvada.

As the transports fled under full steam the cruiser and sub-chasers snorted and crashed and roared in the vicinity the periscopes had been discovered. Depth-bombs came into play. Those missiles of destruction were hurled from the destroyers as they combed the waves for miles and miles around the spot where danger threatened. Each discharge of depth-bomb raised an avalanche of water; the deadly bombs blasting the depths for great distances, while the reverberation shook the transports, creating the impression that the transport was in direct contact with each explosion.

For fully an hour the detonations continued as the depth-bombs were discharged. Finally the destroyers swept back and the convoy formation was resumed. The news was spread that the final result of the battle was success, as vouched for by films of oil the destroyers saw appear on the water's surface. General report had it that five submarines composed the attacking party and that wreckage and oil coming to the surface gave evidence of two having been destroyed.

The convoy continued on its journey. Sailing orders were executed in detail. It was 4 o'clock, one hour after the sub-battle, that the convoy parted, the various ships bound for different ports of debarkation, which were soon to loom in sight.

At 6 p. m. that same day the soldiers on board the Morvada sighted land. Throughout the night the ships sped on but land was dimly discernible, the rugged outline appearing through the shadows of the night, while the appearance of fishing smacks, which the transport pa.s.sed without fear or sign, created the impression that friendly sh.o.r.es were near.

Unable to ply their nets at their life's occupation as fishermen the st.u.r.dy sh.o.r.esmen of Brittany's coast gave of their time and their smacks to the perilous task of combing adjacent water for mines and explosive obstacles.

It was these the Morvada pa.s.sed out in the darkness of night, on the eve before landing and setting foot on foreign soil. The Morvada crept on, the contrasting stillness of the waves showing that channel waters had been reached. But few on board knew, or could rightly guess what sh.o.r.e was to greet their eyes on the dawn of the morrow.

CHAPTER XII.

A ROYAL WELSH RECEPTION.

A surprise reception was in store for the soldiers aboard the S. S.

Morvada when it came to debarking on foreign soil. As the ship plied the channel waters on the night of July 30th, 1918, but few on board knew what port was its destination; but not so with the people of the British Isles. They knew the plans for the arrival of the American army transports. On July 31st, the people of Barry and Cardiff, in common with Newport, in the province of South Wales, did honor to the American troops.

Barry, the urban district and seaport of Glamorganshire, Wales, on the Bristol channel, was the foreign sh.o.r.e that greeted the troops on the Morvada early in the morning of July 31st.

It was perfect weather for such a visit, the first ever paid to Barry by a large body of American troops, and Barry's reception was whole-hearted. The citizens turned out in great force. Enthusiasm was manifest on every side, and this, despite the fact that, owing to the unavoidable delay in the ship's arrival, the people had to wait several hours while the Morvada rested at anchor in the harbor until docking could be accomplished at 9 a. m.

While preparations to dock were in progress crowds lingered on the piers. The soldiers amused themselves by tossing one-cent pieces to the Welsh children. Immediately a demand for American cigarettes and chewing gum arose among the older Welshmen.

The crowds and the town itself were in holiday attire. The vessels in dock were gay with bunting. Flags were displayed from shop-windows, the munic.i.p.al offices and the fire-brigade station, while from the summit of the Barry Railway Company's offices "Old Glory" was flying to the breeze.

As the Morvada docked and the command was given for the troops to debark, loud welcome was sounded by sonorous "hooters," screaming sirens and shrill ship and loco whistles.

At 10 o'clock the soldiers were a.s.sembled on terra firma once more.

Parade formation was ordered in answer to the glad welcome plans of the inhabitants.

Headed by the regimental band the 311th Artillery skirted the banks of a small brook named Barri, whose waters encircled an island--the island which in the 7th century is supposed to have contained the cell of the Welsh saint, named Barri, from which the name of the island and the river is derived.

British troops, with rifles at present arms and bayonets glistening in the sun, formed a guard of honor that lined both sides of the streets of Barry, through which the American troops pa.s.sed in royal welcome.

The march proceeded until King's square was reached, where official ceremony of welcome to the town was enacted.

Here the officers and men formed in the large public square in front of the munic.i.p.al offices, where Councillor George Wareham, J. P., as chairman of the district council, extended to the Americans a hearty welcome.

Lieut.-Col. Bradbridge, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, addressing Col.

C. G. Mortimer, in command of the 311th, said he had been commanded by His Majesty, the King, to welcome all to the sh.o.r.es of Great Britain.

Each soldier was then presented with a copy of an autographed letter from King George V., bidding G.o.d-speed and every success. The letter was as follows:

_Windsor Castle.

Soldiers of the United States--The people of the British Isles welcome you on your way to take your stand beside the armies of many nations now fighting in the Old World the great battle for human freedom. The Allies will gain new heart and spirit in your company. I wish that I could shake the hand of each one of you, and bid you G.o.d-speed on your mission._ GEORGE R. I.

Col. Mortimer expressed his appreciation of the very hearty welcome his men had received. "We are here," he said, "for one purpose, and you all know what that is. We are young at the business, but if spirit counts for anything, it will surely win out. We have been looking forward to this for some little time, and I can a.s.sure you we will do our part."

Then the band struck up the National anthem of America and this was followed by "G.o.d Save the King," and the soldiers moved on amid the cheers of the people.

The last mess on the Morvada was partaken of at the conclusion of the parade. At 2 o'clock that afternoon all packs were removed from the boat, the troops a.s.sembled in a large warehouse on the pier; British Red Cross workers distributed refreshments while trains were being made up to convey the soldiers to their first foreign training center.

A combination of first, second, and third-cla.s.s coaches of the compartment type characteristic of the English rail system made up the section of train that was a.s.signed to Battery D. The coaches and British locomotives were the source of considerable interest to the soldiers. Each compartment accommodated eight men, which allowed a division of squads being made for the journey.

At 4:30 o'clock the wheels began to grind the rails and the first ride on foreign soil was started.

Fast-fleeting stretches of fertile farm land and extensive pasture field, rich in verdure, with cattle grazing drowsily at the close of day, presented the picture of a peaceful pastoral life of British subjects as the train continued to add up mileage. Station after station was pa.s.sed without stop by the American troop special. Battery D displayed an American flag from its section and the inhabitants in the vicinity of the railroad station as the special pa.s.sed through their town or hamlet, could not mistake the ident.i.ty of the Americans.

From Barry the route stretched to Penarth and Cardiff; pa.s.sed through Newport, Christ Church, and Major, thence across the funnel waters of the Bristol channel to the thriving city of Bristol; into the rural districts of Wiltshire; pa.s.sing Bath, Trowbridge, and Warminster.

Rations of hard bread, corned-beef, corned-beef hash, canned tomatoes, and jam, had been distributed to the squads before leaving the Morvada. When the troop special was nearing Salisbury, evening was well advanced and the appet.i.tes of the soldiers were being gradually appeased enroute, stop was made at Wilton, where everybody on board took advantage of permission to get off at the station and enjoy a cup of hot coffee that a contingent of British Red Cross workers handed out.

The journey was resumed after a twenty-minute lay-over. The South of England was penetrated farther as the boys tried to figure out whether they would remain on British territory long, or whether France was to be the first active training center.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 3rd CLa.s.s FRENCH COMPARTMENT COACH]

[Ill.u.s.tration: SIDE-DOOR PULLMAN SPECIAL TRAVEL A LA MODE IN FRANCE]

[Ill.u.s.tration: INTERIOR FRENCH BOX CAR BATTERY D ENROUTE]

[Ill.u.s.tration: A REAL AMERICAN SPECIAL NEW YORK TO CAMP DIX]

CHAPTER XIII.

A BRITISH REST CAMP.

At 9 p. m., it was yet daylight. The boys were weary and tired as the troop train on the London and Southwestern railway pulled into a station, the sign-boards of which gave the name as Romsey. Orders to detrain were pa.s.sed along.

All soldiers and packs were soon off the train; then, line-up as per usual, and march, first under a stone railroad bridge, through the town, soon to strike a highway leading out of the town.

The pack on the back got heavier every minute, but the march continued; one mile, two miles, then along the stretch of the third there appeared scenes of buildings and tents. Post-signs glared the information that Camp Woodley had been reached. There appeared to be many parts to the camp. Battery D did not stop at the first, nor the second, but halt was made at what was designated as C Camp.

It was a welcome order that allowed the troops to fall-out along the roadside as official parlance was started with the powers that ruled the destinies of C Camp. The vicinity was closely guarded by American M. P.'s., who proceeded to communicate stories, savoring the good, bad, and indifferent prospects of the abode that was to shelter the 311th for one night at least. "It's a rest camp", they said. The words sounded peaceful to the tired troops a.s.sembled. It required only one day, however, to find out that the only part of a soldier that got rest at a "rest-camp" was the stomach.