THE ONE-MAN GROSSING

Evening Star, Issue 17241, 5 January 1920, Page 6

THE ONE-MAN GROSSING

America lias to her credit tho one-stop crossing of tho Atlantic; sha has now made a one-man crossing, and thousands of people have been laughing about it all. Mbeu tho good ship Federal, an American transport, bound from Antwerp, reached New York, there was a band to meet her. and an assembly of welcoming officers, Red Cross, k .M.C.A., and other representatives on the quay, bearing gifts of tobacco, fruit, and chocolate for a email army._ Throe officers boarded her, and tho senior officer, being met by Captain M. D. Mills, asked for the officer commanding tho troops on board. “ I am the senior officer,” answered tha captain. “ Please muster your men on deck,” said the embarkation officer. “ Tam all present. sir,” replied Captain Mills. And so he was. Captan Mills was the “troops.” What had happened at Antwerp is a myctery, but the skppcr of tho Federal was ordered to sail* and Captain Mills was ordered to go on board. With its cue passenger the Federal sailed according to orders, and throughout the voyage Captain Mills went through the routine of an officer in charge of troops on board. He summoned himself on deck each morning, told himself that he was present at the muster call, and reported “all correct.” That went on until the Fedaral reached New York, when, after the inwith the embarkation officer, Captain Mills gravely “ disms.sed,” marched down tho gangway, and went home to Seattle. It all sounds Ike comic opera, but it is true, and nobody seems able to account for it.