“Bill had just one chance. There were 150 civilians on board, going
over for employment on government work in France. It was possible, but
not at all probable, for Bill to mingle with them and get by. I went on
to dinner in the first cabin, and after dinner concluded that I would
look about for Bill. I expected to find him in the brig, but he was not
there. I made my way to the dining-saloon where the civilian passengers
had their meals and looked in.
“At the extreme end of a very long table I saw Bill. He was engrossed
in a menu and was ordering the most delectable things to be found on
it. Everybody on the vessel got to know Bill and he was in his element.
He needed no further guidance by me while on board. Arguments were
referred to Bill for settlement and he was looked to among the civilian
passengers as a general source of information, being consulted as to
when we would arrive in the submarine zone, when we would land, and
about everything else that came up.
“How to get Bill ashore at Brest was a problem that loomed large before
me, but it did not worry Bill to any great extent. Power Conway was on
board and I enlisted his services, and between us we managed to smuggle
Bill aboard the tug and get him ashore. Now the question was to get
Bill to Paris, and in this I was assisted by General Harbord, U. S. M.
C.