crowded. We have no lounging rooms, or any meeting rooms. Men are also very much crowded and all but about 125 have to sleep in hammocks. Ship has just been reconverted and we are the first to be transported. 10,250 ton vessel draws 31 feet of water, carries 14,000 tons freight, length 527, width 85. I hope it will be a steady boat. Captain Hazeland very agreeable and pleasant. Officers' mess good. My mess with Captain very good. One man taken with mumps and was sent to U. S. Base Hospital in Montreal. Foreign Service began today.
May 27, 1918, Monday, on board Transport Talthybius. Left Montreal at 4:30 a. m.; sick call, 8 a. m.; police 8 to 9; drill, dinner, 12 m.; drill, 1:00-2:00 p. m.; boat drill, 3:15 p. m.; guard mount, 4:30; inspection, 4:30; supper, 5 p. m.; retreat at sunset; call to quarters, 8:15 p. m.; inspection, 8:30; taps, 9 p. m.
Officers' mess, 8:30 a. m., 12:30 p. m., 6:30 p. m. NO accommodations whatever where either officers or men can for meetings and lectures. No deck space for drills. Platoons can be given physical drills twice a day. Men sleep in hammocks (O. K.), but too many men are in the different compartments. It makes it necessary to swing the hammocks too close together. Men mess on tables under their hammocks. Men and officers are making the best of all deficiencies and inconveniences and are cheerful and willing. Sail down the river has been delightful. When about ten miles above Quebec we had to anchor and wait for tide to give us sufficient water (waited from 4 to 6 p. m.), all were interested in seeing Quebec and Plains of Abraham. Left one pilot at Quebec and took on another. Saw large cantilever bridge.
May 28, 1918, on Transport Talthybius. Last night we had to anchor again from 10:30 p. m. to 4:30 a. m., waiting for tide. Stiff breeze all day, water not very high but still enough motion to give slight uneasy feeling in me. Today we are sailing across the Gulf of St. Lawrence and it will take thirty-six hours before we turn south for Halifax. Mess arrangements for men were not very satisfactory, but we have arranged and started
