The 5700 ton United States transport Federal arrived at New York yesterday from Antwerp, 'heavily laden' with one troop - namely, Captain M D Mills of Seattle, who had the entire ship to himself. He was met by a band in the official welcome boat in the Lower Bay, and was greeted at the dock by five Red Cross, two YMCA, and two Knights of Columbus (American Catholic) workers all offering large quantities of food and tobacco. How the ship came to make the trip in these circumstances nobody appears to understand. All her captain knows is that he received orders to sail; all Captain Mills knows is that he had been told to go in the ship. It is not quite correct to say that he was the only passenger, for just before the Federal sailed the embarcation officers remembered a regulation which lays down that no troop shall be sent to sea in a transport unless a representative of the Quartermasters Department accompanies them. So they detailed Lieutenant John Nidrof to accompany Captain Mills. During the voyage, in accordance with the regulations, Captain Mills summoned himself on deck every morning and called the roll, told himself he was present, and reported "All correct" to the officer of the Quartermasters Department. When the ship docked yesterday morning she was boarded by three embarcation officers, the senior of whom asked for the officer commanding the troops aboard. "I am the senior officers" said Captain Mills, saluting. "Please muster your men on deck" ordered the embarcation officer. "I'm all present, Sir" replied Captain Mills, saluting again. The formalities for disembarking troops were gone through and Captain Mills filed down the gangway and marched away.

From the Times Newspaper, June 14th 1919.