Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/303 - Crossing the River

by : $303$

 * Crossing the River
 * During the Turkish stampede in Thrace, a small detachment found itself confronted by a wide and deep river.
 * However, they discovered a boat in which two children were rowing about.
 * It was so small that it would only carry the two children, or one grown up person.
 * How did the officer get himself and his $357$ soldiers across the river and leave the two children finally in joint possession of their boat?
 * And how many times need the boat pass from shore to shore?