Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-15

MEN OF THE AMERICAN NAVY.
How Admirably They Behaved at
Provineetown.

Eat there were men on board this
fleet. which day after day. lay
stretched out across our harbor-
thousands of men-and they came on
shore frequently. So that we landsmeH
Ind an opportunity of studying them
and of discovering Of what sort of
mea our navy is composed. GA 4
shGre-leave day ii was a splendid
sight t. stand upon the pier and
watch the bustling little ships launch
es. putting backward and forward be-
tween the ships and the shore, tow
ing the big long boats or barses filled
with White-uniformed "Jackies." Slee-
fully intent upon their coming halt
holiday. Forty or fifty men would be
crowded into one of these barses. all
standing. FOR thcre We're not seats for
all. their hands resting fraternally up
on one anothers shoulders, their eoan-
tenances beamng with anticipated
pleasure. Landing upon the pier. they
would stream ap into the town, fill
ing the narrow. lane-like street. until
teams, and even pedestrians. found it
difficult to make Il passage through
the throng Two thousand of such
young men. on many . day during the
past summer We're thus given shore
leave, with apparently no surveillance.
The possibilities, mad they been othef
than Well bred and well-disciptined
American lads are positively appall-
ing TO contemplate II is pleasure
to he able to chronicle the fact that.
throughout the entire season. not q
single case of disorder occurred ON
snore. There was not a case of drunk
enness and not a single arrest of u
navy mar for any cause. The men
were uniformly polite: they always
made way for nassers-b by, often with
Il Fitted cap or an Apologize word,
ana every man of them respected his
neishbors. on sundays a goodiy num-
Der Of them We're seen in the church
es. often taking part in the services,
in singing or recitine the creed iii
short, every american in the town felt
Il lust pride in the admirable behavior
of our navy men on shore leave.
A study of the .countenances oi the
men showed them to be Of at least
average intelligence. Nine e,il OF II,
If asked his object in joining tie navy,
replied. TO see the world. Man
OF these young men We're participants
in the famous cruise around the world
II few years ago, and they certainly
made good use of their eyes and ears
wncn in foreign ports 1t was a lib
eral education'' said one young man.
an ordinary seaman. when asked
what he had gained by the cruise.
The fleet by night was wonderful
sight on the dark moonlese nights.
when the multitude of stars shone out
brilliantly in the sky orr vessels OF
war. beneath, appeared rs if trying To
vie with the heavenly consultations.
Drawn up in the harbor in ii mighty
row, four miles from tir u UP. each
vessel small and great, shene 81 hlaze
OF light which WIS cast down in long
reflections in The dark WAFER. The
battlesnips, their huls sunk out of
sight in the darkness, We're disting
uishcd by the pillars OF alternate red
and yellow signal lights from deck
to crows post OF the great steel masts,
flashing in and out, as the orders for
the coming dlt were given out by the
admiral To his captains or rcspoeied
Ia by them. Now and then tile flee
tric searchIights sent ont great stream
crs OF silver LIGHT, now lighting up
the far-off yellow cliffs of Truro AMI