Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-08-20


efficiency of German methods. and to the gene
rosty with which they are treated by the United
States navy department and naval officers. AS
few restrictions possible have been placed
upon the interned crews, and reasonable requests
have been promptly granted.
From the moment the visitor steps upon the
gangway of the Prinz Eitel Friedrich. which also
leads to the Kronprinz Wilhelm, he sees evil
dences of preparations for long stay and COM
Portable living. The cruisers. formerly trans
atlantic liners with commodious cabins and ex
pansive. decks, have been cleared of all evidence
which usually marks the warship. Awnings have
been stretched to protect from the rain sun.
Everything not needed by ship out OF commits
siop is out Of sight
SAbout two hundred men are daily granted
shore leave. In the of the enlisted men and
noncommissioned officers the leaves of absence
can be granted by the commanding officer of
either cruiser These leaves never exceed IL
hours. The majority for six In the of
the officers all leaves of absence must receive
the sanction of the yard commandant OF, officer
of the day-United States naval officials. in other
words. 1879, ..--
All leaves specify that the men thus quitting
the ships must not leave the Jurisdiction of the
Norfolk yard. This includes the ports of Nor
folk. Portsmouth. Newport News and Hampton.
as well Old Point Comfort and the seaside
sorts. Where leaves are desired to go beyond
this yard Jurisdiction. special permission. with
the approval of the yard commandant. must be
secured from the navy department. These must
specify the places to be visited, the object of the
visit and the duration of absence. As yet they
have been granted only to officers
II is no uncommon sight to see German sailors
on the streets of Norfolk They also often
at the seaside resorts They have received the
nickname of Sissy" because of the peculiar caps
they wear, with ribbon streamers falling almost
to their shoulders. The peculiar baggy manner
in which the blouse is worn, with the protruding
large white collar. a relic of pinafore days. and
the numerous rows of brass buttons adorning the
uniform. make them easily recognizable. They
11y md IN nff frp fhrna tN
seldom in larger numbers. They remarkably
orderly. and although frequent patrons at the
bars and the beer and music gardens, never
intoxicated. II is the local belief that this
is due to practice making perfect-that they
well trained for carrying load
When shore leave the principal amusements
of the German sailor are sight seeing. social
drinking, and, negro would say. Grating"
with COMMUNICATIONS. of whom there
considerable number in Norfolk. In the beau
tful residential sections of the city they
repeatedly observed sightseeing trips. They
invariably walk. and show lively interest in the
buildings and water front.
In the evening the German sailors are to be
found at the rathskellers OF the various hotels
the beer saloons. Some of them always
there, enjoying themselves in quiet manner.
Usually they are accompanied by Germans in
civilian clothes who know the town.
The weIl-known German neatness characterizes
these sailors, whether aboard ship shore
leave. They pride themselves on personal clean
Illness, neatness of appearance, and military
bearing They seemingly always dress
parade-and yet II is not ostentatousness. The
majority clean shaven. and appear to have
Just jumped from the barbers chair. number
wear the kaiser mustache: some have patch OF
hair, "bunny's tall" on their chins
Some of the men ashore make their headquar-
tiers at places of business kept by local Germans.
One-the most popular because convenient in
coming and going to the interned cruisers-is a
jewelers. shop, Americans are welcomed by the
sailors and treated cordially They talk freely OF
their life on shIpboard, and of their hopes OF
German victory. However. under instructions