The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-08-20


efficiency of German methods and to the gene
rosity with which they 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 Prnz Eitel Friedrich, which also
leads to the Kronprinz Wilhelm, he sees evi-
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
Everything not needed by ship out of commits
sion is out of sight.
About two hundred men are daily granted
shore leave In the case OF the enlisted men and
noncommssioned officers the leaves of absence
can be granted by the commanding officer Of
either cruiser. These leaves exceed IL
hours The majority for six. In the Of
the officers all leaves OF absence must receive
the sanction of the yard commandant or officer
of the day-Unted States naval officials in other
words
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 as Old Point Comfort and the seaside
sorts Where leaves 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
IL is no uncommon sight to see German sailors
the streets of Norfolk. They are 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 protrudng
large white collar. relic of pnafore days and
the numerous rows of brass buttons adorning the
uniform. make them easily recognizable They
are usually found in groups of from three to six
seldom In larger numbers. They remarkably
orderly and although frequent patrons at the
bars and the beer and music gardens, are never
seen intoxicated 1t is the local belief that this
Is due to practice making perfect-that they
are we'll trained for carrying a load"
When on shore leave the principal amusements
OF the German sailor are sightseeing, social
drinking and, as a negro would say Grating"
with German-Americans of whom there are
considerable number in Norfolk. In the beau
tiful residential sections OF the city they are
repeatedly observed on 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
or the beer saloons. Some of them are always
tnere' ehJoylng- themselves IN quiet manner.
Usually they are accompanied by Germans in
civilian clothes who know the town
The well-known German neatness characterizes
these sailors, whether aboard ship or on shore
leave. They pride themselves on personal clean.
liness, neatness Of appearance. and military
bearing They are seemingly always on dress
parade-and yet II is not ostentatiousness. The
majority are clean shaven, and appear to have
Just jumped from the BARRIERS chair A number
wear the kaiser mustache; some have patch of
hair "bunnys tail" on their chins
Some of the men ashore make their headouar.
ters at places of business kept by local Germans
One-the most popular because convenient I'm
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 shipboard. and OF their hopes OF
German victory. However, under instructions