The farmer and mechanic., 1915-06-01
With The Atlantic Fleet
On Mediterranean Cruise
F. D. WOMBLE
(Ex-Blue Jacket IT, S. ny
F. D. WOMBLE
(Ex-Blue Jacket, U. S. ny

iuli OF change with nothing before
them but jolly good time before re-
turning TO the ship for the monoton-
Gus grind again. And know from |
my own personal experience that a
Olue jacket can surely enjoy himself
ashore as ! certainly did
The Florida and Arkansas entered
the Italian navy yard just inside the
preakWater and anchored alongside
the klngs yacht. 1t is a large navy
yard with one of the finest break
waters in the world, and the princi-
pal rendezvous Of the Italian navy
The city Of Naples lies to the left |
of the bay, and there are mountains
surrounding with the famous Mt. |
Nesuvlus to the right just across the |
water from the navy yard, which is |
continually pouring forth a stream
of black smoke
NO sooner than we came to anchor |
there were swarms of native bum
boats alongside filled with Italians ad-
| miring two large American dread
naughtS-the largest men Of war ever
| seen in Naples. There were no visi-
| tors allowed aboard as the crew were
buslly engaged all day in breaking
| out coallng gear and rigging ship for
| coaHng, which is always done imme-
diately after a long voyage. There
was no liberty for the men during the
| first couple of days while they were
| coaling and cleaning ship. But there
were great many interesting sights
| to be seen from deck in the meantime
and in looking at the natives in their
little crafts alongside selling their
| handmade articles, paintings souven-
irs, various curios, etc. The Italians
would dance and sing for the sailors
while alongside the battleship, in their
little boats, then open an umbrella to
n thn
erican blue-jackets. But when they
tried the same stunt alongside a Rus
sian cruiser lying abreast Of the
Florida they never received a penny
in their umbrellas. The American
sailor is the most liberal in the world,
is the best paid, the easiest spender
, ashore. and hence the most popular.
, Well, those people over there must
have taken us for millionaires the
, way they tried to soak us for every
: thing with about ten prices.
: By the time we became wise to the
$ ways of the country, the prices OF
! things. the changing of money, etc
: we were broke. Nevertheless, we had
e a grand time, and all would be glad
Y to return for Italy is a fine country
$ to visit sailors money goes furth-
t er over there if he is careful, doesn't
drink too much Italian wine, and ie,
d the natives take him for good time
: An Italian wanted to charge me 2t
e frSncs for bottle Of wine, and of.
i ferea him francs, thinking that wa.
', about right, but found that it wa.
a only worth 2 francs. That's the way
N the peddlers in those countries try Il
IS do the sailors.
o Wine and Kid gloves are yer.
e cheap in Italy. For 6Oc we bough
= kid gloves that sell at from 50 to S:
IS in New York (both men and ladies
o. gloves.) Canoes are also very cheap
% | while the best seats at grand oper:
,e in Naples and Rome can be bough
If for soc. Beef is very high, NOR
< chicken and mutton being consume,
ID than anything else. We found suga
about thirty cents a pound, a thin
he that is very high over there
d also coal. Wood is very scarce. ther
r isn't frame building in Italy.
as At every turn and before every larg
1e public building in those Italian cite
he the tourist or visitor meets beggar
to who follow you with cries for none,
ce They have licenses for begging, and
1g they are caught begging without
lis license the police run them in. Wher
It ever the American battleships cOaie
ed the Italians would come out next da
n9 in little bark boats and drag the bo
as tom Of the stream for coal that we
ds lost overheard from a collier to th
at deck of the battleship. They Woul
ay drag all day with net like fishin
nd net. for about two or three hundre
is, pounds of coal. The food throw
n overheard in ash-nghters alongsif
ch was also grabbed up by them ever
in day Then the fellows who kicked {
Is the Florida about the chow had the
W. attention called to the fact that The
ok were grumbling about the feed viii
he these poor people were glad to e
he what was left even. The fellows
ad long time in the service. who have r
We enlisted a number OF times, have
Try right to kick. That is a first crui
ks mans privilege (for the little go'
lrn it does him). but if the older servi
ing men kick why there is always som
ty body to ask him why he shipped owe
ere We spent three weeks at Maple
ITS | and the crew was granted two fu
bly, loughs the port watch had 10 da
no | he, their the Sta