The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-08-21

from their commanding officers, they Immediate
ly become silent in the presence Of newspaper
men. They have been we'll drilled in this re-
spect.
Two kinds of currency are used by the Ger
man sailors. On shipboard German coins are
used exclusively. Men granted shore leave use
American money. On each ship there is an
officer whose duty it is to exchange American
for German and German for American coin, as
desired. The sailors have been instructed not
to attempt to spend the German coin on shore.
Visitors to the ships, desiring to purchase any
thing, must pay for 1t in German coin. The
American money is promptly exchanged for the
German by the exchange officer. Thousands of
people in the Norfolk region now have German
coin luck pieces for the pocket. Many persons
visit the ships for the purpose of securing a
German coin for this use.
Each of the interned ships is equipped with a
commissary department. Practically everything
wanted by a sailor is for sale. The Germans are
urged to buy on the ships, as they secure what
is wanted at only a fraction above cost. Out
siders with German money can purchase any
thing desired, except uniforms and equipment.
Portions of the ships have been set aside for
beer drinking and smoking. The quarters are
commodious. Here German sailors and their
friends can be found, smoking, slipping their beer,
eating light lunches, and gossiping volubly in
German and broken English.
At first these ship beer gardens were open to
all. But a local clergyman and an ex-chaplain of
the navy, with several friends, one Sunday went
aboard one of the ships, enjoyed the hospitality
of the Germans, and drank beer. Then the
clergyman fired a bombshen at his congregation.
1t was the story of how the law was being vio-
lated each Sunday on the German cruisers by
the sale of intoxicants. It was the sensation of
a day, but local police officials found themselves
helpless, inasmuch as the alleged violations were
committed on a federal reservation and on a
foreign warship. The navy department ruled
that it had no jurisdiction, further than a request
to the German commanders not to permit the
indiscriminate sale of intoxicants on Sunday.
Such a request was made, and as a result the
sale of beer and other drinks to Americans was
discontinued.
But this does not mean that a visitor on the
ship cannot get something to drink and pay for
1t himself. The way to obtain a stein of beer
when on one Of the German cruisers is to treat
a German sailor by getting him to treat" you.
They are always ready to accommodate you, al
though treating is not a German politeness, as
1t is in America. All one has to do is to furnish
American money. The sailor will exchange 1t
for German coin. He also orders the drinks.
Sailors act as walters. But there is no effort
to entice you to buy. The cost of a stein of beer
is about two and one-half cents. The light
lunches served are also reasonable in price. One
gives his order and it is filled with remarkable
quickness.
On shipboard, while the rules have been re.
Taxed sufficiently to relieve monotony, there is
no lack of discipline. The men are divided into
watches, and during their service hours are EN-.
ployed at the occupations necessary to make life
comfortable aboard ship.
Card playing is allowed, reading rooms are
provided, and on deck games, such as quot throw
ing, take place. Like American sailors the Ger
mans have their ship ma-scots-monkeys, parrots,
dogs, cats.
Except when on duty the officers of the cruis-
ers are rarely seen. They have their quarters
separate from the men, keep to them, and sci.
dom take part in the pastime. Yet there isNa
marked want of aloofnes from the men, when
they are thrown together. Those informed de.
clare that the officers are close students and
spend much time reading. Nearly all speak Eng.
lish fuently and read 1t readily. In converse
ton they are reticent and oncommitt
Rumors have been repeatedly circulated in
Norfolk that the German officers have been spy
ing and gathering information for the German
military machine. 1t is even whispered that they
have detailed information as to navy yards, forts.
warships and harbors. Navy officers of the yard
who have kept these men constantly under watch
laugh at such charges.
Besides their activities on shipboard some OF
the Germans give time to farming. The COM