New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-28

der seven flags, which, think. is a
record for a Dutchman, and ! believe
| am the only man in this fleet who mas
sailed under the flag of Siam"
The Barendrechts chief officer mas
no fear of the German submarine war
zone, but he does not want to go
through il on an unarmed ship, and
he asserted that none of his country
men with the detained feet would vol
unteer to take chances in such SER
vice.
Glad TO Serve America
"If the United States commanders
these ships tomorrow he continued,
"she can count on me to work Tor her:
But before | put my foot on deck |
shall demand American citizenship and
all the great protection that goes with
it. | think there are plenty OF my
countrymen VINO feel that way. All
of them, | know, would be glad to
serve the United States if the ships
stay under the Dutch flag and so INTO
trade outside the war zone. Personal
~, / will sail on any ship OF the
Entente that goes to England. MY
family is there. England has been good
to them and to me, and I'm ready any
"How do the Dutch sailormen feel,
generally, toward the Entente?" he was
asked.
Every friendly, | think" he re-
piled. instantly. NEARLY every engineer
and officer in the feet went to the ben
eft performance at the Hippodrome
few weeks ago. Ii was given for the
Christmas entertainment Of the Amer
lean sailors abroad. A few women
came out to the ships with tickets. and
when the men learned what 1t was all
about the women couldn't sell tickets
fast enough"
what is the cost of the Barendrecht
as she floats to-day" he was asked.
"She's not for SALE" replied the
chief. 81 don't believe the owners
would let her 60 for less than $1,000
600 if the Netherlands governments
would let her be sold. We were Of
fered 100000 for her by Spain two
years ago, and the owners just laughed
at the figure. She's a tanker, and
worth more than the ordinary freighter.
"She's loaded now with 1000 tons
of crude oil for Barcelona and Virgo.
We have all the coal we want, but we
cant get a sailing permit We have
been lying here now for six weeks.
The oil cargo is owned by French
company that has rehneries in Spain.
Some Of the directors have been
wounded at the front and are true
Frenchmen. but the United States won't
let US take our oil to Spain.
"You know, it was reported that
some U-boats got oil fuel in Spain, and
/ guess America isn't going to take
chance on any of our cargo getting
into the tanks of a U-boat."
Spared New War Tax
When the financial plight of the
Dutch ekippers was mentioned 70 the
Barendrecht's chief officer. he laughed
and filled his pipe and lighted 1t be-
fore replying. Then with wink he re-
marked coyly: We'll If they don't get
any big commissions they won't have
10 pay war tax profit TO the Neither
lands government. Nearly all OF our
captains were getting rich fast until
the government began to tax them.
Now they have TO pay 30 per cent OF all
they make over $1,000, but even then,
they have lot TO spare"
Courtesy and good nature prevail
throughout the feet The men stand
watches, but the shippers are liberal
and give them plenty OF time ashore.
Little or no objection is made TO visit
ing parties.
Somehow the sailormen prefer the
anchorage on the east shore. II Is
closer to the big city and one does not
have 10 scale the Palisades 10 find
Picture show or an inviting hosiery.
This is one reason why the seamen
don't fancy having their cargoes light
cred. for the moment a ship discharges
she is sent to an anchorage on the west
shore, which the crews describe as be-
ing two miles from nowhere.
Uutil the cold weather set in the de-
tanned Dutchmen spent much OF their
time sailing up and down the river in
lifeboats and dories. Casual races be-
tween individuals led to the formation
of general racing contest m which
forty-tye boats participated.
These were divided into two classes,
| the lifeboat class and the fancy" class,
and on August % the ten best boats
Of each class raced for two cups pro-
vided by some Of the interested skip
pers. Crews from the Bacchus and
the Bussum, two grain-laden freight
ers that had been laying close to each
other in the Hudson for nearly six
/ months. won'the prizes.
Probably yhe most conservative and
good latured lot OF Hollanders now