Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-31
|SAI[0RS BURN
GERMAN VILLAGE
But No Homes Are De-
Dtroyed, No Women Terror
Stricken
ECONOMY. NOT REVENGE
Philadelphia Navy Yard Needs
Space Taken Up by Interned
Teuton Tars' Quarters
Passed by Navy Yard Censor

Passed by Navy Yard Censor
h Ehsrs Is something of poetic Justice in
ne news that American sailors have put the
torch to German village.
TIE village, to be sure is within the Phil
edelphia Navy Yard gates and was built
BY the late lamented crews Of the German
raiders. the Eitel Friedrich and the Kron-
prins Wilhelm.
There are no terror-stricken women and
children to nee from II as the flames curl
hungrily about the windows and doors.
without any hatred, without any desire
Sor vengeance. the match has been applied
and the nhal traces Of the German occupa-
tion Of America have vanished.
Chiefly, the demolition of the village has
besn undertaken because 1t is taking UP
MARss WORKSHOP
Every available niche Of ground at the
yard 10 needed. One glance at the activities
there and 1t is easy to understand this.
League Island is. indeed Mars's workshop.
From the machine shops como the cease
less whir of wheels and the hum Of engines.
At the end Of the day streams of workmen
pass out through the yard gates. These
men are carefully selected, according to a
naval officer who was asked II these shops
might not afford an excellent opportunity
Tor spies to gain access to the yard.
He replied that the utmost care and dis
erstion are used in selecting these workmen.
NO one is considered whose citizenship and
loyalty might be questioned. They are all
picked men.
Great trucks carrying supplies of all
Bfnds rumble up and down the streets. A
failroad is constantly in operation, and
everywhere are men, and moro men!
No civilians can conceive the tremendous
scale on which the United States is wagng
war until they see these men mobilizing,
drilling. training, working not in a hap
hazard fashion, but under q system that
eventually will have telling effect in the
war. Everywhere are dust-colored tents,
rows OF barracks, new buildings In the
nnal stages Of construction.
In the last category is the new post ex-
ehange. where sailor or marine can buy
anything from tobacco to cold cream Here
billiard tables are to be placed and a soda
water and Ice cream counter. Barracks are
6oing up, too, in various parts of the yard,
and lately completed coup of buildings,
which Is significantly empty now Is the
Emergency Hospital, with accommodations
Tor 1000 wounded.
From the scale of preparations being
made It seems altogether likely that a large
per cent OF wounded will be landed here
A hospital ship for the transportation of
the wounded is being built at the yard. The
keel was laid last week.
several men who returned on the
transports are stationed at the yard They
are bronzed and fit One youngster said
mat was the disappointment of his life
that he had not got to Paris for the
Fourth OF July celebration. IT had guard
duty" he said mournfully. ''The fellows
: said the enthusiasm for the 'Sammees was
perfectly tremendous. There has not bean
,uch an ovation since the days Of
II is not strange that the French nation
delighted to do the "sammees" honor II the
men now at the front are of the same cali
Der as the men now at the PHILADELPHIA
Navy Yard. for the flower of America is
mere men from every walk in life and from
svery profession.
Men who had nothing to do but cut cou-
pons and draw interest are doing the work
Of mechanics. Tho favorite story among
the naval reserves is Of PHILADELPHIA maj
who was detailed to keep several Fords In
something like condition for the naval offl-
GERS.
You can see him most any time. I"
chuckled his terminate. down on his back
rearranging the Ford's 1nnards.' And the
JOY OF 1t Is he has three cars of his own
and two chauffeurs!"
LEVELS CLASS DISTINCTION
Thus the war has leveled class dIctino-
Tho barracks where the naval reserves
are quartered are known as siberia" OF
y '~Tipperary," for they are a long long way
from "all the comforts of home" one youth
explained with q grin.
A civilian may linger on the docks onI,
long enough to glimpse the battleships anC
torpedoboats. sombre-gray against a radiant
ky
Whether they are riding at anchor o,
lying In the drydocks for repairs, there 4.
about all the war craft an air of suppressed
activity that will not find vent until the,
are on the high seas and sweeping the Ger,
man menace from the ocean.
They slide into port like stealthy ghosts
and in q little while they lift anchors ant
are away. They know that they may never
make another port. but sailor and marine
ofi1cer and enlisted man, they want a chance
5ust the excuse of q chance to fight
An airplane, taking advantage of a sud
den breeze, scars into the sky, and dips ant
scars again, orcling the yard. Some on
announces that a pupil from Essington /.
making his first flight.
The glare from the sky lessons. Kindl,
shadows fall across the decks. Then a gul
booms DULY. and from every mast and flag
: pole the colors fiutter down. There is
tense silence Every one stands at atten
tion. Then seaman. scarcely more than
boy. says, unconscious Of the effect:
THE flag will never be lowered in an
ether wayy'
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