Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-19
SMELLING SALTS
Calling on Beatty
Sad Episode in the Life of Admiral
Meurer

FTOu Special NOrTeSDOnUpnt i
On Board the Koenissbers, Nov. II (delayed).
GIT MAY be magnificent, but it certainly
isn't seamanship," said Admiral
Meurer dolefully as he watched the com.
mittee of workrnen and sailors aw,swardlv
maneuvering the German cruiser Koenigs-
berg to her assigned moorings in the Firth
of Forth.
1t was my privilege to accompany the
Admiral on his penitental visit to Admiral
David Beatty, commander of the Grand
| Fleet, to arrange for the surrender of the
| greater part of the German navy. It is
| only due TO Meurer to say that he felt his
| Illumination very keenly, and his pride as a
sailor was wounded by the grotesque
antics OF his vessel, which was navigated
according to the latest theories of Bolshe-
visit seamanship. Citizen Weintraub. a.
former stoker, was in command on the
bridge having been appointed spokesman
of the navigating soviet on account of his
being the only man on board familiar with
Rousseaus Social Contract and. Discourse
on inequality. Citizen Schnorrer, formerly
boatswains mate, was supposed to give
hand in the navigation, but as he ex.
planned he was busy writing a Lite OF
Trotsky and could not be disturbed He
planned to get the manuscript finished in
time to throw it overheard into British
waters in case of empties, one chapter to
a bottle. in the hope that some enterpris.
ing British publisher might find it, l am
sorry to say that the pressure Of affairs
prevented me from ascertaining whether
this ingenious scheme was carried through
/" DON'T relish this job a Bit" said
Meurer to me, as the Koenigsberg
sidled up the Firth stein first, owing to an
argument having arisen on the bridge as
to whether 1t was Rousseau or President
Wilson who had said. Man was born free
and is everywhere in chains" You know"
he continued, humble pie is said to be
good for the soul, but a little bite goes
long way. Only last week | was forced to
take that trip to Marshal Foch's head
quarters, and upon my soul have hardly
recovered vet. The doctor tells me that
my blood pressure has gone down thirty
| points. l feel pretty seedy this minute
had TO sit up until o'clock last night to
attend seminar of the second dogwatch
who were discussing the theories of Karl
| Marx. I was so worried lest we might run
on a shoal that I didn't get much out of it,
| I've got to answer a quiz on Marx tomor.
| row to see whether I'm fit ror commits
sion in the reorganized navy. Who was he
anyway and what was his ship? I'll bet
his gunnery record wasn't any better than
| mine"
| A matter Of fact, think poor Meurer
was more embarrassed by his new uni.
| form than anything else The committee
| Of workmen and soldiers in charge of the
| Nessel had insisted on every one being
| equipped with the bolshevized naval re-
| gala before leaving Kiel, and the trap
pings of a bolshevik admiral are rather
| different from the traditional naval gar
ments. Meurer wore a bright red smock,
upon which was embroidered the white
| dove of a commissioner empowered to
| treat for peace. On his left sleeve were
three black chevrons, indicating three cap
ial demerts in the Bolshevik naval code,
the use of harsh language in the perform
ance of duty the attempt to employ bat
tleships for homcdal purposes and failure
" oilS"cl So!leSlly llle queSllOuHdlTe Oh
the Economic Fallacies Of the Middle Class.
AS we stood on the deck together he
smoked a porcelain pipe with a melan-
Choy air, his cigars having been confis-
Gated by the messroom soviets.
rs this job of yours permanent If you
get good Marx in your quiz" asked him,
jovially.
UT REALLY don't know" he said. "You
will have to ask Citizen Weintraub
he's running things. If he weren't so busy
with his book l would like to interrupt
him, because I see they are bringing the
ship round wrong side to, which is a gross
breach Of naval etiquette. 1t would serve
us right if Beatty were to blow us out of
the water for our rudeness. hope I may
Continue to earn an honest living as an
admiral, but it depends a good deal on the
stokers I am bit puzzled because I
hardly know how to shape my course. The
social democrats are running the engine
room, the Spartacus socialists are in con-
troll of the heavy guns and the ultra boil
shevists seem to be in command Of the
pantry. The centrum party has an infiuen
tal minority in the stokehold however
and think shall set my cap at them"
I couldn't help glancing at his red tam
oshanter, which he wore in deprecating
way that was amusing to behold. 1t was
adorned with a row of black service stripes
each of which, I am told, represents six
months of active war service in the Kie
| Canal
, TNHE Kbenigsberg came to halt mo
l. being a naval correspondent, I am un
| certain as to the correct term and sailo
8 approached the ADMIRAL. The latter sa
luted punctiliously and the sailor nodded
in friendly fashion. Hey" he salt
4 "Beatty's gig is waiting for you on th
: lefthand side Of the ship"
a you see,P said Meurer to me sadly
| oil to