New-York tribune., 1919-04-18
kaiserin Auguste Vic
toria. Turned Over to
[. S., Brings 2,3l9
Soldiers and 3@ Nurses
Five Teuton Officers
Aboard as Guides
Former Pride of Hamburg
Fleet Untouched by
War; Laid Up Since IA

The first German ship to enter New
York harbor since the United States
entered the great war came into port
last night.
She was the Hamburg American liner
Kaiserin Auguste Victoria, which was
in the port of Hamburg when the Euro
pean war started and was recently
turned over to the United States to
bring back American troops. She
steamed in under command of Captain
l.. r. Evans. L. s. n, the son of Ad-
miral "Iighting Bob Evans.
The kaiseru, once the pride of the
mighty Hamburg-Amerlcan fleet, looked
as clean and bright within and without
as she did in peace days, when she
carried the cream of the transatlantic
passenger trade between this port and
Hamburg.
The hand Of time had not marred
the luxurious cabin fittings and the
carved mahogany panels in her alley
ways, Stairways and lounges. And a
touch of the old days was lent to her
arrival by the presence on board Of
five German officers who were on her
bridge when she left these shores in
1914.
Officers Acted as Guides
Like the vessel. these officers were
unchanged except for q sombre demean-
or and sort OF crest-fallen reserva-
ton they showed toward all who sought
to speak 10 them about the voyage.
They wore the navy blue uniforms with
brass buttons and caps with the gold
Of
II the winter season before the war.
The Germans had come over as rep
rcsentativeS of the Hamburg American
Line to assist the American naval Off
GERS in the handling of the ship, and
to explain the complicated mechanism
OF the engines and the piping through
out the ship
Theirs was not a cheerful task. but
they made the best of it and kept to
themselves throughout the trip. They
were we'll treated by the United States
navy officers IN charge of the handling
Of the kaiscrin, and Captain Evans de-
scribed them as decent sort of fellows
who did cheerfully what was asked OF
teem"
Ships Carpenter Happy
With these German officers came the
SHIPS carpenter, who had smile OF
his face, 1t was said. from the time the
ship left Brest until she docked last
night. He vas loquacious enough
when asked about the voyage.
Yes he said. "Im glad to get over
TO Hoboken again. Things look diff
ferent here, they tell me. But Pm all
right. l had a fine time on the voy-
age. do anything l can to get the
nell away from the war"
One Of the German officers on the
haisefin was Lieutenant Walter Dost
VINO served as a commander in the
German navy at the outbreak of The
war, and was navigating officer of the
German battleship Schleswig- Holstein
he was wounded twice when in com
mand OF smaller vessel in the bat
fte OF Jutland, and had been decorated
by the Kaiser.
few hours after the Kaiserir
oocsed Lieutenant Dost met a friend
70 whom he said: Our trip over wa.
exceedingly pleasant. We thought ther.
might be some unpleasant feeling or
BOARD among the troops and the Amer
can officers under whom we worked
blt sucn thought was unnecessary. TIL.
Soidiers, nurses, crew and officers gave
no sign or word that malice towart
Us existed
c"l am glad that we sailed unde-
Na2taln Evans. You consider him {
'ypical American. We Germans con
sioer nlm fine man. We appreciat.
me treatment we received from every
one on board, which was surpris,
ana quite different from the attitud,
~ 'he French and British"
one OF the officers wore concpicuousl,
on his breast an Iron Cross
captain Evans SAID that the Kascril
4ehavcd splendidly on the run acros
from Brest. We had no trouble viii
her at all The trip over was in grea
contrast With the one | made eastwar,
~ october 1917, when l took the con
feited yacht, Iay, overseas. W
caiied her the rolling May"
Naptain Evans salG that war tai
Ta7 absolutely forbidden on tn
Dildge and that the five German off
Ssfs were treated just as if the Unite
ss@'es and Germany had never bee
az war
There was no need Of any wa
t.slk," he said These Germans wer
"eeent fellows, and did cheerful
Wnat was required Of them The
we're SAD enough about the war anc
~"s"ay,. you wouldn't mention tn
naMe wsi Of John l.. Sullivan to old Jak
"''fa'n, would your
German Crew Leaves Shin
e. +|FA'i ''lt jldnDuTE WIN
,s''1@n crew, and was turned over t
.a .he United State9 az Spithcad The
, ,s's %as brought u Brest, where W
spoH nef Snc Rad three captains be
,2is got ner. Snc was in my charg
n'afe days when took her out {
sa. ne cane oYcf the middle course
ssginZ 3,leO miles. Our bcst day'
an Was lo1 miles, and our aqcrav
Ipsso was sixteen ard three 3uarts,
@'''E' s Inc best the Germans ever 20
hi. - y, nFr "as seventeen and one
was said aboard the Kaiger:o tina
NJ. s,.h sns was turned oycr to th
..Sfd 5tates ~ Spith.ad and the Ger
nsr ~, s,s" #as taken of Captain Kopf
is iss oid commander, was the last /
&c tne ship. Al he left the KaixsrjY
Saplain Kopf said, "fhis is sad dy
-. s.'a NC used 10 be the envy % 800
~ ana now ! am leaylnz nv rhj
~. q n'rt1 bootblack"
9ess +ne Aaisnrln brought home z.3ls ot
MI zss ana men from the A. r.. +. an
~ e nurses, She viii 70 10 Brooklv
y.oay And when she again comen "'s wes,
e.s..e san from France she win have &c
eaafiens for 1000 naaa.