The New York herald., 1921-08-21
BREMEN Wild OVER
Liner WASHINGTON
Giant Steamship, Former
German Pride, Gets Big
Welcome as u. S. Ship.
FIRST TRIP SINCE WAR
North German Lloyd Line
Anxious About Future Of
Present Owners.
FEARS HAMBURG RIVALRY
People Are Joyous Over the Re-
vival of Commerce, as 1t
Means Prosperity.
FEARS HAMBURG RIVALRY

Special Cable to THE New YORK HERALD.
COPYRIGHT, 1891, BIZ THE New YORK HERALD.
BREMEN, Aug. 20.-Her former Ger
man crew and their families and
many Bremen Germans crowded this
port this week to view the steamship
George Washington, formerly the
North German Lloyd Companys larg-
est ship and which now flies the
American flag. The George Washing
ton arrived here on August 13 and
steamed from this port last Wednes-
day for New York by way of South
ampton.
During the whole of her stay here,
the piers were packed with Germans
watching the preparations for the
steaming for America of this big
first trip to Bremen since the begin
ming Of the world war, and on enter
ing port, as she steamed past the
crowds which lined the piers for miles,
there was an outburst of singing of
Deutschland Uber Allies and mad
cheering and waving of hands and
handkerchiefs.
The enthusiasm was explained as due
partly to old sentiment and partly be-
cause each ship arrival here means much
business for neighboring towns.
Most of Bremen Joyful.
THE NEW York HERALD correspondent
here asked an old German why he did
not celebrate. He answered that 1t was
because the ship was now under a for
eign and enemy flag. But the Bremen
population is joyful because their port
has again become a world harbor. and
this 10y exceeds chauvinistic hatred.
America is generally liked here and dol
lars are welcome.
The German designer of the vessel, an
aged and gray haired man. revisited the
ship this week and expressed his appre-
citation of the luxurious American fit
tings. However, he declared that the
present upkeep of the vessel was infe-
rior to that under the old German mer-
chant marine discipline.
American engineers aboard the George
Washington asserted that the vessel had
such a fascination for members of her
old German crew that It was necessary
to keep the engine room locked to pre-
vent them from overrunning It,
The collaboration of the United States
Mail Company with the North German
Lloyd seems to be effective and without
friction. The North German Lloyd
affords the American company docking
facilities here, at the same time handling
Ats entire passenger service in Bremen.
Ship cooks and stewards are recruited
largely In German ports and one-timc
German captain is now serving as pilot.
Bremen is again hummng with business,
I'D.
hotels being crowded with tourists.
American cotton merchants and other
business men have taken Offices here.
Anxious Over Receivership.
The North German Lloyd IS anxious
regarding the stability Of it's future re-
lations with tho United States Mail
Company. owing to the receivership OF
the latter concern and the Harri imam ne
gotiations over the line. THE New YoRz
HERALD correspondent here talked with
Herr Stinning. director of the North
German Lloyd, and other high officials
OF that company. They were convinced
that Hartman control would mean the
eclipse OF Bremen by Hamburg. because
tire steamships now running to Bremen
in the American service would be
switched to Hamburg. This situation
has develored a competitive tension be-
tween these two German ports. The
North German Lloyd people were re-
leved at hearing of the recevership i'm
stead of a transfer Of the United States
Mail, and tho probable outcome is that
they will be dependent on the United
States Mail Company, because they have
only seven small ships.
Herr Shining said that should its
United States Mail contract terminate.
the North German Lloyd was prepared
to begin limited service Immediately
and to enlarge 1t somewhat for the forth
coming tourist season. officials Of the
North German Lloyd avoided mentioning
1t, but It was said In well informed cir
cles that they had purchased six ships
from the British, with an average OF
5000 tons each, and now have ships
building OF between 10000 and 10000
tons