The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-08-30
FOSTER GEISE WRITES
OF INTERESTING TRIP
DAWSON MIDSHfPMAN TELLS
OF UNUSUAL SCENES AND
CUSTOMS ABROAD.

interesting letter just received by
Mr.. T. c. GeiSe from his son, Mid
shipman Foster Geise, who has just
rounded out most wonderful trip
which took him to a number OF for
eign countries. After the long cruise
the u. S. squadron is back at Annapo
lis, and Midshipman Geise is expected
home this week:
Dear Father: Battleship squadron
trio arrived here July 30th after two
days trip down from Portugal. We
came by way of the Orpines and
Scotland at a. m We sighted the
big rock of Gibraltar and in FIVE hours
were passing through the breakwater
Led by the Connecticut, each ship
filed through and tied up to her as
signed billet The bridge of battle
ship is about the busiest spot in all the
world when coming to or weighing
anchor; however, every man knows his
specific duty and there is not the slight
est confusion. 1t requires experience
and fine seamanship OF the captain to
accomplish a good anchorage without
the aid of tug. We received special
commentator from the admiral for
mooring alongside the mole without
assistance.
/ was junior officer of the deck on
watch when we came in and my part
| of the feat was taking ranges on shore
Iobjects to enable the navigator to
keep his position on the chart AS we
were mooring, the big guns of the Brit
ish on top of the Rock fired Il salutes
to the American navy. Each ship re-
sponded with the same number, caus-
ing a noise equal to a battle engage
ment, although the saluting guns are
only six Founders. After the salutes
the British and American consuls came
aboard
We have been ashore three days
and each day have visited different
country. First, Gibraltar; it is part
of Spain, leased by England and un-
der her control. The English territory
is surrounded by a tall spiked fence,
patroled on one side by English and
the other by Spanish soldiers. The
Rock is 1900 feet high, a mile wide.
l took car ride around it, but failed
Prudential has the strength of Gibral-
tar" CD The town itself is quaint. The
natural inhabitants are Spanish and
Moors. During the day it is very hot,
but in the afternoon, when cooler, the
streets are thronged with promenaders
/ of the best classes. The streets are so
narrow the funny little carriages used
can barely pass. The galleries on the
sides of the Rock were cut out by the
Moors hundreds of years ago, and lead
to an old Moorish castle Just below
them are monkey caves. The monkeys
are very tame and | wanted one to
bring Elizabeth, but they are under
government protection. Across the
bay lies the old Spanish town OF Al
geciras. 1t was here the famous con-
ference of 1906 was held in which
Roosevelt played a part | understand
why it was chosen. 1t is so quiet, with
no chance of interruption. The natives
would win prize over the world Tor
laziness. The houses from the outside
are plain, rather uninteresting, but in
side are very beautiful, with patios or
inner court yard gorgeous with flow
ers, etc. The most marvelously beautl-
full view is from the hotel on the hill,
looking downward 1t is a solid noun
tain Of flowers. As no one is allowed
to enter or leave British territory af-
ter gun fire at o'clock we took the
u o'clock ferry back to Gibraltar.
The very best trip Of all was that of
yesterday, when | went to Morocco.
Ny ambition to visit Africa was thus
realized. We arrived at Tangiers at II
a. m. Long before docking we knew
from the odor it was not far distant.
1t is a distinctly oriental odor, which
defes description. 1t seemed to be
more like the smell of wild animal
Imenagerie than anything with which
II am acquainted. The town is teeming
with local color and the orient. The
costumes of dazzling colors, short bag
gy trousers, jackets and fez, slippers
with pointed and turned toes. There
are no women on the streets except
few heavily yelled. In glancing through
the grated windows of the harems we
saw very beautiful women. | took a
ride through the city and out to the
Sultan's palace. On this cruise we
have met quite number of the royal
Itv. Besides the sultan, the king and
queen of Norway and the president OF
Portugal gave receptions to the mid
shipman. We were very fortunate to
miss BY few days instructions both
in Tangiers and Lisbon. | am getting
quite expert in foreign exchange. Ia
Norway the currency was kroner, in
Portugal it was escudos, in Gibraltar
pounds, in Spain pecetos and in Afri-
ca franc
We will arrive in Annapolis about
the 10Th of August For the next few
weeks / will be in the navigation di-
vision. We take three sights on the
sun and one star sight every day. Using
these attitudes we calculate our posi-
ton and know approximately our po-
sition all the time. We calculate the
current, the ships speed, the clock
time and many other things. 1t is very
interesting but requires long calcula-
tons. We shove off tomorrow for
sixteen-day run for HOME. Devot-
edlv. FOSTER GEESE.