Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 123
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[Page 123]
cannot vouch but it is highly probable that there were prisoners aboard.
The American papers waxed very sarcastic about the Navy at the time and we ourselves felt pretty sick and this explanation of the Kronprinz's feat was as balm to our souls. A British Captain could not be expected to fire on his own people. It now began to be a problem to find us a job.
The Melbourne and Sydney two fast modern cruisers were lying in Harbour looking for work. We at any rate hoped they wouldn't find it as the Jamaica Club was very comfortable and the hotel not half by no means bad.
Kingston at this time was almost gay. The Fox film picture Company was engaged in the construction of its great picture the Daughter of the Gods since screened in Sydney Australia and there was a charming collection of American girls staying at the Hotel who contrived to make things pleasant for the casual N.O.
Miss Annette Kellerman was the heroine of the piece and as a fellow Australian she was glad to see us and did much in the way of entertainment to make things pleasant. Every day almost there were dances and motion pictures and visits to the Moorish town where built in Kingston Harbour where some the scene was laid.
There is a sports Club near Kingston the like of which one doesn't see often in Australia. There was the usual Club building with its bar billiard room and other accommodation but within the grounds links croquet lawns tennis courts and a swimming bath.
So as often as possible we put in a few days there to get away from the fug of the ship and have some exercise.
The races in Kingston were always worth going to see. The quality of the horses was probably not good and the riding was pretty crooked but the antics of the nigger onlookers was were most amusing.
They jumped into the air stamped on their hats jacked each other