Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 330
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[Page 330]
was preparing to open fire she made the signal "I have one hundred and sixty English prisoners on board." So she was let pass. For the truth of this yarn I cannot vouch, but it is highly probable that there were prisoners aboard. The American papers waxed very sarcastic about the Navy at this time, and we ourselves felt pretty sick; so this explanation of the Kronprinz Wilhelm'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 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 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. [Naval Officer] Miss Annette Kellerman, who was the heroine of the piece, was glad to see fellow Australians and did much for our entertainment. Every day almost there were dances and motor picnics and visits to the Moorish town built on Kingston Harbour where the scene was laid.
There is a Sports Club near Kingston the like of which is not often seen in Australia. There was the usual club building with its bar, billiard room and the other accommodation; but within the grounds were a racecourse, golf links, croquet