Round Trip In The Bocce

Now we were suddenly the talk of the day in the Bocce. On the next morning we had to make a trip around the Bocce. On all the ships that we passed the crews were standing in parade formation. They greeted us with hurrahs and we responded in the same manner. We cruised around for four hours like that. I did not have time to even roll myself a cigarette. We were hoarse by now and our shouts of "Hurrah" sounded more like crowing. No wonder. After the victory celebration of the day before our voices sounded suspicious anyway. On top of that we had to wear our tight parade uniforms and we could hardly move. But the white linen clothes would have gotten heavy too fast.

We were glad when we tied down under the Budapest. "Na, don't you want to come back and stay here again?" the Helmsman asked me as we took a walk on deck of the ship. "My most obedient thanks, but no." I answered him. In the two hours we spent on the ship we enjoyed ourselves quite well talking to our former comrades. We were happy nevertheless when we left again. This constant showing off was not for us.

Stefan had returned from furlough and was very mad at the misfortune that he missed the grand action that we saw while he was gone. Was it not almost certain that the small "Silver' (medal) was due if not the big one? When we returned to Porto Rosa the whole crew received three days recuperation in Castel Nuovo. We were ready to take full advantage of that but it turned out we had bad luck with those days.

We preferred to take the passenger steamer to Melinje and to walk from there to Castel Nuovo instead of taking the motorboat of the U station which bore the grand name "Cannon Boat" and which would have taken us directly to Castel Nuovo. Nevermind that it had no cannon on board, but it was such an antiquated great flood vehicle that with it, you always ran the risk of having to row for at least half the trip. More shot out of the tailpipe than powered the boat.

So we marched nine and nine men in a row arm-in-arm the wide road to Castel Nuovo and sang marching songs. The world was beautiful and belonged to us. We never paid attention to the car that was following us and did not move to the side when it sounded the horn. We thought it was still far behind us and if it moved closer we would have certainly made way.

We were thirsty and entered at the Schneider which was the first tavern on the street to empty a pitcher of cold beer. But the Torpedo-Master, inquisitive as he always is, stopped to look at who was in that automobile. What do you know? It was a General and now he sees the cap ribbon with the S.M.S. UBXV on it. He calls the Torpedo-Master over and asks, "Are you from the UBXV?" The Torpedo-Master acknowledges dutifully while completely forgetting to address the General as "Your Excellency." "Are the other men also from the XV?" asked the General. "Jawohl!" said the Torpedo-Master and then he was dismissed. he came into the tavern saying "I almost thought he would treat us to a keg of beer." But oh dear, that was a big mistake.

When we arrived back in Rosa they asked us right away what we did wrong. On the next day we had to report. "Do you know why you have to report?" asked the Commander. When we denied it he explained it to us. "So that you remember it for the next time, When a superior wants to pass with his car you instantly have to jump aside and salute him very strictly. And you address a General with 'Excellency.' So remember that, all of you are going into the lock-up for twenty-four hours. Dismissed!"