NEW GERMAN STEAMERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18496, 5 September 1923, Page 7

NEW GERMAN STEAMERS.

ARRIVAL AT SYDNEY.

MILLIONAIRES IN MARKS.

Two German steamers making then maiden voyages to Australia berthed in Sydney recently. The Jserlolin was built only last year ir.Krupp's yards at Kiel. She is a steel single-screw steamer of 3703 tons. She made her first trip Inst year from Hamburg to Norwegian ports. This was followed by another trip to the same ports, and later the steamer went to India aul the East. The voyage, which concluded at Sydney,- is the fourth since her launching.

Among the cargo which the Jserlohn brought to Sydney was 4CO tons of wattle bark from. South Africa. There was also a large ! quantity of timber c rom Sweden.

The Jserlohn carrics a crew of 42, many of whom speak ' English. One of them said that when he returned to Hamburg he would have between 7,000,000 and 8,000,000 marks (worth about 7s 6d now) to draw in wages. While on the voyage the crew was paid 10s a month in English money. To illustrate that he would not le a nle to- lead a very wild life on drawing his pay when he reached Hamburg, one of the sailors stated that in June, a driak of hot rum in ■ Germany cost 2500 marks. He didn't think any difficulty was experienced in counting out the right money for drinks. . . .

The other vessel, the Aachen (6?25 lons gross), is very much larger, and is cwned by the N.D.L.. She was built this year at Geestemunde. She carries passengers, llie Aachen brought a general -;an,o, including pianos and motor cars. When the Aachen arrived at Melbourne, a man named Nichtecstein gav» £7 to the captain of the ship to bo split rp among poor sailors. This sum amounted to about T*o 000 marVs in German money on the latest rate of exchange.