[Transcript of Letter from Chester W. Nimitz to William Nimitz, July 27, 1905] Page: 2 of 2

                                
You ought to see the way our sailors cut up in Chefoo when they are on liberty - they simply run
every Chinaman into his house, disarm the native police and do anything they please. Lately
each ship has had to send a guard of Marines ashore at all times of liberty to preserve order, and
to round up the liberty breakers
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after liberty has ended. The Chinamen sell our men some kind of bad booze which makes them
crazy. One man came back from liberty and shortly after his return aboard, he had the worst case
of delirium tremens I've ever seen. Some of these sailormen who haven't been ashore in a month
or so are not content to take a drink or so, they must wallow in it, and get perfectly dead to the
world, and what a sight they are the next morning when they come aboard! They are put down
"D+D" - meaning drunk and dirty. C+S meaning clean and sober etc. Every man as he returns is
searched for booze and some mornings quite a number of bottles are collected in this way. Our
doctors have analyzed some of the stuff and pronounce it just as bad a poison. Not all sailors do
this because the majority of our crew are fine, self respecting young fellows who try to behave
themselves. I am a firm backer of having liquor served out to those sailors who want it, or let the
gov't serve beer during the day, just as the German Navy does. You never see so many drunks
among their liberty parties
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by the time our time comes around.
Is everyone well at home?
I am taking some pictures of our room with a Kodak and if they turn out all right, will send some
home. You know I told you of my Lucky Bag pictures, well, I ordered some and when they
come, I'll send them to you.
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Well, I know of nothing else of interest now so I will close with my best love to Mama, the
children, all of Aunt Augusta's family and to yourself.
Your son
[signed]
Chester W. Nimitz