WHEN THE CALL CAME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2893, 4 October 1916, Page 6

WHEN THE CALL CAME

AMERICANISED BRITISH SEAMEN SPELL OF NEUTRALITY BROKEN [ STOWED AWAY TO ENLIST In tho reading-room of a seamen's mission situated near the harbour-sido at San Francisco, five men wero talking. Ono was the padre of tho place, whose heart was warm towards sailor men, as it was to all. men who saw life's seamy side, and toiled in its rough Tho others wero seamen —Britishers who had lived and served on ships in American waters— using the term in its Continental sense, and liot as'referring only to the United States—or on vessels that traded across the I'acifio to Asia. They were talking of the war, and the padre was urging that every British subject, wherever he might ho should rally to the colours in the fight for right against might. "I'm going myself," ho said in conclusion. "I thought you sky-pilots had to iltccr clear of a killing," said a tall New Jjoalander. ' 1 "I can go as a padre," was the quiet reply. "There's a lot of been let off about the German brutalities," a fair-haired seaman with large, hard hands observed in a draivl. His name was. Johnson. "Far'sl can see," he continued, "the Germans are just a's brave is the A-llies.' Fellers don't want to get too sentimental about this war. That's my opinion." , "Lies, Lies, Lies!" "But tho stories you read in many of flic papers in neutral countries are writen by Germans," the chaplain protested. "They're lies, lies, lies!" He thumped the table vohemently."No need t'o get hot under your collar," a quiet, leaa seaman cliipped in. "England's big enough to look after herself. And wo'ro doin' man's work here. Time may come when we'll feel tlio call and up and go. ' But, for me.,'l don't seem to feel -no call, though I'm British, in a way. Never been in England but once; and I was born at sea. Sorry you're leavin' hero, padre, we'll miss you, .sure. And what recruitin' . office have you , selected to roll in . your agate—Canada, I guess, will be whore it's located." "No, I'm going across in the Tahiti boat to Wellington, New Zealand," the padre sajd. i At that,. the fourth man, whoso nama was Sliovy, looked up from paring his nails with his knife, his eyes were bright in the lamplight. , "Don't seem to have heard that name for quite a while, not Wellington," ho explained./ "See, , padre, we've signed on for the s.s. Elobo for Valparaiso. When we come back you'll be' gone. Don't think we funk t.ho fighting. It's not that. But what wo "gather about this war don't show the Germans to bo the yaller dogs von aiul the Allies claim them to be. What Jeff says is right. -When we 'get the call we'll go; And I wish you a good trip to Wellington. Seems like home to hear tho jiame, though its ten years since I ■ saw it or other British 50i1.",. "I know you'll go when you see it. as 1 do," the padre said. "But I wish you would come new." • "Can't. We're signed up'," said Johnson, and he laughed. Soon, they were tramping out into the lighted streets, to find their way." on'board-the Elobo, that was due to sail for Valparaiso at daylight. The Padre Coes, Tho padro went into his office to work; ihcr.e was much to do ore he handed over, to the new superintendent, and ho had to scheme how to pay his bills before he loft, for ho did this work without payment, because ho knew that the mission funds could not stand double strain of paying him a salary- and finding comfort and en-, lertaimnciit for the seamen. . A week later, 'bo was at sea, bound for Now Zealand, as a deck-hand on the Tahiti boat-, and Ms spirits wero high with tlio thought that soon he would stand again on British soil and bo among men whose-thought and anxiety wore, of the war. "%'''' These things happened many months ago; apd during that time, there was a great change'wrought in the views of the four seamen who' claimed nen-r tralitv as their right because England, was big enough..to .look,after herself and because tho. Germans were "honourable and brave,". according to tho American'papers. Last week, by the mail from France, the. padre, : who is still.in cami) in' Now Zealand, received this letter from the big New Jkjalander who understood"that skv-pilots .always "steered clear of a killing.", . . ■>. Doing Their Bit. I trail :— "Naturally you will be a little surprised at my lining here after such along stay 111 'Frisco. Well, padre, I helievo I would still have been there if the Germans, had not • committed such a dastardly crime as tho sinking of the Lusitania. You will remember mv sailing for Valparaiso in the s.s.Elobo. It.was,oll arrival in 'Frisco, after this voyage! that wo heard the 'terrible news: Snowv, Johnson,. JefT, and -myself, we talked the matter over and decided in go and do our little •bit for England. We had not/sufficient finance ..como as passengers, so . wo came to the conclusion that stowing away in the Tahiti boat was the next best, way out of the difficulty, and. trusting to t,he, kindness of the captain to let us go through. After dropping pilot we presented • ourselves to the captain. He told us he already knew we wore aboard, and. considering .we had come out of our hiding place so soon, ho would let us work our passage, also wishing us pcood luck at the front. After a week at home ill Wellington, ,wo came away with tho Ninth Reinforcement. arriving six weeks later in Efvpt. Wo were not lomr there before being drafted over hero. What a difference here, mild weather and the best nf treatment at; tho Itands_of the French. Poor Snowy suffered ' terrible in TCgypfc.with colic, but on comint to France was cu™>d. only to b« killed bv these Funs. He_was ,1 white one. always will-ng. tn inve a lielning hand to those who needed it. .TofF and me are still going slifong and enjoying tho best of health, determined to havo revenge for poor ' (Johnson for some reason never came away from 'Frisco). . "Out'iii 'Frisco we used to eel great accounts nf ihe bravery of these murderers. Well, nadro, vgu were right; they were all lies. These Huns are. ves. cnod ft'dilers —wli<»n-yon are about two mi'"« nfl tliem. When yon get near him with the "baronet, he drops his rifle, throws up his'hands, .""d cn"s for merc\;. and :'Fia.mnrade.' •. WeH.,l'". seldom gets it. Not- tWt "'<> i«w> suoli' : methods •>« the Gor>"ms. but -for men to keep shooting until vol* reach, them, and then ask for pierev and won't rio :ht —wliv. it is out of the question. They nroJw.aten now, mid seem to k"ow it. It onlv ■remain'! for us to stick it, and pu'. hi the finishing touches. "11l another lnlf-bour I v'lj be on sni\try beat, so I must cut this letter short. Not a nice iob, 'on guard': but when there is such good work to he done fetchinof'theso dogs to their knp°R. why I would willingly ston here~for, ever. I am suro there lyill bo no need

xur m&u, auu uuiuiu very long you will, see us homo again, novor to leave.". Thus did theso long-absent British moil, whom American neutrality had misled, tako iji» arms and become implacable enemios of tlie Germans—all except Johnson, who "for. some reason noVer left 'Frisco." Who but a truo mate could havo expressed the matter so delicately?