Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

THE CHANNEL CROSSING BY NIGHT

: FULL'SPEED THROUGH THE DARKNESS (By Regimental M.0., in the "Sydney .. ■ Morning Herald.") • A kilted throng that huddled' on the hurricane deck, erect; lying, sitting, occupying a. given space in the true military sense; all vigilant and expectant as of giteat events, on this the night of nil nights! They wi]l soon make the swift, dark crossing to the Prance of 'overseas. The small things of life, become exalted; the shriek of a distant syren speaks of a baneful destroyer or some indefinite, sinister form that cleaves the spray-topped Channel waves doing the silent patrol,, the'awesome sentinel work of fog-ridden hours—the plain duty of the officer on the bridge, the seaman, on the fo'c'sle! And thus old England sleeps secure in her island domain! Sol too, the sudden awakening throb of internal engines, the sense of movement away from shadowy lights awakens the soul of the battalion. "We're off!" And the vibrant command of a subaltern coming deep through the dark.has an ■electrical- effect; pipes and' cigarettes have, cased to'glow. ' ■'.' Out on the broad, covered deck, along the smooth taffrail, the adventurers are massed, wrapped in swaddling great-coats and mufflers fragrant of, home, lie Glengarry ribbons whisk and flap in the bellowing wind, and the stern profiles beneath them beam with tho ardour of this the dream of days long past, of weeks drawn out by rigid routine, of months laborious' yet sweet with the flavour of something done. Their tongues are unloosed, the joy of living surges hot in their breasts,, they may yet do deeds for the Motherland, deeds that will inscribe glowing traits on the scroll of Empire. But no one can speak his joy nor interpret the inner fires. Speculation breaks out on the dim and distant sights and becomes uproarious in the discomfiture of the fool of the platoon. The harbour mouth is cleared and the •grey transport is loosed on the turmoil of shifting seas. An -unseen hand is 'guiding surelyi steadily, with no faltering The bo'w sways and plunges in a seething swish that breaks in a long frank wash to the foam astern. The air is tense with happening, when from the blackness ahead is disengaged a. low destroyer blinking an eye to the unseen pilot. And the race goes on at a maddening rate with that volatile escort leading her unerring way. A great burst of speed, and the deck watchers see her sinuous form flit to starboard, at the call of some mute signal, to ward off some unknown peril! And when their "eyes tire to mark the furious fling of tho spindrift, they range to the mystery of the close horizon; the swinging lights of the mine-sweepers grappling in the heaving troughs, tho bold glare of ' a / searchlight, shooting oil Dover's cliffs,- the masthead lanterns creeping dim by the Calais shore, the soughing hum of the wild sou'-wester, shuddering between the shrouds across the dark waste of lonely waters foaming livid through the night. A lone, cold world! Tho young sailor, fresh from home delights, has felt its icy terrors and stiffened his senses with a niauiy joy to hear the sobbing drone of the Channel bells. I'or the strong another world to conquer; for the weak, a school of duress that will kill or cure!

The soldier, snug on a transport, looks out, a spectator, from his station on solid deck, and wonders at the iron vigilance of his brother seaman; tho seaman, swaggering in dripping oilskins, snorts through rime-filled whiskers his disdain at a "capful o' wind," and envies this Tommy, that Jock, off to tho trenches. Thus each has done his duty, and is modest withal, as England expected. The lights of France have twinkled from the low hills, and the crossing is left behind in the battalion's memory. Por a bright radiance has burst from the shore, the destroyer blinking farewell, has whisked,far astern to her watery trail,- and the transport, shining a steoly lustre, is coursing over an enchanted field lit by beaming searchlights. What an effulgent welcome to the new laud! There is surely magic in this wold of overseas! Wo ease speed and sway back and forth on the inshore swell,, gliding noiselessly between the training walls holding forth their solid arms to tho deep, into tho glassy haven of Boulogne, where trawlor, fishing ketch, and hospital ship sleep secure, and tho front of an old-world town rises pallid around (lie harbour. "

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19170526.2.30

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3094, 26 May 1917, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
744

THE CHANNEL CROSSING BY NIGHT Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3094, 26 May 1917, Page 7

THE CHANNEL CROSSING BY NIGHT Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3094, 26 May 1917, Page 7

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert