BRAVE BRITISH PILOTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 224, 10 June 1918, Page 7

BRAVE BRITISH PILOTS

SPLENDID SERVICE TO THE NATION. At the United Kingdom Pilots' Association recently, among those present were Dr. Jfacnamara, Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, and Mr. Gei-shem Stewart, M.P. Tho Lord Mayor, in receiving the members, said there was no more important body of men. Ho had been intimately acquainted with their work for a longer term of years than ho cared to think of. His father and members of his family were seafaring men and capable skippers, and sometimes he himself felt ho could take a ship down Chaunel and even to Sandy Hook. Ho had crossed the Atlantic, seventy-two times. However generous and magnanimous we might <lesire to be, ho could not help thinking that our national interest and interests justified tho exclusive issue of licenses to our own nationals. (Cheers.) He was glad this was their privilege today, and ho hoped they would long retain it.

Dr. Jfacnamara said he had wished to attend so that he might, on behalf of the Hoard of Admiralty, and on behalf of their fellow-countrymen, assure the pilots how grateful they wero to them, and to their shipmates of the mercantile marine, 'for-, their immeasurable great services rendered to the nation at this time. In common with the British merchant service, the pilots entered the war period with a great' record, second to none for fine seamanlike finalities. Tho very word "pilot" had come to occupy a p ace in our language signifying intrepidity, resourcefulness, and the full discharge of dangerous and arduous duty. R.he war, as conducted by Germany, had enormously added to the estimate in which they were already held. The weekly list of -vessels entering and sailin" from our ports was the British seamen's answer to Germany's attempt at "frightfulness, ' and he ventured to say that nothing added more fuel to the flame of the "Hynm of Hate" than the wooklv Jist of caterings and sailings. (Cheers') Our pilots had gallantly nlaved their part in keeping tho flag flying on the seas. They had had their full share of casualties which such a noble effort inevitably entailed. To the widows and orphans, to -those-near and dear, to their fallen comrades, he desired to tender respectful sympathy.