TO THE BATTLE!

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1918, Page 1

TO THE BATTLE!

THE VOYAGE OVER

The draft “ fell in ” at dusk in the great shed on the quay. There were little groups of men from almost every regiment iu the forces linrriedly called together from distant camps in England to throw in their weight against the German flood. They had snug as tln-y marched through the seaport town, but when the dock gates clanged behind them the}' had entered a new life, the grim seriousness of which was only just making itself felt.

, Marshalled there in the shed they stood silently while the rolls were called and the “ parade states ” checked before the Embarkation Staff Officer. Then they filed out past the shipping to where lay the long, grey 20-knotter ready for the crossing.

A solemn business, this embarkation. Tired after many hours in the j train, the men had no sooner thrown | off their equipment and adjusted their cumbersome lifebelts than they wrapped their greatcoats about them and made ready for the night The old bands—many of them returning after three or four wounds found the warm, snug corners and were soon asleep. But for many it was their first sea trip ; and as the boat slipped quietly down the channel to the sea they Avatched intently the man}' strange sights around them. The conducting officers of the draft gathered together in the saloon, and the senior officer was appoiu.ed O.G. Troopship. He selected an adjutant and divided the remainder into watches. The rules and regulations of a night crossing Avero then read and explained.

On deck all was in darkness. The vibration of the decks and the slapping of the lanyards against the mast showed that the Hooper had picked up her nayal convoy and.Avas “ hitting it our. ” full speed for the French coast. Gathered in the stern

a few men stood silently Avatehing the dim outline of the coast with its headland light gradually fade In a few minutes the light too had b6eu swallowed by Hie blackness.

• ■ . Plunging into every sea alongside .was a long, low destroyer, which every now and then flicked a message from its bridge to some unseen ship. There was another destroyer, its presence indicated only by the broad trail of foam lashed up by its racing propellers. They gave a sense of security, these boats. When, as the night deepened, they disappeared : from time to time, the deck guard's, j strange to the mysteries of the sea, would whisper among themselves, speculating as to the mission which had called them away. But they always returned, ready at the scent of : danger to burst into a tornado of death-dealir.g fire. ! Picking his way carefully among the sleeping forms the officer of the watch made Ids rounds from deck to : deck. There was a sharp reprimand for the owner of a glowing cigarette. A man was roused for sleeping too J comfortably without his lifebelt. A party dividing np the next day’s 1 rations was making too much noise. 1 Someone so far had forgotten the dis- j cipline of the ship as to climb on the gun-platform and discuss the working of the chaser gun with its watchful ■ naval crew. !

The night was at its blackest when a l'ght flicked right ahead. A sudden blast from the siren brought every man to his feet. The men clung to railings, stanchions and ventilators to save themselves from falling as the ship heeled over in answer to a hardported helm. A moment of tense . excitement and the danger was past, j A great wall of dripping rust tower- ‘ ing above the trooper’s decks loomed :up out of the night. There was an exchange of deep-throated shouts from bridge to bridge. An officer ‘loured ‘‘Stand fast, men!” Then the tramp was swallowed up in the blackness as suddenly as it bad appeared. An hour later the troopship was sheltering behind, a friendly breakwater. and at dawn the draft was disembarked.