OUR MIDSHPMER

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1918, Page 4

OUR MIDSHPMER

(London paper.) The midshipman, white-tapped on tile collar, and armed with a dirk, lias always been an attractive figure. Largely, perhaps, because of his bubbling youth fill nosH, for lie. is a mere schoolboy in years, though equal to playing a man’s part on many ocasiona, and lie proved it yet once again at Zoobrugge.

For this immortal adventure the young officers of the Fleet were among the keenest volunteers. Every sub and midshipman would have been in it if he could, —and numbers of them were. Practically all . the “ scooters ” and such - like gossamer craft were handled by these boyish warriors, who went into the fray jo\ fully and came out of it more than content.

“It was top-hole, 1 can assure you, said one of them. “Wo made Fri sit mi and take notice that time.”

An there spoke the spirit of them a

To understand fully what these lads' accomplished one must realise that something mote than “hell-for-leather” dash was required of them. .. A definite part in the plan of operations had been assigned their boats, which had to be manoeuvred with skill as well as daring. Sitting precariously almost on the surface of the water, with showers, of spray spurting all around them, th e "reefers” darted hither and thither in the thick of the fight, each seeking his objective—and finding it-. Now, "scooters,'’ "skimming dishes,” c.m.b.’s” or whatever other name one chooses to call them, like their "skippers,”' have not been long at sea, pen they have proved themselves capable of great achievements there. Upon more than one occasion these impish vessels have sprung a deadly surprise upon the Hun. Each time Youth guided them. But in one phase of it

Zcobrugge was tho epic of both. Midshipmen nnl subs were there in the other ships .‘is well as the strange craft that darted like groat water-flies about the surface, and in every instance they ga\\. a good account of themselves.

It has over been the practice in our Navy to count the junior officers as actual combatant units and let them I take a. share in giving and receiving hard knocks when these were going That is one reason why on the quar-ter-dock one finds such a high grade of efficient leadership. From the time he goes to sea tho midshipman has charge of a boat and is taught tho right way of directing men. But., being a wise Service, the navy recognises that though old heads may be placed on young shoulders, young blood must still have its way as a safety valve for letting off the pressure of ebullient spirits. So the midshipman goes to live in the gun room, which is peopled hy his kind. Within certain broad limits all his pranks are. tolera ted. Should correction be deemed necessary it comes from one of the denizens of bis own sphere. Taught discipline in this manner, trained to how initiative and to be self-del innt, the midshipman can be trusted with important things when boys of his age in the Army would be doing nothing more responsible than beating a drum or winding a bugle. Of the chances war gives him lie has made successful us<s both in the air and on the sea. And at Zeebrugge he ditl splendidly.