THE DOG WATCH.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 664, 29 April 1914, Page 3

THE DOG WATCH.

LIFE ON A BATTLESHIP.

The following interesting account of that part of the routine of a warship known as changing watch appears in the Globe. "Five minutes to six, sir." The Lieutenant about to become the,officer of the watch, shifts in his chair and turns a malevolent eye on the bearer of these tidings—a midshipman inured to the deliverance of messages of varying natures to his superior officers The ship is a flagship, leading a small squadron down that Piccadilly of the seas —the Mediterranean—-and at the moment is abouthalf-way between Gibraltar and Malta, and steaming parallel to the African coast. The Mercury having retired with all military precaution, his victim sets himself to enjoy his last three minutes of after-tea pipe and book—like all his kind ne can derive more satisfaction out of a minute's leisure than can his shore-gong brothers out of ten. At one minute to the hour he makes a hurried exit and counts by various ladders and turnings to the bridge, becoming involved en route in a mixed crowd of all sorts of mariners on the same mission bent who make way for him as would a platform crowd on the advent of a belated engine-driver making for his post. On the upper bridge he me9ts his predecessor of the first dog-watch, who greets him with a cheerfulness that he secretly resents, and presents him with a medley of information that t > the secular mind seem merely invented to bewilder.

It ranges from the statement of the ship's course and speed, and the position of the various ships of tho squadron, to the announcement that the captain is in his cabin and that the boatswain's yeoman has the watertight door of the fore tier open to get out some rounding; dallies en route .with statements concerning various shore lights, and the wishes of the navigating officer thereon, remarks concerning the barometer and the log, and concludes with a statement that it looks like rain astern. All this the newcomer receives with an, under the circumstances, incredibly all-embracing grunt, and the relieved one clatterß down the ladder, whistling softly—for to do so is a crime not committed in a man-of-war, Bave once, an.l by the very young. Left to himself, his next few minutes are employed in receiving the reports of various beings who arrive hurriedly—make abashed statements, for the sailor is a shy biid, and fade away. The midshipman of the watch, the carpenter, the spaman gunner, are a few among these—all apparently suffering from aiute anxiety to assue him that the arrangements in their particular branch are beyond reproach. Then peace once more descends upon the bridge, and the quartermasters and his satellites of the look-outs and telegraphs relapse into the wooden figures that they will remain for j the next two hours—for this is but a dog-watch—four being their usual [spell.