“ONE MORE TOAST-DER TAG!’ ”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1302, 24 September 1914, Page 4

“ONE MORE TOAST-DER TAG!’ ”

One of the best-known masters in the employ of the Union S.S. Company, who a couple of years ago, or thereabouts, was in charge of one of the big colliers, tells a rather good story as to what happened to him and a shipmate when on a visit to German New Guinea (which territory has just been seized in the name of King George by the Australian Expeditionary Force). He had taken a full load of coal up to the Germau coaling station in the Huon Gulf (which lies to the south-east of the Germau territory), and there a quick dispatch was given by unloading into a Germau cruiser on one side and a hulk on the other. Whilst the work was proceeding, the captain and the chief engineer of the Union Company s steamer were invited into the wardroom of the cruiser. The health of the Kaiser was drunk, and songs were sung out of pure geniality and love of music. The New Zealand skipper had a very tuneful baritone voice, and when called upon tor a song by the chief engineer, responded with “A Life on the Ocean Wave.” This was so well received that the jocose engineer urged him to sing another. “Give ’em something patriotic — they had a good go at their own songs!” Nothing loth, the skipper of the collier turned up again, this time bawling out, “Britannia Ru’es the Waves.” By the time he finished the refrain of the second verse he lound a couple of German marines on either side of

him, standing mute, but menacingly, with “fixed bayonets.’’ This brought him up all standing, and he intimated to the Scotch engineer that it was about time for them to retire. They bade a hasty “good-night” to the assembled officers, and were making for the cabin door, followed by the two marines, when the Commander said, “Before you go, gentlemen, one toast, ‘Der Tag’ (the day)!” The toast was solemnly drunk, and the Red Funnel skipper and engineer returned to their own ship to cogitate on the sensitiveness of the German, and to find out what “Der Tag” meant. Now we all know —so do the Germans !