THE MEN OF THE NAVY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1567, 22 June 1916, Page 4

THE MEN OF THE NAVY.

In an article describing a visit to Ihe Grand Fleet, Ralph Connor, the well-known Canadian novelist, says: “As 1 looked upon their faces, the chubby-faced kiddies, tin 1 suu-huru-ed .Jackies, Ihe young middies, the lieutenants, and lieutenant-com-manders, up to the admiral-'m-cliief, 1 became aware of certain universal characteristics that stamped them as of one spirit. A clear-eyed alertness, a kind of careless serenLy, a cheery daiinllessness. meet yon everywhere. “How long have you been at this business?’ 1 asked of a young lieutenant, gentle in voice and manners. ‘Six years, sir,’ ‘Aren’t you sick of it?' ‘Rather not, sir,’ was his quick reply. ‘Finest job in the Avorld, oh?’ 1 said. ‘Ra-ther, lie answered, Avith a poverty of expression hut a wealth of enthusiasm. Oh! these naval men of the Imnroom and the 1 wardroom! They are simply not to he surpassed. What is that snptle thing which has set its stamp on their faces and given that line Ihiish to their manners? ‘Picked men,’ some might, say, ‘(licked from the best families of Britain.’ Possibly that may have somcAvliat to do will) it. But one ot the revelations of this war is that tin 1 best of blood of Britain is not always (o he found in what are, known as the best families of Britain. ‘Blood and breeding'?' Yes, but ehielly God’s open air, discipline, tradition. These are the inlluenees whose steady impact has moulded the souls and slumped the faces of these men. They move with the light, quick slop of the athlete; (hey speak with the refilled lone of the gentleman ; they look at you with the fearless eye of the man of honour. They are serene and cheerful. Why? Because they are ready and lit, and they kmnv it.”