"KING GEORGE" AS A STOKER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 156, 17 March 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

"KING GEORGE" AS A STOKER.

IHE EARNED SEYEN SHILLINGS FOll A WEEK'S WORK.

It was the cruiser H M.S. Cumberind which contributed not a little to ur success in the Cameroons, and the tory of its operations in that part of lie world, told in 'Blackwood's Magaine,' makes thrilling reading. There i also a lighter side to the story. One amusing episode was the emlovment of thirty natives—Kroomen, s "they are called in that part of the •orld—who were engaged to trim coal 1 the bunkers. These men, to quote Blackwood's,' had to be borne on the hip's books for pay purposes. " Some ad no names, and others were blessed rith patronymics which baffled the Acountant Staff ; hence they were made 0 select 'tallies' for entries in the hip's ledger. Undoubtedly they were ssisted by the sailors in their choice, •hich accounts for the appearance in ur books of such distinguished personges as King George, Lloyd George, ack Friday, etc. To see King George eccivo 7s. as a reward for a week's about" was the source of undisguised nirtii of both officers and men. Of great assistance was a native enered on the books as "King Bell.'' It ppears that at the outbreak of the rar the antive King of tho Cameroons ras imprisoned by the Germans for his ailure to comply with some order isued which affected his property. By iome means he managed to communt •ate with -he English authorities at yagos, asking for help, for whicli of ence he was hanged. \\ ith characLerstic thoroughness, the Germans langed all tho king's male re atives ;hev could lay hands on. King Sell j-as* unci': to the king who was hanged, md the Cumberland found him only ; oo willing to join the English and help n driving the Germans out; for he was :eir to the throne, which he will occupy in due course. As soon as it was agreed to take tills nonarch with them, runs the narraJ\6 n 'Blackwood's,' he was sent on shore ;o collect a staff of guides, spie% and >ilots from the natives who knew the :ci ntry. Tiie result of his efforts adJ<d another twenty to our ever-growing .tmplement. Tt is mentioned, too. that a .'pecial nducement to the Cameroon nativos, yhom it was desired to tempt to friend(iaess, was the offer of tinned trip*, R'hich formed part of the stores. It Appealed specially to the native palate. An amusing incident occurred when in officer in charge of an armed boat Ras proceeding up a creek to act as guardship off a small town, at that time occupied by our troops. His orders wcr« to insure the friendliness of the tribe which inhabited the entrance to the creek and to prevent any news Df the operations getting through to the Germans farther up. With this object in view, he invited the chief of the tribe on board and regaled him with the delicacy referred to. It's effect was the establishment of such mutual good-wiil that be insisted on presenting his host with seven wives, an offer which, for diplomatic reasons, was accepted.