"OUR NETS."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 201, 18 August 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

"OUR NETS."

A HIMOKOUS STORY OF FLEET EVOLUTIONS. By JOHN S. MARGERISO.V. "To-morrow." said the flagship "the Fleet, under my guidance, will evjlute." It was .Sunday evening, and ihe '). I's of the churches ashore were calling the faithful to worship. Over the harbour all that afternoon drowsiness mid ia'it like a summer heat, and the men o h the Navy, clad in their Sunday best, with gold lace scattered hither and thither on their sleeves, had taken full advantage of the day of rest. Now, however, tea discussed and comfortably stowed away, and clad in that greasy old serge suit fondly beloved of the sailor, and affectionately termed ''night clothing," they leaned over the fo'c'sle rails and talked of (the delights i,r shore, and other tlrngs. Half the ships' companies were ashore on short leave, due to return at seven on the Monday morn'ng, and at nine to take part in that general strenuousness known to the Powers that Be as "General Drill.'' "Pheep-phee-e-eep!" the pipe of the bason's mate began to twitter just i.the flagslrp spoke again, out the hoar-.' shout of the commander tut short the hollow that emanated from the lips ot the bearded sailor, and just saved the hands the trouble of doubling aft. They were going to "hang everything on a split yarn"; in plain English, tl.ey were going to prepare for general drill, an I that means getting qrery single thin.; in the ship ready for use at less than a second's notice. But the Kingshiplh ■ lth ns figs ot si lors go with her- |;;1 not wish this preparation, and said so —via the flags at her yardarni to the great chagrin of the commander, who dVarly prized the reputation of lis ship, and the secret joy of the sailors, who every bit as much prized their Sunday dog-watches. * * * * Monday morning, and l)ivis : oiis and Prayers a thing of the pa'-t. Everywhere white clad men throng in on!" - lv groups, fallen in ready for the firs'. signal! that the llagslrp likes to mak«. Ilea von only knows what it nil! be, bet we are priding ourselves that wh-th"! she e'eets to out nets or to a ■!> totli ■> bower ani hor we shall he Ihe (ir.-l ship to saf>fv hi r demands. Km- lie •! known I:, ye' landlubbers that tin- reel :iiin of evolution* is elliciemy. and the .'ii-iiii' of thai elfn iemv is to be " lir-t ~!i-ji" it; jiivt - ei- a!i of the iu\ i-!ad phase l ! of .. ei.-ral drill l ---it go to make up the •V'vy'sMe. \\o were neniy in commission, lull with a l) w ii'ew we had succeeded o ; i tradition of h:-:ng unbeatable iii au» exerc'se: of posscs>ing th" only raeiiv

cutter that had never suffered defeat in this particular section of the great S'l.ent Navy; and a determination •<> uphold these ancient traditions while breath remained in us. We scorned to stoop to the petty things that ships in search of records sometimes indulge in , such as, for instance, getting the brails of our nets on deck before the sgnal was made, or having a spare halfshackle of cable on the forecastle in preparation for anchor exercises. No, wo were out to fight clean, and heaven help the slackers.

And so. when the flagship's signal halyards first shotted her mult-col-oured bunting, there was a rush to all parts nf the ship at once, and it was only when the bosun's mate shrilled " Prepare for General Drill" that wo realised that we had been caught—not napping, but too eager.

And then the real work began. Marines attacked the great collis : on mat and hauled it from its resting place on the booms, while seamen brought fore end afters, grass ropes three inches thick and chain-bottom lines wlicrowi'th to haul the mat below the surface t the water to the spot on the hull supposedly damaged. The port watch cleared away the great nia'.n derrick so that thero might lie no delay when the flagship ordered boats away; while the starboard watch busted themselves about the torpedo nets and the huge cables on the forecastle, what time the stokers off watch carry great capstair. bars to the forecastle, ready for tint most strenuous exercse of all "W.oig!. anchor by hand." And when at last to use t'iie sailors' own phraseology - everything was "on a split yarn." the men fell in at divisions once more, and waited for the next order.

On the bridge a score of s : gnal:nrn stood with never wavering tele-topes directed on the flagship, waiting arid watching tor tiiat w : sp off hunting which should send a thousand men to their stations. The younger "huntings" stood by flag lockers, and s : gna' liaTvards, ready to repeat the sign: ll " of the flagship, and if possible, to hen: even her in that wild race to the mastheads and yardanns. Away aloft at the tops'l yardarni a dark bundle showed where the finishing pendant waited to blazon the ships smartness to an ndinirng world unless the ship were hist v.lieu one wo'dd would be bitterly t-rit'-i J. For perhaps ten minutes the hands waited and watched, and then, just a? I'Vervoe.e a-hod hi.-> iHghhnur f the Ihr's'hip had forgotten that ii was geiiiT;d drill d:iv, two Hags slu wed for ,i second on I fie Admral's bridge rs the w : nd caught them, and before thev

•.,..-,. tuu f"ot in the air from a s,- >iv of Lilies hurst forth the stentorian "Oei

Down Ihe grev side of the ship two score wh'te ants slid, regardless- of t!-e

dnii-'r of dropi/ng into the sea. an.' kicked off th" few slips that 'till he!.! -,',•.. nets on their shelves. The lower