“EVERY SHIP AND EVERY MAN."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1915, Page 7

“EVERY SHIP AND EVERY MAN."

WHAT THE EMPIRE WANTS. An informal but interesting little ceremony, which, in the words of Senator Pearce, Minister for Defence, represented “another nail in the coffin of the German navy,” took place at Cocka too Dock, Sydney, on January 22nd. It was the laying of the keel plate of H.M.A.S. Swan, a sister vessel to H.M.A.S. Derwent, launched in December last. Mrs Pearce, who is a native of West Australia, after the principal river of which State the vessel is named, was appropriately chosen to perform the ceremony. The invited guests were restricted to naval officers and Federal Ministers, and members and their lady folk, but there was also a gathering of the dockyard employees, to the number of about 1500, who perched themselves in swarms upon the surrounding framework. A detachment of Naval Reserve men from Garden Island supplied the guard of honor.

Mrs Pearce’s task was a simple one (reports the Sydney Daily Telegraph). She caused the plate to bo hauled into position on to the building blocks, by pressing an electric button, and then after having declared the plate to be “laid, properly in line,” she drove home a red-hot rivet with a hammer, which was afterwards presented to her as a souvenir. Other rivets were driven in by Lady Patey, wife of the Admiral of the Australian Navy; Miss .Henderson, sister of the officer-in-charge of Garden Island; and Mrs Riley, wife of the Federal member for South Sydney. Responding on behalf of Airs Pearce for a vote of thanks accorded her, the Minister wished the Swan a successful career. “I want you to feel,” said the Minister, “that every blow you give is a blow' at tho German navy—(renewed cheers) —that every rivet you drive is another nail in the coffin of tho Kaiser’s fond ambition, and that these ships we are starting hero will stand between him and ambition, just as the British navy is standing between him and his ambition to-day; and that the more of them wo can turn out, the less chance wo can turn them out, the less chance ho will have of, realising his ambition of world-wide power. This ship, we hope, will one day take the water. We trust that by that time this war will be over. But it may not be over; and, therefore, the sooner we can get her afloat, and the guns and men aboard of her. the better for our ultimate chance of success. Every man is wanted, every ship is wanted, and it is our duty, yours and mine, to do our best to get them right on tho job, as quickly as possible.” (Cheers).

At the instance of the Minister cheers were given for the manager I he staff, and I lie men, “who,” lie said

“do the jolt while we do the talking.”