"KING GEORGE” AS A STOKER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 56, 6 March 1916, Page 3

"KING GEORGE” AS A STOKER.

HE EARNED SEVEN SHILLINGS FOR A WEEK’S WORK.

It was the cruiser H.M.S. Cumbei

land which contributed not a little to •our success in the Cameroons, and the story of its operations in that part of the world, told in ‘Blackwood’s Magazine’ makes thrilling reading. There is also a lighter side to the story. 0n 6 amusing episode was the employment of thirty natives—Kroomen, as they are called in that part of the world —who were engaged to trim coal in the bunkers. These men, to quote ‘Blackwood’s’ had to be borne on the ship’s books for pay purposes. “Some had no names, and others were bless|ed with patronymics which baffled the Accountant Staff; hence they were made to select ‘tallies’ for entries in the ship’s ledger. Undoubtedly they were assisted by the sailors in their chc-’ce, which accounts for the appearance in our books of such distinguished personages as King George, Lloyd George, Jack Friday, etc. To see King George receive 7s as a reward for a week’s labour was the source of undisguised mirth of both officers and men. Of great assistance was a native entered on the books as “King Bell.” It appears that at the outbreak of the war the native King of the Cameroons was Imprisoned by* the Germans for his failure to comply with some order issued which affected his property. By some means he managed to communicate with the English authorities 'at Lagos, asking for help, for which offence be was hanged. With characteristic thoroughness, the Germans hanged all the king’s male relatives they could lay their hands on. King B’ell was uncle to the king who was hanged, and the Cumberland found him only too willing to join the English and he’p in driving the Germans out; for he was heir to the throne, which he will occupy in due course.

As soon ! as it was agreed to take this monarch with them, runs the narrative in ‘Blackwood’s,’ he was sent on shore to collect a staff of guides, spies, and pilots from the natives who knew the country. The result of his efforts added another twenty to our ever-growing complement. It is mentioned, too, that a special inducement to the Cameroon natives, whom it was desired to tempt to friendliness, was the offer of tinned tripe, which formed part of the stores. It appealed specially to the native palate.

An amusihg incident occurred when an officer in charge of an armed boat was proceeding up a creek to act as guardship of a small town, at that time occupied by our troops. His orders were to insure the friendliness of the tribe which inhabited the entrance to the creek and to prevent any news of the operations getting through to the Germans farther up. With this object in view, he Invited the chief of the tribe on hoard and regaled him with the delicacy referred to. It’s effect was the establishment