THE CONVOY.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 May 1919, Page 7

THE CONVOY.

GUARDING THE MERCHANT SHIPS

(By Auxiliary Patrol.)

The English Channel at times during the Great War was like a continuous picture show of absorbing interest and intense excitement. Who would expect In these modern times to see five stately ships steaming west in line ahead, .their white oanvap standing well out in the darksome winter waters, hard by red Devon? It

revives memories of the gallant Drake and his mobile ships of war; of the scholarly seamen and prince of adventurers. Raleigh; of Britain's immortal sea hero, Nelson; the mere mention of those name makes the very blood tingle with prid.

Now the red sails of the famous Brixham Fishing Fleet are passed. Silently in the cold of winter the stout Devoshire fisherman gather the silvery harvest from the sea and pay no attention to the white gulls circling around them. They have lost some of their sma&fcs at the hands of the callous Hun. and feel some security in ■the lazy old Drifter, prowling round them with its gun ready for action. The mere specks in the east soon loom into full view. It is "the convoy". What v. heterogeneous collection of ships! A small 3000 tons coastal stcamre is keeping close to a 15,000 ton ocean tramp. Some have paravanes swung out from their bows; their booms resembling gallows erected for the criminal Hun. Nearly all are camouflaged with strange and grotesque curves and patches of colour. Even the funnels and ship's boats have not escaped the brush of -the artist. The" officers on the bridge are all eyes. The gunner stands by the gun on the poop ready for action, and in expectation of the deadly crash which may at any moment come. The racy destroyers are zigzagging ahead like watchful

dogs warding off a hungry wolf. A Blymph airship is nosing around surface of the ocean in search of patches of oil and airbubbles; while the drone of a few escorting seaplanes reaches the ear. It is a great procession of all units stretching out over at least a league. A few of the slower ships aro lagging behind, but a destroyer soon closes them, and its natty little commander gives them a "blast''

[through the megaphone: using such] language that would ma"ke our Not Zealand Minister of Defence positively hold up his hands in shocked honor. Something diverting has happened. The airship has dropped a bomb, an J one of the destroyers race to the scene j at about 30 knots and sprinkles thv sea with some deptn charges Loud explosion; can be heard, and upheavals of wi.hr can be seen. Then comes a signaj to the p-iti-nl vessels to proceed to the scene of the attack and take over. The convoy, in the meantime, like frightened animals from a beast of prey, have hurried westward bound for all part? of the seven seas, and the patrol vessels settle down to the long watches of the cold winter's . night.