NEWSBOYS' VENTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 198, 25 September 1909, Page 4

NEWSBOYS' VENTURE.

DELAV A WAKSHIP FOR AN HOUR. London, July 30. Two little London newsboys delayed .i great warship for an hour before the' fleet, which lias been in the Thames for a week, took its departure. The hoys with their arms full of papers, got oil hoard 11.M.5. Leviathan, flagship of the l'"i)iirih Cruiser Squadron, early in the morning, and were so busy shouting the uaKf. and exploring the ship that they quite forgut the fleet was under orders lo sail. 11.M.5. Uviatha-a—the last but one from the end of the second long line of warships, three miles from Southend I'ior—was rapidly making ready to follow the oilier departing warships, when the boys were found. A hurried consiiitatir.n took place, The small boys explained that thev could not swim ashore, but were noifccth- willing t„

siiitntir.n took place, The small hoys explained that they could not swim ashore, but were perfectly willing to ship as alile-bo.ii.d seamen if the A:! iniral did not. mind.

The eaptiiin smiled grimly, and a wireless message sped along the fleet to Aillniral Sir Wiiliam May On the Dreadnought. Then Hie Admiral signalled lo the War Telegraph Station on Southend Pier as follows: "Two newsboys ire on board 11..M.5. Leviathan. If tug is there, send for them at once, as the ship is undrr orders to sail at 11.30 a.m." The fleet read the signal, kept s, straight face, and waited, while two uncomfortable little boys at the end of the far-lliing line wondered if the Com-mander-in-Chief was really angry with them. 11.M.5. Berwick ' and 11.M.5. Donegal, under orders to sail at the same time, silently slid away, while the Leviathan gave its unbiassed opinion of children who upset the machinery of the fleet, until, amid applause from the pier, the lug steamed swiftly down the line to the rescue. It was'l2.3o p.m.. however, and the Leviathan was a n hour late before the newsboys were bundled aboard.