FLEET THAT WILL NOT FIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1915, Page 10 (Supplement)

FLEET THAT WILL NOT FIGHT.

WEARY WAITING OF BRITISH KAVAL MEN How weary become British sailors waiting for the German Navy to "come out and fight," is told in the Natal News Letter, a bright little paper edited, printed and published on board the British armoured cruiser Natal. In reflecting the general weariness of the ship's company waiting for the Germans to fight, the editor of this battleship bulletin, says: "This being the end of another week of the great monotony, there is naturally a scarcity of actual news. We haven't even seem a submarine, at least not a rcqutable one, neither have we so much a 9 sighted a trawler. Happily, they also serve who only stand and gape." An amusing account is given ai an incident when H.M.S. Gnat is said to •have mistaken a dead whale for a submarine, and pounded its carcase with lyddite. The comment is neatly turned off with the following: "Later we have it on excellent authority that this was one of the Kaiser's school of trained whales, which, being cheaper than submarines, while having the same moral effect, arc much in favour with the enemy." That the poetic touch is not wanting on the nautical staff of the Natal News Letter is evident by the following humorous effusion, expressive of what it feels like to play the waiting game in war: "THE CAUTIOUS KAISER." It's the same old stretch of ooeMi We're churning up each day. We know by name each porpoisa That chases us in piny. We anticipate the weather By shy tints, pink and green, But as for the bally Germans, There's not one to be seen. It's; the same old daily programme, The same old lack of news. The same old daily spreading And "Close up turrets, crews." The third day's tribulation, The same old coaling feat, And still there's nothing doing With the German High Sea Fleet. The old calendar we're using Will soon discarded be; New ones in turn replace it Till 1023. And when we've all forgotten What it's like to be ashore. We'll still be in the thick of The same old bally war.