WAR NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1916, Page 1

WAR NOTES.

HE WAS A BRITISH SAILOR. Mr. A. Conyers, writing to the Spectator apropos of the Cornwell national memorial, says:— I do not know who wrote these verses, but they were given to liis wife by one who I was proud to call my son-in-law, and who went down with all his comrades in H.M.S. Defence bn May 31 (the Jutland Battle). They serve, I think, to show the spirit which inspired them all, knowing full well for the last two years what, when the day of battle should come at last, their fate was likely to be when thrown into the fight against superior armaments, and led by a dauntless and intrepid admiral.

THE SALUTE. He was a British sailor, And ho stood the decks between And Duty came and called him, With smiling face and mien. Said Duty: "Are you ready? You maj have to fight and die," And he touched his cap. saluting. And answered: "Aye, sir, aye." He was a British 3ailor, And the guns were booming loud. And Danger came and spoke "to him. He stood erect and proud. Said Danger: "Are you ready To put case and safety by?" And he touched his cap, saluting, And answered: "Aye, sir, aye."° He was a British sailor, And the foe her shots got home, And Death came near and spoke to liin;, The ship reeled thro' the foam. And Death said: "Are you ready For the death that sailors die (" And he touched his cap, saluting, And answered: "Aye, sir, aye."° .. He was a British sailor, And the ship was settling fast, And the sailor's God came near to liim And spoke to him, the last. And iiod said: "Are you ready To meet Eternity?" And he bowed his knee, saluting ' And answered: "Aye, sir, aye."

LIFE IN A SUBMARINE. An interesting description of life in a submarine is given in a letter received from a Nelson boy, a relative of Mr. Henry Baigcnt. The writer was previously in the air service, and then on a regular warship. He says:— I "My boat (as submarines are called in the service) is brand new, and a beauty, too. For speed, cruising capabilities and armament those boats arc-as good as the best of the German boats, and they also have a reasonable margin of comfort for those who go in them. It's by far the finest game I've tackled yet. When (lie skipper -orders diving anything movable on deck—masts, compass," conning tower, wireless gear, and other odds and ends—are secumL The skipper takes his place at the periscope, the tanks are flooded, and motors start running, and the boat begiijs to dive. The only knowledge one lias.of her going down is by the direction of her bows, and by the indicator showing the increasing depth. She runs as quickly as a clock, and no unpleasantness is noticed. The writer adds: "The enelny is very shy about sending his big ships out. We don't worry small fry for we want big game for our expensive ammunition."

A "TOMMY'S'' OPINION OF 'THE NEW ZEALANDERS. Mr. Frod Clarke, Wanganui East, lias received an interesting letter dated September 28, from his brother Arthur, who is in the trenches in France, in the course of which lie says:— Up to the above date I am as fit ant. sound as ever. We went over the top four times in the advance that began on September 15. It was the 47th Division that cleared up High Wood, of redoubtable fame, and we went over with your countrymen on our right and behind us Of tho New Zeabiders, with their datedevilry one cannot say too much about, only—and this is one of the main tilings on the Western front—daredevilry is not everything. We advance by intense artillery barrage fire, all timed to the second, and the man that is too eager and too daring simply gets killed, not by the Germans,*but by his own artillery fire. When you consider that you may lie but a few yards clear of yonr owl. artillery barrage, awaiting the assault, and that the barrage lias got to lift from the first to the second, and then the third, and so on, dash and devilry has to await its appointed time, and the most callous or highly-strung person has ta wait till the very end of the second oi the appointed time. To remain in tho captured trench while you sec the Germans running for thiir lives and apparently at your mercy is a bit rotten, but you've got to, or you would soon find machim-guns playir.g upon you from ail over the place. Von have to wait for the artillery to have iU say in the matter. That is what 'he New Zoalamler- out, ratiicr to their cost. They -• vignificent. though —a little terrifl." iT: their manner of dealing with tlr ' ".nans, but groat lighter-. Men ■> ' K':ii.