The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1918. BROTHERHOOD OF THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1918. BROTHERHOOD OF THE SEA.

It is doubtful if the full debt the Empire owes to its seamen will ever be realised, even as it is certain that no pen can possibly do justice to the men whom neither pay, praise, nor ambition have made bold. Stories of fortitude, resource, courage and heroism have added infinite lustre to the long list of brave deeds which are the heritage of the British race on sea aud land, but the greater part of the number; of those who have made their mark on the history of the present great war will' only be known to those immediately concerned. Tlie men of the merchant service of Greater Britain have faced death, wounds, and the terror and anguish of the sea, unsupported by the grandeur and prestige of a great historic fighting service like the British Navy, our first line of defence, and the Dominion's only security from attack. On the other hand the merchant seamen—equally brave and indomitable —are humble men who can never, even in dreams, have been dazzled by the thought of attaining great honors. With them duty is the only consideration, and they have done it, nobly and unflinchingly. The ordinary perils they have to face are terribly formidable, but during the war period the lives of our seamen and the safety of their ships have been in constant jeopardy owing to the enemy's submarine campaign. Many valuable lives have been lost, but there is practically no instance of ?, merchant. seaman refusing to go to sea because of the new and terrible danger. But that is by no means the full tally of their p." triotism. Under the special circumstances of their calling during the war the men might well have claimed pay and pension in proportion to the risk, or else that the burden be equally shared, like the military burden, under eon-: seriptiou, by all men and all clases. They have made no such claim and are not likely so to doMoreover —and this should be engraven on the consciences of the unions, the agitators, the exploiters and the time servers—they have never struck for higher pay or better conditions, nor have they exhibited any inclination to reap a harvest out of their country's misfortunes. Their one great claim, be it said to their lasting credit, is that the "sacred brptherhood of the sea" shall not be lightly destroyed, and that those who have dared to lay saeriligeous hands thereon must receive the punishment they deserve; also that the British dupes of German Socialistic sophistry shall not be allowed to make voyages to the Continent and pose as representatives of the British working man. All honor to them for a patriotism that is as practical as it is intense. It is the spirit of the true gentleman, noble, self-sacrificing and ringing with fervent faith in justice, and is certainly worthy of recognition by the bestowal of honors from the fountain-head of the Empire. Up to the present, except in, a very few cases, the heroism of our merchant seamen has been unrecognised except by the press. They are at least entitled to the thanks of the Imperial Parliament, and especially of the thanks of the Dominions Parliaments for their patriotism, self-sacrifice and splendid example in doing their duty and helping the Empire to overcome the most serious crisis in its history. Throughout the Empire there should be erected in every dominion, colony and British possession or protectorate, a monument to |he 15,000 seamen whose lives have lx-en sacrificed to the appalling crimes of the Germans, constituting a lasting memorial of the infamy of the Hun pirates, in their campaign to sink vessels "without a trace"— piracy and murder pure and simple. The record of heroism on the part of our seamen should be compiled as accurately as possible and preserved for all time, while fitting honors should be awarded as in the case of the ! navy and army, and pecuniary grants made to all deserving cases. If ever a memorial of a nation's gratitude was fitting then there never has been an object more worthy than thd deeds of these great patriots. An example of the feeling of the seamen was recently given when Mr. Henderson attempted to board a vessel at Folkestone to proceed to a Socialist Conference at Paris. The seamen refused to sail if Henderson's party were passengers, and even the taxi-driver refused to drive him and his friends to the station, so they had to carry their own luggage and return to London. The proposal of the seamen for :? six years' boycott, of I Germ."!-".', ivith additions for J every crime committed, is J not only evidence of their right- i

eous indignation and public spirit, but it should make a deep impression on German public opinion. It may not be practicable, but it is the embodiment of a conviction that just punishment should be meted out to the cold-blooded murderers of innocent passengers sent to their doom on the highways of the seas without remorse. It is gratifying to find the woolgrowers, of the Dominion recognise the services of these merchant seamen, and that they are tarrying out a proposal to donate their share of any surplus woolprofits made by the Imperial Go-i vernment to form a fund for dependents of sailors of the navy' and merchant marine who have been wounded or lost their lives: in the service of the Empire. In this way New Zealand has set a praiseworthy example that should" appeal to the Imperial and Dominion Governments in fittingly recognising the inestimable services rendered by those who go down to the sea in ships—the Brotherhood of the Sea.