MERCHANT NAVY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 238, 16 July 1940, Page 7

MERCHANT NAVY.

GREAT SKILL AND COURAGE. «• LONDON, June 7. Speaking, in Liverpool, about the nation’s dependence on the Merchant Navy, Captain J. A. Coverly, president of the Maritime Association, paid warm tribute to the men of that service. With most Germans, ho said, the code of the sea as practised between seamen of all nations over the ages seemed to be a dead letter.

“Merchant seamen have to face the hate of a ruthless enemy, and we have seen how ruthless he can be, but in spite of all this our men. go calmly about their duties,” declared Captain Coverley. “Our seamen never have and never will fail this country in her hour of need. We take pride in the fact that already a number have been decorated for gallantry. Their deeds add lustre to the proud record of the seamen of our land.”

Co-operation with the Royal Navy, he was glad to say, was even greater than in the last war, leading to mutual esteem between those great national services. And tribute must be paid to our airmen and to the protection they afforded to merchant shipping. The personnel of this, the youngest of our Services, had proved their mettle over and over again, and he knew members were grateful to them for their protection.

Sir Arthur Salter mentioned that the cargo alone.in one tanker was enough to drive lorries not for 3000 miles but for 30,000,000 miles. Moreover, that ship could bring as much four times a year.