THE OCEAN WAVE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 239, 6 October 1916, Page 6

THE OCEAN WAVE.

LIFE THAT APPEALS TO YACHTSMEN. RECRUITS FOR MOTOR-BOAT RESERVE. COMMANDER ARMSTRONG PLEASED. The romance of the adventurous l'fe which has been made possible by the work of the Royal Naval Patrol MotoBoat Reserve is appealing to a useful type of men in Auckland, and in the opinion of Commander Armstrong (leader of the mission) a good proportion of the applicants now being examined possess the. necessary qualifications either in the commissioned officers' branch or in the engine-room department.

The business of the auxiliary patrol (which is intended for the defence of the British coast) is largely concerned with countering the efforts of enemy sub marines. Our botor-hoats are said to be sc fleet that on giving chase to submarines they hare excellent chances of overtaking and shooting them out of action.

These greyhound craft, of couree, have to stay out in all weathers, and there is little doubt that the hardships somewhat tone down the romance. Still, in the. words of Adam Lindsay Gordon, "The game was never yet worth a rap, for a sensible man to play, into which no ac cident, no mishap, could possibly chan-e to stray." This is the spirit which is causing our hardy 6ailor lads to offer in large numbers for active service on the ever-restless waves.

With the assistance of Lieutenant N. Mitchell. R.NJL, and Lieutenant C. Cox, R.N.VR,, Commander Armstrong is to-day conducting an examination of. applicants at the rooms of the Royal Sew Zealand Yacht Squadron, Endean's Buildings. The party leave for Wellington by Sunday night's express, but they will return again before concluding their visit to New Zealand in about five weeks 5 time. They have already been in Canada, and whether or not they go on to Australia will apparently depend on instructions from the Admiralty. On the present occasion the examination is being limited to the first hundred.applicants, and others will be dealt with during the next visit.

Commander Armstrong informed a representative of the "Star" this morning that he is gratified with the response being made in New Zealand. So far ho has only been to Wellington and Auckland, but in both places a good stamp of amateur seamen have offered their services. "You have a wonderful cruising ground in Auckland," he said, "and I hope bef oTe leaving New Zealand to have an opportunity of going over it." The commander also epoke enthusiastically of the cruising grounds on the Californian coast, and 6aid that both in Toronto and Vancouver he secured a good response to the call for motor-boat reservists. While realising that numbers of yachtsmen have gone on service with the Army, Commander Armstrong' does not dcoibt that the number of naval recruits from New Zealand will be quite; up to expectations. The men who arc accepted will have early opportunities of tasting the spray somewhere off thel coast of the British Isles.