CHAOTIC YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 257, 31 October 1933, Page 6

CHAOTIC YEARS.

BRITISH NAVY ON THE JOB. In the years immediately following the Armistice most pcoplo in these parts were too preoccupied with their own affairs to know or care what was happening around the Near East, although for a few days in 1022 it seemed that the incident at Chanak was to have consequences which would involve us, just as. the incident at Serajevo had ultimately involved us. Some idea, of the chaotic and often Gilbcrtian situations which abounded in that region in 1919-21 may be gained from the racy reminiscences of Captain Lionel Dawson, R.N., who in this period commanded a destroyer attached to the Mediterranean flotilla.* It was attached in the official sense, but for much of the time Captain Dawson seems to have, been thrown upon his own initiative, adaptability and resource, in which qualities he was not lacking. The part played by the British Navy at this time was exceptionally difficult. The statesmen at Versailles had not yet entirely remoulded the sorry scheme of things, but the peoples whose fates they were supposedly settling could not and did not wait for the finished plan to emerge from the council chamber. Events moved fast, so fast that frequently only the British naval commander at any place could know what was happening. "British missions, naval and military, 'kept the ring' in countries of which they had previously heard only through the medium of their school geography books," and single British men-of-war performed a multitude of similar tasks. They might find themselves towing a Russian warship from the Black Sea to Malta, teaching a lesson to some professional bandits, transporting Russian princesses to Stamboul, observing the antics of d'Annunzio at Fiume, or guarding "portions of the Russian Fleet interned in a Turkish port and manned by British, crews." But the most important and amusing activities of Captain Dawson were concerned with the Russians in the Crimea and Ukraine. The Allies at this time were still "backing the Whites," and the White commanders were as supremely confident of victory as they were empty of practical ideas to achieve it. On one occasion, arriving at Odessa, Captain Dawson received on board his ship General Schilling, "Commandier-in-CShief and Viceroy of the Ukraine." He resolved to receive him with full honours, but the ship had no bugler. A stoker was impressed, and excused all duty in order that practice might make perfect. The moment arrived, and the ceremony was witnessed by a large portion of the civil population of Odessa. " 'General Salute. Present Arms!' thundered the lieutenant, and his soldier sailors obeyed with soldierly precision. Then there was a horrid pause. Now was the moment for the piece de resistance on the bugle. With my gaze fixed upon my musician, I became aware of a spasm crossing his face, which indicated clearly that he had 'dried up, , and that the tune 'had escaped him. 'Blow something,' I willed. He did. Rallying gallantly, he raised his bugle to his lips, and the strains of 'Cooks to the Galley' were waited through the air! To the eternal credit of the ship's company, the lieutenant, the guard, and even myself, not an eyelid blinked. ■Solemnly we stood at the ealute, while the beaming Viceroy followed our example." Upon the Viceroy's going the ceremonies were repeated. "The tension, was great. The lieutenant afterwards confided to me that he •had ordered the bugler to sound whatever came into his head, cautioning the ship's company under pain of death to accept it without a tremor. The bugle blew. It was the 'Charge!' But discipline held, and General Schilling departed in complete ignorance." One day, less, than two years later, the author saw the General again, in Stanvboul. "No giant Cossacks followed him now, no decorated staff was in his train. Alone, bent and grey, dressed in a shabby uniform, in which, however, was still displayed the Cross of Saint George, he shuffled almost furtively along the pavement of a Pere street." Tins is but one example of the quick changes of fortune and of scene which the author witnessed, or in which ho played a part in these chaotic years. His narrative makes a most readable book, and in it the reader sees the British Navy in a role in which it deserves to be bc-tter known. • "Mediterranean Medley," by Captain Uond Dawson. K.N. (author of "Flotillas"). (Bicn and Owan )