SECRET OF DRURY LANE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 18, 16 October 1907, Page 10

SECRET OF DRURY LANE.

CREAT DRAMATIC SENSATION

TROOPSHIP ON THE ROCKS.

. The socrct of Drury Lane is out at last (says the London "Daily Mail," of August 30). It was guarded more jealously than the tomb of Mahomet until yesterday, when the members of the company wore suddenly called upon the stage from the rehearsal of the autumn drama. They found themselves standing on the dock of the transport Bcncliv Head.

*Abovo them wore officers on the bridge, while higher up on the navigating bridge the captain was impatiently waiting. Tin; twinkling lights of Portsmouth harbour lay across the rippling water. Up the gangway poured company after company of troops', destined for foreign service—a regiment for Alexandria, and details for Malta and Gibraltar. Men wore told off to quarters, boats were ordered away •from the side, the last pathetic good-byes were said, the gangway was cleared, n deep, resounding boot came from the great foghorn, and then the huge troopship dropped'majestically down the harbour and headed for the open sea. One could hear the throb of the engine, one could see the shore glide by, the water caught the glint of the moonlight, the shore line faded 'till one could almost feel the'heave of the deep sea under the troopship's keel. How Mr. Arthur Collins has done it only Mr. Arthur Collins knows; but all those who were privileged' to see the first scenic rehearsal of this one great scene yesterday came away convinced that Drury Lane had excelled itself. A STORY OF REAL LIFE. Not one, however, was prepared for what he saw follow the first development of this remarkable picture. It must ho explained that the authors have not drawn upon-their imagination, but have strictly relied upon current events for their incidents. A young officer, for reasons of his own, suddenly flung up his commission without a moment's warning, disappeared, and enlisted as a private soldier in another regiment. This is what the Drury Lane hero finds himself compelled to do, and one sees him march on board the ship as an ordinary infantry private. Ho has escaped from certain compromising surroundings, the exact nature of which he does not understand. Anxiously he watches the shore lights sinking one by one, and at last, when they; vanish' in the sea fog that thickly envelops the.ship,'he feels .that he is-a free man. ... . ~,,.<'., The thought has barely taken words upon his lips when there comes,'a call from the bridge An officer; is, wanted.'. A' - Marconi message has followed the ship from the shore. The men: are paraded, and in a fa?/ minutes the colonel picks out;the hero and makes him declare his identity. But the colonel, is an old officer and very proud of his cloth. Under his breath he whispers. '.'You arc a gentleman,.:romember that. If you have got any pluck, finish it I Snatch the revolver from my bolt—l shan't stop you —or go over the side and drown. Don't be a coward—finish.it!" THE MAGIC OF THE COLOURS. • Aghast, the.hero asks what,he means. "I mean," says the colonel, "that if you stay on board this ship, you will be under arrest for murder.", "Heaven help me I" exclaims the hero, but at that very instant there is a crash like that of, an earthquake. Speeding blindfold through the fog, the troonship.ihas struck nn, unseen rock. So sudden is the catastrophe that for a moment discipline vanishes. Forgetting the needs.of the women and-children, men,rush, terrorrstricken, for tho boats. Their officers are unable'to restrain them,, till the hero, with a flash of inspiration, suddenly.-.tears,the case off , the colours, and, waving the flag of tho regiment in the air, c;,lls on tho soldiers to rally. "If you can't, livo like men,, you can /die like men,'.',he shouts.;.;. ■• ■■:■■; : . . ■. ■■>

Courage, and. duty .prevail. An if- by magic, order.is restored. .Rigid as statues, tho men come,to attention round-the colours. The women and , children are -got quickly away, but the great troopship is taking a list by the head. The huge. funnels careen forward; the deck, cracks and splinters; the steamer's back breaks; the dull roar of the bursting boilers is. heard;. swam pours from.,every, crevice; yet tho men stand, knowing that they are waiting there for _ doath-f-tlio .only way .they, can ensure their women .life. Lower tho great" ship' goes, nearer and nearer to.the water's edge, but the men do not flinch. . The colours fly, the officers saluted, .Over the din and tl'ie roar the bugler, can., be; heard .blowing the strange:and melancholy Last. Post, the weird last call that is .scfanded over the graves of the dead at.a military funeral. As the last, three wailing notes echo over tho fog-hound sea, tho transport-sinks. .■;.■•.;' ■ . . ■

And thus Drury Lane realises tho.)story of tho sinking of the Birkenhcad—the. story that is regarded as such a perfect example of courage and.duty that, it is inscribed in lotl;crs_of gold upon the walls of every messroom in Germany by, tho especial. order of the Emperor ■...', , , ■ ,