INVADED BY CHILDREN

Evening Star, Issue 21879, 16 November 1934, Page 7

INVADED BY CHILDREN

WARSHIP AS A FUN FACTORY POPULAR H.M.S. DUHEDIH Loaded to the gunwales with happy, laughing children, H.M.S. Dunedin was manned by a boisterous “ crew ” for its cruise to Funland yesterday afternoon. It was the occasion of the •sailors’ annual treat to the kiddies of their vessel’s homo port—a day when decorum and discipline are waived and the .Tack Tars enjoy themselves as much as their little friends. About 1,200 youngsters (about half of whom were from schools ' and orphanages, tbe remainder being friends of sailors) invaded the ship, which was bedecked in hunting and fitted as a huge fun factory, . where there was an elaborate scheme of entertainment to make the day a memorable one in the lives nf all those children fortunate enough to he invited. No child was late. Tho day was too

■' important a one for even the smallest ' ' detail to be missed. So they were all impatiently waiting in' the Octagon yrhen the wildest band of welcoming ' hosts ” that ever did greet anyone to a party arrived to escort their eager "guests post haste to the vessel. Control of the children as they went aboard was strict. They literally swarmed over 'the gangway, then separated, and were soon scattered from end to end of the ship. Free run of a man-of-war for a few‘hours must fulfil the fondest dream ■of any child—adventurers that they are—and it was no wonder they were happy without parental reproof, to . clamber over ail and sundry from stem to stern of tho ship, whose decks and . companion ways resounded with tho pat-- ' ter of thousands of tiny feet, to the accompaniment of the merriment caused by the activity that was everywhere in evidence. ' Queues lined up everywhere for a turn at the many amusement devices arranged by the sailors. All afternoon the bo’sun’s chair, suspended from the bridge to the wharf, was never short of , a passenger. It was a great thrill for all whose patience was not outweighed by Hhe will to investigate the other . amusements more fully. From another , angle, the bridge was connected with the fo’castle by means of a long chute, ■ upon which, one estimates there was much wear to trousers and dresses, to say nothing of the energy expended on - mounting narrow companionways. Here • queue rules were ignored and Dar- , winian students could have found ■ ample justification for their beliefs in the nimble hand-over-hand work of the boys who climbed the stair rails to avoid the stairs : and to pass by those who did go by the proper course. For small tots , there was a tiny chute from the ■ fo’castle to the wharf. Ingenuity was evinced- in the pre- ■ paration of the “ house of horrors,” situated in one of-the for’ard recreation rooms. Only one child at a time was permitted to enter this mystery chamber, the tour of which was a “ frightful ”, experience, although one much appreciated. The presence of a skeleton, which appeared out of the gloom, made it impossible for anyone to pass ! through these “haunted” passages in peace of mind. Many children were also baffled by the electrified water tub, in which numerous pennies invitingly hade someone to dare try and get one. Scattered in other quarters; of the ship were various games, for which prizes of sweets .were distributed. There was an unusual game in which the object was to pierce the_ “mouth” of an electrically magnetised “sailor” with

a sword. The amusing attempts to prevent the sword from touching the “sailor’s” lips, which event disqualified a competitor, can well be imagined. The games also included the old favourites—Aunt Sally, a howling alley, a , shooting gallery, hoop-la, and roulette.

Hides round, the shipping basin in the huge life boats were extremely pppular with the kiddies, and, the oarsmen could well be .likened to Roman galley slaves, so hard were .they worked

and spurred on by their enthusiastic passengers. A novel introduction was that of the radio station “ PUN,” for which talent was provided by those aboard. Many youthful artists faced that harmless looking little object, the microphone, and some of the selected recitals and songs that “went across” were productive of much humour among persons outside the barrier erected along the wharf entrances, to prevent “gatecrashing” as much as possible. jGreat interest attached to the firing

of a torpedo at “ four bells.” Weighing a ton and a-quarter and measuring about 25ft,’ the bullet-like object was released and plunged out into the shipping basin, where, halfway across, it was taken in tow by one of the ship's boats and returned to the ship’s side to be hoisted aboard later. From a punt, anchored a short distance-from the ship, divers made descents, which also attracted much interest, though they W;ere necessarily, for the, divers’ safety, too far mway to permit- of a detailed explanation by the persons in charge of the apparatus. A sumptuous afternoon tea was served to every child, one of the Harbour Board’s sheds being utilised for this .purpose. The f‘waiters'” certainly had their work cut out, in attending to the wants of the kiddies, who were treated to all manner of sweets and cakes.

Even the old ship was’ looking decidedly ‘‘worn out,” and a little the worse for wear, when the children were ordered to leave and make for home, which order brought them to the sad realisation that their happy frolics in such adventurous surroundings were at an end. Such a grand party could not last for ever, hut they went away cheerfully, and by . now have probably recounted their experiences oyer and over again to their parents, friends, and schoolmates. True, they are now confirmedbuddies ” of the ‘‘boys in blue,” and doubtless they will instil in their younger friends a desire equal to their own for the speedy arrival of the time for the next party.