THROUGH THE DARDANELLES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 81, 20 March 1919, Page 6

THROUGH THE DARDANELLES.

AUSTRALIA HONOURED. “MY NAME IS WALKER.” A petty officer of the Royal Nacy, writing trom Sevastopol, Russia, to a friend in Hastings, under Gate November 27, 1.91 b, says that his ship had been in the Mediterranean for the past 12 or 15 months, pare of which time they had been attached to the Italian Grand Fleet, in the Adriatic “on the job against Fritz and Austrian Joe, and lively stunts they were too.” Continuing he says, “Things were at fever heat over Austria crying “enough.” After a lot of running here and there, on different jobs, we got wind that there was a big allied licet going to pass through the Dardanelles, and on to Constantinople, arid we thought that, as an Australian Destroyer Flotilla, we ought to be amongot them to carry our own Australian flag through the waterway, where some of our best Australian and New Zealand manhood fought and fell. Well, we got right there, old boy, and not a happier ship s company passed through the Dardanelles that, day. The first ship ot tne fleet, to pass through, was a Br.tisb-r and the Australian flag was hoisted aboard her in honour ol our boy n, who fought on the peninsula. A more fitting tribute could not be paid. After leai ,ns Constantinople we got orders to proceed through the Black Sea and on to Russia with the fleet, .o take the surrender of the Russian Black fleet Ot couisi ion know, when Russia pulled out ot the scrap, Germany seized her fleet these waters. The ships were manned bv Germans and Bolsheviks and, from what we heard, they were going to give us a warm reception. Well, anyhow, we passed through the Bosphorus, one of the prettiest waterways I have ever seen, and. after that, we entered the Black Sea. It’s called the Black Sea and. by hell, it is a black sea, old man. We caught a proper snorter of a head sea going through and, our boats just knew the art of “cocking a chest.” We are now at Sevastapol. a big Russian Naval base. What a reception the people here gave the fleet when we steamed into the harbour. They were delighted we had come, because the Germans had been running the whole show there for a long time •and. judging by what you hear ashore, they have kept the people down. You should see the big, hulking swine marching about. To use a sailor’s term the Boche has “come a terrible gutzer. ” The German flag was hauled down aboard the ships to-day and up went the white ensign, and Fritz has got notice to make himself scarce here as soon as possible. I don’t know foi certain when we are leaving, but I don’t mind being here, as it is a fine city, although the weather is dreadfully cold at present. Before we leave these waters we are to call at Roumania, and then, thanS God, we go t-o Malta, the land of sandstone and Billy Goats—“ Maltese racehorses” we call them. I don’t like the place a bit, but we undergo a refit there and then, I hope, I’m right by saying, we wip turn our bows for “Home Sweet Home” and’ beauty, ’’God’s Own Country,” and make no mistake. I’ve travelled a bit, but struck no place like it yet. Best of all though will be when I get my discharge fro t! < the Navy, which will be shortly' after our arrival out there, I hope. More than likely the heads will try to get me to re-engage as I am a Second Class Petty Officer, but no more for me, I can assure you. My r name is “Walker” when I get home.”