IN THE NORTH SEA.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13930, 12 July 1917, Page 1

IN THE NORTH SEA.

MOTOR BOAT PATROL EXPERIENCES. WELLINGTON, July 9. A very interesting letter concerning the doings of the motor-boat patrol has been received by Mrs A. J. Canning, of Wellington, from her son, Motor Mechanic Douglas Pulsford,. who left the Dominion with the New Zealand •section last year:— "I love this job," he said, "although the horns are so long and the work so hard, but somehow the North Sea fascinates me, I have heard somo tales, of it, too, but even my own experiences would startle you. Talk about cold and rough—well,.it's just too awful, I've seen our boat stand up like a nine-pin, and the next second have her nose five feet under a big sea. The crew laugh lat my terror-stricken face, but they don't seem to have any-sense of fear. They are all off trawlers, and havo beeli in the North Sea all their lives. They aro-rcally wonderful men. You should sec them handle a gun—it would- do your eyesight good. With all its hardships, this life is splendid, and I would not be out of it for anything. To see those destiwers work, dashing in'all directions, like lightning, and to feel our boat almost pull from under us when we open out our engines, is worth ten rears of a man 'h life, There's no doubt about the' Navy; it wprks like a clock, only jnpri'. silently. Our nctual experiences will have to wait till'we meet, but I fan "assure you wo are not. wnstim; time." •