TRIBUTE TO BRITISH TARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11854, 4 January 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

TRIBUTE TO BRITISH TARS.

DUTCH GRATITUDE TO BRAVE ' > -'..*. BLUEJACKETS, The Telegraaf, of Amsterdam, publishes a graphic description by.a Hollander of the succour of the passengers of the Dutch packet Koningin Regentes by the men of H.M.s. Proserpine, with which warship she collided in the Thames during the foggy weather of nearly a fortnight ago. . The language of the narrator is most flattering to the' British tars concerned, and comes as a welcome relief after the vituperation of Great Britain indulged in by a. certain section of the Dutch press. " The coolness and the bravery, the splendid discipline of ■'> the British officers and ■ tars were marvellous to behold," says the enthusiastic writer. "When some male :passengers in their panic endeavoured to thrust and shove the shrieking womenfolk from the ironclad's ladder they themselves • were pushed off by the officers and sailors, 'who shouted, :' No , Bourgoyno business here - .' . • • .- - ►." On board the British ship captain and officers surrendered . their quarters '■■ to \ the \ ladies and children, vied with each other in hospitality and kindness, prepared coffee • and cocoa for the shivering and frightened steerage women, and hot toddies for us men. It was splendid to see the sailors calmly go on to the Koningin Regentes, which we all thought was doomed, to fetch our effects and' the mails, as if it were quite the most ordinary, business in the world. It was a magnificent spectacle of superb discipline, I tell you—one which none of lis will ever forget. "We tried to press money on the gallant fellows; we endeavoured to get the.bluejackets to accept a subscription, but they said : {'Thank you, gentlemen, we were glad to be of service, but we only did our duty. We ask and may accept no reward.' "The commanding officer and his staff, who deserve our undying gratitude for saving us all from a watery grave, also declined to accept any recognition of their services, and seemed to regard the whole exciting episode as the mo3t ordinary thing in the world." . , '': '.''-;