THE OLD AND THE NEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18708, 14 May 1924, Page 11

THE OLD AND THE NEW.

VETERAN'S VISIT TO HOOD. " GRANDPA " AND " BUDDY." FORMER GLORIES RECALLED.

■■ *' I sailed with Jackie Fisher in '69.". Art &d veteran, his brea»t ablate -with ribbons and his eyes bright with the light of other daysbrave days, but hard—had gone on board the battle-cruiHer and was being 'piloted toward the 1 forward flats by: a del lighted young marine. He called the | old salt " Grandpa,"' and if one mistakes not the eld man onoe called him "Buddy", or "Colly." The visitor had come across the gangway with faltering step. Reaching the quarter deck his hand went to his cap automatically. It was the salute that has bean paid to British quarter decks every day, and perhaps a dozen times a day, by the officers aria men of the Royal Navy. ' : There is & delightful dignity about this observance that owes its origin to the old custom lof ; saluting : the crucifix . that was always erected somewhere in_ the poop oi British -warships in the days of the Spanish Main and long before. ' The symbol has long departed; from the quarter deck. Large ships now contain a church, although prayers are read on the quarter deck every , morning at divisions, in a' ship like the Hood this daily confession of the Navy's faith is an inspiring ceremony. : One of the grand 1 old hymns is sung to the accompaniment of the band, and it is properly sung. The British sailor sings in a "manner that would hearten many a choir conductor. There are no silent members of the congregation. From several hundred throats the hymn rises, swells, and dies away. Above the line? • of bare-headed J --i men the White Ensign flutters in the breeze, and behind stretches the long line of boiling wake. One does . not require a deep, spiritual sense to thrill at ... the sight and bo uplifted by the music.

The Secret of Youth. The veteran seemed to find the secret of youth the moment he put foot on the t deck, ; for he nearly ran up the ladder, and Erotested loudly when the marine took im helpfully by the arm. . " I'm feeling right smart, . said he. The marine hastened to explain that he was just showing him the way. " Once heard an old officer say,'' rejoined the veteran, "that the Lord loves, a cheerful liar. But it's all right, it's all right. Bless you I'd find; the messes • blind-folded. A You're 'a 'big: ship,- but you couldn't lose an old sailor. : I'd be on hand to draw my rum even if so be I'd nev«r been aboard before. Oh! Ever heard of the ; Minotaur?" And forthwith the marine heard of the Minotaur. And he. heard of a ship called the Excelilent that mounted a tremendous number "of 7in. guns—''Muzzle-loading, but rifled'. Voyages "Out KJo Way." And there was a strange tale of voyages .''Out'Bio, Way," in."paddle-boxes,".and of a wild cosmopolitan community at some port " up the river " that consisted of deserters from half a dozen navies.' They lived in the hills, and sometimes swooped down on horseback to rob ; in the town And "there was a yarn about a "flogging ship" where the discovery of , a sausage skin of ' grog inside . a .; cap meant "a. dozen;" But if the age was harsh the; veteran : had. no complaints. Perhaps the passing of the years had obliterated ' the hard places and painted ' the picture in colours of romance. " . > The " spliced the main brace "' at the time appointed, and declared' that the grog was as good as ever, and that he had not.the. slightest doubt that - so ■;>■ re- : freshed .he • could hold , - his own ■:-'' on the to'-gallant yards." t Before he left he was heard to ; make i: an .affectionate inquiry' about someone •he called " Jimmio the One," . and let it be known r that Jackie Fisher, _ when that . celebrity was % a " lootenant," was _ a proper one. " Half a day's leave if we'were smart enough, but heavy gun drill 1 if we weren't." » - , ; The veteran had a great-day!:

PHOTOGRAPHS FOB FLEET. PARADE AT WELLINGTON. . VICE-ADMIRAL'S , APPRECIATION. .'The following letter from Vice-Admiral■ Sir Frederick Field, in supreme command of. the Special Service Squadron, has been 1 received by '-the Prime Minister, ' Mr. W. F. 'Massey:—. ' "My Dear Prime Minister: On behalf t i of the ' captains, officers,'' and ships' comfanies of H.M. Ships, Hood and Repulse, ; desire to ; thank you: most ■ sincerely 'i for the framed' photographs, of the ceremonial' naval ; march of ;. the Special Service Squadron at Wellingtonthe capital city of .New; Zealand: . ,• ; ;"They , are most wonderful : examples of photographic' art and, for ,as ' ' long as these' two: ships; remain in His. Majesty's service, and when, after that, other ships of the same names taks, their places, they will occupy a place of honour, and remind officers . and men of this great oversea Dominion and the welcome' which its people will, I feel sure, always extend; not only to the Royal Navy, but to all who visit it from the Mother Country. Believe me, yours sincerely, F. Field." THE BOATSWAIN'S PIPES. RELIC OF BYGONE DAYS. "BROADCASTING" ORDERS. If a seaman of the days of Nelson were to i board , any of . the. visiting warships, the *• one phase of naval life that would seem least changed to him would be, perhaps,; the piping by the boatswain's matet and the call boys • on the old-fashioned boatswain ? ; pipe or whistle. > This pipe if exactly, the same ,as that used -in the days of old, and is employed for giving i variety of ship'commands. No longer does the - shrill note call for. sail manoeuvres, but , for . calling . away /.boats,'' hoisting boats, piping to dinner, piping clown at 10 p.m.;;; and i for ; other operations the naval ratings still get tho signal from' the pipe In the Hood : the - quartermaster pipes a' the "gangway, and the three boatswain'! mates, one aft, ' one amidships, and one ' on the forecastle, give their calls by pip ir.g,- and these 1 "orders' are; taken up anc - passed along the mess-decks by four, cal , toys, also using ' the sea ; whistle. ,In th« English, training ship the.boys; learn th' way to pipe and so, when they'pass int< the Royal Navy, are ready for duty a; , call boys. ' - s WARSHIPS' LAUNCHES. HIGH SPEED DESPATCH BOAT. -. -jj --v VV\ ~ , . •" ' ';- L 1 From early•• morning • till late at night. the Auckland = Harbour ' has r been alive ; with naval* launches and other small craft, plying ■ between I the visiting ? wai !; vessels; and the launch steps. ; The fighting. ship 1 of- to-day carries ■ a multiplicity -■ of small' craft, steam, motor and sailing or pulling. : On' board the . Hood - are two steam S oil-fired ' picketboats; each , capable of carrying, about ; 180 men, the admiral's steam oil-fired barge, a speed despatch boat, four pulling or sailing r cutters'/ .two? motor-launches, > the -cap- : tain's sis and the captain motor-boat, together . with a number of small whalers and'dinghies. ■ ' ' - ' . ' - . About 40 land miles an hour is the : speed of the - despatch boat. When cruis- ■ ing in the harbour under,, full power ; this little Craft as hardly 4 discern?ble at a ' distance/"' her high speed throwing up ) such a 'smother 1 that", she ' seems iost to ' sight in -broken water. vVShe is fitted ; with -a ; 12-cylindor Thomycroft engine, ' and as ! she moves away'from the launch : steps' the roaring of her . power unit at : once i? attracts i attention. When sf going : at speed | the bow of | the craft . « : well : elevated,, T the \ stern correspondingly squatting in the water. .The vessel is in charge of Lieutenant .A. H. Robmson, R.N.R., who is attached to the Hood for her visiting cruise.