POLISH IN THE NAVY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18710, 16 May 1924, Page 10

POLISH IN THE NAVY.

. There was salt spray in the air and a bluejacket carefully smeared with vaseline the shiny nose of the 15-inch guns of his turret. It was no rough and ready wipe. He used that particular caressing kind of care which marks that portion of humanity who regard tarnish as a sin and rust as a crime. Ho would emphatically agree with the officer who said that owing to the frequency of ports and the invasion of visitors the ship was in a filthy condition who pointed to a deck off which one might eat his food .and said that it should be white instead of "black," but that nothing , "ould be done about it until they had a weak or more at sea. By the time the sailor had finished greasing the snout of the monster it was proof against all the salt spray of the Pacific. And then because the Navy never likes to present a picture dulled by the absence of all possible -shine, the sailor was told to remove the grease and polish the metal. He made a sound which was • interpreted by the petty officer as a grumble. "Get along with/ it," remarked that cheerful soul. "No use grousing, my son. We all have our cross to bear. Some people I've met have the Iron Cross and thank your stars you can't qualify for it in this Navy."