MERCHANT NAVY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24631, 12 June 1941, Page 6

MERCHANT NAVY

WORK IN WAR-TIME \ BROTHERHOOD OF THE SEA FIGHT AGAINST ENEMY “To most of you the navy means grey-painted ships and uniformed sailors upholding Britain’s interests throughout the seven seas. But the navy to-day includes all the sea services—the naval reserve, the volunteer reserve and the mecantile marine, and without the closest co-operation of all the floating services the evacuations of Norway, Dunkirk and Greece could not have been carried out. And it is this smooth running that will lead to the winning of the Battle of the Atlantic.” In these words. Captain F. E. Tether, marine superintendent of the New Zealand Shipping Company, opened an address to the Otago branch of the Navy League in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night. “The Royal Navy is not the only service entitled to be called the 4 Silent Service,’ ” Captain Tether said, “ and when you think of it to-day, think of the brotherhood of the seas—the mercantile marine, linked with the Royal Navy. And do not think of the merchant navy as comprising all big ships: remember the tiny coasters, the fishing fleets, which are doing most of the minesweeping, and the tugs and barges, which could not be stopped from going across the Channel to rescue our men from Dunkirk.” Routine Upset

There was a vast difference between the merchant navy in peace-time and in time of war,. In peace-time the captain was supreme master at sea. answerable only to his owners, but as soon as the war broke out thfe navy upset his whole routine. During the Abyssinian-Italian war, Britain'started to “ pull up her socks ” and decided to give the men of the merchant navy a defence course, which 90 per cent, of them attended voluntarily in their own time. The result was that v/hen war broke out a short Morse message to ships at sea and a wonderful organisation sprang into action. But the merchant shins soon found trouble. Their low-angle defence guns were no protection against bombers, so they had to be fitted with anti-aircraft guns, but the men had to man them without any extra help on board. The men took the additional work in their stride, however, and even took over the paravanes, for protection against mines, although they cursed because the paravanes reduced their speed by half a knot

“ But their troubles were not over,” continued Captain Tether. “ Ships were blown up by magnetic mines, and had to be ‘ degaussed,’ which put all the compasses out and caused further worry. Then one day a ‘ degaussed ’ ship was blown up, and the Admiralty discovered that the acoustic mine had arrived. But that trouble has been solved, and at present, until something better is found, the acoustic mine is being dealt with in much the same manner as a superstitious native drives away evil spirits—by banging a gong. Of course, the navy had to put up with the same troubles, but that’s its job, and the men get paid for it.’’ Turakina and Rangitane Referring to some of the actions in which ships of his company had been engaged. Captain Tether said that thj* rules of the merchant navy did not require the captain and crew of the Turakina to fight the raider for two and ahalf hours off the coast of New Zealand, but they had done so without hesitation. The captain had had both his legs shot off early. in the action, but had remained conscious for a considerable time, directing the fight. And 50 per cent, of the crew had paid the supreme sacrifice. That was an action, typical of the men of the mercantile marine. Captain Upton, of the Rangitane, had been criticised by some people for the action he had taken when he was attacked, but,. (Captain. Tether said, he had-had to make a tremendous de- ■ cision. His was a big ship, carrying passengers, and he was confronted by three enemy raiders. He had decided to send out an S.O.S. and run through the only gap left by the raiders, but the first salvo had struck his ship and destroyed the mountings of the stern gun, which was loaded and trained on one of the raiders. \

“Do not forget the female section of the mercantile marine,” Captain Tether concluded. “ You would be surprised to know how many women are still carrying on their work as stewardesses, willing to pay the same price as the men.”