THE "JOLLY ROGER"

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume XI, Issue 522, 18 May 1915, Page 2

THE "JOLLY ROGER"

At the summer manoeuvres of the British Fleet, some years ago, a romantic young naval officer — and there are still some leftthought to. vary the monotony of the work by instituting a novel method of announcing his successful torpedoing, of an enemy ship. He managed to get a lady friend to make him a tine, large representation of the "Jolly Roger," and whenever his 6hip succeeded m making a hit, he rose to the surface, and gravely hoisted the " skull and crossbones" m token of his claim to have sunk the enemy. From this grew a general practice among submariners of carrying a " Jolly Roger" as part of the vessel's equipment, and when Lieuteuant-Commander Max Horton returned to port m the E9, after sinking the German light cruiser Hela, m Heligoland "J-jay, tlie sight of the old-time, pirate flag flying on his signal mast announced to the onlookers his successful cruise. Since the German submarines liave adopted their new role the British Admiralty have decided' that the practice must cease, and the irony of fate has oallied upon the originator of the .idea to convey their Lordships' orders to the submarines now under his command.