PLEASANT LIFE ON TROOPSHIP

Southland Times, Issue 24055, 20 February 1940, Page 4

PLEASANT LIFE ON TROOPSHIP

MEN SHOW RESPECT FOR LARGE LINERS SIX SOLDIERS IN A LUXURY CABIN [By a representative of The Southland Times with the New Zealand troops abroad. Approved for publication by the Director of Publicity.] j SOMEWHERE AT SEA. “People sit in order to be comfortable; therefore, the more comfortably a man arranges himself in an armchair in a friend’s house, the greater respect he is showing his host.” So wrote Lin Yutang, a Chinese author of great fame. Could the directors of the company which owns the famous luxury liner which is carrying part of the Ist Echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force overseas see the. men resting in their comfortable lounges they could, indeed, take much satisfaction from the immense respect which is being shown the ship. In the luxury suites are roomy sixberth cabins where men sleep. They have spacious wardrobes and chests of drawers for their sea-kits. The walls are panelled with choice English timber. Situated in the best part of the ship just under the bridge, these cabins on D deck are carrying soldiers of New Zealand who are journeying to help defend the Empire in its time of need. The no-commissioned officers occupy the first saloon winter garden on B deck as a mess, and the alcoves off it provide their lounges, which are equipped with luxurious leather chairs and lounges into which one sinks with great comfort. In the men’s recreation rooms are similar armchairs and couches providing splendid places for leisure, and here the men gather at night to read, write or join in a singsong round the piano. COFFEE WITH THE QUEEN The officers have the main reception lounge as a dining saloon—a spacious place with a beautiful parquet floor and the roof supported by imitation marble pillars. A smaller smoking room is the officers’ ante-room, and it is decorated as a replica of one of the famous rooms of Holyrood Castle, Edinburgh. At one end is a delightful tapestry depicting a scene with Mary Queen of Scots surrounded by courtiers. Shaded lighting gives the room a soft and restful effect, and it'is here that coffee is served after dinner. Scattered about the decks are many wicker chairs, the modern counterpart of the well-known canvas deckchair, and these are always popular with the men when their duties for the day are ended. Tonight, in the main saloon, which is the principal men’s dining-room, some hundreds of all ranks gathered to attend the first of the weekly concerts organized by the Y.M.C.A. officer attached to the ship. This concert was run by the Engineers, performers from that section of the force doing their best to provide entertainment for the others. There was the usual “hard case” of the outfit, “Shorty” this time being the star artist. “Shorty” was expected to provide the laughs and from his first early appearance on the gaily decorated stage he fulfilled all expectations. The arrival of the nurses at the concert was the signal for a spontaneous burst of applause, showing how deeply the men appreciate the pluck, of these brave women in joining up with the army. NAVY WARNS OUTSIDERS OFF Rolling along the Australian coast, the convoy of many big ships presented a fine spectacle but the navy shoos away other shipping; the smoke of another vessel on the horizon is the signal for a warship to proceed at full speed to turn the visitor from too close an approach to the troopships. This, and the constant flutter of flags from the various ships as they answer the pennants sent up by the vessel carrying the naval commodore make many interesting interludes in the day and help to relieve the monotony of the sea voyage. The men speculate on what the flags mean and watch for the answering movements as, the helm is changed as the signals are read. On the bridges of the vessels are naval signal ratings, but soldier signallers are also helping with communication work. The flashing of Lucas lamps testifies to the good practice which these lads are having in Morse signalling. It is a good way to train signallers, for they feel that they are doing a real job of work and it is much more interesting than spending the time tapping out dummy messages to pals in another part of the same ship. When approaching the Australian coast, the visits from Australian Air Force planes were a novel feature of the trip. Big three-engined bombers appeared at various times, skirted the convoy, and sped away to land, indicating to us that our safety was being guarded, not only by the navy but also by the latest efficient fighting service, the Royal Australian Air Force.