“MEN WHO GO DOWN TO THE SEA.”

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1934, Page 6

“MEN WHO GO DOWN TO THE SEA.”

The story published yesterday of the invitation to representatives of the mercantile marine to attend the annual dinner of the Royal Naval Staff College at Greenwich would be welcomed by all who realise how much of the Empire’s welfare depends upon the men “who go down to the sea in ships.” In devotion to duty, disregard of personal safety and, in wartime, aptitude in defence of the realm, both the navy and the mercantile marine have records that are imperishable. The experiences of the last great conflict showed how closely the duties of the two services were intertwined, and, though each had its special duties to perform, how co-operation between them meapt the difference between success and failure in critical hours. In matters other than that of sea services, however, there has been a tendency in peace days to forget the comradeship engendered by a common danger and a common duty. There is everything to be said, therefore, in favour of preventing such a weakening of a common ideal, particularly as modern shipbuilding has made the standard of merchant ships an important consideration to those entrusted with the naval defence of the Empire. Careful observers are convinced that the enormous increase in the mercantile marine of other nations may in some degree be traced to a recognition of its usefulness in time of conflict, as well as to the desire to be self-sufficient in the transport as well as the production of commodities for trading purposes. The Royal Naval Staff College represents the cream of the Royal Navy men. Those who are chosen for training there are expected to be the officers who will have the grave responsibilities of the future, and it was something more than a happy thought that prompted the College to invite representatives of the merchant service to its annual dinner. The demands made upon the knowledge and initiative of officers in both sea services are higher than ever before. The use of mechanical appliances and the constant advances in ship design and construction call for qualities in naval officers of all classes that should bring them closer together. The Empire’s solidarity depends upon the maintenance of her sea services in a state of high efficiency, and there can be no greater aid to that than the pooling of experiences gained by warships or merchant vessels in the course of their lawful occasions.