THE MERCHANT SERVICE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16507, 7 August 1919, Page 3

THE MERCHANT SERVICE.

GREAT PAGEANT ON THE THAMES. A TRIBUTE TO WAR WORK. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. LONDON, August 4. Owing to tho merchant service pageant the Thamesside -was the centre of attraction for all holiday-makers in London. Every "bridge was gay with streamers. There were dense crowds between the Tower Bridge and Chelsea. Their Majesties drove to Customhouse Quay. A royal salute was fired from the Tower. Their Majesties boarded the Royal barge, and headed the great procession of boats' towards Chelsea, of which the last left the Customhouse as the King reached Chelsea. Tho Lord Mayor, as Admiral of tho Port of London, followed the King. Launches, representing the Navy, the Ministry of Shipping, the National Lifeboat Institution, Trinity Hour training ship Worcester, the Warspnte, and the Arethusa followed. , The coastguards, fishermen and the sea scouts were represented. Finally there came -70 boats, representing the shipping companies, manned by active 1 service seamen. j War vessels were present, including several destroyers and a mystery ship capable of submerging to its deck; the motor boats which destroyed tho German vessels on Lake Tanganyika, and p- picturesque red and -gold barge coniaining the King and Queen Alexandra, ind Princess Mary, pulled by red-coat-id oarsmen. The party were everywhere greeted with prolonged cheers. The proceedings were happily without incident. The whole pageant was a well-earned tribute to the mosquito craft and the merchant seamen, whose unquestioned gallantry saved the Nation from starvation, A lightning strike of 600 drivers and firemen -held up tens of thousands of holiday-makers at Waterloo. There were extraordinary scenes, angry fathers and mothers denouncing tho strikers. Children wept at finding their day’s pleasure spoilt. A prominent Trades Unionist describes the strike ae “a dirty trick” to play upon the trippers Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.