MR CHAMBERLAIN AT SEA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7606, 16 January 1903, Page 2

MR CHAMBERLAIN AT SEA.

ROUTINE OF HIS LIFE ON A

WARSHIP.

Just two years ago — November, 1900— ' _\ir Chamberlain made his, first trip as a distinguished guest on board a warship.

The occasion is vividly engraved on more than one memory (says the "Daily Mail"). A goodly squadron of battleships, cruisers and small craft lay idling afc .their moorings one hot Sunday afternoon at the end j of October off the seaport of Salonica, in the Eastern Levant. Suddenly a s-gnal .came fluttering over the blue water from^ tho flagship, informing H.M.S. Caesar that' sho was to proceed to Gibraltar, in order to convey the Colonial 'Secretary from there to Malta. I ON H.M.S. C_ESAft. t Tlie countenance of the "officer of the' watch," hitherto bored to distraction at having to pace up and down a deserted quarterdeck in a tight-fitting frock-coat, assumed for the moment an interested look as, reading the signal on the slate brought him by the signalman, he called\the "mid" of the watch to his side and bafie hini inform the commander of the unexpected break in the monotonous routine cruise that would take his ship away on special ser-vic#-.sven that of passenger transportation! The squadron had been cruising for three months; and the thought of getting away from a evolutions and tactical exercises 7 ' made a happy break after all the t hard work during the last few months. On arriving at the Rock, tho Crasar found that the P. and O. which was bringing oub Mr Chamberlain from England had not ya. arrived ; and it was not before the afternoon ihat Mr Chamberlain, accompanied ■ by his son, went on board the Caesar. All found the Colonial Secretary a most/ charming guest ; one who took an interest in every bit of the daily work connected with the sailor-man ; watching him at his work — equally at his play — ever ready with' words of encouragement, and cimitinually as-king questions of interest, clearly showing how thoroughly A " shore-going man " could enter iijto the routine on board a man-of-war. SPEECH ON BOARD. Mr Chamberlain is endowed with thafc happy gift of impressing upon people, whilo in conversation, that what thoy have to communicate to him is of vast importance, and by so doing making -even the most ncr rolls impart their little knowledge to him. Although Mr Chamberlain several times dined in the ward-room mess, of which lie; was an honorary member, he was neve^' prevailed upon to tiiake a speech, and only once during the voyage to Malta, did he do so at all.

The occasion was after a concert on the quarter-deck one evening, and to the \pcompau.inent of the sea splashing against, the ship's side and the regular, unbroken thud of the screws, the Colonial Secretary addressed Jack on Imperialism.

He spoke of " Building Up the Empire, inch by inch, bit by bit, -taking a little piece here, another there (at which remark there was laughter), untiL we got what we now have at the present time— an Empire standing out paramount above all others. It was mainly due to tho work done by the British Navy in 1 the past that our Empire was what it" now is, and by loofyiig- at those men and officers around him, and tafter seeing them at their work and play day by day and night by night, as he had done, he felt- lie was in ni> way flattering them if hesaid that such man and officers as he saw before him woiil.l do jt^t as well — every bit — in the future :>•; :ii.-ir forefathers had done in tho past ; and, so long as thohigh standard of ollicsrs and men. was not allowed to diminish, no fear might be felt fromj hostile European' Powers." Such words as these could 'hardly fail to instil into the minds of those present that pome .what might no man on board that ship would be found wanting in tho hour of peril. ■' During the forenoons Mr Chamberlain employed himself in official correspondence, and in the afternoons in going -over the ship and witnessing the var!ou£ drill instructions, the latter carried out with that automatic clockwork regularity which is part and parcel of the seaman's life. THE GOOD HOtE. The Good Hope carries three old Caesar officer's in the shape of the flag-captain, first lieutenant and the sub-lieutenant, and among the crew are many old (J'ajsar men. ready to give a hearty welcome to Mr Joseph Chamberlain. The ship's company of the Good Hopte are already foiiining what is termed a, "nigger" party, and there will undoubtedly be many entertainments on the way out. Mr Chamberlain will probably hear the ditty which took his fancy ill the Csesar. The last lines of the chorus run as follow: —

"We're getting it 'by degrees, -we're getting it by degrees ; - We haven't got the universe yet, but we're getting it 'by d'egrCes."

When it was sung in the Csesar Mr Chamberlain clema-ntlied all encore, and on the ship's return to Naples he "requested the entertainment to be repeated for 1 Mrs Chamberlain's benefit.

Undoubtedly the ceremonies of " crossing the line" will be observed in the Good Hope. In the Navy these customs hava gen-rally -been dropped, the last ships in which, they were observed) being the Terrible and Ophir. Th_ ship's company are looking forward to this with much interest, and any " novices " who render themselves unpopular will get a lively trine ou tiiat day. Mr Chaahberlain has been* provided with a ro-oiny sleeping cabin, on the starboard side aft. It is filled with cv cry thing necessary for writing. Mrs Chamberlain Occupies the Admiral's sleeping cabin, which has a large bathroom attached. In addition, the Admiral's sheltei'-haiu'e on the signal bridge has been coh verted inl;o a. very pretty day cabin, furnished with sofas, easy chairs and a writing-table. The carpet of the various apartments is of the same pattern as in the Royal yacht.

A CROWDED SHtf

Admiral Fawkes will use his deck cajbin for sleeping ; the captain- sleeps In his watch cabin forward; Avhile one of tlie -secretaries occupies the captain's usual en bin aft; for, despite her huge size, the Good Hope's accommodation is rather cramped*. Guns and machinery haive got first consideration; tlie human element aboard her itttist do as best.it can in the space that is> left. Upwards of 900 ' officers and men sail in the eli'fp, and her mess-decks aro so cfoivded tliitt -one can scarcely pass along them when all the men are 'below. What makes the congestion worse is that the men's bags have to be .stowed on the mess deck instead of in flats beneath it, as .in most other big ships. * Another drawback is that the coal -shoots aire co arranged that when the Good Hopis coaling the coal dust penetrates everywhere, and Mr Cha.mberlain can hardly avoid 'getting ; a taste of it. Bub these are little annoyances -which checrfulne-s itttd a hopeful spirit may be trusted to make light. H.M.S. Good Hope is to Start her nisuxifeh commission by carrying a, Cabinet Minister. It maty be stated with confidcmc- .that the captain and officer* will find Mr Cllamberlain a ver--/ pleasant and interesting &***•'' ■■".-•■■-- -** -^L.