"THEY ALSO SERVE."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11507, 1 October 1915, Page 4

"THEY ALSO SERVE."

TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE GIIAXD FJLEET. "Week by week they are waiting for a chance which never comes. Some of them, to the envy of their comrades, have had their day—in the Dogger Bank, the Heligoland Bight, the Falkland Islands, the Dardanelles. But for most of them ' tho day' is still to come. It is impossible to describe the strain of waiting for it."— The Archbishop of York in "The Times." The saucy Arethusa mat tho warships of the foe, And the L.on and Undaunted helped to send them down below, But remember, oh, remember, while we make their praises ring, That the men who do the wai.ting also serve our Lord tho King. Tho Emdcn kept things lively from Seychelles to Singapore, Till the Syd'uey found her at the game, and settled up the score; But don't forget the others, whcu you cheer the victors' pluck, For the men who do the waiting havon't had the Sydney's luck. Von Spee was smiling broadly when ho neared the Falkland Isles, But lie hadn't made allowance for our gallant Sturtfee'fi wiles, So he and his went under—and' we cheered to hear the news. Yet the men who do the waiting are as stout as Sturdee's crews. The British Tiger ramped and roared'. Their cruisers wouldn't wait; They scuttled hard for port and left the Bluecher to her fate. Here's to our tars who braved the foe amid the bursting shellBut the men who do the waiting, they deserve our thanks && well. They are ready, yes, and longing for the signal to advancej But they Haven't yet been given all the other fellows' chance. They fret to join the melee, they are eager for the call; And* the men who do the waiting have the hardest job of all But the "Day" is not far distant when the thunder-roll snail peal, And the German fleet to meet their foe shall follow out of Kiel; Tho guna shall lift thoir voices in irrevocable blast— Then tho men who do the waiting will have .gov thcU" cliauco at last. '" Pundu !i