(_For the Use of Admirers of the Admiralty._)
_Question._ What is your duty as a sailor in Her Majesty's Fleet?
_Answer._ To carry out the orders of my superiors.
_Q._ If you were told that black was white what would you say?
_A._ That white was black.
_Q._ If you were informed that two and two made five would you believe
it?
_A._ Certainly, and insist that those who thought four was the proper
answer had been gravely misinformed.
_Q._ Would you believe a captain to be always in the right?
_A._ Yes, from a lieutenant's point of view. Although, of course, I
should consider him the weakest of authorities in the presence of an
admiral.
_Q._ Would you ever act upon your own responsibility?
_A._ Never; as such a course would be destructive to good discipline.
_Q._ Then, if you were told to perform an impossible man[oe]uvre you
would attempt to do it?
_A._ Certainly.
_Q._ Even if you saw that the result must be disaster?
_A._ Yes. I should choose the lesser of two evils.
_Q._ To what two evils do you refer?
_A._ Loss of life by my obedience, and loss of discipline by my
disobedience.
_Q._ Which would be the smaller of the two disasters?
_A._ The loss of life.
_Q._ But did not NELSON solve a problem of a somewhat similar
character by using his blind eye?
_A._ Yes; but then NELSON was unique.
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