LAZY SHIPBOARD LIFE
The _Tahiti_ fell in astern of the long line whose foremost ships were
almost hull down, and left the Sound empty and deserted. When all were
at sea, they took station, the thirty Australian ships in three lines
ahead, with the ten New Zealand transports in two lines astern, their
leading ships stationed between the three rearmost vessels of the
Australian line. The men-o'-war took up positions far ahead on the
horizon and on the flanks. Towards evening a nor'-west course was set,
which the troops generally accepted as sufficient evidence that Colombo
would be the next port of call.
For some days the fleet swung heavily to a considerable swell from the
west; and Mac watched, from the boat deck, the long line of careering
masts ahead, sliding about like so many drunken matches, spray flying
from the bows, and the foaming wake seething from the labouring screws
of the ship ahead. It amused him to cast his eyes aft along the boat
deck, the full length of which stretched two lines of horse-boxes
facing outwards.
With an even keel only the noses of the horses showed beyond the
stalls; but, when the vessel rolled heavily to a beam swell, their
heads swung in and out like the cuckoos of cuckoo clocks. One moment,
as the ship lay well over into a trough, Mac could see nothing but a
long line of posts; the next, as she lifted to a sea, out shot those
eighty heads. They trod backwards and forwards in regular step, and
were cursed constantly by the men whose bunks were immediately below
the trampling hoofs. The horses settled down to the life in a
wonderful fashion, and through the splendid attention of the troops
appeared not a whit the worse for the first three weeks at sea. With
the increasing heat and the lack of exercise some of them were growing
a little short-tempered; and men, passing along the front of a line of
boxes, had to be prepared for a horse occasionally making a grab at him.
Least of all to appreciate the presence of horses in the vessels were
the officers of the ships accustomed to Royal Mails and jolly
passengers. They now appeared in all the immaculate glory of white
ducks; and it almost gave Mac the impression that the horses had taken
a special dislike to them. Either they would frequently be bitten at,
or else when one of them was standing comfortably on deck smoking, a
horse would give a violent sneeze behind him, and he would disappear
into his cabin, muttering wrathfully as he changed into a clean suit.
And the Captain himself was no more pleased when he noticed the way in
which the constant trampling of the horses was wearing ugly tracks in
his best teak decks.
Every morning and afternoon, when the vessels were not rolling too
heavily, long strips of cocoa-nut matting were laid round the boat deck
and the length of the upper deck; and the horses were led round and
round for a little, though valuable, exercise. Men spread awnings from
the front of the boxes, and watered them steadily from above, so that
the horses might be as cool as possible. All of this was hard, hot
work, to which the men stuck splendidly. Mac, however, had none of it,
for, his turn in the fodder-room being over, he was sent to the bridge
as a signaller. He knew little about the work, but another signaller
was wanted, and he was sent to learn. It was the best of work, clean,
cool and interesting. He did his watches on the bridge, looking down
on everything from that exalted position, swept the fleet constantly
with his glasses, and did what was told him. He peered into the log
book, and closely examined the charts in spare moments when the officer
of the watch was not noticing. He examined everything that was to be
examined, instruments, code books and distant ships, and altogether
thoroughly approved of being a signaller. Often there was work to be
done, in daylight by semaphore arms, or international flag code; and at
night by morse lamps, carefully shaded. Mac fumbled about and fell
over himself at times before he mastered the mysteries of flag
signals--the knots, the halyards and the nautical language.
"AJP tackline J," the Skipper would roar; and two of the signallers
would fall over each other in a hurried attempt to get it all tied
together. And something usually went wrong--the tackline missed out,
two J's put on by mistake, or an M instead of a J. Once Mac failed to
make fast the two ends, and one hoist of flags went trailing out over
the beam. He let them down into the water, so that the weight might
swing them inboard, while the other signaller struggled manfully with a
hayrake to grapple them; and the Captain cursed and Mac flushed all
over, knowing that every ship in the fleet was grinning at them.
Two days out from King George's Sound the fleet was joined by two more
transports with Australian troops from Fremantle. A week later H.M.S.
_Minotaur_ passed down the lines between the ships, and soon after
disappeared over the eastern horizon. The fleet had been sailing with
carefully screened lights, and now precautions were to be doubled, no
dynamos to be run, and navigation lights to be further dulled by
several thicknesses of signal flags across the glass. Various small
happenings left the troops with a sort of impression that there might
be something in the wind. When, therefore, early one tropic morning
the three remaining men-o'-war moved nervously from their stations,
rolled great black-brown coils of smoke from their funnels, and nosed
suspiciously out towards the western horizon, like three dogs
seeking a scent, it was evident the day would not be without
interest. Within a few minutes H.M.A.S. _Sydney_ set a definite
course, and with a foaming wake and a trail of heavy smoke, went off at
full speed to the sou'-west. Mac went below for breakfast in the
steamy saloon. Word went round that the _Emden_ was at the bottom of
the business; and men gathered in groups, talking with animation, and
gazing occasionally towards the south-west. Later in the morning the
Japanese cruiser went off in that direction, leaving only H.M.A.S.
_Melbourne_ with the fleet.
At about eleven the great news came; and great enthusiasm welcomed it.
In the _Tahiti_ it leaked out before it was officially announced; and
the poor signallers were blamed in consequence. At any rate it was
true. About ten thirty the _Sydney_ had reported the _Emden_ beached
and blazing; and that she had gone off in pursuit of another vessel.
The _Maunganui_ had offered to take the _Sydney's_ wounded; but she
replied that there were only twelve casualties, sent her thanks, and
said there was no need. That was all the troops heard of the fight for
some days, though later the _Empress of Russia_ passed on her way to
pick up the many wounded from the wrecked _Emden_.
Then came the crossing of the Line; and in all ships Father Neptunes
were busy lathering, dosing and abusing unlucky troops who tried to
escape their gentle hands. Crowds of men splashed rowdily about in
great sails of water. But a medical officer unfortunately lost his
life over these proceedings, and a momentary sadness settled over the
fleet.
The New Zealand section went ahead of the main fleet a day or two
before reaching Colombo in order to proceed with coaling and watering.
Early on a Sunday morning the mist-covered hills of Ceylon took form on
the starboard bow; and, later on, a palm-grown shore and natives in
catamarans. Then the house-tops, the breakwater and the shipping of
Colombo emerged from the luxurious forest and curving shores. About
the middle of the forenoon the New Zealand vessels in two lines of five
were about to enter the harbour, when the _Sydney_ and the _Empress of
Russia_ were signalled coming up astern; and the New Zealand ships lay
to to give way to the men-o'-war. In deep, impressive silence, they
passed down between the lines, while the bluejackets and the troops
stood at rigid attention, salute after salute sounded from each ship in
turn, and ensigns dipped.
Two days at Colombo passed merrily enough with forty-five shipfuls of
light-hearted troops exploring that Oriental city for the first time;
and at the end of it the Cingalees were left in a dazed condition.
Bazaars, wineshops, native quarters and Gal Face all rang with the
delighted shouts of irresponsible troops making the best of a short
time; and rickshaws were raced against each other with great effect.
Before many hours had passed the Staff announced their disapproval of
such unmilitary conduct, and stopped leave; but the men were not
overawed by the thunder of the heads, and those who could swarmed
ashore from the ships, leave or no leave. At length the vessels went
to the outer anchorage, at a safe distance from Oriental seductions.
Next morning a tug brought from the shore a washed-out collection of
adventurers, and distributed them to their ships. Under way again, the
fleet steered a west-nor'-westerly course for Aden, and the men, none
the worse for a little joy in Colombo, settled again to ship routine.
Six German sailors from the _Emden_ had been placed on board the
_Tahiti_ at Colombo; and from them Mac heard something of the
battle--how the _Sydney_ had surprised them when they had some boats'
crews away destroying the wireless and cable stations at Cocos Islands;
how the _Emden_ had been beached and raked by the _Sydney's_ terrible
broadsides; and the sufferings of the wounded before they were taken
off. Mac was interested to notice through the dome of the officers'
dining saloon, which projected through the bridge deck, that a German
naval officer prisoner drank the King's health along with the rest of
the mess.
Several days dragged drowsily by in sweet procession.
Mac was doing the afternoon watch. Between noon and one o'clock the
signallers were usually fairly busy while latitudes and longitudes were
hoisted and the staff disposed of the last of the morning's work. Then
peace reigned for three hours, while the fleet dozed through the hot
afternoon, and Mac could see through his glasses lazy figures stretched
in deck-chairs beneath shady awnings. He leaned over the starboard
light, neglected his lookout, and gazed far down at the swishing water
which ran the ship's length at a lazy ten knots. The fathomless blue
of the midday sea, with the white marblings from the bow wave, never
ceased to draw Mac's gaze. Down in its depths the red jelly-fish went
sailing past, and from there, too, came the terrified flying-fish,
which went winging away out to the beam, glittering in the bright sun.
The rumbling of the ship's engines filled the air with a sleepy
monotone; and Mac was hard put to keep awake. From his cool perch he
looked down on snowy awnings stretching fore and aft, though here and
there through openings he caught glimpses of mens' bare bodies as they
lay sleeping on deck, and of horses' heads hanging low with half-closed
eyes. The other signaller on duty was buried behind the flag-locker,
probably intending that it should be thought that he was busy putting
away the flags used in the last hoists, though that might have been
finished a full hour ago. The officer of the watch took an occasional
turn the length of the bridge, and now and then rang down to the
engine-room for one more or one less revolution per minute; while the
quartermaster periodically put the wheel a few spokes this way or that
to keep the ship in station with the vessel ahead.
Mac had certainly drifted away to places other than the bridge of a
ship in the Indian Ocean, when he was speedily brought back to the
present by a vigorous poke in his ribs. He turned hurriedly; and the
officer of the watch with perfect clearness conveyed to him by a jerk
of his thumb, and a quizzical expression, that the flagship was making
a general signal. Mac shoved up the answering pennant, roused the
other drowsy signaller, and elicited the information that the New
Zealand ships would anchor 1 1/2 miles S.S.E. of Ras Marshag at 17.50.
Mac looked ahead and saw the jagged blue outline of land above the
horizon. Towards four o'clock the heads awoke from their siestas, and
the signallers were kept busy. The forms on the decks below also
commenced to stir, whistles sounded, and soon hoses and brooms were
busy cleaning the horse-boxes. Half-naked men were at work with
brushes and combs in the narrow spaces between the animals; and others
poured cooling streams of water about their legs. Feeding time came
with an excited whinnying, snorting and trampling, while the men stood
along the deck in front with a long line of feed boxes. Then there was
a whistle and a chorus of neighing. The men went forward and attached
the boxes. Comparative silence followed, while the horses in deep
content poked their muzzles down into the feed and blew showers of
chaff into the air. For a time the satisfied munching went on quietly;
but at length the horses which had finished first stamped their feet,
and tugged at their halter chains, in attempts to get at their
neighbours' feeds.
Mac finished his watch, and went below for a salt shower, and after
that the evening meal, which was never much to boast about. He went up
to the bridge again to investigate Aden from the best standpoint. The
evening lights were colouring splendidly the rocky heights of the range
above the port. The anchored fleet spread far across the bay, the
_Tahiti_ being close to the desert shore several miles from the port.
It was an evening of perfect calm. The last glow faded from the
topmost pinnacles, the stars came out with the brightness of the
desert, Morse signals winked from the mastheads, and the mooring lights
cast reflections on the calm water. For a time Mac joined a four for a
rubber or so in the cool night air, and then, collecting his blankets
from below, went away forward to sleep on top of the horse-boxes with
nothing but stars overhead.
In the early morning, before the fresh charm of the desert dawn had
fled before the tropic day, the fleet weighed anchor, and, with a great
deal of signalling and manoeuvring, took steaming station again. Soon
after midday Perim lay on the starboard, its desolate sands shimmering
in the noon sun, shortly to disappear astern, veiled by the trailing
smoke. It took the fleet five days to steam the length of the Red Sea;
good days too, with cooling northerly breezes to air the stuffy horse
decks, though the chill nights made the signallers shiver on watch.
But, the day before they were due at Suez, the whole peaceful running
of things was upset by wild rumours, and then by definite fact.
In late weeks it had been generally accepted by every one that England
would be the destination of the Expeditionary Force, and they had
settled comfortably to that point of view, and to the prospect of
having nothing to worry them for three or four more weeks. Turkey,
however, had declared war; and now, they heard, they were disembarking
immediately in Egypt. The troops were undecided whether or not to be
pleased. Most of them had hoped to see the Old Country and their
relatives there. Mac did not care a straw, for he saw no delights in
an English winter camp, and Egypt was said to be a fine interesting
country. Every one set about telling wild tales of Egypt; and
proceeded to walk more rapidly about the ship, collecting and putting
in order shore-going clothes--so that the quiet shipboard life was at
an end.
In the voyaging days of 1914 the New Zealand troops regarded their
chances of actually joining in the campaign as being regrettably small.
It was clear, they thought in their out-of-the-world way, that the
enemy would be speedily overrun; that the New Zealand troops were only
untrained, untried colonials; that they could therefore expect no more
than garrison duty; and that every available Imperial soldier would be
thrown into the field before the colonial troops were drawn upon.
Consequently there was an uneasy feeling abroad that, should they once
land in Egypt, they would be left there for the duration of the war.
The New Zealand transports, which had taken the lead, cast anchor in
Suez bay just as the sun was rising over the desert; and Mac gazed
appreciatively at the sweeping bay, the palms, the flat-topped houses,
and the open desert, clear cut in the early light. Suez was not
adapted for the disembarkation of large numbers of men and horses, and
Alexandria was the only harbour with sufficient accommodation. In the
early afternoon the _Tahiti_ entered the Canal; and there were no dull
moments for the next twelve hours. They were surprised to find, at
frequent intervals along the Canal bank, strongly wired entrenchments
occupied by Indian troops, with whom they exchanged cheers as they
passed. At night a moon lit the silent desert in greater beauty; and
Mac slept not a wink as the ship slid quietly past mile after mile of
the queer waterway. At three in the morning, with a clatter of chains
and a good deal of shouting, they moored in Port Said harbour.
Again there was a day full of interest--bartering with natives,
watching the coolies coaling, cheering Australian transports as they
entered the basin, and examining the mixture of shipping in the port.