The C.O. of my ship had his own way of punishing men who were brought
before him for fighting.
He would send for the gunner's mate and tell him to have the two
men up on the upper deck, in view of the ship's company, armed with
single-sticks. The gunner's mate would get them facing each other, give
them the first order of "Cutlass practice"--"Guard!" then "Loose play."
At that order they would go for each other hammer and tongs till one
gave in.
Such a dispute had to be settled one day while we were patrolling the
North Sea. The combatants were just getting warm to it when the alarm
buzzers went--enemy in sight.
The gunner's mate, who was refereeing the combat, said: "Pipe dahn, you
two bounders. Hop it to your action stations, and don't forget to come
back 'ere when we've seen them off."
Fortunately they were both able to "come back."--_John M. Spring (late
P.O., R.N.), Bank Chambers, Forest Hill, S.E.23._