The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-12-16
JACK TAR ASHORE
SAILOR AND SOLDIER, roo.
Characteristics of Naval Forces When
 Used in Land Campaigns.

fer when there Is occasion for the use or
 a naval brigade hearty, merry soul ed, dashing soldier into the bargain
 Already a strong naval brigade has
 been landed at Cape Town from the
 cruiser Powerful and other ships in Si-
 mons Bay and Is moving northward
 under Commander Alfred P. Athelstan. There are several thousand more men
 in the ships which Rear Admiral Sir
 K. H. Harris commands at the Cape,
 and endorsements have left Ports mouth and Davenport. If there is any
 work to be done by the navy, it will not be done badly for want of sufficient men, nor Will 1t be found that the off, Cers fall short in point of efficiency. Officers and men come from the same schools as the naval force that nearly fSur years ago, accompanied by par ty of Royal Marines, and. with Maxim guns, light artillery and rocket tubes, marched from the coast to Benin, the City of Blood
 It was hastily organized expedition, but it was organized with consummate skill Unchecked by the many difficult ties which the country presented it marched inland with Rear Admiral, now Vice-Admiral, Sir Harry Rawson at it's head. He shared his mems troubles and when they were footsore they knew that they were not more so than their gallant leader. It is history now that the expedition succeeded in averaging the massacre of British expe- dition that early in 1896 was cut to pieces by the fetish chiefs. The story would bear repetition as an instance of the ease with which Jack adapts him. self to conditions of warfare that belong to the other arm of the service. This facility was exemplified in the Crimea, and since in Egypt in both campaigns
 Those who have seen bluejackets roll ing with sealike gait along Portsmouth Hard, or down any of the main streets of Chatham or Davenport, as though the pavements were the decks of the ships they love- their great baggy trousers Tapping to and fro around their ankles; their necks barred to every wind, are apt to think they have not the stuff in them for land soldiers. Jack may not march with the precision and nicety of a smart infantryman, he may not have the same martial bearing or the same brisk step, but he has the
 
 not what fear is. He will rush to the cannon's mouth with the impetuosity and daring of a child that does not un- derstand it's use. He will sing jauntily in face of danger that would make an or dinary mans cheek blanch and his nerves tremble as with ague. He will plod on doggedly mile after mile without murmur of complaint
 zy~ L1-z q system. When the soldier of tomorrow is a mere loose peg, without any fixed purpose, the scallywag of home, or it may be half starved waif on the streets, his brother, destined for the sea, has already got his life work plan ned The future Jack Tar, of just over fifteen years of age. is comfortably housed, well fed and clothed, and has plenty of work to do, learning from day to day the A, B. c of his profess sion, and completing the education he has begun ashore.
 In Jacks case, which is the more important-his work or his play? Both are necessary His sail drills swim ming, boat pulling and marching-work ' he calls them-contribute not less than his play, his cricket, football and other field sports, to the perfection of the | finished article. And what is there more perfect than the typical Jack { Tar? He is broad as he is sinewy, mer- ry as he is alert and obedient, as well boned and toothed as he is uniformed [ and booted, and to his massive form his head is screwed on-and well screwed on-by neck as big around as the necks of two ordinary men. Some blue jackets necks are marvellous-the re- suit of no coddling. Jack is built up from boyhood to adapt himself to any ashore or afloat to flourish f on any diet, good, bad or indifferent, and withstand any climate-even months of weary drudgery up a malaria burdened stream of West Africa. He is trained to kill and be killed, yet the official returns of the navy with it's countless old pensioners, support the statement that service under the White Ensign is an almost sure passport to ninety-nine out of every hundred blueJackets bear the stamp of l. a happy life on their faces, though they grow; but that is their privilege inalien- able.
 Yet this man of solid frame, trained for the roll and tumble of ship in a heavy sea. has ofttimes to step ashore, shoulder the rife and play the part of l soldier. He has not even the shore that comes to every Royal Marine" soldier and sailor, too"--but ne acquits himself well always. Watch Jim at queen g birthday review at one ,f the naval arsenal towns, as he and lis fellows, at a smart trot, drag their 1eavy guns up hill and down dale-for many of the parade grounds are any bine but level They force a cheer { rom the least enthusiastic navy wor- shipper as they Timber and unlimber heir weapons with lightning rapidty , md unfailing precision. Of course, his proficiency as soldier is not en- I rely due to soldierly instinct; Jack is rained ashore, to q limited extent to mulate his brother in arms. It is a i fundamental difference between the foot z oldier and the bluejacket that, while he former is at home only when he is shore; the latter is never ont of place. ] n the gun-deck or the battlefield, He $ not Tommy AtlSins's equal ashore; < Ie is merely his understudy, but .ood, workmanlike understudy. Very ften on field days Jacks officer, mount d on hired horse that likes not the - oar of tne salute, Will give away tAe