The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-02-15

ss''S'S ''C s'ao SsbfPSts
"A number of years ago the cruiser
on which 1 was serving shipped boil
eimaker while we were on the Medi-
terranean station said retired petty
officer of the navy. sour former boil
ermakcr's time expired while we were
at Gibraltar, and as he was not in good
physical shape he wasn't re-enlisted,
but took his discharge and returned TO
the United States by mail steamer. So
important and necessary petty officer
down below in the engineers depart
ment, and when the ship pulled into
Naples harbor the chief engineer went
ashore to see IL he couldn't dig up q
boilermaker.
"There was clause i'll the enlist
ment regulations permitting command
Ing officers TO ship necessary men on
foreign stations in short handed emer-
gencies. The chief engineer brought
back to the ship n Greek named Char
lie Marc. The man couldn't speak any
English to speak of, but he. was
good man lat the boilermaking BUSH
ness, and he was duly shipped aboard
I Of us for three years. He was n Wild,
hairy looking lot, Marc was. and he,
got d sodd uenl OF a hugh at the
hands Of the crew, especially the,
younger fellows, from the time he 1rst
came over the side ,f' " sfapiH ~
Marc thought that there wasn't any
other country on the map except
Greece, und after he got hold OF enough
English to make himself understood he
used to take some of the young appren.
4 ice boys up into the eyes of the ship
and tell them. with many gesticula-
tons and furious words, Of the differ
ent kinds Of tar Greece could knock
out of Turkey.
"The ship was around on the Pacific
station when the war broke out be
tween Greece and Turkey. When the
news of the outbreak of the war got to
Marc, our boilermaker. he nearly had
heart disease and whole lot OF other
sudden things from pure excitement.
He just couldn't hold himself in. he
looked so tickled
IDA Greek man villa BIN, BIN, bin.
da Tanrka inan.' was Charlie Maro's
way Of putting it, and he didn't see
that the Turk had ghost Of a show.
All hands forward encouraged him In
the belief. They all acqulesced in ex.
pressing the belief to, Marc that Greece
would simply eat, Turkey up. Then 4
bo'sun's nate who knew how TO crack
the most impossible jokes with a face
rs solemn and wooden as an Indians
took Charlie in hand and told him some
things He told Marc that the United
States was SO much in sympathy With
Greece in the struggle With Turkey
tint the navy department had decided
to turn OVER al Of the slips OF the
American navy to Greek Commanders
~" Here's chance for you. Marc.
the bo'sun's mate told Marc. YoM just
want to work ypur edge. Here you are
already shipped on this cruiser, and it's
dollars TO doughnuts that IL you ask
for the command of this ship in order
to take her over TO Greece to mix it Up
with the Turks you'll get 1t hands
down. Better try 1t on
THAT idea impressed Marc heap.
He asked the bo'sun's mate whom he'd
have to apply to to get command of the
cruiser
"'Why, to the commanding officer, OF
COURSE was the reply.
Marc was tremendously important
for Il day or so while he let this hug.
idea grow within him, and he bullief.
the men detailed to work with lliTr
down below in the boiler room a good
deal. The, bo'sun's mate kept WORKING
him up toit, and finally Marc appeared
on deck Que morning logged out in his
very best mastering suit of bluejacke.
clothes and went up to the officer of
the deck and asked permission To- see
the commanding officer ut the mast |
The officer of the deck was rather sur.
prised to see the man all done up Iii
his mastering toys when all hands
were at work; but as he is obliged to
do when an enlisted man requests per.
mission to see the commanding officer,
he sent word to the skipper, who soon
emerged from his cabin and appeared !
at the stick
"Well, my MANI said the skipper to
Marc, who stood bolt upright and So
luted with flourish.
'''Sare.' said Marc to the skipper, I |
hav-a da honor to her-a-by TAXA da
command OLA da ship
'HeyF said the commanding officer,
putting his hand to his ear and looking !
as IL he hadn't heard Alright.
"Da ship repeated Marc Fora da |
navee ola Helias---de Greeka navel |
hava da honor to TAXA da command
"All hands among the enlisted men !
were up on the to'gallant fo'c'sle tax !
ing the thing in. and they broke into |
roar that you could have heard FIVE !
cable lengths distance. Marc heard 1t /
and, suspecting that his confidence had
been abused. got red and fabbergasted. |
He suddenly bolted for the engine |
room hatch and made his way below. |
and it took three marines to drag him /
aft to the sick bay, where the surgeon.
at the shippers command. gave Marc |
n ha'f hours examination as to his san |
ity. Marc was game enough to decline |
To give the name of the enlisted man !
WIN tOtI told hin, no xx-oe, ,t;osy1o Far