Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-31
TROOPS SING
AS SHIP SINKS
Undaunted in Face Of Death
After Vessel is
Torpedoed.

London. May 81.-What happens
when . transport loaded with troops
is sunk by a German submarine is
graphically told in h story of the
sinking Of the steamer Ballarat which
vas torpedoed April rs while carry
sunk without loss OF a a Drill,
discipline and tradition counted.
There were no heroics, fuss or panic
but considerable humor and much
efficiency. AS the vessel did not sink
for four hours, there was ample time
to save eve the ships pets and the
soldiers mascots. -
It was Anxac Day and the officers
were planning to hold a Memorial
Service. The commanding officer was
dealing with a remanded case. And
what have you been doing?" he
asked, when then came q dull crash,
a sound that seemed as he said. ito
lift the skin of your face" and the
alarm" was instantly sounded by the
bugles. instantly followed by the "ad-
vance" Without confusion of any
kind the men in FOUR minutes, fell in
at their boat stations. During the
voyage they had been told h stories
Of the southland" and "Birkenhead'
on these occasions. Those men who
had used f1owery and fluent parts OF
speech condemning the previous boat
drills now used equally literary ex-
pressiops In praise Of them.
Its all right boys" q man called
put 'the old mar is on the bridge"
Don't sing too loud said an Of
orders" The order to "stand-easy"
was given out.
The turn of the navy came now.
The men knew i~nstinctively that h
navy would turn UP. It turned up.
Destroyers and trawlers appeared
like magic. There was a moderate
sea, and the ship having been struck
down by the stern.
While waiting for the boats to be
lowered, some of the men sang. some
settled down to play cards. and most
OF them smoked. The nurses remain
ed with the medical staff until all the
the whole medical staff remained
with the patients until they were safe
ly placed in boats.
Every pet vas saved, with the ex-
ception Of some of the ships cats.
and cats, as Kipling says, prefer to
walk alone. Over the side went Bill
Anzac. an Australian parrot in
a raft; a fox terrier and her puppies
are now guests OF tho officers Of a
destroyer. And It was all done de-
Gently and in ordAr.
The bandmaster who was wont to
call upon his band to tall in by means
Of q certain call on his oornet had
saved that instrument and whom the
men were in the boats they heard
from a destroyer the old familiar
cornst sing out, and across the water
came a great noise Of laughter from
all the, boats because the little joke
had struck home. The mon had lost
their ship, were miles from anywhere,
in open boats, but they could see tho
humor of 1t.
1t wasn't exactly courage, because
heaps Of the mon were in a funk; and
It wasn't exactly bluff, because you
can't put up q blur in a sinking ship,
and the sea looks awfully big when
one can't see any land. and there's
just q handful Of officers running the
job and enough boats, and q fearful
ignorance of maritime geography. It
is a. thing which is very difficult to
define It was the voice Of the EN-
pire sreAking tosfeach man and gay
ing, 'tFNsrdo the thing. we'll, and va
kalWayss Mye, and we DE always go
inf to-. Are you camel" The men
wore splendid.
They were landed with promptness
and despatch, and some set foot on
England for the first time without
boots.
The submarine was never seen, she
plays a small part in this affair, but
the British navy was there and took
a very great part: prompt assistance,
up to time and nj fuss.