Evening star., 1939-12-04
By H, v, MORTON.

transparent merchantmen flying
the flags Of Norway, Holland and
Sweden, a suspicious Mediterranean
cargo boat that has changed her
name more frequently than is nor
NAL, and, just to give a hint OF
romance to the proceedings, sleek
Belgian motor liner from South
America, with a fringe Of female
faces gazing down from "A" deck.
It was about Z O'Clock when I
Joined the patrol on the jetty for
the first job Of the day.
About 30 naval officers, warrant
officers and men stood in the cold
wind of morning, and I followed
them to the drifter's deck down q
q perpendicular iron ladder set In
the jetty wall.
The skipper was Lowestoft man
who wore pipe, cap and blue
knitted jersey. In happier days he
would now be chasing the herring
and listening at night, not with
out comment, to his wireless as
it recited the price per Gran.
But at the outbreak Of war the
admiralty took over his boat and
crew, gave the boat lick of iron.
clad grey and a general sweepup
and informed 1t that it was now
in his majesty's service for the dura-
ton.
"Female Searcher" Aboard.
I noticed a woman on deck, and
was told that she was "a female
searcher." Whenever the contraband
control examines a liner, Mrs. Bug
Ter is asked to go along and, II
necessary, examine the women pas
sengers, for the control, although
the soul of politeness and courtesy,
has moments Of suspicion.
Having never before met q pro-
fessional woman searcher, I was
soon learning what constitutes sue
cess in this delicate task. 1t Is
tact and q knowledge of human
nature. I gathered that this war
has not yet produced sea-borne
female sufficiently sinister to justify
more than a formal inspection. Still,
I suppose you never know when
you may meet a Mata Hari!
IF I did, I should be very polite"
said Mrs. Bugler II always say
you can't 60 wrong If you treat
people as you would like to be
treated yourself"
AS we steamed among the an
chored shipping, saw how quickly
the bay fills up. About 10 ships
had left the day before, but another
10 had slipped in during the night
and now lay waiting for inspec-
ton.
1t would infuriate DR.. Goebbels
TO see how willingly neutral ships
offer themselves for examination,
and how friendly are the relations
between the captains and crews and
the men of the British Navy.
Foreign ships realize that exam
ination is just and legal in British
territorial waters in time of war,
and few are the shippers who would
not prefer to wait at anchor, even
for days, and answer the polite
questions of the control rather than
see a torpedo speeding towards
them!
Passed Metal Carrying Tramp.
We came to a big tramp whose
plates were stained and patched.
"You can see she's carrying metal
by the way she's lying" some one
told me. What suspicious looking
old tub!"
While we were looking at her, a
dark and excited person appeared
on deck and began to shout to us.
"Hi!" said the voice, I'VE hat no
brod. no budder, no meats, no
nottings!"
We promised to send the ships
chandler out. Soon we drew up
against the black plates Of q Jugo-
slav trader. We went to the cap
tain's cabin and told him that he
was not, in the opinion of the au-
thorities, carrying any contraband,
and that he could 60 up-channel
to the Downs. He shook hands with
us and wished to give us coffee and
brandy; but we managed to excuse
ourselves without offending him.
Then a look Of anxiety came into
his eyes.
Tell me-" he said in an earnest
voice, about mines"
"Oh, mines!" said cne Of the on
GERS. where's your chart? You
steer q course like this. Keep to
tho southwark here, and then keep
on your ordinary course"
"Oh, thank you, SIR" said the
skipper.
As we were going over the side,
he pulled me by the sleeve and
whispered: London? Has she been
bombed yet? Yes?"
I said mo" but could not tell
from his expression whether he was
pleased or only strictly neutral.
Account Of Cargo Demanded.
We then approached the liner,
and the whole party, including Mrs.
Bugler, assembled the rope ladder.
This ship had anchored the night
before and her papers had been
examined ashore. The ministry of
economic warfare required a de-
tailed account Of a certain part Of
her cargo.
While a search party Of sailors,
headed by warrant officer, de-
scended the holds, the officers sat
in the saloon with the ships cap
tain and the purser and went
through the passports of the pas
sengers. One by one the passengers
filed before them, answered any
questions and took their passports.
They were a varied company: Poles,