“Well, it was a thought. I shall requireextra lookouts in the day and on moonlit nights, Coxswain.”
“Put one up on the Maxim bandstand, sir.That will give a little height.”
“Limited vision.”
“Yes, sir. Nothing forrard, full scan portand starboard and astern. Two men in the bows, at low speed, that is. Two bridgelookouts. Will it make sense to have one in the stern, sir?”
“If we are not in company, yes. No greatgain if we have the half-flotilla behind us.”
Five pairs of eyes, all fairly close tosea level, unlikely to spot a torpedo at any range.
Simon called the three captains toconference.
“If torpedoes are seen, comb the tracks.Turn towards and present a bows on target rather than the beam. Full speed.That is obvious enough. What else?”
“Zigzag, sir. Never holding a straightcourse for more than say five minutes at a time. Make it difficult to take anaim.”
Travis of Lightning making a sensiblesuggestion.
“Each ship to maintain its own zigzag sothat at any moment some will be port of the mean course, others may be starboard.Make it unpredictable. An end to the line astern at a rigid two cables.”
Campbell-Barnes shook his head.
“Won’t be popular with admirals, sir. Anysenior captain seeing us doing that will blow his top. Untidy, sir. Notallowable. Far better to be sunk by a torpedo than to vary from the line, sir.”
“Accepted – the more rigid gentlemen willbe unable to tolerate such a breach of decency. I do not doubt I shall bethreatened with a court should any of the more senior observe such a lapse fromproper standards. I prefer to take that risk rather than invite an almost certainsinking. Intelligence is sure that we will be targeted by submarines. Verylikely that they will attack from the safety of Dutch waters.”
“What can we do about that, sir?”
“Nothing. Under no circumstances will we everstray by so much as an inch into Dutch waters. You will lose your ship if youdo – no appeal, no argument. You will not venture into Dutch waters, will notshell any German vessels spotted there. You will be broken if you do. So willI. It is an absolute, I am afraid – no leeway at all. The Dutch know that Germanships are breaking the rules, and that British ships are not. They are buildingup their own navy and training their army. By next year they will be able toenforce neutrality. For the while, they appreciate that we are scrupulous inour observance of their rights and it is useful to us. I am told that internedBritish soldiers are being sent home, supposedly on medical grounds butactually because the Germans have annoyed them. Escapees from prison camps arebeing put directly onto ships to England, no questions asked. Add to that, theDutch are aiding Americans to enter Belgium and report on conditions there. Wemust not jeopardise Dutch goodwill.”
The three acknowledged Simon’s words,promised to be good.
A month of barren patrolling and thehalf-flotilla was ordered back to Harwich, told to prepare their demands forthe dockyard. Simon was again given a meeting with Tyrwhitt, further evidenceof favour.
“We have four weeks of dockyard time foryou, Sturton. At Chatham. Pulling out the Maxim and replacing it with somethingthat will be effective as a high-angle gun as well as for normal use. What, Idon’t know. They are undecided as yet. Might be a two-pounder pompom. Could bea three inch, a twelve pounder quickfirer. All depends on what is to hand onthe day. The three inch has the advantage that it can be used againstZeppelins, having a far greater range than the pompom.”
“I’ve never seen a Zeppelin, sir. We havemet seaplanes more than once.”
Tyrwhitt knew that, wondered how they hadmanaged to shoot one down.
“I am fortunate in my Gunner, sir.”
“And no more to be said, Sturton. You didwell. For the moment, the important thing is leave. I want you to take at leastthree weeks, Sturton. Patrolling almost every night is fatiguing. Dangerous tothe health. Put the ship in the hands of your Number One – you have told me heis a good man – and disappear, Sturton. Between us, we will arrange for your wholecrew to get at least a fortnight. Commission has come through for your Engineer,Mr Malcolm. You may lose him as a result, of course. There is a shortage ofskilled men in the yards and there are new ships being launched every month. Hemay end up in a cruiser or as senior in a flotilla of the new sloops coming offthe stocks. Always possible he may be given to one of the new monitors –several of them in the building and some of them far better designed than theoriginals.”
“Swings and roundabouts, sir. Give withone hand…”
“Take with the other. I know. Can your Canningbe made?”
“Yes. He could command a small ship now,will be capable of something far larger in a year or two. An able man indeed.”
“Then you will lose him. I will appoint agood youngster in his place. Don’t worry about that now. Go and make arrangementsto go off tomorrow.”
“I will need to send a telegram, sir.”
“My office will deal with that for you andbring any reply across.”
The Parretts responded within the hour.Simon was welcome indeed.
“Packer! Three weeks leave, you with me.Off to Ipswich first. In the morning.”
All would be ready.
Alice Parrett was waiting with the gigwhen he arrived at the station.
Chapter Six
“Orders,sir.”
Richard thanked the runner from Brigade, satdown below the lip of the trench to read the single sheet of paper. Thebattalion was to push forward, must take the bunkers before nightfall. Thebattalion to their left had experienced unacceptable casualties, coming upagainst uncut wire, would not be moving forward. Reserves would be moved up tosecure the left flank as soon as they became available.
“Not a bloody chance! Major Vokes!”
Vokes came at the run, alerted by the edgein Richard’s voice.
“Take your two companies and A and B andset up a perimeter to the left. The flank is wide open at the moment. Usecommunications trenches for a starter. Bring wire up. We are under orders totake the bunkers to our front. I
