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regulations and petty punishments for offenders. Secondly, presuming the authorities could not see their way to providing special articles for the transports, then the official log books of the ships should have been noted, the number of 'loggings' justifying the withdrawal of every British seaman and fireman from the service. In their place, Lascars could have been substituted. This would have been a graceful recognition to loyal India in her desire to assist the Imperial Government in the war; the transports would have been manned by British. subjects, and, above all, the gain to the well-being of the service can only be realised by those who have been responsible for its efficiency. It has been sneeringly said that I 'plead' well for the foreigner. I hold no brief for any nationality, but I refuse to applaud the bathos of those who would idealise the drink-sodden pests who, with the misnomer of British seamen and firemen, disgrace the flag they sail under. The type of British merchant seaman I hope yet to live to see is one of whom it will be a pride to say 'He is my own countryman.' To this end the efforts of the new and progressive school are directed. In The Manning Question in the Navy I have urged the national importance of the mercantile marine as the only proper reserve and reinforcement for the Navy, but this can never be in the existing state of the forecastle personnel. Sir, our seamen must be trained for the service, and as soon as this is recognised a step in the sorely needed reform will have begun, and a decisive answer given to the problem of naval defence. Let this be the task for the Government now that. reform is preached from every platform, and schemes for Imperial defence are to the fore. In manning the mercantile marine with physically and morally properly trained British seamen, the strength of the Navy will be increased a hundredfold. Away, then, with the foolish twaddle of the idealist and infantile prattle of the tract distributor; we weary of it. Know that for the habitual drunkard and chronically dissolute there is no place in this busy, thriving world. The times are keenly competitive and progressive, and none but men of stability are needed in our undertaking. This is a materialist age, and men are weighed in the balance, by their worth and contribution to the well-being of the community do they justify their existence. Not ours the part as a nation to sit with folded hands idly watching the clouds drift by; the cry is ever 'Forward, Forward.' Aye, and the words shall ring wherever the English tongue is spoken, and in whatever land an Englishman plants his foot. For desperate diseases that, sapping the vitality of the nation, retard our onward progress, remedies as strong must be found, and these should be applied with no faltering or stinting hand. Off with the velvet glove! Too long has it been worn; the needs of the Empire call for a firmer grip. To visionary enthusiasts who feel it their particular mission in the world to 'pluck brands from the burning,' we leave the sentimental view. Assuredly these devotees have before them a large scope for the exercise of their vocation."
The editorial comment on this scathing, relentless critic is
