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ment of British seamen and firemen has been the one serious drawback to the satisfactory working of the transports. That satisfaction has been given to the Government and the public in the oversea transporting of so many thousands of troops and horses is well known; but, to the many cares and unceasing watchfulness required on the part of those in authority to produce these good results, has been added the constant worry of the dissolute material provided by the mercantile marine, in its dissolute seamen and firemen. The unwritten ' martial law' of nautical etiquette precludes one at the present time from dwelling otherwise than generally upon incidents of the service; but for the benefit of sentimentalists who would—to quote the words of your contributor—keep these ewe lambs 'unspotted from the world,' I may be permitted to give the following as an object lesson—it may not be without its value. In a South African port three British steamers lay in dock side by side, one, a transport, with the usual British crew, the others manned respectively by Lascars and Chinese. From the latter vessels not a man during their stay in port had been absent from his duties, while fully two-thirds of the transport's crew were being kept 'unspotted from the world in the local gaol, serving sentences for continual drunkenness and absence without leave.' Another transport, about the same period, sailed from the port, and the cheerful spectacle was afforded to onlookers of drunken British seamen and firemen being marched on board in the custody of the police. The transport sailed with a number of these noble sons of the sea locked up in the vessel's guardroom. These are no isolated cases, and did space or circumstances permit instances of the sort could be cited ad nauseam. I venture to say that not a single transport engaged during this war has been immune from the pest of drunken seamen and firemen. In the article on 'The disease and the remedy,' I quoted the words uttered at a public gathering by a commander in the transport service, a gentleman of the widest experience and whose opinion on nautical matters carries conviction and respect. As the quotation appears to have escaped the notice of my criticiser I will take the liberty of repeating it: 'The amount of trouble arising from this cause alone has been incalculable. I do not hesitate to affirm that by their misconduct they have delayed the progress of the war more than any thousand Boers that have come into the field.' This, sir, is my reply to the question put.to me by my critic re the transport service. It voices, I think, the opinion of every master, officer, and engineer in that service. It may be pertinently asked what the alternative should have been? Firstly, when the mercantile marine was called upon to supply transports, special articles should have been drawn up containing the rigid regulations and stern punishment for breaches of discipline under which the Navy is ruled. At the first outbreak these could have been enforced to the utmost letter, and a lesson taught throughout the service lasting in its effects. The existing Merchant Marine Law, under which the transports have been sailed, are the veriest mockery of authority. The masters' hands have been tied with the farcical
