SED work of the British Mercantile Marine in the present "war was described by Mr. G. E. Mitchell in his talk given over the Radio Station XCDN at 9 p.m. yesterday. Many of the ships, taken over by the Government and converted into auxiliary cruisers and other auxiliary vessels, are often manned by their peace time civilian crews, and the courage shown by the seamen within danger areas, when they know that every moment of the day and night sudden death lurks just round the corner, has been remarkable.
The morale of the men of the British Mercantile Navy, now in the employ of the British Government, was also praised by the speaker, who said that although the strain of constant danger and vigilance leaves its mark on these men, their appearance and conversation convey no hint that there is a war on at all. If approached on the subject, however, there is hardly a man on board who will not offer to prove, in eight different ways, that Great Britain cannot win this war within a fortnight. The service of Chinese sailors and firemen, who man many British ships, was also praised by Mr. Mitchell, who added that their efficiency was very high.
Following is the complete text of "Mr. Mitchells talk:
I have been asked to speak tonight about that great sea service which receives but little publicity and -is clothed with but little glamour, but in many ways, as great as do those who serve in its fighting services.
I propose to try to give you some impressions of the life and work of this merchant navy at the present ume, in the first place let us glance at what has happened to those elements of our Merchant Service which the war has called to other "pursuits. In the first place there are those officers and men who, when war broke out, were already members of the Royal Naval Reserve: most of these are now serving in the Navy poner in regular fighting ships.
ext, there are the ships which have been taken over by the Government and converted into auxiliary cruisers, and other auxiliary war vessels,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.