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[Page 7]
about 9 pm I generally go to bed - quiet steady life - The food is all right & we are a very contented jolly crowd - From all I can see & hear if our chaps get a chance they'll distinguish themselves -
W'day – Sept 2 -
Fine weather - ports open - Temp 75 ° F - Jolly - We are passing islands – bare on the W but with trees & vegetation, so far as we can judge, on the Eastern or Pacific side -
Talking last night I learnt that our oil fuel on board is worth 3000 £ Each torpedo 400 £ - we have spare ones - we have a spare periscope - value 500 £ It was said the value of the ship's cargo is £ 10000 - We have 1600 packets of revolver ammunition & ? 14000 cartridges - 303 that R knows for our magazine Lee Enfield - we are worth capturing - However we are mighty well looked after & the vessel wd - Be sunk before we gave her up to any Germans - Our notion is, in case a cruiser came in sight to go for the shore for all we'r worth - The gunboat isn't worth much so far as fighting goes so she'd signal our Submarines & then fall back on them - By the way we haven't seen them since last Saty but they're somewhere round -
All well on board - I report daily to the Captain – a man put his foot thro a skylight yesterday but got off light - Just fancy, not a word of war news since we started - By the way I find each torpedo when fully equipped costs close on 800 £ The steel part holds the machinery & propelling power - To its end is fixed a 'war head' - This contains the explosive & it comes into contact with a ship's side - A force of 400 lbs liberates its energy & tears a hole in the ship's side - Gun Cotton is the explosive -
Thursday 8 am -
We are anchored off Townsville - The Protector alongside & the Hospital ship - Grantala is here too