Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 35]
fluently and is by profession a prostitute" (T). This the official description. ("Favours silk garments of a rather extravagant style" and is by profession a prostitute! "Oh! my sainted ancestors!" exclaimed Number One, "What are we, a fighting machine, or an institution for the reclamation of the magdalenes of the world.") The sailing orders continue "Should this person be discovered on board the S.S. "Van Hoorn" you are to inform the master that she is an enemy subject and demand her immediate transfer to H.M. Vessell under your command. Needless to inform you the utmost tact should be used in dealing with this woman and should she refuse to accompany you, you will bring the S.S. "Van Hoorn" back to Singapore, but, before leaving the ship the boarding officer is to remove all documents in whatever language and whether printed, typed or in MS. he may discover after a thorough search of the woman's cabin and baggage."
"Phew!" says Number One, "a damn fine contract this and no ship for a respectable married man, where's she going to live supposing we are fortunate or unfortunate - according to how you look at it - enough to lay Fraulein by the heels?" "Oh, that", says the Skipper, "and several other contingencies we must discuss after we get to sea. Are you all ready?" "Yes Sir". "Then off we go".
"Hands to stations leaivng harbour" piped the quarter master and a few minutes later the -- was steaming up Yohore Strait at some 18 knots.
That night a council of ways and means was held in the Ward Room. The questions - to put them in their right order - were roughly as follows:-
1. Given the lady is captured, where shall she sleep? (On a T.B.D. there are no spare cabins.)
2. Where will she bathe. (The Officers bathe on deck in a canvas bath in the tropics, and use a hip bath in the flat outside their cabins in colder climes.)
3. In view of the lady's doubtful reputation would it be consistent with the respect due to our own morals and would the exigencies of the Service be such as should suggest the lady be