Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 171
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 171]
In Kingston Harbour we found the Condé a French cruiser about our own size which or a little larger which with the Déscartes formed the French contribution to the West Indian Cruiser Squadron.
It is a fearsome business going aboard a French man-o-war even unofficially, they make such a fuss of one. I had occasion to go aboard the Condé to see the Paymaster and get some money to remit to Paris.
The sentry in the gangway presented arms a compliment only paid to very senior officers in the British Navy, then I was piped over the side met by the Officer of the Watch and conducted below to the wardroom where drinks were pressed upon me from all sides. I was then introduced to every officer in the mess and I addressed to each a few words I remembered out of Mackmillan I such as "Have you a daughter?" "Yes I have two daughters and three sons I dont think." At any rate whatever I said my hosts broke hurriedly into English which they nearly all spoke pretty well. After a time I duly saw the Paymaster and he went to great trouble to get me exactly what I wanted. The French Naval Officer is a splendid chap.
Travelling about the world and coming into contact with the Officers of many Navies Russian Japanese French, German Uruguayan and Brazilian,