Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 229
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[Page 229]
were by general consent magnanimously bestowed upon the doctors.
Such then was the daily panic, so impressive to the timid soul unused to the Navy's preparations for frightfulness. Later, however, familiarity brought the customary solace of contempt; and when the rails were down and there was nothing to prevent unwary feet from going overbaord, one strove to walk about the decks with as nonchalant an air as possible, taking care to keep well away from the edge and to have something handy to seize when the ship rolled. Except for these trivial excitements, which rapidly became part of the daily round, it is a lazy life for all except those on duty, especially for the "good-morning party", a name by which doctors, paymasters, parsons, and others who do not keep a watch are known satirically by their messmates. It is an unwritten law in most ships that no one wishes another "good morning" at breakfast: least of all a watchkeeper who has spent the greater part of the early morning on the bridge; at any rate it must not be done with the Padre about. Some wardrooms have a notice up "No gentleman speaks at breakfast".
In this wise all went on till the ship was nearing Albany. The night before we reached port two ships were sighted with all lights out a mile or so away, and with thoughts of Emdens and Königsbergs in our minds it was as well to be suspicious. Signals were made and no reply received, so we closed in and sounded off general quarters. Ammunition was