Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 268
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[Page 268]
the Turk as I saw them in 1916. Then there was no railway or road on the eastern side at all; but two years later the place was a veritable network, and the British line could be seen stretching far out into the desert. Port Said was still its smelly self and lived up to its reputation of being one of the most evil spots in the world; but one heard on good authority that it was really much improved.
After coaling - the sailor's relaxation in harbour - the ship pushed off in the evening for Malta. We entered the Mediterranean in the blissful calm days before the coming of the submarine, and sailed in peace. At night now we began to get broken news from Eiffel Tower in Paris, a sure sign that we were fast approaching the war zone. On the 2nd December just after daybreak we entered the Grand Harbour at Malta, and soon saw why the Austrian fleet was bottled up in the Adriatic. As we steamed in we passed through the French battle fleet drawn up in two great lines, and the Frenchmen manned their ships and turned out their bands to play in the ship from the Antipodes which had just made her debut into the war. It was a great compliment to Australia, and as an Australian one couldn't help feeling proud to be of the party as we passed each ship with her cheering crew and her band playing God Save the King and the Marseillaise. The only other British ship in port was the Melbourne, which had arrived a few days before; and on our arrival, as usual, she left.
It was a real pleasure to meet the French Officers.