Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 291
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[Page 291]
and fleas, which inhabited everything but especially the food. It was impossible to keep them in check, in spite of daily "cocker strafes" in which all hands turned to. Every night the insects had to be fished out of the soup, and anyone who failed to get a bag or two or three was voted unlucky by his messmates. The weather in those parts, except for the heat, was always delightful, and calm enough to please a soldier, and in daytime in the shade we just drowsed the time away.
So at night we crept like a phantom upon the face of the waters, and into many an innocent British ship did we put the fear of Hades. We stopped and searched nearly every ship which appeared suspicious or at any rate which was not identifiable on sight, and at night when a four-funnelled cruiser was seen looming dimly in the darkness all ships British and foreign went for their lives as fast as their propellers would take them. One night we chased a ship for miles; as she increased, so did we, and she refused to answer signals. Her skipper was perfectly convinced that the Huns were at his heels. At last we overhauled her, fired a shot across her bows, and came up without any lights. We hailed, and were asked surlily what we wanted. We enquired his cargo and destination. The reply came back, in a Cockney accent which could not be mistaken, "'Orses on deck, wheat below." - "You may proceed." - "Oh thank you sir!" came back, and one could hear the sigh of relief as we told him who we were. "I thought you was the blinkin' Germans," was his parting message. And so it