JACK'S YARNS: THE SECRET PETROL STORE AT SEA

Description

Date: 11 February 1915

Transcript:

THE SECRET PETROL STORE AT SEA.

Our First Lieutenant, rubbed his chin.
"I cannot make it out,
But that they're getting petrol, Jack,
There's. not the slightest doubt.
Those submarines must get supplies
From somewhere handy, Jack,
So try and, find out where it is
By the time that I come back."

We'd been a-talking 'bout the raids
The German submarine
Is making on our shipping—'tis
The dirtiest, trick that's been
Played in a nation's history.
And so you may depend
That when they fire on Red Cross ships,
They're getting near the end.

[cartoon showing the First Lieutenant and Jack]
I cannot make it out.

And now ye've seen the latest that
Old Tirpitz means to do.
He's going to sink each British ship—
Aye, passengers and crew.
They recognise no law, they say,
They will not play the game.
British or neutral, down they go,
To them it's all the same!

Of course, this latest note of theirs
Is just a bit o' bluff,
They know as well as we do that
They haven't got enough
Of submarines to do the trick,
However smart they be.
But what a dirty game to play,
Scum o' the northern sea!

[cartoon showing Jack with a lit torch]
Hunting for petrol.

So when the First Lieutenant left
I sat and thought it out.
That they were getting fresh supplies
There wasn't any doubt,
But who could be supplying them?
"That, Jack, my boy," says I,
"Is what you've to discover, so
Here's off to have a try."

I hunted up and down the coast;
There's many a lonely isle
Around our shores where petrol might
Be stored—you needn't smile.
'Way in the Outer Hebrides
There's islets by the score,
Each one an ideal spot in which
To hide a petrol store.

[cartoon showing Jack in a small boat]
I left a mine behind.

'Mong rocks and caves I searched about,
But searched, alas! in vain;
The hiding-place was not on shore,
To me was pretty plain.
So, if it wasn't on the shore,
'Twas evident to me
The hiding-place for petrol must
Be somewhere out at sea.

And so I got my motor-boat,
The Scout, and off I set
A-cruising up and down the coast,
To see if I could get
A trace o' that there petrol store,
But couldn't see a sign.
"Detective work, old man," says I,
"Well, isn't in your line!"

[cartoon showing Jack looking out to the sea]
A sheet of flame.

But, as I steered for home, I sees
'Bout half a mile away
A painted buoy. "Hullo!" I says,
"You weren't there yesterday."
Guess what was anchored underneath?
Petrol in iron drums!
I placed a mine instead to greet
The German when he comes!

That night I lay ashore and watched
To see the little game.
'Bout midnight, 'way out in the bay,
I sees a sheet o' flame!
The mine I'd left had done its work,
Done it effectively.
One pirate less to sink our ships,
And murder crews at sea!


Source:
McMann, W. 'Jack's Yarns: "The Secret Petrol Store at Sea".' The Brecon County Times. 11 Feb. 1915. 2.

• https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3857515/3857522/91 (link opens in new window)