"THE ENGINEER."
[To THE EDITOR OW THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—There appeared in your pages, some twelve years ago, a poem with the above title. It dealt with non-combatant Engineers on board battleships. I think it would be of great interest at the present time could you find space to republish
[The poem which our correspondent refers to appeared in the issue of July 12th, 1902, and runs as follows " THE ENGINEER.
'Midst maxims' click and rattle, Quick-firers' crack and scream, Dazed with the lust of battle, Half blind with smoke and steam, Men face the flying shrapnel, And dare the bursting shell, When every gun's a shambles, And all the deck a hell!
But pent and caged, unknowing Which way the fight incline, I keep my engines going Beneath the water-line.
No praise or blame to spur me In this my hour of trial, I stand and grip the lever, I stand and watch the dial.
I know no battle-passion To set my blood aglow, I work in sober fashion, But if we fail, I know That boiled, or flayed, or stifled, Or mashed amongst the gear, I die, a 'mere non-combatant,'
An unknown Engineer. J. IL K. ADEIN"
Spectator.]
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