12 JULY 1902, Page 16

POETRY.

THE ENGINEER.

'Minn 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, unkinwi,ng Which way the fight ineline, 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. H. X. ADS/N.