Shanghai Dreams by Andrew Wareham

Author:Andrew Wareham [Wareham, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: RO:NAV
Publisher: The Electronic Book Company
Published: 2018-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seve

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The Earl’s Other Son Series

Shanghai Dreams

“Finished with engines.”

The instruction to Engineer Lieutenant Buchan served to inform the other officers that Racoon had entered harbour routine, the ship securely tied up.

They were moored to a pontoon and so sentries were posted to the brow. In smaller, less secure, harbours they would have carried loaded rifles; in Shanghai they had a pickaxe helve in hand but in fact relied upon a loaded revolver discreetly placed out of sight and well within in arm’s reach. Their greatest concern was of thieves slipping aboard, normally at night but possibly in the company of legitimate port workers bringing stores from chandlers or quartermaster’s stores. The thieves would carry knives, as was a known fact that did not need to be investigated, and so it was legitimate to shoot them on discovery, according to regulations for the port.

“Signal from Senior Naval Officer, sir. ‘Captain to report at his convenience’.”

That meant very soon but not drop everything immediately.

“Thank you, Mr Mason. A messenger to carry the Admiral’s bag to the Port Office, if you please. Postman ashore. I don’t know about shore leave yet. If possible, I want all of the men to have a few days while they can. The men behaved very well off Formosa; they deserve whatever reward we can offer in the way of time ashore.”

Magnus knew that his words would be passed along, that the men would all hear that he was pleased with them.

“Officers are at liberty to go ashore, of course, but not until I return and can tell them what our future holds. Captain Erskine may well have duties waiting for us.”

Captain Erskine had obviously been eating well, had progressed from plump to noticeably fat. It was not uncommon for more senior officers to display a significant adiposity, but normally signified that they were content to remain in shore appointments for the remainder of their career. Men who looked for a sea-going existence were generally of the leaner kind.

“Sir.”

They exchanged salutes.

“No urgent orders from Admiral Seymour, sir. The routine bag is in the office. Captain Jellicoe’s compliments and he would expect to make his tour of inspection commencing Shanghai in the next month. He would expect to use Barfleur, sir.”

Barfleur was the other ten inch second-class battleship on station.

“Then he don’t intend to go up to Hankow, Lord Eskdale. He would come in a cruiser if he wanted to tour the river.”

“From what he has let drop, sir, he is using a battleship because it is his intention to make a formal visit to Japan following his inspection here. The friendship with Japan is to be strengthened, I believe, sir, with a possible view towards an eventual formal alliance.”

Captain Erskine nodded thoughtfully; he was not unintelligent and was able to appreciate that meant a worsening of relations with Russia. An alliance between Britain and Japan would probably include the provision that neither would join a war against a single country – if, for example, Japan and Russia fought then England would stay neutral.

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