" but after very nearly
giving her a bad bump we had to sheer off, and we have again anchored
and wait for that tantalising wind to moderate.

In the afternoon we made another attempt to get on board the
"Aquitania" and again failed.

_November 24th._--After two hours fiddling about we managed to attach
our fore and aft hawsers to the "Aquitania," and after breakfast we
went on board our new home. This magnificent boat had 2300 patients
last night and expects 2000 more to complete her load. She has a crew
of 1000, thirty-six medical men and a large number of nurses. The
"Aquitania" was at first a troopship and mounted four 6-inch guns, and
has carried 7000 troops at a time, besides her crew. The distance from
Lemnos to Southampton is 3080 miles, and with her proper coal, a
mixture of Welsh and Newcastle, she has covered that distance in 4
days 18 hours. But for coal she has to rely mainly on the inferior
stuff she picks up at Naples.

The fittings in the wheel house are most ingenious. For example,
should fire break out the captain has only to open a cupboard which
tells him where it is, and by touching a button he can flood any one
of the six watertight compartments. A fan works automatically in this
cupboard every five minutes, and if there is smoke in any compartment
it is sucked up its corresponding tube. There are thirty-eight
electric clocks on the ship, and as the time has to be changed
continually as we go east or west, by moving the hands of a clock in
the wheelhouse the hands of the thirty-eight move in unison.

We hear Greece has been presented with an ultimatum demanding her to
come into the war on our side, otherwise to demobilise within two
days. Another story says she has already joined the other side, and
that our fleets have been engaged.

_November 26th._--The Germans are at present accusing us of carrying
troops and ammunition on our hospital ships, an excuse given out to
the world for sinking the first good prize of the sort they come
across. Of the sixty-four hospital ships we are said to possess the
"Aquitania" would make the most desirable capture, and our most
dangerous spot is the Aegean, from behind any of whose numerous
islands a submarine lying in wait may dart out.

We are now approaching Sicily on our way to Naples. We cannot go
through the Straits of Messina after dark, and our quickest and
cheapest way is to anchor for the night, but the danger of attack
prevents this and we h