"At Suez we had to join several other ships at anchor awaiting permission to enter Suez Bay. This is to allow the south-bound convoy to get clear of the port. "At 3 a.m. we entered Suez Bay and anchored again. The pilot boarded at 9 a.m. but just as we started to move a signal came from the Canal authorities stopping all ships owing to bad visibility in the Canal. There was a sand storm and visibility was reduced to a few feet. This lasted until it was too late for us to proceed, and so we had to remain at anchor till the following morning. One ship which grounded in the Canal also held up ships. These delays cause terrific congestion. When we started at 10-30 a.m. the following morning, there were 20 of us plus some ships which had been in the Canal when the sand-storm blew up. When we reached the Bitter Lakes there were at least 50 ships waiting. In the Lakes it is usual to reform the convoy. Ships not stopping at Port Said are put next to the tankers, which lead. Ships stopping at Port Said are then placed according to where they berth at Port Said. By this system there ;s no delay. We were lucky, as after the convoy had been changed the ship astern of us went aground and all the ships following were held up. Fortunately it was not a serious grounding and the ship was refloated without assistance after an hour or so. We were at Port Said before the delayed ships were in sight. As we cleared the Canal, the Agent came aboard with the ship's papers which had been landed at Suez for inspection. These were the cargo manifests and log books. Proof has to be produced that the ship has not been to an Israeli port and that no cargo destined for Israel is on board. The police also come on board to ensure that no members of the crew have been left behind. I have never heard of crew members running away in the desert. Our two Canal pilots were Polish and Egyptian, and both were very good. We took 11 hours 14 minutes to make the transit and this time included 45 minutes at anchor in the Bitter Lakes. We cleared Port Said for Lisbon at 11 p.m." Dates and ports of call 24th July. Sailed from Birkenhead. Called at Aquaba, Aden. 12th Aug. Arrived Bombay. Called at Murmagoa, Cochin, Madras. 9th Sept. Arrived Chittagong. 16th Sept. Arrived Calcutta. Called at Pondicherry, Madras, Cochin. I8th Oct. Sailed from Cochin. Called at Aden and Lisbon. 9th Nov. Arrived off Gravesend. :
THE DEBATING SOCIETY Over the past term the Society has shown a marked change in its attitude to debating; and first and foremost, the President, Mr. M. A. Clegg, is to be thanked for being largely instrumental in producing enthusiasm from apathy. At the first closed meeting of the term 48 members were present: at the last there were 67, and a successful term was crowned by the success of the final open meeting, with an attendance of something in the region of 150 boys. 21
