68 CHALLENGER 



The ship sailed as soon as all boats were hoisted and a number 

 of Grenada police had been embarked. Steaming at her best speed 

 she came into Kingstown in the dark and anchored off the town 

 by midnight. 



A United States newspaper report of this rush to St. Vincent 

 caused amusement onboard when the papers were received : 'The 

 battle cruiser Challenger, travelling at high speed, rushed to the 

 Island, with the Marines formed up on the quarterdeck with 

 bayonets fixed, ready for landing, and the guns manned and 

 trained in readiness for action.' Challenger^ s maximum speed at 

 this time was about ten knots, while her armament consisted of 

 12 rifles, 6 revolvers and 6 cutlasses. 



The Navy does not exist to do police duties ashore, and on 

 occasions such as this when it is called upon to aid the Civil 

 Power, it is loathe to take action unless it is clear that the situa- 

 tion is beyond the control of the local police. The Navy's 

 strength is more often in the sobering effect which the presence 

 of a well-disciplined force always has upon an excited population. 

 The Senior Naval Officer must discuss the situation with the local 

 authorities and decide the most suitable role for the Navy to play. 

 And so at about i o'clock in the morning, Commander Alun 

 Jones was reporting Challenger's arrival to His Excellency the 

 Governor, who was conducting operations from the Police Head- 

 quarters. It was decided that the men of Challenger would relieve 

 the police of guard duties, enabling more police to take action 

 against the rioters. Challenger took over responsibility for guarding 

 the Police Barracks, the Power Station, the Cable Offices and 

 the Telephone Exchange, and parties of ofhcers and men from 

 the ship who had been quietly preparing onboard were soon 

 marching through the dark streets on their way to take up their 

 stations. One party came face to face with a priest who was level- 

 ling an old blunderbuss at them ; he had thought the tramp of feet 

 indicated the approach of a well-organised section of the mob 

 coming to loot the treasures of his church. 



A wireless signal station was established in the Police Head- 

 quarters which kept in touch with Challenger throughout the 

 week, while the ship's Medical Officer was kept busy assisting 

 with the casualties in the hospital. But perhaps Challenger's great- 

 est part in the quelling of the riots was the steadying effect brought 



