THE EASTERN FLEET 141 



moved forward nearer the enemy. Escorted by a motor launch 

 of the Royal Indian Navy, the survey boat steamed from Cox's 

 Bazaar southwards ^o miles through the night to St. Martin's 

 Island, which lay close south of the Naaf River entrance and five 

 miles off the enemy-held coast. 



Luckily there were no Japanese on St. Martin's Island, only a 

 few Burmese, and Grattan took possession quietly, anchoring his 

 boat oft the casuarina lined shores and taking over a native hut for 

 his headquarters. No lights or fires were permitted on the island 

 by night, whilst the sky to the eastward was illuminated by the 

 flash of artillery and falling bombs. 



Close as the surveyors were to the eneiny, the base had to be 

 measured with the usual care, and this was done on a low sandy 

 spit at the west side of the river entrance. Then the triangulation 

 had to be observed, which meant landing by day on the enemy's 

 shore. Sometimes Zero fighters flew so low over the party that 

 they could plainly see the pilot in his cockpit, and they were 

 happy to think they may have been mistaken for Japanese. Once 

 ashore Charles Grattan used his theodolite and Jimmy Green- 

 shields booked the angles ; the other two members on shore stood 

 guard with the entire armament, a stripped Lewis and a ToiTimy 

 gun, peering fearfully into the thick jungle. But for some strange 

 reason they were never discovered until they were once again in 

 their boat and bullets sung past thein as they made oft ; on one 

 occasion they had only just left a BuriTiese village when the whole 

 place went up in flames, presumably as a reprisal for the slight 

 assistance that had been given to the surveyors by the villagers. 



After about a week, when it seemed that the Japanese had 

 overlooked the activity on St. Martin's Island, Esthet arrived with 

 her helpful captain, gifted cook and comfortable bunks. However, 

 Esther did not distil her own water, nor was there any on the 

 island, so that every two or three days she must sail at full speed, 

 with all guns manned, into the river and upstream to a muddy 

 pool on the western bank Avhere fresh supplies were taken onboard. 



The surveyors got to know every yard of the coast south of the 

 river, and when the channel through the Cypress Sands had been 

 surveyed and marked for shipping the little party were delighted 

 to find themselves asked to guide in the commandos landing on 

 the coast to make a right hook. Charles Grattan led the landing 



