And a cruiser would call to her sister, astern,
"Precocious as ever, they've nothing to learn!"
The Old Navy stretched as they got under way
To take the Surrender that fell on a Day,
And the drifters and trawlers looked on from afar
At the cruisers and battleships winning the War,
And, cheering the conquest with ev'ry good wish,
Prepared to go back to their nets and their fish.
But scarce had the fishing fleet time to turn round
When there fell on their ears a remarkable sound,