Apparently the "battle of the century" is being waged between HMCS Magnificent and her plane guard, HMCS Micmac when flying stations secure for the day. While anchored for the night in St. Margaret's Bay (Nova Scotia) or elsewhere along the coast during the course of flying training periods in East Coast waters, the two ships have engaged in a private war, the results of which have been pretty well even, despite the disparity in size and strength. Contested, of course, in the spirit of good, clean fun, the battle has aroused the two ships' companies to a high competitive pitch. One crew member of the Micmac, PO Brian Aloss, even went so far as to describe one of the nocturnal raids in heroic verse.

On board the Magnificent, the ship's newspaper "The Maginews," has published running accounts of the "war" in frontline dispatches. Two of these reports and PO Moss's poem are reprinted below
 

WITH THE FLEET IN ST. MARGARET'S BAY -  One of Micmac's boats made diversionary passes off Maggie's port side and her whaler sneaked alongside and shackled a smoke float on the starboard bower cable last night while the ships were anchored here.

The assault caught lookouts napping and made off before fire hoses could be brought into play. An attempt to counterattack by the Master at Arms and the Flight Deck Chief failed when their rubber dinghy became awash enroute to the destroyer during the middle watch.  This bulletin was inserted at the "Maginews" deadline this morning over an account of a previous raid on Micmac by Magnificent Wednesday night.  The battle scores stand at one apiece. Watch for further developments.....

A new style of boot-topping was introduced on Wednesday night, and it was one job that didn't require the duty hands. In the still of the night, a motor cutter stealthily left the Magnificent, bound on a  goodwill mission. It carried a taut, determined company of men, armed with (yep!) fire-bucket, red paint. The boats proceeded around George's Island (boats "proceed" always) and then cut engines; both cutter and attendant dinghy from there on paddled toward our neighbour on phase one of Operation Boot-top.

There was a twitchy moment when Shearwater's duty-boat nearly ran down the dinghy, but both of Maggie's boats remained unobserved and paddled alongside the Micmac.  No reception committee appearing, Maggie's diplomats set to work with pot and brush and transformed "214" into an advertisement for "Club 21" on the starboard side,  while a large calling card - "We stand on Guard" - was painted on the other side.

Exterior decorating got rather dull, and the party had not been invited aboard, so they packed up their tents and set out for some well earned sack-time, filching the Micmac's motor cutter for good measure. A worried signal to Dockyard from Micmac reported loss of the motor cutter and inspection of the hull told of the surprise visit. A counterattack followed in yardcraft  removed from the dockyard. The return visit was welcomed by a full, fire-hose treatment but the Indians managed to regain their boat and left their trademark on the Magnificent's port side.

THE BATTLE OF ST. MARGARET'S BAY

On a dark and rainy, night in the merry month of May.
Two ships were laid at anchor in old St. Margaret's Bay.
Now one, she was a big ship with a thousand crew or more.
But the other was a little ship, with seamanlike ten score.
They'd sailed around together for many a peaceful year.
With the Big'un always out in front and the Small'un in the rear.

Now Big'un thought, "I'm very strong so Small'un I'll outsmart.
Little dreaming Small'un would upset the applecart.
They painted up the Small'un and her cutter they did steal.
Then back aboard the culprits fled to shoot the breeze and spiel,
The deed was soon discovered and the battle had begun,
So all the brains were gathered to see what should be done

The Small'un's crew were mustered and in them was no fear,
They'd put the Small'un out it front and Big'un in the rear.
Their ammo was some ancient eggs and slightly disused spuds,
Their battledress was dungarees and other hardy duds.
Around the hour of midnight, when all should be asleep.
Two boats were deftly lowered and cross the Bay did creep.

With the cutter as a decoy the whaler made its way,
Cosy to the Big'un, a smoke float there to lay.
With the whaler undiscovered, the cutter made attacks
Which caused the Big'un's crewmen to nip smartly from their sacks.
Spuds and eggs flew through the air, to meet with angry shouts,
And someone from the flight deck cried, "Come on you (censored) louts

Now this enraged the Small'uns so with smoke puffs they replied,
Just then the float was lighted - and the Big'un almost fried
The smoke was something wicked but above the coughs and chokes,
Someone was heard to holler. "Who's out front now with jokes?"

The moral of this story -  If you're a big ship rate,
Don't fool around with Small'un's - or you'll' seal your smoky fate.