H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15037, 4 August 1914, Page 11

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

IN FIRST. ' SQUADRON.

AT SEA WITH THE FIRST FLEET.

", In view of the-fact that H3I.S. New Zealand was not included in the lists of ships forming the various battle •fleets of the Royal Navy, published in "Tho Press!' last week,, there.bave been numerous enquiries as to the pro: sent' position of • the battle-cruiser.

On her.return to, England last year, the New Zealand joined the First Battle Cruiser Squadron attached to the First Fleet.- The squadron comprised the Lion, 26.350 tens, flagship of RearAdmiral David' Beatty, C.8., M.V.0., D.5.0.; Queen. Mary,. 27,000 tons; Princess R0ya1,:.26,350 tons, and New Zealand, 18,800 tons. In Juno, however, .it , was announced by "Admiralty that the New Zealand was to be trans--1 ferred to , the ? Second Battle-Cruiser i Squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet j the other ships of this squadron being ,the Inflexible. Indomitable, Indefatigable, and Invincible. The special I correspondent of-the "Naval and Military Record," writing from Malta on June 10th, said: —"Rear-Admiral A. G. IH/W. ; Moore; who has been appointed !to the Mediterranean station in command of the Second Battle-Cruiser Squadron, wfll leave England for Malta at the same time as the newly-appoint-ed Commander-in-Chief. Admiral Sir Henry B. Jackson, and will arrive wards the. first week of September. Admiral Jackson will arrive in the battlecruiser Inflexible, which is to be fleet flagship, and Rear-Admiral Moore will bring nither the battle-cruiser New Zealand, which has been serving in the First Battle-Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet. " Tho number of flag officers afloat on the station will thus be raised from two to three, and the number of battle-cruisers will be increased to five. It is believed that the. Admiralty may find it* impracticable to spare more than four battleships for service in the Mediterranean when the Battle Squadron earmarked for this station arrives early next spring. . In that case, the Battle-Cruiser Squadron will be detained in the Mediterranean until the Battle Snuadron has received such reirforcemonts as will render it adequate to British needs in the Midd'e Sea." As the above changes were not to be made until September the New Zealand, which was oreFent at the great naval review at Spithead last month, is still attached to the First Battle-' Cruiser Squadron, and will, therefore be at sea with the ships of the First Fleet, which left Portland last week.