PRINCE OF WALES

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16853, 5 June 1920, Page 10

PRINCE OF WALES

A CROWDED DAY.

! (By Cable—Pre?s Association—Copyright.) j (Austrziian and JC.Z. Cablo Association.) MELBOURNE, June 4. The Prince of Wales attended a garden party yesterday afternoon, a dinner by the Melbourne Club in tho evening, and a matrons' ball at St. Kilda at night, thus completing (with, the midday Returned Sailors' and Scl- ! diers' League luncheon and the visit to j the university) five, engagements < n ! Thursday. (.Received June 4th, 11.5 p.in.) MELBOURNE, Juno 4. Continuing his tour, the Prince of Wales reacned CastlemauK?, where a welcome change in the routine was made. Instead of a Royal parade through the streets the people marched past the Prince, who was watching from a platform. He then proceeded to Bendigo, where he was enthusiastically received, and lat-er he returned to Melbourne. THE SYDNEY PEOGRAMME. SYDNEY, June 2. A feature to be introduced into tho Royal procession will be the participation of 1000 Light Horsemen. Material alterations in the Sydney programme arc likely to result from tho postponement of the Prince's visit. Tho people are desirous that H.M.S. Renown should enter Sydney Harbour at 9 a.m on June 16th, but the navigating officers fear the presence of a fog, an idea which is scouted by tho local organisers. j The Premier objected to an, alternative scheme that the Renown should enter on the previous afternoon. THE PEINCE AND HIS STATF. (Prom "The Times.") LONDON, May 27. "Tho Times'" in a leading article predicts that tho magic spell of the Prince's I personality will prove irresistible in Australia. Even before his arrival people took him to their hearts. "Tho nation, says our correspondent," continues the article, " 'regards the Prince assingle-and-generous-mind-cd and without side. It is disposed to think that the staff is inclined to check these impulses, an idea which the staff •will do well to be careful to dissipate, for it is tho chief threat to the complete success of the tour.' "These are strong words, and our correspondent would not use them without due cause and consideration. We need not discuss the justification of the impression of which ho writes. It is enough that it exists, however mistaken the staff should consider it, and we have no doubt that they will realise that it is their duty to remove it. with tho Prince as fhoir model, by every moans in thoir power."

KATKOPRA PBOM HJSJ.S. BENOWN.

In a wireless message to the Sydney "Sun," of May 23rd, Mr Keith Murdoch, special representative of that paper on board H.M.S. Renown, thus describes the passage of the ship up the east coast of the South Island, after leaving Lyttelton:— Passing Kaikoura Peninsula, under the lee of the great serried Kaikoura Ranges, we kept close to the coast, according ; to the request telegraphed some davs ago to the Princo from the local settlers. It was a magnificent spectacle as the battle cruiser swung along the const now in calm, protected seas, and still air.

The ranges stretched inland, row upon row of poaks, each line higher than the last, until the scene was lost in. the mists and white clouds. Peaks 8000 feet towered up, and the great pinnacle of Tapuae-Nuku, nearly 10,(XX) feet in height, was seen in a break of the clouds.

The mountains stood like sentinels, all. white and glistening, and looking out seaward. We couß not see a movement; or any sign of life along this shore, but knew that somewhero there small farmers and the people of the villages and of Kaikoura township were looking across the sullen waters, doubtless as much impressed by the great warship at ■ sea na we wore by their rugged mountains; and they w6re wondering a good deal also about the Princo on board. We kept on steadily, and the Kaikouras faded, but other ranges kept us company, until we came upon the broad,, fruitful plains of Middle Marlborough. HOW THE PRINCE LANDED IN AUSTRALIA. A HURRIED JOURNEY THROUGH MELBOUBNE. (FEOST OTO OWN COJIRESPOXUKfT.) j SYDNEY, May 27. j Sydney is chuckling wickedly to-day. j "There you are," says the good Sydneyite. "They would take the Prince to Melbourne, and bring him into Australia by the side-door, ih winter, . instead of introducing him through the front door at Sydney—and see whati happens. ■ What a nice first impression he must have of Australia I" And while a million people waited in Melbourns streets to see the Prince pass by, and shivered in a bitter southerly, and the Prince'-s ship was actually lost in a fog outside Melbourne Heads, Sydney was bathed in the soft yellow sunshine typical of "the Sunny State" at this time of year. "But he had to go to Melbourne first" argues thei Victorian, "Melbourne is the capital." "He didn't go t:o Wellington first, did he?" retorts the Sydneyite crushingly, "and Wellington is the capital of Netv Zealand." It seems that tho fog bank gathered over, the low-lying Yarra during the night and slowly drifted out to Eea—a frequent winter phenomenon. The Renown, coniinn very slowly towards the Heads, rail into tho fog at 7 a.m., juss an hour before she had intended passing through the awkward entrance cn the top of the tide. It was an unexpected trouble. She kept on, very slowly, expecting to run through the cloud. It got thicker, visibility was reduced to a few yards, and she went dead slow, whistling every minute. Presently, out of the mist, another hooter sounded, and a little pilot steamer found them out and went round them. Someone megaphoned that "It was clear inside." Then the pilot steamer turned for the entrance, and the Renown followed, very slowly. But the fog got thicker, and the Renown's anxious officers stopped ' her, turned her nose right round, and lav there, waiting events. They were in frequent communication with the worried offi•cials ashore by wireless. Had it not

been for the wireless, the position would have been really tragic. As it was, it was simply annoying, and in some ways -amusing. There was no clanger; Pilot Easton. who had gone from Melbourne to New Zealand to join tho ship's company, was on the bridge. A war story, hitherto hidden by the censorship, may now be told about Easton. Some <lavs after war broke out a big German steamer from Hamburg, | which had no wireless, was .signalled off the Melbourne Heads, and Easton went out to her and brought lier in. He said nothing to tho Gorman captain about the war. When the ship was inside, off Portsea, and Easton could see a naval launch packed with bluejackets approaching, lie said to the captain, "We'll slow to half-speed here." The German, who knew the port weil asked "Why, Pilot, why?" and he fixed an gnxious eye on' the launch. "Because Britain and Germany arc "at war," said Easton. The German, furious with rage at thus, being "trapped," as ho called it, was for turning round again and running for the entrance. But Easton pointed out a fort to him, and assured him that the guns there were trained on tho steamer. So tha German succumbed, but his manner forwards Easton was very threatening. Five minutes later the Australian bluejackets scrambled aboard. That steamer is now part of Australia's merchant fleet.

It was Pilot Easion who told Admiral Halsey that the Renown could not be taken in under thq existing conditions. Everyone was agreed on that, and officialdom ashore was advised accordingly. ashore was mightily perturbed. The tide would not be suitable again for the entrance of the big ship until late in the afternoon—and meanwhile the wholo elaborate reception programme v.-as in danger of going to pieces. A million people were gathering in the c-ifcy streets to cheer the Prince—and" the Prince was practically imprisoned in the i'o'r. But those on the Renown could do nothing—they were in the lxands of officialdom and the fog. So, while the wireless of officialdom sizzled frantically, tho Renown lay. motionless on a dead calm sea, wrapped as in a blanket, and the Renown's distinguished company ate a philosophic, and hearty breakfast. The Prince manifested a good deal of concern. Ho was distressed to see Australia's great welcome disarranged by this untoward circumstance: it was a bad augury. By ten o'clock officialdom had got things somewhat rearranged. The Prince was to be brought ashore in a destroyer, which could negotiate the entrance in a fog without danger, and the programme adhered to. So far. so good! The Anzac, the leador of the mam Australian flotilla, set off to get the Prince, attended by five other destroyers.

The Anzac was outside tho entrance beiore noon—but where was the Renown and tho PrinceP Wireless messages came out of the solid bank of fog which 1 lay around-the Heads, giving the approximate position of the sender/and the Amae Set out on her task, like a blindfolded man looking for a post in a paddock. She searched for half an pour, and she could not even «et within range of the Renown's hooter. She tried again, and missed. Then the ltenown fired a couple of her big guns, pie Anzac heard that, gftt the direction, and m a tew minutes was along- ? j" x fc i_ J?- wirelessed that sho had got the Prince and the official party aboard and was on her way in. The tog was slowly lifting, and she found mu Wa ? m wltfloUt much trouble Ihe five destroyers—two on ono side ol the Anzac and three on the other— jraced up. the Bay, and presently, iust before three o'clock, through the halfaissipated fog, they cam© into view of the waiting multitudes. The aerial programme began to be carried out. / night of fourteen aeroplanes began to* rtunt ' over the Australian fleet, which the destroyers ware uotv approaching. By the time the Anzac had slowed up to receive the salute of <rbig- guns from of . AV ? P S ' ar 'd had then landed the official party on Port Melbourne Pier; and the Prince had conscientiously inspected the naval guard there; and the, ai jji L r& * eni^ar ked on the ancient paddie-steamcr and proceeded to the St. jvilda Pier: and had disembarked and tornmlly met a glittering assembly representing official Australia—by 'then it was four o'clock, .and he was nearly ono and a half hours behind tho programme. Everything was cut short, and the young man hurried along the pier, with the Governor-General. It is a. battered old pier, and there is some comment on the fact that no attempt was made to improve or cover it. tor this special occasion. St. Kilda councillors formally welcomed the Prince as he put his foot on Australian soil. He could not hear a word they said. The hundreds of thousands who waited along the shore, and lined the St. Kilda road along the whole four miles to the city, hr.d been apprised by the aeroplanes and the bi" guns Jhat tho Prince ha<l at last art rived; and their checrs rose in a stMdv deafening clamour. The Princ* smiled his thanks to the earnest Councillors, said a f?v.- words in a clear ringing voice, pave his left hand to an importunate dijnTf.r" or two who somehow got tarough the cordon and pressed unon lum. and entered the writing carnage with tho Lieutenant-Governor and AdmiralJlalsey, nnd drove off. Ifc was a magnificent carriage with mc tillions and all tho rest Vf the uKal trappings—r.o one thought there was such a thing in Australia. Tba people had waited since noon along the route, with most nmszin-v patience. They might hnve shown an ugly temper: instead, they regarded everything with tolerant ff ocd humour, 1 and jested and amused themselves in : all sorts of ways. Finally, when the

Royal carriage did come, it went past at ia brisk trot. It was a shameful disappointment to the vast crowds who had waited to patiently—but there was nothing else for it. It was a dull day, darkness was rapidly approaching, and !it was necessary to bo r.t the Town j Hall before dusk. So the thousands j who cheered had just the briefest glimpse of Edward's boyish smiling fat-L----as he was hurried by. Even so, then liked him on sight—his modesty, his ready, kindly smilc\ and tho pink-and-wliiul, clean-cut Bullishness of him. At the Town Hall the Australians saw a little of the Edward of whom they have heard so much. The Lord flavor came forward to the carriage with an address. "We won't read ; t. shall wo, Mr Lord Mayor?" said the Prince, with his sunny smile. "And here is my reply." he went on, smiling, and producing a document. "Wo won't read that either.'' So the ceremonies at the Town Hall lasted only a iVw cordial minutes. As the Prince turned away, ho found a number of importunate returned soldiers at the tide of the carriage, who wanti-d to shake hands. "Not all of you—it is impossible,-' said the Prince, giving his left hand to one of them. The latter demanded his right hand. Tho Prince hesitated, then gave his right hand, saluted the gathering'on the /own Hall steps, and continued his drive through ! the city to Government House. The j latter part of his journey was in semidarkness. |

It is a thousand pities the people had such n brief glimpse of him .in this occasion, as it is obvious the Prince will please the Australians. There are no half-measures with them—if they do not like him, they will quickly show it.

They loudly cheered the Prince as, in the dusk, he turned into Bourke stroet. The next moment they were loudly hooting. In the car following tho Princo was Mr Hughes, and the hoots were for him. It was a sort of hooting on general principles, for "Billy" is not at issue with the people just now. Only eight months apt), in that same street, the crowds were cheering themselves hoarse on the occasion of Mr Hughes's return from the Pence Conference. A fickle people! Sydney is preparing to give the Princo a really Royal welcome —and saying, maliciously, that at any rate, he will not get lost in a fog in Sydney HarboUr.