AMERICAN FLEET.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18406, 12 June 1925, Page 13

AMERICAN FLEET.

VISIT OF DESTROYERS TO - LYTTELTON.

At yesterday's meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board tho chairman (Mr W. J. Walter) announced that it was expected that fourteen destroyers and one tender of tho United Statoß fleet jit. present in the Pacific would visit Lyttelton, and would arrive on or about August 11th. . ■ . . Tho harbourmaster .(Captain T. M. Hunter), who attendance, submitted a plan showing where he proposed to placo the warships. The onginoor (Mr Cyrus Williams) asked if the ordinary work of the port could be carried on under the conditions as indicated by the plan. Captain Hunter said that it" could be carried' on. .Captain Monro asked if the'presence of so many ships, in the inner harbour would not dislocate the ordinary working of the port. Captain Hunter said that no more berthage acconiinodation would be taken up than' was taken up on the occasion of the visit of the light cruiser squadron. After making allowance for the fact that the United States ships were visiting Lyttelton at the slack time of the year—which generally extended from June to September—he did not think that any dislocation would occur. '.■'•■ It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of th c harbourmaster. The following telegrams have passed between tho Hon. B. F. Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Board's secretary: — The secretary of the Board telegraphed as follows to the Minister of Internal Affairs:— "Your telegram 28th re American Fleet: This Board gives assurance that in thc event of their visiting Lyttelton destroyer tender drawing 21it and fourteen destroyers will be properly accommodated and taken care of at wharves at Lyttelton,' subject to thc provision that-it may be necessary to double bank some of the destroyers, which assumed to be about 300 ft long. Harbourmaster would like earliest possible advice of date of arrival and overall-lengths of ships." The Hon. -B. F. Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs, replied as follows: "Your telegram May 2?th 'regarding berthage American destroyers received. The information will be furnished to the Commandor-in-Chief and you will be advised of decision. According •to Jane's 1925 publication the length of destroyers varies from 289f£ to 310 ft. Approximate .date of arrival August 11th.