H.M.S. LONDON.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19148, 3 November 1927, Page 13

H.M.S. LONDON.

LAUNCH OF A NEW CRUISER CHRISTENED WITH AUSTRALIAN WINE. (trou eras own corbespostdktiM LONDON. September 21.

London's own warship, tie new cruiser H.M.S. London, was launched at Portsmouth dockyard a few daya ago during heavy rain Thousands of spectators cheered as the great ehip took the water. Tho naming ceremony was performed by tho Lady Mayoress of London (Lady Blades), who was accompanied by the Lord Mayor (Sir Rowland Blades).

Distinguished naval men present included Earl Jellicoe, Admiral Sir Osmund do Brock, Bear-Admiral L. A. B. Donaldson, Admiral Sir A. B. M. Chatfield, Captain E. E. G. R. Evans, Sir "William Bury (Director of Naval Construction), and BearAdmiral H. E. Grace. Tho Bishop of Portsmouth and the Mayor and Mayoress of Portsmouth were also present. A guard of honour of Royal Marines received tho Lady Mayoress, who took her place on a crimson-coloured stand. A bottle of Australian wine was framad in flowers, and suspended by cords to the bow of the ship. After a religious ceremony and the singing of hymns by a choir of girls and boys, Lady Blades, lifting the frame of flowers, smashed the bottle of wine against toe hull of the 10,003 tons' ship, and said: "I name the ship London. God bless the ship and all who sail in her."

Severing the Rope. The Lady Mayoress then took a chisel and wooden mallet from a beautifully carved onken box, and severed the ropo which bound tho 6hip to tho stages. She hammered away vigorously for a couple of minutes before she could cut the rope. Tho rope parted suddenly, and the noise of the mooring shores"' and blocks seamed to startle Lady Blades for a raomenf. Amid tumultuous cheering H.M.S. London glided slowly and gracefully down the slipway, the great Union Jack at her bo*w flying bravely in tho breezo. The men standing on he I deck cheered in re-Sjjc-nse. No details are yet available as to London's construction, but it is understood that ehe has a length of 590 feet, and will be er.gincd for a speed of 31i hnots.

OUTWARD BOUND. OTRANTO AND CORINTHIC. (from our own correspondent.) LONDON, September 21. A large number o£ passengers have booked through to New Zealand by the Otianto, which left Tilbury on Saturday. The New Zealand cricketers are going back by this veseel, connecting with her at Toulon, after travelling overland through France. Other saloon passengers include the following:— Sir Alexander and Lady Spence and Mies N. Suence, the Rev. J. Milne, Mr and .Mrs J. Findlay, Mr and Mrs W. If. E. Flint, Mr G. W. Flint, and Miss B. A. Flint, Mr and Mrs H. Fry, Mr and Mrs H. E. Hall, Mr ahd Mrs H. W. Hall, Mr and Mrs W. Henderson, Mr and Mrs J. R. Illingworth and child, Mr and Mrs G. Latkiuß. Mr Mra J. T. Mat-son, Mr and Mrs A. Nelson, Mr and Mrs A. Speirs and Mr K G. Speirs, Mrs C. A. Thomas, Mrs K. M. Brown, Mrs Donald, Mrs Edwards, the/- Misses M. E. Boyer, 15. M. Canning, J. F. Bonham-Car-tcr, H. C. Darling, M. Delaney, it. E. Harvey, D. M. J,nmb, M. Mackay, D. and L. Manifold, E. M. Morgan, J. M, Pope, J. R, Shirtcliffe, N. T. Guthrie Smith, Messrs T, J. Boyce, F. W. Boyer, J. 'F. Darling, F. E. Hopkins, K. C. James, H. C. Jamieaon, G. L. Johnston, R. T. St. Lawrence, T). S. G. Marchbanks, R. J. Marchbahke, D. Marshall, and N. G. Sdrehsen.

Corinthic's Passengers. The Corinthic left Southampton on Friday morning outward bound for New Zealand. Captain F. Hart is in command, and Dr. H. A. Harbison is medical officer. The saloon passengers for Auckland are:Commander F. Attwodd, R.N., and Mrs Attwood, Master J. and Miss M. Attwood, Mr C. Corderoy, Mrs I. Martin, Mrs E. Birtwistle, Mrs E. Halpln and Miss T. Halpin, Mrs B. O'Halloras. Mr. E. O'Hallofan. Miss B. O'Halloran, Mr and Mrs F. Parsons, Mr and Mrs E. BoWley, Miss K. Harris, Miss F. Wilbraham, Messrs A. Campbell, T. Fraser, J. Langridgo. • " . \ Thoso booked for Wellington are:—Mr aiid Mrs J. Borron, Lt.-Col. and Mrs B. Gray, the Misses P. and R. Gray, Mr and Mrs J. Everett, Mr and Mrs H. Franklin, Mr and Mrs E. Grice, Dr. and Mrs H. Hayes, Master 1 I. Hayes, Mr and Mrs A. Wheatley, Mrs M. Harris and Miss J. Harris, Mrs K. Nielson and Misß D. Nielson. Mrs I. Wilkinson and Miss A. Wilkinson, Master I. WUkiUBOj), Mrs A. Wimberley. Mrs M. Murray, the Misses 0. Garside, H. Stewart, 0. Swabey, E. Swabey, D. Carroll, J. Damant, I. Gordon, H. Holloway, M. Shatford, Mrs M. Wydell, Mrs A, Brindle, Mrs H. McWilliam, M>s E. Robbie, Messrs E. Bernau, H. Ellis, R. Speight, J. Carter R. Varlow, B, Wilson. For 'Lvttolton—Mr and Mrs W. Minson, Mr T. Warburton, Mr and Mrs J. Norcliffe, Masters B. and R. Norcliffe, Mr and Mrs J. Sladen, Mr and Mrs T. Whitfield, Miss K. Whitfield, Mr and Mrs W. Williams, Mrs-E. Gray, Miss E. Dew, Messrs J. Newman, G. Burton, W. Byron, A. Tench. For Port Chalmers: —Mrs E. Allan and the Misses R. and S. Allan, Mrs M. Elmore. Mrs. 1. Smith, tho Misses H. and M. Thornlay, Mr T. Warburton. . „■ , For Timaru:—Mr and Mrs S. Matthews. Thero are 221 third-class pnpsengersibonnd for New Zealand, including 70 for Wellington 33 for Auckland, 22 for Lyttelton, 59 for. Port Chalmers, 14 for Napier, 3 for Oamaru, 4 for Gisborne, 1 for Timaru.

MAMARI DAMAGED. COLLISION WITH ICEBERG. (FROM OUR OWH CORRBSPOKDENT.) LONDON, September 24. After being in collision with an iceberg, the Shaw, Savill liner Mamari, from New Zealand, arrived at George V. Dock yesterday afternoon, her bows all crumpled aud rent. There was a huge gap beneath the water? line, and only the fact that the huge bulkhead had held together saved th« ship from disaster. Temporary repairs had been effected in South America, and the ship was patched up with baulks of timber and steel bands. . ; The accident happened in. the early hourß of August sth, when the liner (which is of 8114 tons) was about 100 miles off the Falkland Islands. "We had been steaming past a lot of loose ice for several days," one of the seamen said, "when suddenly we heard a crunching noise and a terrific crash. No one saw the iceberg until we were actually on to it. _ It loomed above the ship, black as the night, between 200 and 300 feet high. We had struck-it head on. Had it been a glancing blow we should have gono down like a stone. The berg seemed to slip away from us. and pass us on one side, and then topple completely over." , . There were no passengers in the smp, which was bringing about 8000 tons of New Zealand lamb and produce to London.