SAILING OF BELLONA NEAR

Chronicle (Levin), 3 October 1946, Page 5

SAILING OF BELLONA NEAR

(RiiP'cial Com-siionih-nl.)

WILL BE IN DOMINION WATERS BY CHRISTMAS

Eecoivt'd Wednesdav, 7 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 2. BUinding on a dais under the twin fivc-itu'h guus on the quarter deck, Air. \V. .). Jonhui wislied the ship 's oompaiiv of Il.AI.S. Belloiui, godspeed and good luck u heu he \ i si t etl Ihe warship in t'hathani dockvards. Witli him was AIis. .lurdan who wishcd the company a hapjiy ( 'hri.stinas in New Zealand. The Bellona is oue to sail lTom Portland on October 21 and after calling at Permuda, Pauanui, San Diego, l'earl Jlarbour, Farming Island and Suva, is due to arrive at Auckland on December 1.1. Hhe is ex]»ected to be attaehed to the New Zealand statiun for at least t.hree vears. The ship's company chiefiy eonqiiises New Zealanders who served in 1 lie Achilles and Gambia. Over lialf the otlicers are New Zealanders and 98 jier cent. of the other ranks. There are 7570 men aboitrd. Pefore arriving at the Bellona, Arr. and Alrs. Jordan, aceonqianied by Air. .S. R. Skinner, Naval Atfairs officer, lunrhed with Admiral Sir llarold Burrougbs. They were received on board by I'uptain Al. P. Laing, D.S.O., and t'oninntnder P. 1-1. Washbourn, D.S.O.. of Nelson, who is the Bellona 's execntive ollicer. Addressing the ship's company, Air. Jordan remarkeil that the Bellona succeeded in the New Zealand service niany well known ships including the Achilles, Gambia, Leander and Neptune. "We lookc'd with pride upon' thuse ships and we considered with pride and gratitude the men who served in theni,'' he said. The Bellona was being attaehed to the New Zealand station because she was more modern and liad greater fighting elKciencv tluin her predecessors, Air. Jordan added. It was to be hoped that her lighting efticiency would never be needed and in his own judgment it would be some time yet before that effieienev would be required in action. Jocularly Air. Jordan remarked that he was glad the Bellona was being conimissioued that day because it gave him a reason to leave the Paris Peace Conference. But he added that lie believed that at Paris the peoples of the world were beginning to understand the temperanient and outlook of one anotlier, and altliougli there liad been straight talking, the peoples were getting to know oue another. Having shown their differences they meant to reconcile theni. Alv. Jordan, referring to Afr. Skinner, said he was shortly visiting New Zealand, and added: " No man has done a biggcr job for all ranks in the New Zealand Navy." After Air." Jordan 's address Commaiider "Washbourn called for tliree chcers for the lligh Commissioner and Alrs. Jordan. AIi'. Jordan later liad tea with several New Zealanders on the recreation deck and visited niany parts of the ship. The Bellona is lying alongside the Achilles and has already certain marked New Zealand characteristics In addition to ilying the New Zealand Ensign she has a Jarge kiwi eut from stainless steel perclieil on the fore gun turret. New Zealand officers aboard include Commander K. Buek (Wellington), Surgeon Lieut.-Coinmander R. AValton (Auckland), Lieut.-Commander (E) II. Barnett (Auckland), Surgeon Lieutenant E. H. Stephenson (Rotorua), Lieutenants L. Ilutton (Napier), D. H. Alackay (Nelson), B. E. Turner (Auckland), J. O, Ross (Auckland), E. C. Thorne (Wellington), AI. J. AIcDowell (Oamaru), J. Alvles (Picton), G. W. V. Knight, I. I. Montgomery and L, Stanners, all of Auckland.