GREETING FOR AMETHYST

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1949, Page 5

GREETING FOR AMETHYST

' (N.Z.P.A.-

-Reiiter*

Battle-Scarred Sloop Met By Cruiser Jamaica

Copyright)

Received Tuesday, 10.10 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 1. Cheers and greeting cries rolled over the Chiha Sea, this afternoon as the cruiser Jamaica joined and welcomed the batt.e-scarred, weather-beaten but triumphant Amethyst, says r the N.Z.P.A.Reuter correspondent, Mr. William Parrott, aboard the Jamaica. The greeting was trom one Devonport ship to another, and was given by hundreds of cheering sailors as they lined the Jamaica's decks. I The Jama'ca met the Amethyst,' already under escort bv the Cos-] sack, about 12 miles off the Chinese isliand of Tungyung, north of Formosa. ^The Jamaica and Cossack will bring the Amethyst on to Hong Kong, where she is due on j Wednesday morning. i As the Jamaica turned in lier ' course and drew level with the Amethyst, the Royal Marine Band played music with obvious allusion to jihe sioop's lates't exploit. First was the song "Cruising Down the River on a Sunday Afternoon," followed by "See the Conquering' iHeroes Come." The ship's companyi joined in the singing, sent up a great cheer- and concluded with "For They .are Jolly Good Fellows." Admiral Madden, second-in-command of 'the Far Eastern , station, signalled from the Jamaica: "I am most proud that my flagship shareS • the honour of escorting your vahant ship to Hong Kong, where the commander-in-chief is wai'ting to welcome you back to his Fleet." The Amethyst reGurned thanks and added, "It is a grand moment."