THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1057, 21 February 1911, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON.

■ '■.' _' : — -r—+——\'-,-,,. . ~:-. H.M.S. CHALLENGER'S LONG'CRUiSE.: H.M.S.' Powerful returned to Sydney from Hobart on Monday,' February IS. The day following -the 'Challenger left. Sydney on a far-extending cruise to the West Coast of South-'America; and possibly through the Straits of Magellan to. Buenos Ay res and. other American porta on tho east coast-of'.South America.: It is believed'that the Challenger will meet H.M.S. Kent,, of the China : Squadron, at Coquimbo.' The majority of tho crew, which is mostly- s Australian, were, looking forward to the. trip with interest, hut there were others who did not favour such' a- long estrangement from their native shore, audi'there,were,several desertions in consequence, one man going as far as to risk, the sharks* and swim froai'the moorings in Farm Cove to Lady, jracquarie's Chair. Captain Gaunt is still in charge of the Challenger.,-The .cruise is expected to last until the middle of July.' H.M.S. Pioneer :■ is at present in dock at Cockatoo Island. Sha is timed to leave Sydney'for New. Zealand on March 1. The Pegasusi is in Sydney refitting, and the Prometheus, Pyramus, Pantome, .Encounter, > and Psyche are in Tasmanian, waters.:. '■