THE CRUISER PHILOMEL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1826, 12 August 1913, Page 4

THE CRUISER PHILOMEL.

AN IMAGINATIVE REPORT? ' A London cablegram, published in TnE Dominion yesterday, stated that tho thinfoclass cruiser Philomel is recomniissioning at Hong-Kong, prior to proceeding to New Zealand. Asked yesterday whether ho'could throw' any light upon the matter, tho Hon. J as. Allen, Minister for Defence, said that tho Government had received 110 information whatever from the Imperial authorities in regard to the Philomel being sent to New Zealand.. He added that ho thought it extremely unlikely that tli'o Admiralty would take any such action without first consulting tlie Now Zealand Government. »"I really do not. know how such, messages get into tho papers," said the Minister. "I think tho information must be taken as the result of somebody's vivid imagination."

The Prime Minister, when, ho was questioned on the subject Jast evening, said that he was not yet in a position to mako any announcement regarding tho Government's naval policy, but, liko the Minister for Defence, ho stated that nothing had bean hoard from the Imperial authori- 1 tics about sending the Philomel to' New Zealand.

Th?ro is some interested speculation' amongst members of Parliament as to the origin of tho report about the Philomel. It scorns clear that tho matter has very little bearing upon the naval policy of. tho Dominion, for flue Philomel Joes not any longer belong to tho olass of fighting ships. Sho is a roomy old-fashioned vessel, suitable for' a trJrinidg ship, but quite incapable of serving any moro wailiko> purpose.

[In addition to the cablegram publi6l«<l yesterday, it may be pointed out that a previous oablo jnessage, dated July 2, stated, that the PJiilpmel lyns, .to bo re.commissioned' in, October ami proceed to New 1 Zealand.] " '