JAPANESE WARSHIPS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2810, 30 June 1916, Page 6

JAPANESE WARSHIPS

« PROGRAMME OF ENTERTAINMENT HERE. Preparations aro being made to do honour to Rear-Admiral Matsumura and the officers, cadets, and men of the warships Iwate and Azuma, which are to spend some days in Wellington. This morning official visits will be paid by the RearAdmiral to His Excellency the Governor, the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. I'\ Massey), and the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), which will be returned during the day. At 11 a.m. to-morrow s civic reception will be accorded tho RearAdmiral and officers at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of .next week tho Mayor, on behalf of the City, will 'place tramcars at the disposal of the men of the warships, in order to give them the opportunity of viewing the City and its surroundings, and on Wednesday afternoon and evening Mrs. Luke and a committee of ladies.will provide entertainment for the visitors at the Town Hall.

This evening a. party of officers and cadets will attend the performance of "Mother Goose" at the invitation of tho manager, Mr. John Farrell.

In a pen sketch of Rear-Admiral Matsumura, the "Sydney Morning Herald" says:—"Of all of the Japanese officers the Admiral, having discarded his epaulettes and his medals, was the least conspicuous. For that Toason only. In all other respects he impressed one the most. He-is SO years of age; and if he look's it, we need not wonder. His hair is dark grey, and his moustache is all grey; and there is that in his dark brown eyes and on all tho features of his face which tells of the things lie has been through. During the Russo-Japanese war lie toolt part in the battles .of Port Arthur (as second in command of H.M.S. Azuma), and of Tsu-shima. (as second in command of Admiral Togo's flagship, the Mikasa). He points with prido now to a photograph of the great Japanese Admiral, signed by Togo, hanging in his oabin on the Iwate; and he' points out the marks left by Russian shells on the Iwate."

The Prime Minister announced' in tho House last night that the officers of the Japanese men-of-war would bo entertained at luncheon by Ministers and members of Parliament on Tuesday.