THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 101, 23 January 1919, Page 7

THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY

THE RETURN TO AUSTRALIA SHORTLY. Tho date of the homecoming of tlio Australian Meet has been provisionally fixed. An. official statement as loliows has been issued:—"ln ahswer to inquiries, tho Navy Department States that it is anticipated that U.M.A.S. Melbourne and the Australian torpedo boat destroyers will bo returning übout April next, and tho remainder of the vessels about i June. These dates are approximate only, and aro given, for the convenience of a lat'Ro number of persons With relatives in the fleet who- have, made inquiries, but as soon" as more exact dates can l>3 given the Department will issue a further notice." The destroyeri fleet, which is expected to arrivo in April, comprises thu following vessels:—Torrens, Swan, Derivent, YuiTa, Parramatta, Warrego. . The vessels of the Australian Fleet that will return in Juno , aro:— Battle oruiscr—H.M.A.S. Australia. ~ Light cruisers—Sydney, Brisbane, and Encounter. Small cruisers—Pioneer, Psyche, l'Vintone, and Una. Arrangements arc to bo made for n review of the entire iteet as soon ns all tlie vessels reach Australian waters. There is considered to be some likelihood in naval circles that the Admiralty may apportion to Australia somo of the TT-boats thn t were recently surrendered by tho German nation. Tt'wns nnnonneed ft few days ago ■ that 1U of those vessels were heinj; distributed' among the Allied Powers, and it is felt that the Admiralty is almost certain to at least replace tlio two Australian submarines Hint wore lost in the early stages of the war. The question of whether the new German cruiser Emden will bn sent nut I'O Aufltrnlin. as rof|npfitwl by ihc Commonwealth Government, Ims not yet been finally settled.