LAST VOYAGE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 67, 20 March 1928, Page 10

LAST VOYAGE

H.M.A.S. MELBOURNE SAILS FOR ENGLAND TO BE BHOKEX UP Slowly, but surely the ships that founded the traditions of the Australian navy are disappearing. The Melbourne is the last of the grand little fleet, that arrived in Australian waters in 1913, and which helped to protect Australian shores during the years of the Great War. On her arrival at Portsmouth, says the "Sydney Morning Herald," the Melbourne will bo handed over to the shipbreakers, closing a memorable chapter in Australian naval defence history. The Melbourne has a displacement of 5400 tons, is 430 feet long, with a beam of 49 feet. Her armour-plating varies from 2'inches to 3 inches. She carried eight 6in guns and one Sin (anti-air-craft) gun, four 3-pounders, two mach-ine-guns, arid eight Lewis guns." Her speed.is 251 knots. In war and in, peace the Melbourne had an eventful career. Whilst assisting with other warships to convoy the Australian ' expeditionary force to Egypt the Melbourne received the first intimation of the whereabouts of the German raider Emden. The commander of the Melbourne (Captain M. L'E. Silver) was second in command of the convoy. H.M.S. .Minptaur was the flag-, ship, but she was order.cd away on another mission, and the Melbourne was in:charge om the day when the wireless call from Cocos Island reported the ;presence of a strange cruiser. Thg petty-officer telegraphist was the first to receive the historic-message, and: signals were, immediately hoisted ordering the Sydney away. At., the end of 1914' the Melbourne and the Sydney were sent: to Gibraltar, :and later, to; the. West Indies, to hunt .for/the Karlsruhe (a sister ship of the Emdcn), which was loose in the Atlantic. For three months they blockaded" German ships' in Cuban ports. Next they were ordered, to Brazilian waters.to hunt the armed merchantman Friedrich der Grosse. A, further spell on the Bermuda patrol followed, and their-the Melbourne and , Sydney proceeded to, the, North Sea. There they wore employed. with the second light cruiser squadron, on' North Sea sweeps. PRAISEWORTHY FEATS. Whilst on service in the Atlantic the Melbourne heard that the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's liner Toff had gone ashore near St. Lucia. She immediately steamed to the rescue, and after several days' hard work succeeded, in towing off the Taff undamaged from her perilous position. For this service the company presented the ship wtib a fine bell, bearing the following inscription: "Presented to H.M.A.S. Melbourne by the chairman and court of directors of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, in commemoration of the invaluable services rendered to the steamer Taff at St. Lucia, April, 1910." It was not long afterwards, while at Barbadoes, during a heavy gale, there was grave danger that a Dutch schooner would bo driven". on to the breakwater. She;scnt up a signal; of distress, and a cutter was sent from tho Melbourne. She reached the schooner through a heavy sea, and the vessel was made sccuro with a hawser. On behalf of the Dutchl Government tho Consul expressed, his warm-appreciation of the fine picco of seamanship. Again, in, 1923, the Melbourne mado a gallant rescue at sea. Tho schooner Helen B. Stirling, whilst on a voyage across the Pacific, was on the point of foundering. When the Melbourno rescued the officers and crow. Tho feat was carried out in most difficult circumstances, and in recognition of the gallantry displayed by members of the warship's crew tho President of the United States presented a pair of binoculars to Captain Feakcs and medals to the Melbourne's boat-crew who had been mainly responsible for the rescue, work. In 1920 the Melbourne did exchange duty with the Mediterranean Fleet, During her service abroad she steamed 30,000' miles, taking part in the manoeuvres of the Mediterranean Fleet, and successfully passing tho severe efficiency test. Her departure from the Mediterranean was tlio occasion of a striking scene. Sir Roger Keycs boarded the ship and congratulated officers and men on their; efficiency and good service. As the Melbourne steamed between tho lines of; warships, the whole fleet, consisting of six battleships, eight cruisers, and a swarm of destroyers and auxiliar ies, mustered, crews, and cheers rang put as,the Australian' warship steamed away. ;'.'•.",''.:■'.■. DEPARTURE FROM SYDNEY; With-officers, and crow numbering about .700, the Melbourne slipped her .moorings at Farm Cove aY 10.30 a.m. one day last month, en rout for Portsmouth. On reaching England; all ratings will bo drafted into Royal naval instructional depots until, the two now cruisers, Canberra and Australia, are ready to receive them. . The commo-. doro's pennant will then be transferred to H.M.A.S. Australia, which will automatically become the flagship of the Australian Navy. „ Those who serve for years in a ship, whether it be a'man-o'-war or a merchantman, develop for their sea-home a feling akin to affection, and,when the times comes that the ship is considered

no longer able efficiently to perform tho service for which it was designed, its passing from active service becomes a matter of regret for all concerned. Little wonder, therefore, that many eyes were focussed on the cruiser us she steamed- out of Port Jackson, never to return. To the average citizen, tho Melbourne, spick and span, appeared to have many - years of usefulness ahead of her, ■■but obsolescence is a terrible fate whichcannot be averted, and, having reached that stage, the Melbourne has been ordered to be'broken up. Long before the cruiser was due to leave,-. the; harbour front, at Fort Macquario were lined with wives, sweethearts, and friends of ' the sailors. Some, indeed, hired boats and. rowed round the cruiser shouting their farewells. The crew, :iii white uniforms, iined the decks, and the paying-off pennant, which fluttered from the masthead, was'an indication that the Melbourne was 'leaving the Australian naval station for ever. During the progress to- the Heads- the 'band on the after-deck- played popular airs, and several passing ferry steamers sounded farewell-on their horns and-whistles. : On reaching the open sea, the Melbourne steered a course to the northward: Portsmouth is .expected to be reached on 13th April.' Ports of call en route will be Townsvillc, Thursday Island, Darwin, ■' Singapore, Penang, Colombo,-Aden, kiiez, Port Said. Malta, and Gibraltar. '■ THE NEW, FLAGSHIP. It is expected, that the new. Australian flagship Australia will be commissioned about-the middle of this year, and: will leave England for Australia about July- next, under Commodore, Hyde's flag, ■ ' ' ' ■ ■ . ■■ % ■ ■ • . The .Canberra, her sister ship, is a little: behind the Australia in point of completion. It is hoped-that she will Ibe able .to perform her trials and be ready for commissioning in time to accompany the Australia. This consideration may delay the departure of both cruisers till August. . - ; . ' It is understood that the voyage to Autsralia- will 'be made via '■ Halifax (Nova Scotia), 'Boston, New York, Chesapeaks :'Bay, , Jamaica,, and ■ the Panama' Canal. ' Thus the Australian cruisers .will "show.the flag" in• Canadian and United States waters, which knew the old Melbourne more than once during the years of war service. It may thus happen that the first 10,000-ton cruiser which the American! people will see-in being will be n Australian Navy ship. ■ , ■ .-■.-'■•