Fleet Inspection.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1922, Page 3

Fleet Inspection.

KING AND THE HOOD. TORQUAY. July 0. A day of driving I'nin has swept the streets clear of people and largely spoiled the day’s programme connected with the King’s vi-iL to his Hoot. In place of the hoped-for sunshine and brilliance of spectacle w<. have had tumbling seas upon which no pleasure craft could venture and a chilly haze hid tile fleet, and unless the weather has changed bv to-morrow morning, the King will remain here, and so will the fleet, for to carry out the projected experiments upon the Xnrnberg will he quite impossible.

At 10 a.m. to-day the King left his yacht and began a series of inspections of officers and men. On these inspections he was accompanied by Sir Godfrey Fausott and several distinguished naval officers. Pi nice George, who has been staying in the Victoria and Albert (the Royal Yacht) since last night also accompanied the King. He returns tomorrow to his duties as a midshipman in the Queen Elizabeth. Going first to the Fleet flagship, the Queen Klizaheth, the King saw a number of detachments from other vessels. They paraded on the quarter-dock, "'llich had been covered in by awnings because of the heavy rain. For some considerable time the King was occupied inspecting thoroughly the different groups.

BAND’S NEW COLO IT.. Tit the course of the inspection the King was shown for the first time the new light liliiefaeed uniform of the Royal .Marine musicians, who form the bands of the different ships. The now rig did not wholly commuid itself to the King who pointed out various ways in which its appearance might be improved. Rifled over the side and cheered by the ship’s company, the King left the Queen Klizaheth for the Barham, the flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir William, Nicholson, who commands the first battle squadron. On her quarter-dock the King insper Led further detachments front various shins and then proceeded to the battle cruiser Hood, wlierti another muster representing different ships awaited him. The Hood is our “crack” warship, and this being the first occasion on which the King bad been aboard her In- followed no bis inspection of personnel by making 11 thorough tour of the vessel, lie i-eturiied to the Queen Klizaheth for lunchi-on with Admiral Sin- Charles Jl,„l(toii, ami from her quarterdeck bo watched the fleet sailing rac'.s, which were held during the afternoon.

11l these FID boats started, hill, the weather was squally, rain li il steadily, and the seas broke so heavily that all the competitors were so,skill to the skin. So heavy was the sea that at least one of the floats capsized although so far as is at present known no lives were lost.

For.the King’s Cup a fine struggle ended in tile Resolution’s cutter, sailed by Commander K. X. Sylret just beating the Queen Elizabeth’s whaler sailed .by ' .'iout,-C"om,mnnd,o'r Titterton, being third by a few seconds. After the" rare <he King presented Ins cup to Commander Syfret, who was commanded aboard the royal yacht to receive the trophy.

Tonight tin King gave a dinner party aboard bis yacht. His movements and these of the fleet to-mor-row are dependent upon the weather.