MOCK NAVAL BATTLE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1928, Page 2

MOCK NAVAL BATTLE

IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY BY ATLANTIC ELl'-ET. (viiited Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.; LONDON. April 3.

King Amaindlah of Afghanistan witnessed a great display of British sea power to-day. He, embarked at Portland in HALS. Nelson, the new 33,-500-ton battleship, the flagship of ViceAdmiral Sir Hubert Brand, Comntan-dcr-in-Cliief of the Atlantic Fleet. A royal salute of twenty-one guns was fired as he went aboard. As .vmjii as H.M.S. Nelson was a few miles from tlie coast a series of realistic war operations began. King Amauuliah watched them from one of uhe observation platforms. By his side were Vice-Admiral Brand and Prince George who is a staff officer in the warship, and who. in French, explained the operations to him. Submarines dived and launched torpedoes at the battleship, and one of them rase to the surface and attacked with its guns. The flagship notified anti-submarine destroyers, which rapidly came into action and dispersed the submarine with depth charges.

The Atlantic Fleet was sighted approaching majestically in three columns. It fired a royal salute and then, changing its formation, went by in line. Aliles away lay the target, towed by the warship Snapdragon. The battle cruisers Repulse and Renown of 26,500 tons, led by the battle cruiser Hood, of 11,200 tons, steaming at tw'enty-fivK knots on a circular course, concentrated upon the target a heavy fire from their 15-in. guns.

Later an attack by aircraft launched from the carrier HALS. Furious, was made upon HALS. Nelson. The greatest thrill of the day, however, was when the destroyer flotillas bora down upon HALS. Nelson and attacked with their torpedoes. The cruisers engaged them and a tenso battle ensued.

King Amaiinllali, who had expressed his keen interest in the naval spectacle, was escorted hack to Portsmouth hv the fleet and a flight of seaplanes. Queen Sonriva did not accompany King Amanullali, instead she stayed in London and visited Queen Charlotte Hospital, which is devoted to maternity eases. She asked many questions about the work of the hospital and was much impressed when the matron told her of the low rate of infant mortality in this country.