WARSHIPS RETURN

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1929, Page 8

WARSHIPS RETURN

VISIT TO AUSTRALIA. After an absence of nearly five weeks in Australian waters, the two cruisers of the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy have returned ti. New Zealand. H.M.S< Dunedin, fly ing the broad pennant of Captain G C. T. P. Swabey, Commodore com manding the division, arrived in the stream at Wellington on Monday night from Hobart, .and berthed yesterday morning at Clyde Quay Wliarl. H.M.S. Diomede arrived at Auckland yesterday morning. The cruisers sailed from Auckland on June 5, and after calling at Norfolk Island, they joined the Austral ian SqUauron, commanded by RearAdmiral E. R. G. R. Evans, flying his flag on H.M.A.S. Australia, at Hervey 'Bay on June 10. The Australian ships were the crusiers Australia and Canberra, the seaplanecarrier Albatross, the destroyers Anzac, Success and Swordsman, the submarine depot ship Platypus and the submarines 6'bwfty and Oxley. With the Dunedin and Diomede, the ships represented probably the strongest composite naval force ever assembled in Australian waters.

At Hervey Bay the combined squadrons carried out a series of tactical ,’and strategical exercises over a period of about ten days. The nature of the exercises made them extremely valuable from the instructional and training point of view, and in .the iinterests of both squadrons it is hoped to bo able to make them an annual feature of the routine. The crews of the Dunedin and Diomede “held up their end” very well and their efficiency was most marked.

For certain technical reasons the Dunedin and Diomede were not in a position to compete for the Plunket Shield for efficiency in gunnery, but it is understood that rules are being drafted to enable them to do So in future.

At the squadron regatta which was held at the conclusion of the exercises .the men of the New Zealand ships .proved their mettle. Tn the race for whalers manned by seamen under 20 years of age the crews representing the Dunedin and Diomede mad© ’ a dead-beat for first plane against the picked crews of the Australians ships. Subsequently at the i ports ‘ visited the New Zealand ships .beat the Australians 'in practically every game of Rugby and Association i football and won two out of three hockey matches. At (Sidney they won the Rugby match by 31 points >to 11; at Jervis Bay they beat the Naval College team by 41 points to nil; and at Melbourne they beat the University team by 21 points to 8, and the Flinders Naval Base fifteen by 22 points to 9. The New Zealanders beat the Australian Squadion Association team, by 6 to 0 at Sydney, and at Melbourne they retained the A!F.A. Shield,' heating Flinders Naval Depot by 4 to 3. They also defeated the Royal Australian Naval College at Jervis Bay and a South Tasmanian team at Hobart. The visit of the Dunedin and Diomede to Australian ports was a ! great success. Everywhere the ships’ companies were most cordially welcomed and'officers and men brought hack pleasant memories of Australian hospitality . From Hervey Bay the Dunedin and Diomede went to Brisbane, where a stay of-three days was made. On June 28—a memorable day—the New Zealand ships met the Australian squadron at a rendezvous off Sydney Heads, which they entered later in the following order; Australia, Canberra, Dunedin, Diomede, Albatross, Anzac, Success, Swordsman, Platypus, Oxley and Otway. , Steaming up the harbour the ships saluted the GovernorGeneral of Australia (Lord Stonehaven), who was in H.M.A.S. Marguerite moored off Bradley’s Head, and the scene was a most impressive one. The Dunedin and Diomede berthed at Circular Quay , where they were inspected by thousands of people. A feature of the visit to Sydney was the march through the city streets of the men of'both ships, including the Marines, who are not carried in the Australian ships.

Leaving Sydney on July 6, the Dunedin and Diomede went to Jervis Bay, where two days were spent: they, were at Melbourne from July 10 to 18, and at Hobart from July 20 to 25, returning thence to New Zealand after a most instructive and enjoyable cruise. At Mebourne and Hobart, as at Brisbane and Sydney, the ships’ stay were marked by a round of entertainments.

• An interesting ceremony which made a deep impression to Tasmania took place at Hobart last week, when the Royal Marines from each ship paid a tribute to the memory of Lieut-enant-Colonel IX Collins the first Governor of Tasmania. Headed by the massed bands of the ships, the detachment of Marines marched through the to St. David’s Park, the commanding officer Captain E. Bowring, placed a wreath at the foot, of the memorial column, the parade presenting arms and the buglers sounding the “Dasft Post.” The wreath bore the following inscription: “As a tribute to the memory of David Collins, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royal Marines and Governor and Founder of this City, this wreath is placed by the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Marines serving with the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy £4th July, 1929.” The Mayor of riohart (Alderman J. Soundy) Aldernien of the City Conucil, the Master

Warden of the Marine Board (Sir John Evans), and Captain Swabey (H. M S. Dunedin) and Captain Wells (H. M.S. Diomede) were present at the ceremony. . . H M.S. Dunedin will remain at Ellington until August 20 and will give leave to' her crew while here.