BATTLESHIP BEDROOM.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5000, 14 July 1926, Page 3

BATTLESHIP BEDROOM.

SCENE IN PARK LANE MANSION-

PORTHOLE VIEW OF THE FLEET.

Through two portholes cut in a back bedroom wall at Brook 'House, Park Lane, London, the residence of, Lord and Lady Louis Mountbatten, are seen a ship’s gangway and a sparkling blue and grey panorama of the British Mediterranean Fleet at anchor ijh Mata Harbour. The bedroom has been transformed into a complete replica of an officer’s cabin in a warship, and the harbour replaces what was formerly an ugly well-hole. The arrangement—to the plan of Mr F. Osborne, an ex-officer — is correct to the minutest detail. Entering when a number of naval pattern electric switches are turned on, one hears the steady humming o¥ the forced ventilation fans; there is a true ship-like atmosphere; and across the Mediterranean blue of the harbour lie the ships, built to spale, and pla,ced in perspective. SUNLIGHT AND MOONLIGHT.

It is a gay sunlit scene, .with naval launches and picturesque native boats passing between the ships; but by turning another electric .switch the scene is changed to that of a moonlight night; while dozens of ships twinkle with light and a light buoy flashed.

On pressing yet another switcli the last ship in one line, calls up a, ship in another line by Morse flashing lamp. ' This is presently answered by the ship called up, and a complete message in Morse is passed which can be read by any competent signalman. , . The white-e.namalled walls of the cabin (Which is used ap a spare bedroom) and the “corked” ceiling are wooden, though they appear to be. steel, and thick bunches of insulated electric wires pass through them, while the decks are pierced by scupper pipes and a brass stove pipe.