LORD JELLICOE’S CRUISE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2141, 19 June 1920, Page 1

LORD JELLICOE’S CRUISE.

TOUR OF OVER 55,000 MILES. HAPPY MEMORIES OF DOMINION. An official record of ' the tour made by Admiral of the Fleet Viscount Jellicoe in H.M.S. New Zealand states khat he travelled 33,514 nautical miles in the battle cruiser, and 1(5,58!) statute miles on land — the total distance being- 55,181 statute miles. He left Portsmouth on February 21st, 1910, and returned on February 3rd, 1920. In reference to the New Zealand’s return, the Naval and Military. Record says that all ranks were immensely pleased with their years tour. As the ship approached the more far-llung outposts of the Empire her reception was more and more enthusiastic. fn India the greatest goodwill and heartiness were shown, and in Australia the ports visited vied with each other in their endeavour to give the visitors a good time, while in New Zealand all

previous records of the voyage were eclipsed. In this Dominion the people could not do too much to provide pleasure and entertainment for (lie officers and men, quite apart from the festivities associated with I lie reception of Lord Jellicoe. In the Now Zealanders’ eyes there was only one ship in the Battle of Jutland — the New Zealand. “At each place touched by the ship the town was en fete, and the men were given no opportunity to spend money. The men were most touched with the confidence reposed in them, and they reciprocated to the full the good feeling extended to them. What they appreciated perhaps more than anything was the open-hearted manner in which they were accepted in the homes of the people. Ladies of all ages and ali classes —that is, as we divide classes at Home —took the men by the hand, and, if they had nowhere particular to go, would invite thenyto some place of amusement, or to their homes. In the homes (he men ffuml themselves really made at home, for they say that they felt as if, they ware with their own mothers, sisters, and brothers. However large or however humble, the feeling was always the same, and more than any other experience of so eventful a voyage do the men treasure in their memories the happy evenings spent in the homes of New Zealand."