Under Sealed Orders

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 175, 14 October 1927, Page 1

Under Sealed Orders

H.M.S. DUNEDIN TO SAIL SAMOA OR SOLOMONS?

■morning, at 9.30 * o’clock, H.M.S. Dunedin will leave Auckland Harbour under sealed orders. This explains the warship's sudden departure from Akaroa, rnd her retjrn to Devonport. ’’onlay H.M.3. Dunedin Is taking on .11 supplies from the Admiralty oiltanker Nucula, and preparing for the voyage to an unknown destination. The warship left Akaroa Harbour suddenly on Sunday evening, and berthed at Devonport at eight o’clock on Tuesday morning. Questions were sated in the House and of the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, wto laughingly discounted the suggestion that the Dunedin might be sent to either Samoa or the Solomons. Mr. Coates declared that the recall of the Dunedin to Auckland was purely on account of "the exigencies of the service.” _ „ Captain L. V. "Wells, D'.S.O., R.N., who assumed command of the Dunedin on his arrival here from England. stated that he did not know why the vessel had been ordered back to Auckland. A recent message from Sydney stated that the Australian cruiser Adelaide had sailed from Sydney for Mal&ita on a punitive expedition in connection with the massacre of the District Commissioner, Mr. Bell, a cadet, Mr. Lillies, and 15 native police.