JAPANESE PRINCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 398, 5 July 1928, Page 9

JAPANESE PRINCE

WARSHIPS IN AUCKLAND AT END OF JULY DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS Great interest \*ill bo centred in tho arrival of the two Japanese warships at the end of this month in view of the fact that among the officers of one of the vessels will be his Imperial Highness Prince Takamatsu, younger brother of the present Emperor of Japan. ; Prince Takamatsu is tlio third "«*tl j of the late Emperor Taisho. who died | in December. 1926, and younger brother (of the present Emperor. Ho was born I in Tokyo in 1905 and entered the naval I college at Etajima when he was Id years of age. Later he joined the Naval Torpedo College and successively held j the rank of midshipman, second sublieutenant and sub-lieutenant, the rank jhe now holds. The Prince, who is unmarried, has served on several warships. A distinguished officer who saw service with the Japanese navy in Australian and New Zealand waters during the late war and who is in charge of tho squadron is Vice-Admiral Soizo Ko» bayashi, C. 8., C.V.O. Admiral Kobay-

Squadron. ashi, who was born in 1577. served m the Russo-Japanese War as a lieutenant and has previously visited New Zealand, as a sub-lieutenant in 1 and again in 1906. During 1910 and 1911 he was private secretary to the Naval Minister with the rank ot lieutenant-commander, and in 191 > he accompanied Admiral Baron Dew a* representative of the Japanese Government, to the Panama Exhibition. In 1917 he commanded H.IJ.M.S, Hirado. which was engaged in the fighting in the Pacific. and il-«> patrolled in Australian and New Zealand waters. He was promoted to Ins present rank in 1926, and was sent to the Naval Armament Limitation Conference at Geneva in 192 < as c tief naval expert. He was appointed commander of the Training Squadron "H January 15, 1928. The two vessels visiting New Zealand. HU M. ships Idzumo and lakumo are commanded respectively by Captains Minora Hiroto and Mr.mbef Idemitsu, both of whom served in tha Great War.