Princess Mary Pays Visit to New Cruiser

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 505, 7 November 1928, Page 9

Princess Mary Pays Visit to New Cruiser

H.M.A.S. CANBERRA PHOTOGRAPHED WITH OFFICERS (United P.A.—By Telegraph—CopyrtphU (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 11.45 a.m. LONDON. Tuesday. Princess Mary visited Portsmouth to-day and inspected the new Australian cruiser Canberra. A fog delayed the Royal train for half an hour. Admiral Sir Osmond de Brock, commander-in-chief at Portsmouth, and Lieut.-Commander L. F. Gilling, of the Australian Navy, received the Princess. Thousands witnessed her hurried progress to the dockyard. The Canberra’s crew lined the decks, and the ship's officers, with the Marine Band, had assembled on the quarter-deck. As the Princess stepped aboard she was received with a Royal Salute. The commanding officer. Cap* air. Massey, welcomed her and escorted her around the ship. The most modern cooking devices interested the Princess keenly. As she looked over the simmering stews, she laughingly remarked, “The old song is true, a sailor’s life is the life for me.” The Princess lingered at the canteen, where the sailors purchase “extras.” “What have you here?” asked the Princess. “Everything from A to Z,’’ replied the canteen attendant. The Royal visitor was intrigued with the electro-megaphones by which a command issued in one place is audible everywhere in the ship. She commented eulogistically on the recreational facilities. Returning to the quarterdeck the Princess watched 700 officers and men march past to the tune of "Hearts of Oak,” and remarked on the splendid-looking crew. She descended to the captain's quarters and when she reappeared she smilingly asked for photographs to be taken. Seated in the centre of a group of officers she posed while several cameras clicked. One of the photographers caused some amusement when he dramatically held up his hand saying, “I can't do it; your Royal Highness is blinking.” The Princess replied: “I know I'm bad, but 1 try not to.” She lunched with the captain and senior officers. On signing the visitors’ book she glanced at the first page, on which was the King’s signature, and then scrutinised the others. The Princess presented a silver rose-bowl inscribed, “Good Luck to the Canberra and all who sail in her.” As the Princess descended the gangway the crew gave her rousing cheers. She smilingly waved her hand. Afterwards she inspected the Victory, which is in dry dock alongside.

The Canberra, the second 10,000-ton cruiser (or the Australian Navy, was launched and named by Princess Marv on the Clyde on May 31, 1927.