MIGHTY BRITISH FLEETS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 617, 20 March 1929, Page 9

MIGHTY BRITISH FLEETS

NAVAL MANOEUVRES

GREAT FORCE ASSEMBLED British Official "Wireless RUGBY, Monday. The First Lord of the Admiralty. Mr. W. C. Bridgeman, will proceed to Gibraltar at the end of this week on a short visit to the Mediterranean and Atlantic Fleets. The two fleets will be engaged this week in the usual spring exercises which, since the war. have replaced the former summer naval manoeuvres. The exercises are to take place in the western Mediterranean, between Sardinia and the Straits of Gibraltar. About 100 ships of different categories and more than 30,000 officers and men are engaged in the Mediterranean Fleet. The battleship Queen Elizabeth carries the flag of Admiral Sir Frederick Field, Commander-in-Chief. In the Atlantic Fleet the battleship Nelson carries the flag of Admiral Sir Hubert Brand, Commander-in-Chief. GIFTS TO NEW CRUISER More than 200 officers and men of the new cruiser London were entertained to luncheon by the City of London Corporation at the Guildhall. The Lord Mayor, Sir Kynaston Studd, presented to the ship’s company three pieces of silver plate. He said the citizens of London were proud to have a man-of-war bearing the name of their city. Sir Charles Wakefield made a further presentation of a silk white ensign. This was a gift from one of London’s citizens. Captain Rogers, in returning thanks, said: “This is the eighth warship named London. She is a new ship and her name has to be made. The traditions of the Londons are loyalty, efficiency, fair dealing and hospitality. Those traditions we will carry with us always.” Early this morning the Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, motored to Gravesend, where the cruiser lies. He had breakfast with the officers of the ship.