EMBEN TO ENTERTAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 705, 3 July 1929, Page 10

EMBEN TO ENTERTAIN

CRUISER BEING DECORATED RECEPTION TOMORROW This morping the cruiser Emden returned to Central Wharf from Western Wharf, where she has been taking in oil fuel. Today the vessel was practically a closed ship, the crew being busily engaged decorating the ship in preparation for the reception to be given by the captain tomorrow afternoon. It is expected that about 500 guests will be present, and immediately after the reception the cruiser will make ready for sea, proceeding to Wellington at about six o’clock in the. evening. She is due at Wellington at about eight o’clock on Saturday morning, and the captain will call on the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, at Government House at 9.40. A luncheon will also be given on board the vessel at 12.30 p.m. tomorrow. Invitations have been extended to the Mayor, the chairman of the Harbour Board, and other prominent citizens. A special concert was given for 100 men from the cruiser in the Flying Angel Mission’s new rooms in Customs Street West last evening. The missioner, the Rev. H. K. Vickery, extended a welcome to the guests. Many local residents also attended. Items were given by Mr. and Mrs. R. Potter, Mr. and Mrs. S. Carter, Mr. L. Collier, Mr. C. G. Broberg, Miss M. Williamson, Miss M. Brown, and Masters J. Taberner and H. Taberner. German choruses were sung by the sailors during the evening. Another concert has been arranged for this evening, being organised by the Emden Reception Committee. GOODWILL MESSAGES MORE THAN VISITORS CAN DEAL WITH GRATEFUL COMMANDER So many messages of goodwill have come from New Zealanders to the officers and the crew of the Emden that the commander, Captain von Arnauld, has been forced to announce that it is not possible to reply personally to all the correspondence. “The officers, the crew and I have received such a tremendous number of letters,” he said today, “that we are not able to reply to all of them. The letters to us are congratulatory and express the feelings of goodwill shown by New Zealanders. “I would like to make it known through the Press to those who have corresponded with us that we would j have liked to have written to everyone. “The men of the Emden want to state their grateful thanks for the expressions of friendliness to Germany.”