VISIT OF DUTCH WARSHIPS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1042, 5 August 1930, Page 1

VISIT OF DUTCH WARSHIPS

DUE AT AUCKLAND IN OCTOBER CRUISER AND TWO DESTROYERS FIRST CALL BY A NETHERLANDS SQUADRON FOK the first time in history vessels of the Netherlands Navy will visit New Zealand in October. A cruiser and two destroyers will reach Auckland on October 23 or 24 and will remain here until October 28.

There is no record of any ships ct the Netherlands Navy ever having visited New Zealand in the past.

Little information regarding the visit of the squadron is availabie. The cruiser and the two destroyers are due at Australian ports about the middle of September from the Dutch East Indies. Until Australia is reached the programme for New Zou land will not be drawn up.

In all probability the cruiser Sumatra will be the flagship of the squadron, but whether the viceadmiral in charge of the Dutch Hast ladies naval forces will be on board is not. yet known. DUTCH POSSESSIONS The Dutch own a large amount of territory in the East Indies, including Java, Sumatra, part of Borneo, tiie Riau-Lingga archipelago, the island of Bali (known as the paradise of the world), the Celebes, the Moluccas, the Timor archipelago and Lombok. Sourabaya, in Java, is the headquarters of the Dutch East Indies Navy, which is larger than the fleet maintained by the Netherlands Gov eminent In Holland. The touring squadron will sail from Sourabava early in September, and will call at

the principal ports of Australia before coming on to New Zealand

The visit of the squadron is reailv a courtesy call on Australia and Naw

Zealand. During their stay In Auckland the officers and men will be entertained at various functions. The Sumatra, which was completed ip 1920, is a cruiser of 6,9'JC tons. She is SOOift. in length, with a 521t't. beitra and ISt't. draught. Her engines are capable of producing 65,000 h.p., and a speed of 30 knots. The Sumatra carries 10 5.9iu. guns, torn 3in. antiaircraft guns, eight machine-guns, and 40 mines. She is manned by a crew of 504 officers and men. According to a cable message re ceived a few months ago Rear-Ad-miral C. C. Kayser will be in command of the squadron.