H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1915, Page 10 (Supplement)

H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA.

A GUARDIAN OF THE NORTH SEA. STORY OF THE SHIP'S LONG CRUISE. .11.M.A.5. Australia plays a very real part in the British Navy. Stripped ready for action, with her eight 12in guns sniffing tlie air as, if trying to scent the enemy, she seems to breathe the defiant spirit of the Australian in war. One fancies, as a heavy swell beats past the long, grey hull ; and the llagship tugs at her moorings, that siie, like the men of Anzac, is chafing against restraint and eager for the fray.

view of tlie Grand Fleet, with the battleships Hanked and guarded by destroyers, Bui it is the Australia's position in the line that, delights proiul colonials, for her nearest neighbors are none other than the war-scarred Lion and Tiger. Of the protection of these ships from submarine attack I can say but little, but when it is explained, one feels that the enemy has little chance of a victim here.

Could I give but a glimpse of the Australia and her crew to the mothers and sisters .in the i'ar-off dominion, there ivouid be fewer anxious faces. There never was a healthier or jollier set of men. A deep tan, picked up in the Pacific under a tropical sun, is still on their faces, but their eyes have been brightened and their color freshened by the bracing eold of the English winter.

AX AUSTRALIAN CREW. • In order that the Australians might know something of what their battleship is doing, the Admiralty kindly arranged for a special visit. Wheii the bobbing pinnace passing between the Queen Ifary and the Tiger drew alongside the gangway of the Australia, two officers were waiting; one was an Englishman. What the Australian's first question was I cannot say, as Tattersail's is not approved in parts of the Commonwealth.

Out of the total ship's complement of 1000, COO are Australians. They are now in fine form, owing to their simple, regular life, though tiie tremendous conbetween the Australian and the North Sea weather at first meant a few cases of pneumonia. Since the vessel reached England, measles has twice attacked tlie crew, but not seriously. The day's routine provides for so much exercise that the men are hard and splendidly developed. A large majority of the 60 officers are English, There have been many changes, owing to promotion to other ships.

'USE NEW ADMIRAL. Everyone, from Rear-Admiral William C. Jakenham downwards, Ls delighted at the way in which the Australians are facing the real business of war. The Admiral is a wonderfully picturesque figure—a combination of immaculate dress and a sipirt of utter indifference to danger. lie was the 'British Attache 'to Japan during the Russo-Japiinese war. He preserves an impenetrable outward calm in moments of tlie most imminent peril, and is idolised by the crew. Here is the comment of the Admiral, who is a man of few words, on the' Australians: "I have been much struck by the appearance of the men, and more than satisfied with their conduct and efficiency. The building of the Australian navy and fitting it into the Imperial plan was a noble conception." It is intended to transfer about 108 men from the Australia to 11.M.A.5. Brisbane, the vacancies on the battlecruiser being filled from the Wingira and other training ships in tho Commonwealth, but this will -be a gradual process.

NEW GUINEA TO NORTH SEA. Leaning against a 12-inch turret after my tour of inspection, an officer throws new light on the Australia's cruise. This story can now be ,told. After the experiences in New Guinea the battleship visited New Caledonia, where she was joined by the Montcalm and Melbourne, and other Australian ships, and two transports. At Samoa the Psyche preceded the others, and reported that the hurbor was empty. The transports then entered. The German Governor was away pigeon-shooting, and his representative naively said that though he could not surrender he would not attempt to prevent the British landing. Some time was then spent in the Pacific. The men were nearly mad with excitement when they were told that the vessel was ordered to Mexico, as they felt sure they would meet the enemy on the way. A day was spent there, and the vessel then visited the Galapagos Islands.

"At Panama," says an officer laughingly, "the collier's skipper went ashore for coal. Owing to a misunderstanding he was seized by the authorities, who refused to release him for a day. You should have heard him on his return! We attempted the passage of the Panama Canal, but were blocked owing to the landslide at Culebra. This meant that the trip was lengthened Uy many hundreds of miles, but we shaped down the American coast to Callao. At Christmas the Australia was one day off Valparaiso, where 'British residents raised £SOO and delighted the crew with cigarettes, tobacco, fruit and other gifts. Previously, owing to the long run, there had been a match famine aboard, and hundreds of the crew had to form a queue to light cigarettes at candles and lanterns.

SINKING A SUiPIPLY SHIP. After leaving the Falklands we met the German supply ship Eleanor Woerman. Tlie big guns of the Australia have only been fired half a dozeu times with battle shells. ' Two of these' shots were used to sink the Woerman. It was impossible to bring her as a prize, because her slowness would have retarded the Australia in the real mission, which was chasing the German cruisers, so the order was reluctantly given to open tlie sea cocks. Then, as we were sianding about a mile off, a tremendous report broke the. still night air, and 12-inch shells, followed by smaller Iydditds, opened the way for' the engulfi'in" waves. °

It was impressing rather than saddening to see great holes torn in the hull and the fine ship suddenly flare in the dusk and then disappear, but it had to be done. When leaving Gailapagos the Australia's men learned of the Faiklands figlit. On reaching an English port, VieeAdmiral 'Sir George Patey was appointed to tlie Leviathan, in command of the West Indies station, and Rear-Admiral Pakenhum was given control of the Australia, which was made the flagship of the second battle-cruiser squadron. The engineers take particular pride in the Australia. There are 400 men in the engineers' department. She steamed 40,000 miles in her cruise without serious overhaul, which is probably an unapproved record.

STRIPPED FOR ACTION. It was a fearfully strenuous time for everybody. A boy from Sydney said lie and others had stoked the furnaces for many days wearing only their boots. War-time calls for rigorous sacrifices, and there was no place for furniture on a ship in action. The dining and smokerooms of the Australia were hardly recognisable as those of peace time. There ivere merely clamps on the walls where formerly there liad been book cases and sideboards. The officer eyed the gaunt, carpetless room with mixed feelings, and said, "There's a bit of the Australia at the bottom of every ocean." A few of the fittings were landed at various ports, but the bulk was sent to the bottom. It is recorded that H.M.S. Glasgow, in the iFalklands pursuit, left a wjike of bobbing chairs and tables. Then there was a giant splash when the ship's piano and sideboards were jettisoned. In the same way the cabins of the Australia are stripped of everything except the bunks. Chests of drawers have been replaced by buttered tin trunks, resulting in endless confusion in the case of the offers' belongings. . All the ornamental wood work is gone—war is a stern business —but the baths remain. In this respect the Australia is better equipped than any other ship in the Navy, because she was built for the tropics.

SPIRIT OF EXPECTANCY, The officers admit that there is something distinctive about the Australian in physique. He is bigger, and frequently shows more initiative than the English sailor. But these very qualities make the Australian intolerant of inaction. Some find the enforced waiting very irksome. The officers, by shore leave, football, cinemas and eoncerts manage to counteract the tedium. .Some artificers are making base plates for shells aboard. This is a new departure, initiated by the Australia. The shooting is exceptionally good. Targets are regularly dropped somewhere in the North Sea .for gun practice. Here, perhaps, we reach the genesis of so many sea-battle rumors.

The strongest tie between the officers and the men is their common great expectancy. This keeps up their spirits. All Australia is represented by the happy family at the men's mess. In one group are boys from North Queensland, Melbourne, Sydney, Riverina, Gippsland and Adelaide. They wistfully ask for the latest news, and are glad to receive more. The Australian papers, whenever such parcels arrive, are eagerly devoured. Men of all ranks all say they would like to see home again, 'hut would not miBS what is coming for anything. "Tell those at home," tbey say, "that we are happy and fit."