LAST STAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1939, Page 5

LAST STAGE

THEIR MAJESTIES TOUR CORDIAL WELCOME GIVEN IN NEWFOUNDLAND. CHEERING THOUSANDS LINE HIGHWAY. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright ST JOHN’S, (Newfoundland), Juno 17. Tin* Empress of Britain, carrying,- their Majesties Io England, steamed through the narrows at St John’s last evening, and was welcomed by Hie whistles ant! sirens of local vessels and the cheers of hundreds of people gathered on the headlands waving flags.

The liner anchored for the night in Conception Bay, on the East Coast of Newfoundland, with the escorting cruisers, H.ivi.S. Glasgow and Southampton and the flagship H.M.S. Berwick, of the Royal Navy’s America and West Indies Squadron, anchored nearby.

Their Majesties this morning left the liner at the village of Holyrood. 28 miles from St John’s, and continued to the city for the last reception of the American tour. Riding in an open car through 35 miles of public highway lined with cheering thousands, they arrived at Government House after the mayor and others had welcomed their Majesties at the entrance to the city, where an address of loyally was presented and the .King broadcast a message. The trip so far has been made through perfect sailing weather, unmarred by fog or ince and made pleasant by warm sunshine. RED ENSIGN FLOWN KING TRAVELS AS MASTER OF MERCHANT NAVY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 17. The King is making British maritime history on the homeward voyage in the Empress of Britain. Information has reached Southampton that the Red Ensign of the British Navy is now being flown at the foremast, which means that his Majesty is travelling as Master of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleet out of compliment to that service. The title had been created by King George. V. NOTABLE DAY GREATEST CELEBRATION IN CITY’S HISTORY. KING AND QUEEN DEPART FOR ENGLAND. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) ST. JOHNS (Newfoundland), June 18. Their Majesties concluded a 30 days’ visit to the New World on Saturday when they left St John’s at 4.5 p.m. for England, aboard the Empress of Britain. The occasion was marked by the greatest celebration in this city's history. After a drive through the city, their Majesties attended the Governor’s garden party, where they shook hands with war veterans. The departure was marred by the first fatality of the tour. A seaman named Samuel Batts, aged 23, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, a member of the Royal liner’s crew was killed when he fell into the ocean from 'a deck where he was repairing the cover of a lifeboat.

As their Majesties left to board the liner miners from the iron pits on Bell Island gathered at Portugal Cove and sent up the last cheers to reach the Royal ears in America. The King and Queen went out to the Empress of Britain aboard the cruiser Glasgow, neavy seas preventing their return aboard by the royal barge. ICE ZONE PASSED THEIR MAJESTIES VISIT CRUISERS. LAUNCH PROPELLER FOULS FISHING NET. (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, June 18. The Empress of Britain reports that she is safely through the iceberg zone. While their Majesties were visiting the escorting cruisers last evening, in a choppy sea, a motor-launch’s propeller fouled a fishing net. A substitute launch quickly took off the Royal party, who were soaked with spray.