NAVAL VISITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 March 1943, Page 2

NAVAL VISITS

MADE BY THE NEW ZEALAND HIGH COMMISSIONER. FRIENDSHIP WITH HOLLAND. (Special P.A. Correspondent.) LONDON, March 16. The links between Holland and New Zealand were further strengthened when the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr Jordan. visited a Dutch warship. Mr Jordan addressed the officers and crew, extending the greetings of the Government and people of New Zealand. “We are neighbours in the Pacific. I hope our countries, will continue to grow closer in friendship and trade after the war,” he paid. . . l ,-- .-d' Mr Jordan inspected the warship. He was present in the captain’s cabin, and 'took part in the traditional ceremony when*'the ship's cook brought samples of the crew’s dinner, which the captain and Mr Jordan tasted. Mr Jordan intends visiting ships of the French and Indian navies. . While visiting an Empire rendezvous he met Sub-Lieutenant C. J. Blackie, of Auckland, who was number one in a motorgunboat which sank an E-boat in the Channel last week. E-boats were attacking a convoy, and the gunboats went into action. Sub-Lieutenant Blackie’s opening fire was from 200 yards. He told Mr Jordan how he was bending over the charts when a bullet wounded a rating standing a foot away from, him. Itt was Sub-Lieutenant Blackie’s first motor-gunboat action. It lasted three-quar-ters of an hour.