THE NAVAL VISITORS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10474, 13 August 1925, Page 8

THE NAVAL VISITORS.

DOINGS AT CHRiSTCHURCH. SOME MISCONCEPTIONS.

CHRISTCHURCfl 1 , This Day. With little ceremony, except for the fussing around of the tug Lyttelton, the repair ship Altair, tender to the destroyer squadron at present in port, arrived at 8.30 yesterday morning. She is a large vessel and stands out prominently at her berth at No. 3 Wharf east. Her coating of battleship grey is chipped below the waterline, demonstrating the rough passage she had be--1 ore entering Melbourne. On the run across from Melbourne to Lyttelton, she experienced fine weather, which was enjoyed by officers and men. Rear-Admiral . H. Schofield, accompanied by Lieut R. C. Terris, the Mayor of Lyttelton, and the Town Clerk, visited the Lyttelton. District High School, West Lyttelton School, and the Catholic School yesterday morning. Not many American sailors availed themselves of the opportunity of visiting the trots at Addington yesterday, and the provision that had been made tor their entertainment by the Trotting Club was not fully availed of. Up till midday not more than two dozen of the sailors had made their appearance on the course. A number ■>f the officers attended the meeting, and were the guests of the stewards. They were initiated as far as possible into the mysteries attending the conduct and control of a trotting meeting; and were particularly interested by a visit to the drivers' rooms, where the preliminaries before the drivers go out are arranged. A number of the s naval men were fairly regular visitors to the totalisator, but the majority gave the impression they were not kean on betting. iin officer of the Fleet stated last night that wrong impressions have been given to the public in regard to lack of discipline and the presence of familiarity between officers and men. He explained that the custom in the Fleet is to exact respectful manners and address from all sailors. This is insisted upon rigorously with young sailors recently placed on the rating. With older men who* have been in the service for years, and whose quality has been tried and proved, there is a measure of relaxation. This does not in the least approach familiarity. An officer may address one of those older sailors by his Christian name and surname, but the sailor must not address the officer in the same way. A respectful "sir'' is the only term for a sailor to use to an officer. The relationship between some of the older sailors and their officers is on lines of the relationship between the heads of some big industrial organisations and old and trusted servants. Nothing but the most respectful demeanour, the officer said, would be tolerated from any sailor 19 or 20 years of age, and the discipline all through the United States Navy was as severe in any other navy. "Another wrong impression," the officer added, "is that our sailors like to be called 'gobs.' As a matter of fact, the older men resent it. I have heard a senior officer reprimand a junior officer for referring to the men by that word. He said that they should bo referred to as sailors, blue-jackets, cr simply as men* The word came into use'during the war, but it never has been anything except a term of derision. Young fellows may say they like it; old and experienced sailors, who are proud of the service, certainly do not."

THE STATE LUNCHEON. FUNCTION AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, August 12. The State luncheon tendered to Admiral R. E. Coontz (commanding officer of the United States Fleet) and officers of the squadron visiting Wellington at the Town Hall this afternoon was a highly successful function. Altogether there were 525 guests present and the proceedings were marked by lively enthusiasm. The GovernorGeneral presided, and besides members of Cabinet and of both branches of the Legislature there were representatives of city and country local governing bodies present as well as Sir Joseph Ward and other men prominent in public or official life. The guests were received by the Prime Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coates).

At the conclusion of the luncheon which was marked by great good humour and fellowship between the visitors and New Zealanders, the Govern-or-General proposed the toasts of "The King," and "The President of the United States," both of which were drunk with musical honours. Here it may be remarked that there was some speculation beforehand as to whether the function would be "wet" or "dry,' in deference to the conditions ruling in the visitors' homeland. It was "wet," but this fact did not in any way tend to put a damper on the harmony of the proceedings or the flow of good humour.

ATTRACTIONS IN OTAGO. DEER AND PIG-SHOOTING. DUNEDIN, August 12. Light showers fell to-day. Rear-Admiral Marvell and the memoers of his staff visited. the Roslyn Mills. The Americans are keenly interested in this New Zealand industry •aid manv Otago'-mado rugs have been purchased by men of all ratings. A party motored to the Blue Mountains for deer and pig-shooting.

CLASS DISTINCTION. COMPLAINTS IN DUNEDIN

DUNEDIN, August 12. Complaints are being made by the seamen of the American visiting fleet + hat class distinction is much in evidence at several city catering establishments. Several members of the crew of the U.S.S. destroyer Bums, No. 171, '•ailed at the office of the "Otago Daily Times" this evening and stated that on entering one of the largest city restaurants Huey were astounded to see printed on a mirror the words "Dance for officers only." The men naturally did not attempt to enter the premises but they resent, "from the bottom of their hearts," to use their own words,

what they allege is an insult. The sailors said that they felt the slight all the more because elsewhere the) men had been received as equals of the citizens of tho Commonwealth, there being absolutely no distinction* shown between officers and men. It is stated that the men feel that the officers themselves do not appreciate this attitude, as the destroyer officers are the most democratic in the world. This was the expression of one of the men attached to the destroyer flotilla, who considered he had been insulted when he read the notice on the mirror referred to above.

AUCKLAND CEREMONIALS. NAVAL OFFICIAL CALLS MADE. AUCKLAND, August 12. The flagship California berthed at the Princes Wharf this morning at dead low water without a hitch. It was a free day for the Fleet, the men ashore devoting most of their time to sight-seeing. Early this morning 500 men left for Hamilton as guests of the Government. As representative of the Government Sir James Parr returned Admiral Robison's official call this morning. The visitor was received with a full guard of honour, consisting of a company of marines and the ship's band drawn up on the quarter deck. Immediately he stepped ashore the British naval ensign was run up at the peak, and a salute of nineteen guns was fired, the whole ship's oempany meanwhile standing at attention, and the officers at the salute. A few minutes later Admiral Robison, accompanied by his chief of staff, was "piped over the side" and went across the harbour to H.M.S. Philomel, where the official call of Commander Miles, senior ba.se officer, was returned.

SAILORS' NIGHT ASHORE. RESULT OF GALE AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, This Day. A fierce easterly gale raged all last night and the sea was so rough that tho warships' boats were able to convey only a comparatively small number of officers and men due aboard. Nearly 2000 officers and men, in addition to those on shore leave, had to be accommodated by the Y.M.C.A. and at the shelter-sheds on the wharf.