VISIT OF A JAPANESE SQUADRON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 70, 23 March 1903, Page 2

VISIT OF A JAPANESE SQUADRON.

FLAGSHIP AND TWO OF THE STAND

ING SQUADRON

THREE OF THE MIKADO'S FLEET

COMING

TWO HUNDRED MIDSHIPMEN ON

BOARD..

The visit of three of the finest ships of the Japanese Navy to Auckland has been arranged. The fleet has already left Japan. The three ships set out from Yokosuka on February 16 on their long cruise abroad. The ships are the Matsushima, carrying the flag of Rear-Admiral Kamimura, and the cruisers Itsukushima and Hashidate, all of the Japanese standing squadron. Tho fleet represents the largest ships of the Japanese Navy that have ever been sent this way, and their advent is being looked forward to with considerable interest.

The squadron has already visited Hongkong and Singapore, and the three ships left the latter port on Monday last for Batavia. Thence they proceed direct to Fremantle, being due there on April 1. Adelaide will be the next port of call, the ships being expected there on April 13. Thence they go on to Melbourne, arriving there on April 22. They are due at Hobart on May 6, and from there, proceed to New Zealand, being scheduled to reach Wellington on May 18; Auckland will also be visited, and the squadron is to arrive there on May 26.

Leaving Auckland. the ships go on to Sydney, and they are expected to arrive on' June 7. Their stay will extend to June IS, the fleet subsequently returning to Japan via the Torres Straits, calls being made at Townsville and Thursday Island en route.

Advantage has been taken of the. opportunity on this lons cruise to "school" a number of young Japanese to fit them for the higher positions in the navy, and the squadron has on board no less than 200 midshipmen undergoing a course of training. Each ship has a displacement of 4277 tons. The Matsushima and Itsukushima were built at Le Seyne in IS9I, whilst the Hashidate was constructed in Japan in lhe same year. They are. built of steel, have a length of 205 ft, and a beam of 50ft lOin, with a draught of 21ft 2in. They are twin-screw cruisers, with engine's of 5400 horse-power, each vessel having a speed of 17 knots. Each ship carried one 12.5 in (Canet) gun, 11 4.7 in quick-firing guns, besides machine and smaller guns.