THROUGH WALLS OF STEEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 66, 18 March 1915, Page 6

THROUGH WALLS OF STEEL.

THE KALWA'S TRIP. FREMANTLE, Tuesday. At Malta the \hilwa. which arrived at Freuiantle to-day, threaded its way carefully through the great French and British fleets which were on their way to bombard the Dardanelles. This was on February 14, and the Malwa was carrying "to Multa FieldiLirshal Methuen, who was recently appointed to the Ciovernorship of Malta. t<uch an inspiring sight will never be witnessed again. On the waters of Uie grand harbour were floating every conceivable form of naval warfare, from a seaplane to the immensely tripoded Dreadnought. The indefatigable destroyers were in numbers, iind here and there among the great ships of war could be eecn Selling trawlers specially fitted for the work of mine-eweeping. The Malwa •herself, a magnificent specimen of a Tnerchant craft, made her way through the steel walls. She passed about half a dozen Trench ships, the crews of which showed frantic enthusiasm. The eight was particularly thrilling when she came abreast of some of the British vessels, for upwards of 1500 men crowded on the decks of these shipe and cheered. The gune spoke in ealute. Another fine eight was witnessed at Gibraltar, where the ilalwa passed the super-Dreadnoupht Queen Elizabeth. A veritable Queen Elizabeth she looked as she swung to her moorings, majestic, grand looking, and crinolined with the terrible armaments of th* latest snperDreadnought. For'ard two great 15-in. guns were stationed, Tight on top of two others of the same type, and aft were four more. As one passenger put it, "There eh« lay naked in her warlike glory. It wae a eight I shall never forget. Grey, ominous looking, she was only suggestive of restrained might, an instant efficiency, and great capacity for annihilation. May she prove heT capacity in the Dardanelles."