BOUND TO WELLINGTON

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 94, 21 April 1924, Page 5

BOUND TO WELLINGTON

GIANTS OF THE FLEET. HOOD AND REPULSE. ADELAIDE JOINS UP. LIGHT CRUISERS TO FOIIOW. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, April 20. The two great battleships of the Empire Special Service Squadron, the Hood and the Repulse, sailed at seven >'clock this morning for Wellington, riiey were accompanied by the cruiser Adelaide. 'flic squadron's visit to Sydney practically ended last night, and the city .vill now take down its decorations and Iressing of bunting, which have been in ■vidence since the ships' arrival. Fa.oured by fine weather the personnel iad a busy time with social functions >nrf sight-seeing, combined with much official business and hard work in conlection with fleet matters. Great crowds .-isited the ships, and generally the visit neated an excellent impression, both as -egards Britain's sea power, ac represented by the squadron, and its perlonnel. The Adelaide is to become part of the special squadron during the remainder if the cruise. The light cruiser squadron, with the exception of the Dragon, wrill return to Sydney from Brisbane on ruesday, and will depart for New Zealand on Thursday. The Dragon will remain at Brisbane till Thursday, when she will sail to join up with the remainder of the light miiser squadron en route to New Zealand. Speaking at the Government's farewell linner to the fleet at Parliament House, Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Field, commander of the squadron, expressed hie thanks for Sydney's magnificent reception. He declared that the Empire could not exist without adequate sea power. He was impressed by the need for Australia doing her part in naval defence. Sir Frederick paid a tribute to the Australian Navy, declaring: "So far as I can see there is no difference between them and us."—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) The itinerary of the Empire Special Service Squadron for the New Zealand visit and thereafter until its arrival at Pan Francisco is as follows, B.C. indicating battle cruisers and L.C. light cruisers:— Ships Port. ArriTC. Stay. Leare. conOlays) cerned •Wellincton .. Anril 27 11 May 8 B:C. Lyttelton ... May I 7 May 8 L.C. Auckland ... May 10 7 May 17 All Fiji May 21 6 Mar 27 All Honolulu J. . .Tuns <5 7 .Tune 12 All Enqulmalt ... .Tune 21 12 July 4 l*.C. Vancouver .. June 21 1.2 July 4 B.C. San Francisco July 7 4 July 11 All ■ ■ I