REAR-ADMIRAL MACDOUGALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 189, 12 August 1925, Page 8

REAR-ADMIRAL MACDOUGALL.

TALKS WITH PRESSMEN.

A tall, quiat gentleman, with the appearance of a doctor or a university professor rather than that of the sailor —or the Britisher's conception of a sailor—is Bear-Admiral R. D. MacDougall, of U.S.a. New Mexico. He received a party of Auckland journaliste this morning, for a short interview, in his quarters at the stern of the battleship: The Rear-Admiral's greeting was courtly and restrained, tendered in such a manner as to put his visitors' quickly at their ease. In common with the British officer, Rear-Admiral MacDougall is a man of few Avprds, being anything but the talkative type dear to the heart of the journalist. Ih the course of the conversation he mentioned that he was with Admiral C. Sperry's Great White Fleet when it visited New Zealand in 1908. "Since then much has changed," he said. "There are many new face's, and some of the old ones are missing. And I notice that things along the waterfront have changed. The greatest change of all is to be seen in modes of transportation. When I was in before it was not possible to get around in the same way as one pan do now. With the automobile developed as it is to-day we will be able to see a great deal more of your beautiful country than was possible formerly." Rear-Admiral MacDougall is a busy man. To the casual observer from the shore, the line of American battleships in the stream appear to be without life, except for a "Jackie" here and there over the side, dabbing on grey paint. But down below the rain-swept decks the ships buzz with life. The Rear-Admiral had only a few minutes to spare for his guests, being called away to deal with important matters affecting the comfort of his men. To anyone who has visited a British Admiral in his suite aboard a flagship the quarters aboard the New Mexico, where the Rear-Admiral was visited, appear unusually stern in their simplicity. There is no attempt at luxury. Serviceableness is the keynote. Comfortable straw chairs, a few covered chairs, a small table, and a bookshelf— there was little more. A quiet carpet and plain curtains give the room a certain distinctive quality, but the American policy of "efficiency first" is evidently carried into operation without regard for magnificence.