ARGENTINE NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 173, 24 July 1928, Page 5

ARGENTINE NAVY.

TRAINING SHIP'S CRUISE. ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON. VISITORS ENTERTAINED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Argentine naval training ship, Presidente Sarmiento, arrived in Wellington at 11.15 and was received with a salute from the shore battery at Point Jermingham. Official calls were paid to-day, and this evening the commander, Captain J. C. Palma and the principal officers will be entertained by the Governor-General. To-morrow there will be a luncheon at Parliament Buildings, and in the evening there will be a ball at Government House. The Presidente Sarmiento is regularly employed for the training of naval cadets, who complete their education each year by a world cruise, and become midshipmen at the conclusion of the voyage. The number of cadets on the present voyage is 47, and the ship's complement consists of 380 men. All officers of the Argentine navy receive their training on the vessel. Each year a new commander is chosen, the post being regarded as a great honour. The Presidente set out on her voyage from Buenos Aires in March, and has called at Capetown, Durban, Zanzibar, Colombo, Singapore, Batavia, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney. She will leave Wellington on Saturday for Tahiti, and will then proceed to Panama, N?w York, and Europe, returning to Buenos Aires about February 2, 1929, after a cruise of 40,000 miles.

The ship is named after a President of the Republic, who founded it 3 first naval college 60 years ago. Now Argentina has naval vessels aggregating more than 100,000 tons, including two dreadnoughts of 30,000 tons each, which were built in the United States in 1914. Three new cruisers, each of 8000 tons, and three torpedo boats are being built in Italy for the Republic. Next year the construction of three submarines in Italy will be commenced. The Republic has a number of seaplanes, and recently placed an order in England for six Southampton supermarine flying boats.