AN EPIC OF THE SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 46, 23 February 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

AN EPIC OF THE SEA.

The dash through a cyclone in mid-Pacific made by the cruiser Australia, which covered 200 miles of mountainous seas'in a single night to give succour to the small American schooner Setli Parker, is but another example of the characteristic service rendered by a unit of the British Navy. It mattered not that the schooner which had been disabled was flying the : flag of the United States. Receiving the S.O.S. call, the Australia, which had on board His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester returning to England after his world tour, changed its course afid steamed at 25 knots to the position indicated by the Seth Parker. For nearly a week the Australia stood by the disabled schooner, which had taken on board much water. Half a dozen members of the crew were taken on board the Australia, this difficult job of transferring the men from the smaller to the bigger ship being watched by the Duke himself. Some of the apprentices or cadets from the Seth Parker had lunch with His Royal Highness. Through having to go out of her way to the Seth Parker and stand by for so long, the Australia set up a new record for the British Navy since the war . by remaining at sea for 25 days continuously. As a result of the time lost it wns found necessary to

omit the proposed calls which were to have been paid by the Duke to Bermuda and the Bahamas. The cruiser did not leaVe the schooner until she received a signal from the American Navy tug Ontario stating that she was on a correct bearing and was nearing the Seth Parker. Never was the Navy's motto "Keep watch" demonstrated in a more fitting manner than in this wonderful epic of the sea.