FOR COLOMBO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 275, 20 November 1935, Page 8

FOR COLOMBO.

WARSHIP DIOMEDE. CALL AT SINGAPORE. NEW ZEALAND IN JANUARY. AIR MAIL LETTERS ARRIVE. Private advice from members of the crew of H.M.S. Diomede has been received by air mail in Auckland to the effect that the warship was going to Colombo to relieve the cruiser Colombo. It was expected that the Diomede would be relieved shortly and would return to New Zealand in January. The letters were sent from Singapore, where tnc Diomede arrived on October 30, after a record run via Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. After a five hours' stay at Darwin to refuel tho Diomede continued to Singapore at an average speed of 23 knots. The distance from Auckland to Singapore is 5300 miles, which, makes the daily average 530 miles. An officer writing to a friend in Auckland stated that "tho old ship is going like a Trojan. The turbines arc running as smoothly as if they were new, ancf 23 knots is a big strain on an oldfashioned ship like the Diomede." On arriving at Singapore the Diomede was met by a fighting squadron of E4 F bombers, which carried out manoeuvres with the fast-moving cruiser. Hundreds of flour "bombs were dropped round her. Two direct hits, which would have sunk ths ship had tho bombs been real, were recorded. The commander, Captain Cosmo Graliam, made an announcement to the crew at Singapore concerning the Diomede's movements. He informed them, that they were going to.Colombo to replace H-M S Colombo, which was going to England to refit.. It.was anticipated tha°t the Diomede would be relieved early in the New Year, when she would return to Auckland, via the Pacific Islands. i , . : Call to Service Overseas. Oil October 16 when the Diomede was berthed at Wellington in the course of her annual cruise the announcement was made unexpectedly in the House of Eepresentatives by the Prime Minister, Mr. G. W. Forbes, that she had been detailed for "special service under the Admiralty." -The Government had taken this action at the request of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain, said Mr. Forbes. . ..

Making, a record trip from Wellington, the cruiser arrived in Auckland the following day. Stores and ammunition were rushed on board and an emergencyoverhaul of her hull was carried out in thte Calliope dry dock. The date of her departure was kept secret, even from the wives and families of the sailors, until a few hours before she sailed straight out of the dock on Sunday afternoon, October. 20.

JSe.veu days later a brief. Press Association message from Darwin announced that the Diomede had called there to refuel. The message also stated that a seaman had been left in hospital. Although the Diomede would be due to reach Singapore on October 30 and Colombo about November 8, no official advice has-been.received as to her movements. J : .