ONE GUN SHORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 10

ONE GUN SHORT.

SALUTE TO JAPANESE SHIP

AT AUCKLAND IN THE 'EIGHTIES.

The publication earlier this week of a report concerning a mistake in greetiit" the French sloop Savorgnan de Brazza at Wellington with the wrong flag and salute of guns, lias prompted a reader of the "Dominion" to relate the following incident:—

"In the 'eighties of last century, when the first Japanese warship to visit New Zealand, the Tsukuba, arrived at Auckland, it was discovered that military headquarters did not possess a flag of Japan. Nobody was" quite sure what' constituted an official flap;. Books were consulted and finally a piece of bunting of regulation size was procured and a painter placed a splotch of red paint in the centre.

"The Tsukuba saluted the port with 21 guns. The A Battery ('now No. 1 Battery) paraded in Albert Park, hoisted the improvised flag and proceeded to, return the salute gun for gun. LTnfortunately a friction tube failed to function, and so only 20 rounds were fired. The battery commander said, 'Oh, they will never notice the omission.' But notice it the Japanese did. Presently a dapper little officer in full dress uniform, with sword and cocked hat, stopped ashore, proceeded to Government House and requested an explanation of the omission. The lame excuse was made that there was a shortage of cartridges —so many warships having visited the port lately.

"The battery paraded again, however, and fired the full number of rounds."