NAVY INSPECTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 114, 17 May 1938, Page 9

NAVY INSPECTION.

ANNUAL FORMALITY.

TRAINING SHIP PHILOMEL.

ADMIRAL'S LAST VISIT.

While officers, bluejackets and marines stood at immobile attention on the sundrenched parade ground of the Devonport Naval Base this morning, Rear-Admiral E. R. Drummond, retiring commodore commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, carried out his last annual inspection of the personnel of the training and depot ship Philomel. This is a yearly formality performed by the commodore of the station, when each of His Majesty's ships, and her complement, undergoes a rigorous inspection.

On his rounds the admiral was accompanied by Commander C. B. Tinley, 0.8. E., naval officer in charge of the base, and other senior officers. Later Admiral Drummond went aboard the Philomel, and examined the ship, her gear and equipment and accommodation.

Ag his term on the New Zealand station has expired, and he is expected to return to England next month, Admiral Drummond will not again have the opportunity of inspecting H.M.S. Philomel. Also, the training ship is to be replaced within the coming year or two by shore barracks.

While only the Philomel was inspected this morning, each vessel attached to the New Zealand Division must receive annual inspection. In the case of the cruisers Achilles? and Leander that was done some months ago at Akaroa during a cruise of southern • ports.