The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1940. H.M.S. ACHILLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 43, 20 February 1940, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1940. H.M.S. ACHILLES.

Tor the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that reeds resistance For the future in the distance, And the good that tee can do.

Xo news since the war began is more pleasing to New Zealanders, and to Aucklanders in particular, than the announcement that very shoi*tly there will be an opportunity of welcoming H.M.S. Achilles. England has already had the privilege of welcoming H.M.S. Exeter and Ajax, but it seemed possible that on account of Achilles' distance from her home port Auckland would not see her for many a day. But will be in the Waitemata this week, and the opportunity will be eagerly grasped to show Captain Parry and his officers and men that New Zealand, no less than every other part of the British Commonwealth, appreciates to the full the significance of the victory of the River Plate and the part which Achilles played in that victory. Naturally, too, there will be a special warmth in the welcome because so many of those who participate in it will be seeing again sons, brothel's, husbands and fathers —men born and bred in the Dominion and largely trained in the New Zealand Division. It was their fortune —greatly envied by their comrades—to take part in an engagement which was in the old tradition of sea fights, and to do their part well. These things Aucklanders will remember, and in showing their appreciation they will be expressing feelings deeply felt in every part of New Zealand.

The battle of the River Plate demonstrated that the "pocket battleship" type is less formidable than many people, including the Nazis, had thought. It demonstrated that boldness and skill in tactics can offset the advantage of mechanical superiority. There are few finer stories in British naval history than that of the skilful manoeuvring of Ajax and Achilles after Exeter was out of the fight. Whether or not the Graf Spee had already determined to seek refuge in Montevideo, the two light cruisers left her no choice. And they—and the damaged Exeter —were outside the harbour, ready and waiting to engage the German again if she ventured forth. She did not venture, lor reasons whioh *11 the world knows, reasons which were not discreditable to her captain. So the Allies were relieved from the. menace of one pocket battleship. And more. They were to some extent relieved of the necessity of taking far-reaching measures to counter the menace of her existence on the high seds. The story eannot yet be told, but Exeter, Ajax and Achillea were only part of the widespread naval organisation for the defence of British merchant ships against the Graf Spee and other raiders. The Graf Spee, if her refuelling arrangements had gone according to schedule, might have turned up anywhere. But the three ships whose names will for ever be associated imposed their will on her. And in honouring one of those three, Aucklanders will be paying a tribute to the whole Navy, to the work which it has done, is doing, and will continue to do, ceaselessly, in all the seas of the world-