CRUISER PERTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 81, 5 April 1940, Page 7

CRUISER PERTH.

Warm Welcome To Australia's Newest Warship. ARRIVAL IK SYDNEY HARBOUR. SYDNEY, April 4. Australia's newest cruiser, the Perth, a modification of the Leander class, made her maiden entry Jnto Sydney Harbour this morning. She was heralded by cheers from crowds of people lining the foreshores and the tooting of ferry boat sirens. Scores of launches and yachts accompanied the Perth up the harbour to her berth at Garden Island, where relatives and next-of-kin of the officers and 500 Australian ratings who brought the ship to Australia after protracted patrol duty in the Atlantic, were allowed aboard for happy reunions. A spectacular parade of 5000 naval officers and ratings from the various warships at present in port is to be held fhrough Sydney to-morrow. - At least 10 naval baads will participate.

The Perth, formerly the Amphion, was built at Portsmouth, and is fitted with Beardmore machinery. Construction was begun on June 26, 1933, and completed in July, 1936. The cruiser hae a displacement of 6830 tone, and carries a complement of 550. She has a length of 530 ft, with a 56ft Bin beam and 15ft Bin mean draught. Eight 6in, eight 4ia anti-aircraft, four 3-pounders and 10 smaller guns are carried, and also one aircraft. She ie fitted with eight 21to (quadrupled) torpedo tubes.

STAY AT OWN RISK.

AMERICANS IN BELGIUM LONDON, April 4. The American Ambassador to Belgium, Mr. Joseph K. Duvies, liae again advised Americans to leave Belgium, says the Brussels correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph." All Americans remainfng must realise that they do bo at their own risk. And must understand what that risk Slay involve. ■