THE BATTLECRUISERS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15767, 7 December 1916, Page 8

THE BATTLECRUISERS.

ECHOES OP JUTLAND,

THE LUCKY NEW ZEALAND.

(FKOU OVn OWN CORRESrONDEXT.)

No. I. LONDON. "October 24,

Haviug visited the Grand Fleet to recently a* May, 1 did not require to avail myself of tho new opportunity given last week t 0 representatives of the Dominions' Press to see something of the Fleet itself and of various \rar works. My last \isit, however, ivas only a few days before the great battle of Jutland, and at, the opportunitv of seeing H.M..S. New Zealand docsnot come often in wartime, I accompanied tho party on that part of the visit which included the battle-cruisere. Canada. Australia, South Africa, and India were also represented.

It must be. understood that although in some respects the isolation of the Fleet at "War k not quite so severe as in earlier days, there is still an in>. passable barrier between the civil pqpn. lation of tlie United Kingdom and those who are defending us in tho longships. TJiis barrier is absolutely essential to the efficiency and security of tho Fleet * and no civilian can grumble. Xevcrthc' Jess, I was glad to be startled or* tho New Zealand by the unexpected rition of a New Zealand trooper clambering up through the roof of a gunturret, followed by others of his kind. The authorities have wisely come to tho conclusion that the fighting men from the Dominion ought to ho allowed to seo their naval unit if possible, and it generally is possible for a few' men on leave to get aboard when they hap. pen to be in the neighbourhood. Tho Battle-cruiser Fleet to-dav is what it has always been—a verv'impressivo spectacle—but tho appeal becomes more. and more potent as the marks of service and tho trophies of success accumulate. There are verv few ships in this great armada to-day which cannot be pointed out for soma act of distinction. Tho yeoman &ig. nailer identifies them, even* if they are as alike as standardised nuts, and tie officer on duty can usually add the inscription. Every single one of them is blooded. But let us sco our own first. "THE BAY." When tho Mew Zealand was at sea 'on 'May 31st very few on board had any idea that a fight was imminent. It was one of* the aweeps-in-forco which tho Germans try to convince neutrals aro only made by tho Mochsee Flottcn. Lunch passed off quietly, and officers wore returning to duty m their own particular parts of the ship. ''Well," 6 aid a lieutenant, with afterluncheon langour, to a fellow-officer, "I suppose it's pack up again and get back home.'' . "I suppose so." A minute later tho wireless man reported that Galatea had sighted two enemy light cruisers. Oh, ho! In a minute more the light craft ahead were smoking furiously, digging, their shoulders into tho sea. and whitening their wakes with froth. It was nuts for them. They were unleashed and sped liko hounds after the fox ventre a terre. The battle squadrons, too. though the game wu none of their, size, beat to quartets and shook up" their contact knottage and something more. The Xcw Zealand was spoiling for' this fight. She is a good'shin, with the regimental spirit fully developed, and a record of battle-honours to lire up to. And the New Zealand went to quarters gaily. Fully convinced that theirs was a lucky ship, tho lower deck nevertheless harboured here and there the superstition of a sailorman. Away down in the engine-room the watch below, called suddenly to quarters, found themselves almost in action whilo yet their eyes were scarcely open. And they were not altogether ca6y. The chip had been undergoing a repaint, and in tho process the tattooed head on the forctop had been painted out with grey. This grotesnue figure the lower deck considered lucky, and it was a great relief to tie stokers and other ratings to learn that tho moko had been duly repainted and was even then grimacing at the -unseen Huns on tho horizon. Her flag, too, lest any so base should bo found in the New Zealand who should wish to strike it, or lest any lucky shot should carry away the-staff, was painted on the side of tho foretop, in perpetual challenge; and ye"t another New Zealand coat-of-arms, neatly carved in black oak, was mounted there at the very scat of control. And the New Zealand, in token of hospitality born on Gallipoli, had given quarters and welcome to the Admiral and his staff from Australi?. Tho New Zealand was mighty glad to think she was likely to carry into action the flag of her temporary boarder. • Everything seemed toward. Her stokers shook up the fires, and she hurried ' along behind the Tiger—the prettiest ship in the Fleet—and ahead of her own chummy ship, the Indefat., pantiug and itching to get busy as soon as the turrets of the Lion bc£an to dra* on the enemy, # . A lieutenant passing aft whispered to another at his station: "Two ships down." "Hurray! Three cheers!" breathed the London barrister doing duty ai an R.N.Y. "But they're ours,'' quietly rejoined his informant. Indefat. had disappeared beneath the water astern, and Queen Mary two ahead. And the barrister turned to again with a noncnalant smile to be sure New Zealand vas giving no change to her opposite nnfflj bor in the German fleet, which looked very like the enigma Yon dcr Tann. By now the Dominion ship was tearing through the water, leading what # remained of the Second Battle-cruiser Squadron ; her turrets baying full lu*V ily at the faint phantom outlines of tW Hun shins. Her own number nine* have got* it hot, for practical? nothing came al>oard the New Zealand. A HOT ONE. Just one hot one the Germans seoj down. A T"2-inch shell plunged squarely aboard into the base of to 6 after turret, but providentially 0 "* , ing externally. A wad of armour pi**; « ing fouled the revolving mechanism <> r the turret and put it out of action/*" a mere moment. The gun's «**"J within, scarcely awaro how near a cau they had had. set to and cleared S*»j the debris from the running gear, ana, hey presto! the turrets swung: «** and. barked again at the enemy bero™ .he was well able to reckter tho niw The explosion outside the turret *». next to no harm. One of its bJfJv duels was that shattered staff *«<» has gone out to New Zealand a», * souvenir. The section of ar *°°l which was punched in now stands ■«■■■ th-3 deck of" The bpttle-cniieer, one « many interesting relics of her rights.