ALL ONE NAVY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18194, 3 October 1924, Page 9

ALL ONE NAVY.

BRITISH AND AUSTRALIAN. CREW OF H.M.A.S. ADELAIDE WELCOMED IN LONDON. (IT CABLE—PEBSS ASSOCIATION CCFTitGHT-J (MtTTKB's TELEGHAMS.) LONDON, October T H.M.A.S, Adelaide's crew marched to the Horse Guards' Parade, where Lord Chelmsford (First Lord of the Admiralty) and members of the Board of Admiralty inspected the crew. Lord Chelmsford officially welcomed the Australians, and recalled bein« in Australia at the birth of the Australian Navy, since when the Navy had received its baptism of war. The world knew how'it. acquitted itself. The First Lord was confident that the new arrangements for the annual exchange of British and Australian warships would be to the benefit of all. He declared that it was impossible to give the Adelaide's men a better reception than the right royal reception accorded the British Squadron in Australia, but the English people welcomed them from the bottom of their hearts. "We want you to really feel at home," he said, "and to return and tell your friends you had a good time." Mr J. H. Thomas (Secretary of State for the Colonies) reminded them that their task was a common one. Although they represented the Australian Navy, the interchange arrangements indicated that the defence of the great British Commonwealth was a national undectaking by all. Mr Thomas humorously refused to ask, even privately, the men's opinion of British weather, as it c<-uld only be expressed in naval language. It was the only thing Great Britain Could not control. "You have good weather," he 3;; id, "We have a good country. We are proud of you and your past, and wo are assured of your future, I hope you take back the pleagantest reeollestioji of real British hospitality,'' The ceremony concluded with ringing c-heers by the men for tho Board of Admiralty. Mr Thomas 's refercnce«to the weather was due to the fact that the crew on arrival found London shrouded in fog typical of November.