FRENCH CRUISER AT AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22339, 1 March 1938, Page 4

FRENCH CRUISER AT AUCKLAND

EXCHANGE OF OFFICIAL CALLS WREATH LAID ON CENOTAPH (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, February 28. The French cruiser Jeanne d’Arc arrived from Wellington at 9 o’clock, and was met in the stream by M. Edmond Meyer, the French Consul, and M. Andre Pouquet, the new consul, who arrived on Saturday to relieve M. Mever. After the cruiser berthed Commander C. B. Tinley, Officer in Command of the Naval Base, and Commander G. N. Loriston-Clarke, Commander of the escort vessel Wellington, paid a formal call on Captain Paul Auphan. The French commander returned the call at 12.30. At a luncheon on H.M.S. Philomel Colonel Mead and Colonel H. McD Weir, representing the New Zealand military forces, paid their respects. This morning Captain Auphan called on the Apostolic delegate, Archbishop Panico, and Bishop Liston at th€ Roman Catholic Cathedral. The cruiser will sail on Monday foi New Caledonia and other French colonial possessions, en route to Brest The usual official calls were paid upon the commander of the cruiser An unexpected call was that of Count Felix von Luckner, whose arrival was not understood by many of the French officers until they were told of his identity. In the afternoon Captain Auphan laid a wreath at the cenotaph in the presence of French and British detachments. To-night Captain Auphan and his officers attended a welcome to the Pnnal T.ppnt e the Most Rev. J. Panico.