WARSHIPS ON N.Z. STATION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22492, 29 August 1938, Page 11

WARSHIPS ON N.Z. STATION

ESCORT VESSELS ENDING

CRUISES

MOVEMENTS OF ACHIM.TS AND LEANDER

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AUCKLAND. August 27. After being away from Auckland for more than four months, during which time they have visited Sydney and made their annual patrol cruises « the South Pacific Islands, the two imperial escort vessels Leith and Wellington are expected to return to foe Devonport Naval Base early next month.

The cruiser Lcander will also be back in port within the next fortnight after making a cruise to the southern ports of New Zealand. HJVLS. Achilles will leave Auckland on September 17 for Lyttelton and other ports in the south. The cruises of the Leith and foe Wellington have been among foe longest undertaken by ships on the New Zealand Station. They left Auckland in company on April 27 for Sydney, where they stayed until June 13. While there they were fitted with certain delicate instruments expected to be of particular value for their work in foe islands. Leaving Sydney, they parted company for individual cruises to British island groups, upon which they have since been engaged.

The Leith, under command of Cantain Tudway. is due back cm September 10. and she will be preceded* by t few days by the Wellington, under the command of Commander Lorbttai Clarke, which will return on September 7. On the same dav the 1-wJarp. commanded by Captain is expected from Picton. the lasi port of call on a cruise which began toward the beginning erf this month. After her proposed visit to the islands administered by New Zealand, as transport for the Governor-General (Lord Galway), had been positioned until next year, following an outbreak of measles and bronchial catarrh cn some of the islands, the visit to the south of the Achilles will be her last before she leaves under the command of the Commodore of the Seagoing Squadron, Commodore J. G. Glennie, for recommissioning ip England. She is expected to return to New Zealand again toward the middle of next year probably with a new commodore on board, since Commodore Glennie would normally relinquish tht* office while the ship is in England when his term expires. It is probable that the practice of recommissioning the Achilles in England will be followed in the case sf the Leander. If this is so. the second cruiser will probably leave Auckland for Great Britain in 1940.