BATTLESHIP IN NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22907, 2 January 1940, Page 6

BATTLESHIP IN NEW ZEALAND

H.M.S. RAMILLIES AT WELLINGTON

ARRIVAL WATCHED BY BIG CROWD

(PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, January 1. H.M.S. Ramillies, a battleship of the Royal Sovereign type, having a displacement of 29,150 tons, and including in her armament eight 15inch guns, has arrived at Wellington. The great ship presented a splendid picture as she steamed up Port Nicholson on a brilliant summer day. Word quickly spread that she was entering port, and hundreds watched her from Wellington's many vantage points. The Ramillies is berthed at Pipitea wharf, and will be open for inspection by the public on Thursday and Friday. There will be special arrangements for children to see the ship on Thursday, but not on Friday. Immediately on her arrival official calls were made on her commanding officer, Carjtain H. T. Baillie-Groh-man, D.5.6., 0.8. E., by the Chief of the New Zealand Naval Staff, Commodore H. E. Horan, Commander A. B. Fanshawe, and the Naval. Secretary, Paymaster-Captain N. T. P. Cooper. Captain" Baillie-Grohman called on the Chief of the General Staff, Ma.ior-General J. E. Duigan, and the General Officer Commanding the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Major-General B. C. Freyberg. Later-Captain BaillieGrohman called on the DeputyPrime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) and the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), who returned the calls. The captain also called, on the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand (Sir Harry Battferbee). A streamer displayed prominently from the masts of the Ramillies bearing the words: "Well done the Achilles" is a fine tribute from a battleship of the Royal Navy to the part played by a shin from the New Zealand Naval Station, H.M.S. Achilles, in the battle with the Admiral Graf Spee. Complete arrangements have been made by the Government and the city of Wellington to entertain the men of the Ramillies.