CO-OPERATION OF NAVIES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27224, 16 December 1953, Page 3

CO-OPERATION OF NAVIES

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ADMIRAL COLLINS FINDS ‘ABSOLUTE INTEGRATION’ (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 15. “The Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy are absolutely integrated,” said the Chief of the Australian Naval Staff (ViceAdmiral Sir John Collins) in an interview in Wellington today when discussing the work of the two navies.

Admiral Collins is paying a brief visit to New Zealand on his way back to Australia from Honolulu, where he and the Chief of the New Zealand Naval Staff (Commodore Sir Charles Madden) had discussions with the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet (Admiral Felix R. Stump), who recently relieved Admiral Radford.

Admiral Collins said there had been talks between the Australian and New Zealand and the United States Pacific Fleet for several years, and the present talks were merely a continuation of them and an opportunity for Sir Charles Madden and himself to get to know Admiral Stump. Yesterday Admiral Collins had talks with the New Zealand Naval Board, and today he is having more detailed talks with the whole of the New Zealand Naval Staff. “We are discussing broad naval strategy to see that Australia and New Zealand are working on the same lines, and we are also meeting the people we have to deal with,” he said. Australia’s second aircraft carrier, the Melbourne, was now being built, he said. She would be the latest type with angled deck and steam catapaults. and fully equipped to operate the latest naval jet aircraft. At present H.M.A.S. Australia, the other Australian carrier, was in Korean waters, and in Australian waters was H.M.A.S. Verigeance. on loan to the Royal Australian Navy.. Scrapping of Cruiser Vice-Admiral Collins was full of an old sailor’s regret for the passing of his old ship, the heavy cruiser. H.M.A.S. Australia. “She is due to be scrapped, to my great regret,” he said. “I stood by her building for a year, for three years I was gunnery officer in her, I flew my flag in her when I commanded a fleet, and I was wounded in her at Leyte Gulf.

“But now she is no longer a fighting unit and is more than 25 years old. She is also the last of her class anywhere.” Asked about replacements for her. he said the new Daring class “which are more than destroyers.” in effect would be her replacement. “But I am delighted to know that there are two efficient cruisers in H.M.N.Z.S. Black Prince and H.M.N.Z.S. Bellona just across the Tasman in New Zealand.” he added.