400 SAILORS AWAY FOR CHRISTMAS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30939, 21 December 1965, Page 30

400 SAILORS AWAY FOR CHRISTMAS

(N.Z. Preaa Aseoeietionl WELLINGTON. Dec. 20. More than 4M New Zealand Milon will spend this Christmas away from home, most of them in the Far East The frigate HJf-N.Z.S. Tnnaki, with a crew of 220, is at present at sea on operations, but she wail arrive at Singapore on Christmas Eve. One of the two New Zeatond minesweepers engaged on anti-mdiltratton petrots in the Singapore Streits, H.M. N.ZJS. McMeton, is already in dock for an engine overhaul. Her ship's company will a&so spend Christinas in harbour. The other strip. H.M.N Z.S. Stanton, will be at see and on pataoL watching for Indonesian infiltrators. In the Antarctic, the supply strip H.M.N.Z.S. Endeavour, win spend Christmas Day at sea. The ship is due to leave McMurdo Sound for New Zealand on Thursday. Christmas dinner will be served the day before sailing, ft is considered wiser for the 70 officers and men aboard to celebrate the oecaaton alongside than to take a chance on the rough waters of the southern ocean.

Two small shore parties wttt also spend their festive season away, afthough they will be in two very different parts of the world. At Singapore the base support party for the New Zealand minesweepers, numbering about 12 men. will join in the festivities at H.M.S. Ter-

ror, the Royal Navy shore establishment there. At Betfast the 40 key personnel rtandtog by the new Frigate HALN.Z.S. Waikato expect a tndfttonal British Christmas.