VISIT OF THE BRITISH SPECIAL SERVICE SQUADRON

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 181, 26 April 1924, Page 11

VISIT OF THE BRITISH SPECIAL SERVICE SQUADRON

THE ADMIRAL’S FLAG. Flying from the foremast of H.M.S. Hood is the flag of ViceAdmiral Sir Frederick Field. It consists of a St. George’s Cross on white, with a small ball in one comer. The flag of the Rear-Admiral, the Hon. Sir Hubert Brand, flown from H.M.S. Delhi, is also a St. George’s Cross, but with two balls.

Grey in the morning, in stillness and state, Silently, swiftly, and surely as fate, Up through the swell of the great Eastern gate. True to their tryst with the watchers who wait, The ships of the Empire come. ♦ * * * O’er oceans which join u«—for none shall divide—— History, Mystery, Tradition and Pride Wrapping them round as they gracefully glide To their marks on the breast of the welcoming tide. The ships of the Empire come. * * * * Seven grey ships who have followed the night Half round the world from the Hoe to the Bight: Hood and Repulse and—Nay, name them aright— These are the seven: Truth, Freedom, and Light, Honour and Justice and Valour and Might; These are ships who keep Britonhood bright; These are the seven who steal into sight When, pride of our peace and our bucklers in fight, The ships of the Empire come 1 , —5, Elliott Napier,

C.M.B.S. Among th© many interesting thing# about the Hood which are always pointed out to visitors is the “C.M.8.” (coastal motor-boat). The “C.M.Bs.” are high-powered craft, developing a speed of 45 knots an hour, ana they gave exceptional service in the war, when they were extensively used for launching torpedoes against enemy craft ana defences. Eight of them attacked Bolshevik battleships, under the guns of Kronstad, ana two of the biggest Russian warships were sunk. Only three of the eight motor-boats returned from this heroic exploit.

It is a wonderful cruise on which the Special Service Squadron is engaged, for by the time it ends every part of the British Empire will have been visited. The ships sailed from Davenport on November 27, and went first to Capetown, then to Durban, Dar-es-Salaam, Zanzibar, and Mombassa, then to Ceylon, the Straits Settlement, and Singapore. Freemantle was reached on February 27, and since then Albany, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Sydney and Brisbane have been visited. The battle-cruisers will stay in Sydney 1 1 days and the light cruisers three days. From Australia the Squadron, accompanied by H.M.A.S. Adelaide, come to New Zealand, and on leaving visit Western Canada, and so to the Panama CanaL At that point the light cruisers will leave the battle-cruisers and will sail along the west coast of South America, and pass through the Straits of Magellan. Thence they will \psit the Falkland Islands and Rio, and return home across the Atlantic, visiting the Cape Verde Islands on the way. The battlecruisers will go through the Panama Canal, and will visit Jamaica, the Easts tern ports of Canada, and Newfoundland, before gong on to England. ■