WARSHIPS RETURN

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 261, 31 July 1929, Page 9

WARSHIPS RETURN

—» VISIT TO AUSTRALIA A SUCCESSFUL CRUISE After an absence of nearly five weeks In Australian waters, the two cruisers of the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy have returned to New Zealand. H.M.S. Dunedin, flying the broad pennant of Captain G. C. T. P. Swabey, Commodore commanding the division, arrived In the stream at Wellington on Monday night from Hobart, and berthed yesterday morning at Clyde Quay Wharf. H.M.S. Diomede arrived at Auckland yesterday morning. The cruisers sailed from Auckland on June 5, and after calling at Norfolk Island, they joined the Australian Squadron, commanded by Rear-Admiral E. R. G. R. Evans, flying his flag on H.M.A.S. Australia, at Hervey Bay on June 10. The Australian ships were the cruisers Australia and Canberra, the seaplane-carrier Albatross, the destroyers Anzac, Success and Swordsman, the submarine depot ship Platypus and the submarines Otway and Oxley. With the Dunedin and Diomede, the ships represented probably the strongest composite naval force ever assembled in Australian waters. , At Hervey Bay the combined squadrons carried out a series of tactical and strategical exercises over a period of about ten days. The nature of the exercises made them extremely valuable from the instructional and training point of view, and in the Interests of both squadrons it is hoped to be able to make them an annual feature of the routine. The crews of the Dunedin and Diomede “held up their end” very well and their efficiency was most marked. For certain technical reasons the Dunedin and Diomede were not in a position to compete for the Plunket Shield for efficiency in gunnery, but it is understood that rules are being drafted to enable them to do so in future. ... At the squadron regatta which was held at the conclusion of the. exercises tap men of the New Zealand ships proved their mettle. In the race for whalers manned' by seamen under 20 years of age the crews representing the Dunedin and Diomede made a dead-heat for first place against the picked crews of the Australian ships. Subsequently, at the ports visited the New Zealand ships beat the Australians in practically every game of Rugby and Association football and won two out of three hockey matches. At Sydney they won the Rugbv match by 31 points to 11; at Jervis Bay they beat the Naval College team by 41 points to nil; and at Melbourne they beat the University • team by 21 points to 8, and the Flinders Naval Base fifteen by 22 points to 9. „ The New Zealanders beat the Australian Squadron Association team by 6 to 0 at Sydney, and at Melbourne they retained the AF.A. Shield, beating Flinders Naval Depot by 4 to. 3. They also defeated the Royal Australian Naval College at Jervis Bay and a South Tasmanian team at Hobart. f. • ' ,■ . , The. visit of the Dunedin and Diomede to Australian ports was a great success. Everywhere the ships’ companies were most cordially welcomed and officers and men brought back pleasant memories of Australian hospitality. From Hervey Bay the Dunedin and Diomede went to Brisbane, where a stay of three days was made. On June 28—a memorable day—the New Zealand ships met the Australian squadron at a rendezvous off Sydney Heads, which they entered later in the following order: Australia,. Canberra, Dunedin, Diomede, Albatross, Anzac, Success, Swordsman, Platypus, Oxley and .Otway... Steaming up the harbour the ships saluted the Governor-Gen-eral of Australia (Lord Stonehaven), who was in H.M.A.S. Marguerite moored off Bradley’s Head, and the scene was a most impressive one. The Dunedin and Diomede berthed at Circular Quay, where they were inspected by thousands of people. A feature of the visit to Sydney was the march through the city streets of the men of both ships, including the Marines, who are not carried in the Australian ships. Leaving Sydney on July 6, the Dunedin and Diomede went to Jervis Bay, where two days were spent; • they were at Melbourne from July 10 to 18, and at Hobart from July 20 to 25, returning thence to New Zealand after a most instructive and enjoyable cruise. At Melbourne and Hobart, as at Brisbane and Sydney, the ships’ stays were marked by a round of entertainments. An interesting ceremony which made a deen impression in Tasmania took place at Hobart last Thursday, when the Royal Marines from eaqh ship paid a tribute to the memory of LieutenantColonel D. Collins, the first Governor of Tasmania. Headed by the massed bands of the ships, the detachment of Marines marched through the streets to St. David’s Park, where the commanding officer, Captain E. Bowring, placed a wreath at the foot of the memorial column. the parade presenting arms and the buglers sounding the “Last Post.” The wreath bore the following inscription: “As a tribute to the memory of David Colling. Lieutennnt-Colonel of the Royal Marines nnrt Governor and Founder of this City, this wreath is placed by the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Marines serving with the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. 24th July. 1929.” The Mwar of Hobnrt (Aiderman J. Soundy). Aldermen of the City Council, the Master Warden of the Marine Board (Sir John Evens). Contain Swabey (HMS. Dunedin) and Captain Wells (H.M.S. Diomedol were present at the ceremony. H.M.S Dunedin will remain at Wellington until August 20 and will give leave to her crew while here.