AMERICAN CRUISER

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 136, 5 March 1938, Page 13

AMERICAN CRUISER

Arrival Of Louisville At Auckland OFFICIAL CALLS PAID By Telegraph—Press Association Auckland, March 4. Greeted by dull skies and misty rain the United States heavy cruiser Louisville arrived at Auckland shortly after midday from Australian ports, firing a salute as she passed North Head. There was a crowd of several hundreds to welcome the cruiser at the wharf. Soon after she berthed the commander, Captain R. W. Mathewson, was called on by the United States Consul at Auckland, Mr. J. Groeninger, and naval and military authorities. Captain Mathewson subsequently called on the chairman of the Harbour Board, the Hon. T. Bloodworth, and the mayor, Sir Ernest Davis. The officers and men of the cruiser have a large programme of entertainment ahead .before the ship sails for Tahiti next Wednesday. A State luncheon will be given by the Government at the Grand Hotel on Monday. The cruiser is expected to be open for public inspection during her stay. SAILORS MUST NOT GIVE CAPS AWAY Result Of Australian Demand For Souvenirs Dominion Special Service. Auckland, March 4. No caps cau be distributed among their friends by 600 sailors of the visiting American cruiser Louisville while the ship is at Auckland. This friendly international naval custom was practised so extensively in Australia that when the Louisville arrived her clothing stores were almost completely exhausted of replacements. The American bluejacket’s cap has apparently always been coveted bytemporary hosts of sailors in strange ports, and so insistent were the de-, mands in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Hobart for these souvenirs that many of the men returned to their ship hatless. The sailors had to wear their reserve caps, amd then, after a while, they had to draw on stores, until at last, when the Louisville cleared Hobart, it wa? obvious that if the men were as generous in Auckland as they had been in Australia, some of them would have to return to the United States without any head-covering at all unless more were made in the ship’s tailor shop.

Many of the hats were given away in Australia. Others, however, were' just taken off their owners’ heads. Some were even snatched oft in the street by cyclists with an eye for the picturesqueness of the headgear. The French cruiser Jeanne d'Arc also lost a number of berets, the pom-poms on top being the attraction in their case.