JAPANESE FLEET

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1924, Page 8

JAPANESE FLEET

SAILS FOR NEW ZEALAND

EXPECTED AT ' WELLINGTON ON

MONDAY.

(UNITED PRIBI ASSOCIATION.—COPIRIfIBI.) (Received 30th January, 1 p.m.) - SYDNEY, This Day. The Japanese warships sailed this morning en the visit to New Zealand. The Japanese fleet' which consists of the Iwate, Asama, and Yakumo, is expected to reach Yv'ellington about midday next Mpnday. On arrival the visiting warships will fire a salute of 21 gUns, which will be replied to by H.M.CS. Chathiimj with a salute of 16 guns. Official calls will take place during the afternoon. On Tuesday a visit will, be made to the environs of the city by cadets and seamen, in observation cars. The General Officer commanding the New Zealand Military Forces will call on the Admiral, who will return official calls. At 1 p.m. a luncheon- will be given to Vice-Admiral S. Saito, C.Bi, who is in command of the fleet, and the principal ..officers of the squadron, by members of the. Government, at Parliament Buildings. At 3 p.m. a civic reception will be given at the Concert Chamber of the Town. Hall,' and at 8. p.m. a dinner will be given on board the Chatham by Commodore Alister F. Beal. A visit will - probably' be made, to Werarea Farm pn Wednesday by a number ef the cadets-, and members of the. various crews.. will be; taken round the city in .observation cars. The following day (Thursday) _a luncheon will'be given tp Vice-Admiral Saito and his efficers by the Rotary Club, and in the evening it is proposed that a dinner will be given to the Admiral pn shore. On the.last day of the- visit, ViceAdmiral Saitp and his, pfficers will be privately entertained at dinner, and at various serial events. The Iwate is an armeured cruiser ef 9750 tons displacement. The vessel is 400 feet long, 68_ feet beam, and with a draught of 24£ feet. The Iwate, which was built at Elswick, has an indicated horse-power of 17,300, and a speed of 22 knots, and was launched in 1901. Her armament is feur Bin guns; feurteen. 6in, twelve 12 peunders, and eight 2. puunders. Her .cPniplement is 688 pfficers and-meii. The Yakumrj was built at Stettin (Germany) in 1901, and carries feur Bin guns, twelve 6in, twelve 12 peunders, and eight 2£ pounders. She is 407| feet long, with a beam of 64. feet, and 23| feet draught. The indicated horse pewer .is 16,000, and her speed 20 knots. She carries _a cemplement ,ef 698 pfficers and men. - - - - * The Asama, a light armoured • cruiser, is now rated as a ccast defence ship. She'was built at Elswick in 1899, and has a displacement ef 9885 tpns. ' The length is 408 feet, the beam 67 feet and the draught 24_ feet, while the indicated horse-power is 19,000, with a speed of 22.1 knots... The Asama carries four Bin guns, feurteen 6in, twelve 12- pounders, a?"ii,eig.ht 2.',Pofnders,,.",an'd,her cemple-'j ment1 is 482 efficers arid meni Tb e Asama, the flagship, still bears the pi-cud scar pf conflict with the Russian Baltic Fleet many years ago, at the time of the Russo-Japanese campaign. The other.two cruisers are similarly marked with historic -wounds. Naturally this means that they are not all up to date. But just because of their ol.d scars, they are probably the best"leved vessels in the. Japanese Fleet.