H.M.S. CHATHAM

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 107, 7 May 1924, Page 8

H.M.S. CHATHAM

TO PROCEED TO EAST INDIES.

Wellington knows the light cruiser Chatham no more, for early this morning, to the accompaniment of band music, the vessel moved out from the 'Clyde Quay Wharf,, and steamed out of "the Heads for the last time. ' She is en route to Auckland, where she will await the arrival of the Special Service Squadron on 10th May. It might be wondered why the Chatham does not make the trip' North with the battle-cruisers, but it is understood that the latter will be steaming a,t high speed, and though the smaller cruiser is capable of keeping company with them at the rate at which they .v/ill travel, it is deemed wiser, in view of the long journey before her, to "take things easy" going up the: East Coast, lhe flag of Commodore. Alister l>eal, Chief Naval Officer of the : New Zealand Station, ;will be. transferred trom the Chatham to the light cruiser Dunediu some time during next week, and the latter vessel willthen become the flagship of the New Zealand Navy. The Chatham's work really commences on 27th May, when.she will leave Auckland for Colombo to replace H.M.S Southampton as flagshio on'the -East Indies Station.' The Southampton is being sent Home for boiler repairs, 'which, it is anticipated, wijl cause her to be absent from Trincomoli, the nayal base, for about a year. After bein" relieved by the Southampton, the Chatham will proceed to England. . Ratings VoinoHome from New -Zealand will be transferred to the Southampton at Colombo About seventy ratings wilh be makin" the trio Home by life Kiuihina, sail in" from Wellington on- 13th May. , •"•'■ °