TO DEFEND COASTS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 139, 15 June 1933, Page 9

TO DEFEND COASTS

NEW ZEALAND CRUISERS

MOCK BATTLE ARRANGED

: (By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, June 14.

Combined naval exercises aro to be carried out in New Zealand waters by j the two cruisers from the, New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy ana ships from tho Royal Australian Navy. It is hoped that the Australian cruisers, Canberra and Australia, probably accompanied by tho destroyer Tattoo, will (arrive ofl North Capo towards, the end of August. They are expected to remain in New Zealand waters until the end- of September. H.M.S. Dunedin, flagship of Commoiflore Burges-Watson, will leave land tomorrow'morning on her annual island cruise, and will return on August 15. By this time H.M.S. Dioinede, which is undergoing refit at the Devonport naval base, will probably be rocommissioned, and the two cruisers will meet the Australian ships off' North Cape. A mock battle is to be held, the Australians taking tho part of an attacking fleet while the Duuedin and the Diojnede, possibly with air force co-opera-tion, will have the task of defending the coast. All tho ships will then probably put into Russell, and a. regatta and other competitions between the ships will be ]icld,in the Bay of Islands. The- warships are then expected to proceed to Auckland, and on. the way will' probably carry out gunucry practices in Hauraki Gulf during tho first ivock in September. Further gunnery practices are to be held in. tho Hauraki dulf when the visiting warships leave at the end of September on their icturft "to Australia.

The two sloops, Veronica and Laburnum, will leave on their island cruises on' Friday. Both aro making extended cruises this year, and consequently will bo. unable to take part in the combined exercise?.

'■ The' appointment of several officers to tho New Zealand Division of tho Navy has been announced. Most of Ihtf new officers will join the Diomcde when she is recommissioncd after her refit at Devonport in August. Captain Cosmo Graham will take over command of the Diomcde, replacing Captain V. A. C Crutehley, V.C., who will then return 10 England. Other officers who will rjoin the Diomede in August are: Com■Diandcr J. W. FarqUhar, Lieutenant P. Uothell, who will relieve Lieutenant E. .7. 11. Ryan; Lieutenant M. A.-C. H. 3iardcastle, who will replace LieutenantCommander E. Airey; Lieutenant C. E. Havo'rgal, who will relieve Lieutenant ('■: w! Jones; Sub-Lieutenant E. E. "Washbourn, Sub-Lieutenant H. E. A. Kidston, and Lieutenant M. Archdall, IBoyal Marines.

The term of Commander E. Earns of the Laburnum, will expire an October, and he will bo relieved by Commander A. H. Maxwcll-Hyslop. Burgeon-Lieutenant C. J. Mullen lias also been appointed to the Laburnum to relieve Surgeon-Lieutenant A. J. Burden.